Personalized Ear Gages

AFS final report 2 / 2

After a brief reflection, I leave you now burn no more in their own juice and serve you fresh now the second and final part of my AFS final report. Bon appetit!

_______________________

[...]

Some also needs to care are reported. First and foremost, yes AFS Paraguay was responsible for my well being. It must be said that I was hard, at least in regard to my family search, abandoned by AFS in the lurch and therefore almost half a year, not a nice homely environment, although I often tried to come up with my new family into the conversation. The camps abroad were very poor, as it was only shortly before the details and information, especially the data. Sun vacation planning was often difficult and was not taken into account. The low point was that we "weltwärts'ler" should have a separate farewell camp, which meant that our other AFS friends do not finish everything together would be able to see. Fortunately, however, was about to change yet, if only under protest by AFS. Mandatory
were later two weeks of preparation seminar in Germany in which I was able to meet many other German volunteers, also a year im südamerikanischen Ausland verbringen sollten.
In Paraguay angekommen, hatten wir dort ebenfalls noch ein eintägiges Arrival-Camp, das uns mit dem notwendigsten Basiswissen über das Land und die dortigen Sitten versorgte, was uns zuvor in Deutschland eigentlich kaum erklärt wurde. Neben einem zweitägigen Midstay- und einem dreitägigen End-of-Stay Camp, erwarten uns nun noch zwei jeweils dreitägige Returnee-Camps in Deutschland. Letztere emfinde ich allerdings als etwas störend, da ich eine komplette Woche Nachbereitung bevorzugt hätte, anstatt zweimal für drei Tage während der Vorlesungszeit meiner Universität anreisen zu müssen. AFS Deutschland hat die VBs zufriedenstellend organisiert, war während my year abroad, but very slowly and has responsibility for requests often passed on AFS Paraguay, which reacted similarly vice versa.
were also conflicts, certainly, but hardly in relation to my work as they were wont to handler there all very professional and understanding. With my host family there was never actual, open problems, except that I think after my first host mother ate too much and therefore part itself should pay for my food. This is what I did, what the dispute removed. Other, latent conflicts that occurred only in my first two homes were, however, much more difficult to solve. The chemistry was not easy and there was no mutual understanding. I realized over time but also that there was simply no interest on their part to improve our relationship. So I pulled myself either back to my room, went out with friends and plunged into the work.

also the linguistic aspect played an important role in Paraguay. As already mentioned, I ruled the English to start is unlikely. Although I'd taken a group lessons and acquired a few dictionaries, but otherwise I was quite unprepared. It then took revenge in the first few weeks, I understood very little. But the immersion provided in the new culture and language, it soon for the first success and it finally went rapidly uphill. After a few months of English was no longer a problem. Since neither my family nor my job to people with knowledge of English possessed, I was forced from the beginning to work on my English. Overall, my English improved greatly and was towards the end of the year, flowing, so I could read sophisticated literature, although somewhat slower than in English or German. What helped me the mandatory 4-week language course at the beginning, which lasted about 2 more hours on weekdays and other AFSers and I know the basic grammatical principles made.
The response to lack of language skills were very different. My host families were usually very understanding, also if you noticed that, when lack of understanding often courtesy acted as if she had understood me. My colleagues were also usually very compassionate. Unfortunately I was only a very few people improved, as it could be interpreted in general as an insult when alls to stand there. My final and correct host father, however, corrected me quite often, because he knows how it hurts the development of language, not to eliminate existing errors. Many of the children we were looked after, however less complete in their manners and did not return it, mimicking my accent, which I often little angry, but I learned to tolerate, because they will not usually felt angry and I also often referred to as their favorite tutor.

the end it is also crucial to grasp the aspect of development policy during my year at more closely.
As an average German one is not ignorant and knows quite a lot about the global decision problems, has his information but usually only from the media or other experiences. Specifically, I now had the privilege, even a look behind the scenes, press submit to and actively participate in development work. I was able to learn that some issues are essential for successful implementation of the desired goals.

