Envelope #9: Open one day after the last question

Prompt: Are you still wondering if your service is making a difference?

If no, how can you make the most of your remaining time? What changes can you make to have an even greater impact?

I liked how this prompt swept aside all the potential self-satisfaction and complacency one might accumulate after having deemed oneself successful for one’s contributions. During my last week with CURA, I asked myself the second question, not out of selfish ambition, but out of realizing how quickly my last day was approaching and how much more that could still be done. While the surveys were finished, they needed to be translated. Unfortunately, 45 surveys was not something I would be able to complete in the time I had left. Luckily, a new volunteer recently joined the ranks, and I learned that she was tentatively going to take my place as an English assistant to one of the CURA staff members. In anticipation of this, I talked to her about the position, sharing my experiences and shortcomings as well as encouraging her and reassuring her that she would do great. Despite our short time together, we became fast friends. On my last day, she gave me a jar of home-made chili paste to bring back with me, which was completely unexpected but very touching.  Thus, while I helped with the survey translation, I strove to mentor the new volunteer and help prepare her. This was in line with ensuring sustainability after my departure, and I’m glad that she joined when she did!

In trying to do more with my remaining days, I turned to more big-picture items, such as helping to update the English volunteer manual for CURA. This was a great platform for me to share my own experiences as well, and also pass along what I had learned, about the city, about staying with a host family, and certainly about CURA as well. I’m grateful for the chance to give back to CURA and help indirectly welcome future CURA volunteers as they embark on an incredible journey of personal growth and new experiences during their time here. 

Aside from the above, I have just been making sure to wrap up loose ends, working on my Loewenstern posts, and jumping on the CURA office redesign bandwagon. In addition to helping to translate the presentation introducing the idea, I also folded a set of cranes to hang up in the office. There are 10 total suspended above my desk, 9 for each week I've been at CURA, and 1 more in the hopes of returning again.