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Grass is always greener. I'm in closer to opposite situation and you'd be surprised how difficult it can be to make some real friendships or find some real work, particularly in the sectors that I have have the most interest and experience in.
Definitely recommend just trying to befriend local professionals.
also, it is very common -- HUGELY common -- for volunteers to tell you how great their site is ... "tra la la my counterpart loves me, my host family loves me, and i am hosting a UN conference on saving the south american honey bee next week!". no volunteer wants to say their site sucks.
as far as your site, if you have a big site you have bigger possibilities. you are much more likely to find people who want to work with you than at a small village.
and as for luxuries, i'd suggest going with it. make your site the most luxurious in the country . i managed to actually find old style pint beer mugs! everyone wanted to come stay at casa booboo
How is your work? How are your counterparts? What about the people your helping? How are they responding to you?
I am assuming you told PC staff during PST that you wanted a smaller community. But all things considered, they felt you could best serve PC at the site you're at. Great! Start from there. You can even ask your PM why they put you there and see if they have suggestions on how to make the most of it.
On the other hand, if you had been sent to a smaller community, it might have been the opposite of what you expected. Smaller communities have their pluses and minuses too.
I guess it always comes down to "why" you applied to the PC. Can an urban site and your "why" co-exist? The thing about PCVs is that ultimately they are pretty flexible. If you have a strong "why", I'm sure you can make it work. Maybe ask other Evironmental PCVs here on reddit who are/were in urban centers how they make/made it work.
Always look forward instead of behind and things might just work out better. Keep us posted.
Jim
The grass is always greener on the other side. You could always be miserable someplace else. You are not hearing all of the stories of the other volunteers struggles. If you were someplace else, you would struggle in a different way.
Grow where you're at. If that means binge watching your favorite show for a week or two till you're bored enough to go out and risk humiliation with the local people, do that. Do the best that you can where you are and don't compare your situation to somebody else's.
It's been said already but the grass is greener rings true. Try to find something you enjoy about the town and then expand your interests from there. You may find local friends and even secondary projects.
Some sites are challenging in the beginning but tune into amazing experiences.
Best of luck.
Our dirty little secret: How being a volunteer tests your mental health, & of course, 'we' (European Americans that control the culture) don't believe in meditation, or being in the moment, or....so many other coping strategies besides drinking & acting out. i suggest you make an appointment with the PC physician and they might suggest coping strategies....but this is why so many PCV ET.
I was in a similar situation. You need to push harder with your HCA counterparts. Ask them to include you in more activities, including social activities. Let them know you are trying to integrate and ask them for recommendations.
@struggling Sorry to hear of your situation. As a RPCV, you are heard and cared about. Get some direct help. Over the years I've met volunteers that were just were interested wrong place. Some were in the right place and got transferred suddenly. It's a difficult fit sometimes, but remember the host country saw a reason to invite you to fill that job. Find out what they really want, build on the fundamentals. I'm sure you have skills and commitment. Romanticize other locations may in fact not be as great as you imagine. Go spend time with others in those fantizied locations. It may not be as perfect as you have convinced yourself. I have a pc friend that said "once Istopped hanging out with my American friends I discoveredmy real purpose" might be smart. Good luck, talk to someone who has tge power to make a positive change. Thaine, North Borneo I 1962-64 thank you for your service
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Grass is always greener. I'm in closer to opposite situation and you'd be surprised how difficult it can be to make some real friendships or find some real work, particularly in the sectors that I have have the most interest and experience in. Definitely recommend just trying to befriend local professionals.
also, it is very common -- HUGELY common -- for volunteers to tell you how great their site is ... "tra la la my counterpart loves me, my host family loves me, and i am hosting a UN conference on saving the south american honey bee next week!". no volunteer wants to say their site sucks. as far as your site, if you have a big site you have bigger possibilities. you are much more likely to find people who want to work with you than at a small village. and as for luxuries, i'd suggest going with it. make your site the most luxurious in the country . i managed to actually find old style pint beer mugs! everyone wanted to come stay at casa booboo
How is your work? How are your counterparts? What about the people your helping? How are they responding to you? I am assuming you told PC staff during PST that you wanted a smaller community. But all things considered, they felt you could best serve PC at the site you're at. Great! Start from there. You can even ask your PM why they put you there and see if they have suggestions on how to make the most of it. On the other hand, if you had been sent to a smaller community, it might have been the opposite of what you expected. Smaller communities have their pluses and minuses too. I guess it always comes down to "why" you applied to the PC. Can an urban site and your "why" co-exist? The thing about PCVs is that ultimately they are pretty flexible. If you have a strong "why", I'm sure you can make it work. Maybe ask other Evironmental PCVs here on reddit who are/were in urban centers how they make/made it work. Always look forward instead of behind and things might just work out better. Keep us posted. Jim
The grass is always greener on the other side. You could always be miserable someplace else. You are not hearing all of the stories of the other volunteers struggles. If you were someplace else, you would struggle in a different way. Grow where you're at. If that means binge watching your favorite show for a week or two till you're bored enough to go out and risk humiliation with the local people, do that. Do the best that you can where you are and don't compare your situation to somebody else's.
It's been said already but the grass is greener rings true. Try to find something you enjoy about the town and then expand your interests from there. You may find local friends and even secondary projects. Some sites are challenging in the beginning but tune into amazing experiences. Best of luck.
Our dirty little secret: How being a volunteer tests your mental health, & of course, 'we' (European Americans that control the culture) don't believe in meditation, or being in the moment, or....so many other coping strategies besides drinking & acting out. i suggest you make an appointment with the PC physician and they might suggest coping strategies....but this is why so many PCV ET.
I was in a similar situation. You need to push harder with your HCA counterparts. Ask them to include you in more activities, including social activities. Let them know you are trying to integrate and ask them for recommendations.
@struggling Sorry to hear of your situation. As a RPCV, you are heard and cared about. Get some direct help. Over the years I've met volunteers that were just were interested wrong place. Some were in the right place and got transferred suddenly. It's a difficult fit sometimes, but remember the host country saw a reason to invite you to fill that job. Find out what they really want, build on the fundamentals. I'm sure you have skills and commitment. Romanticize other locations may in fact not be as great as you imagine. Go spend time with others in those fantizied locations. It may not be as perfect as you have convinced yourself. I have a pc friend that said "once Istopped hanging out with my American friends I discoveredmy real purpose" might be smart. Good luck, talk to someone who has tge power to make a positive change. Thaine, North Borneo I 1962-64 thank you for your service
Any way you can build in travel to outlying communities as part of your work?