belongs First, a sophisticated planning, da man sonst im Nachhinein zu viele Lücken notgedrungen stopfen muss und so das gesamte Projekt in Qualität und Effektivität leiden würde. Des Weiteren muss auch das Equipment am Stichtag parat liegen, was regelmäßige Inventuren und gewissenhaftes Sortieren erfordert. Außerdem ist ein eingespieltes Team unverzichtbar, das gut miteinander harmoniert, um die praktische Durchführung möglichst reibungslos über die Bühne zu bringen. Auch die Koordination des Leiters ist von großer Bedeutung, damit jeder weiß, was er zu tun hat.
All dies klingt logisch und offensichtlich, war mir aber noch nicht in diesem Maße aus der Praxis bekannt. Insgesamt benötigt Entwicklungsarbeit, wie jede andere Art von Dienstleistungen, good management, in order to function. In this regard, I have so much to learn for my future job, but to be fired without the risk or are under competitive pressure to have.
Although the world of work in Paraguay certainly looks different than in Europe or the USA, so many apparent similarities, the first fall may not be as fast in the eye. For example, there is in every country, even the supposedly rich, still plenty of improvement. The social gap opens at the national and international levels and on. Poor get poorer and the rich ever richer. These are problems that are not within a year, a legislature and probably can not solve a generation. What you can do but to push for an improvement of the status quo and to contribute his share to a more equitable coexistence of different social strata.
Even if I do not the like the well-known and strike often naive world a better tenor, I see it anyway, at just in terms of my final report as a duty, here the importance of a pro-development approach to make that clear.

Simple actions such as recycling, car pooling or appropriate power and water consumption can contribute to the good stuff already protected and are measures that restrict one's life difficult. The fact that this and similar is available anywhere in the world and is also available in almost every corner of our planet are people who ignore the signs of the times, but make an active contribution to the preservation and promotion of our nature and quality of life, research suggests that we are dealing here not with a national phenomenon. In fact, long been globalized policy development and many organizations such as Amnesty International have long been one big network and that they are not only mobile and resource-rich, but fast and effective lobbying can operate to successfully address acute conflicts. Since
including the can benefit from knowledge of the many other experts of an unknown field of work, the common global learning has always proven.

This was true for me because I had insight into the working methods and techniques that I previously knew little attention. Division of labor was one of the most important lessons, as each person has different talents, to recognize it and use apply. A company or boss who ruled that fact can thus achieve a much better result than if he would just give orders without thinking.

was too much at first incomprehensible to me, as decreed that only about three people on my job for a license, which even today in Germany, almost is essential. Soon turned out that in Paraguay the transportation by bus or moped is in no way inferior to the automobile. There was also the previously mentioned division of labor often not of a large mobilization of personnel. For me this was a prime example, that the familiar is not always the only correct or even best solution.

course I will not forget what they have learned or have deteriorated even unused. There are several ways I believe the experience gained at the man to bring. First, there is of course the general conversation, I mean to tell the way, what have I experienced such and the importance of commitment in general is all about. I also could support various organizations such as AFS or Tierranuestra, my former employer, through volunteering, donations, or donations. I also see my blog [www.janinparaguay.blogspot.com (German) or www.pruegmeister.blogspot.com (English)] as an appropriate medium that was able to reach many people to talk about my work and positive experiences. I also hope that later a number of successful practices that I got to know in Asunción, to implement in my profession. The motivation of colleagues should not be neglected. For the good working climate that prevailed with us, was indeed friendly and relaxed, but at the same time stimulating. That was mostly the result of more satisfied employees who were conscientious and treated with respect by their superiors. Something such as Germany, unfortunately, is still in short supply.

This year is not certainly left its mark on me and has given me many interesting experiences and new friends from all over the world. All this was done through the support of AFS, which lay in the management and practice, but many shortcomings and mistakes of the day, but it is also justified in part, individually, speak to certain individuals was what prompted me to emphasize once again that the basic idea of AFS, namely, intercultural Exchange is a wonderful thing, I can only put each to the heart. Finally, no one does perfectly and I no longer accept the shortcomings bad, but on the contrary would help improve the program.

