Love, Hate, Accept

When training in Ottawa in October, we were told most volunteers go through a cycle when living and working in a new culture. First, they arrive and are totally enthralled with everything, because it's new and exotic and stimulating. They love the people, the music, the street sounds, the buildings and the food. Everything! Then, as they work in their new role, they may feel frustration because things aren't progressing quickly enough. Perhaps their co-workers aren't as task-focused and eager for results as they are. Within six months of arriving, everything about the place grates on their nerves and they begin to hate the people and the music and the street noise and the food. They hate everything!

But as time passes, and their experiences compound daily, they begin to appreciate the beauty and the ways of the people. They learn to slow down and adapt, to accept things as they are. Within a year, they feel on target and at home. By the time their two years are up, they don't want to leave!!

I'm preparing myself psychologically and emotionally for these cycles, these waves of assimilating into a new culture. Prepared, yet flexible; anxious, yet hopeful. I'll keep you posted!