The issue of "work" was always a debatable one as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Was "work" actually physical labor, or simple instruction and guidance? Was a "project" something that was formally arranged and funded, or was it simply setting an example for the villagers? A big part of this dilemma was finding a cultural distinction between the American mindset of "work" (scheduled, immediate, goal-oriented) and a Mauritanian perspective (casual, flexible, fatalistic.) Personally, I had to deal with some guilt when I wasn't adhereing to the former. If the result of an endeavor wasn't tangible, it really left me trying to justify my role as a volunteer. Had I let the villagers down by, say, offering health advice rather than financing a second well for the garden?
On and on this conflict went. By the end of my service, fortunately, I managed to "work" in several capacities, thereby balancing the scales. I finished several projects through financing and good ol' physical labor. In addition, I offered rural folk some insight, advice, conversation, and (hopefully) an example to follow.
So, in whatever sense "work" can be considered, here are a few of my projects. The reason for choosing these in particular: they're the only ones I had pictures for! |