I'm never very capitalist, I have not before, even full-time employees are in development work. This year was a great experience, but has not caused a complete upheaval of my plans and principles. However, I would like to give something back. Although money on me, just like almost every student, rather scarce, but it would irritate me, as a supervisor in the preparation seminars to be there with you when it's my Studium zulässt.

Abschließend bin ich sehr dankbar für all das, was ich von meinem Jahr in Paraguay mitnehmen kann und hoffe, auch weiterhin davon profitieren und mein Wissen der Allgemeinheit zur Verfügung stellen zu können.
Es war ein Schritt ins Ungewisse damals und ich wollte, offen gesagt, auch mehrmals aufgeben. Selbst den „Brief für einen schwarzen Tag“, der uns als Kraftquelle mitgegeben wurde, hatte ich zuhause vergessen. Doch mit Unterstützung der Menschen, die mir nahestehen und meinem nicht zu unterschätzenden Sturkopf habe ich dann doch durchhalten und sogar Spaß haben können. Deshalb freue ich mich, dass die BRD jungen Menschen wie mir etwas Derartiges ermöglicht and there are clubs like AFS that supports an active and help get the best of themselves.

Thanks for everything, AFS and weltwärts!

Dry Touge When Sleeping

AFS final report half

After I'm home again arrived in Germany, I can read whatever ruckzuck my mail without having to have them scanned and have to send extra. In itself, something positive. Unfortunately, however, to finally write a letter from AFS, my sending organization, the process in which I was invited to a 5-page final report as feedback about my stay abroad.
This is a hand to help the program to check for any weaknesses and as a source of information serve for future "Hope" who want to get an idea about the transient life in another culture.
Due to the length I think it is more appropriate to the report, which I will not deprive you to publish in two parts. The style is something substantive this time held more than you I know, but that a report is now time to then. Nevertheless, I hope you read my lines, evaluated, and of course commented on my blog .
_______________________

This final report will deal with various aspects of my year abroad in Paraguay. My name is Jan, 21, and I lived and worked almost a year in the capital Asuncion. My employer was the non-governmental organization "Tierranuestra", which is involved primarily for environmental protection and youth musical education. to show better

the complex context, I will try to list the various sections separately.

, I would like to look at their country and people have left for me to speak.
beginning seemed Paraguay actually not very strange, because I recognized a lot from Germany. Even the food consisted of no strange new foods as you would usually expect from a far away country. The only unknown at the dining table was cooked cassava, doch selbst der war der heimischen Kartoffel nicht allzu unähnlich. Auch wurden viele Limonaden und Wasser getrunken. Insgesamt kam mir alles wie eine ärmere Version Deutschlands vor; etwa so wie man sich Osteuropa vorstellt. Da ich anfangs in einer temporären Familie untergebracht war, kam ich in das nächstbeste Heim, das mir AFS anbieten konnte. Ich war in einem 3-Personenhaushalt untergebracht, die alle bei der Polizei beschäftigt waren. Die Unterkunft war insgesamt recht bescheiden, zumindest aus meiner mitteleuropäischen Sicht. Es war ungewohnt für mich, kein eigenes Zimmer mehr zu haben, sondern mehr oder weniger im Durchgang schlafen und sämtliche Besitztümer in meinem Koffer aufbewahren zu müssen. Es war also ein Verlust of privacy given. I also barely spoke English, which sentenced me very silenced. Normally I'm more talkative and argumentative. Suddenly to my verbal tools have been torn from his, made me not only helpless, but angry and frustrated me quite a lot. Overall, the behavior of my family rather reserved and I felt more as a liability. Before long I was also forced to contribute money for food. My impression of the Paraguayans would be quite negative have been if I had not the people on my work, convinced of the contrary. Not only were they contrary to my host family, curious and polite; but always took care of me over and asked for many times whether I want nothing.
While I was in the first weeks and months to learn had to, to accept the sometimes excessive curiosity and even some hearty manners of the Paraguayan population, I got used to the time but it and found the warm crude type of people usually also very personable. Even so much that I found many German now quite unfriendly and uninterested to repellent.
was unfamiliar to me, the unrelenting heat, poor infrastructure and especially the national drink, the Tereré that a particular herb, which is usually eaten cold. Since
I come from the land and a car for me has always been a must, I was initially somewhat surprising always take buses for transportation to any need. But on all these things I quickly got used to me and much of it is missing now. I am here in Germany now much less mobile, often feel cold and does not want to miss my daily ration Tereré.

Since Paraguay with an average age of 21.9 compared to 44.3 years, with Germany seen demographically a very young country, I have always had a lot to do with their peers and young adults and teenagers. In all three families, in which I was staying during my year abroad, I had at least two host brothers and sisters, on average only 16.25 years old. Also on my work, I have worked especially with children. My work colleagues were also almost all in their twenties. For me this was an extremely positive aspect as peers or young people, in my opinion, are generally open and curious than older people. Also were able to empathize with my former rather situations.

course, there was next to the dualities of liberal time management, educational gaps, and generally unhealthy diet also many similarities, they helped me just starting for me to integrate into the new society and culture. Both nations are big fans of football, which helped always to find a common topic of conversation. Since two of the best players in the country have played both times in Germany and still working there, was my own, never completely unknown. It is also important to mention that Paraguay has taken over the German constitution completely and political systems, at least in theory, are almost identical. A contrast, however, is the degree of corruption, compared to South America in Germany is still manageable. Generally people are the same everywhere but, I think. Everyone wants to be happy and live in peace and financial security. The wishes are very comparable, which resulted in one more good about politics and the Faults could discuss this.

it certainly is important to describe my work a little closer.
The duties that were applied to me, were very diverse. This was mainly because we have done with my work many different projects. The official name of my employment would be "coaches", often came to other services such as translation, cleaning up or cataloging. When we went to schools in order in the form of lectures and games the children closer to the environment, I was beginning to build, preparation and transportation of the materials employed. As my English improved then, I could also explain games and bring me more actively in the presentations.
The working hours during the year have varied very much. In the first month I worked only in the morning because the afternoon was held my obligatory English course. From late August to mid December, I had comparatively much work, sometimes on weekends, as camps for children and young people were convened, which lasted up to three days at a stretch. At the time, was a 50-hour week my usual workload. The late December and January, however, were very quiet, as had been taken at this time most of my summer colleagues, above all, because their children were then vacation. The rest of the year in terms My work is not too exhausting, because hardly any projects have been carried out, and I particularly office work such as sorting the library or cleaning up of the workshops was applied, although they were clearly visible as job creation programs. However, I was pleased to be able to be useful, as my colleagues still were very nice and courteous and I still polite about my life in Germany and questioned my future.

is now the big question is whether I get along with my workload. Was it too little or too much? Again, this can not be answered generally. Initially, the claims certainly unusual high, but the noch existente Sprachbarriere verschlimmert wurde. Mit der Zeit gewöhnte ich mich an die Anforderungen, die interessanterweise immer leichter zu handhaben waren. Gegen Mitte des Jahres fühlt ich mich tatsächlich etwas unterfordert, was ich aber versuchte durch aktive Integration in unsere Stiftung zu kompensieren. Leider ließ sich nicht wirklich immer etwas finden, was dazu führte, dass ich mich außerhalb meines Arbeitsplatzes engagierte. Dazu zählten unter anderem regelmäßiges Fitnesstraining, verstärkte Widmung meines Blogs, Mitarbeit bei Rotaract, dem Jugendzweig von Rotary International und schließlich die Belegung eines halbjährigen Intensiv-Portugiesischkurses.

Zu Beginn wohnte ich sehr nah an my job and was able to arrive within 7 minutes walk from Tierranuestra. My second host family lived a little further away, which meant a 10-minute walk to the nearest main road, followed by an approximately 25-minute bus ride and then a 5-minute steep climb on foot followed. This includes waiting times for buses, of course, could be up to a quarter hours. Also my third family lived not too close, resulting in a 25-minute travel by bus and foot with the result.

Host families are an integral theme of my experience abroad, as it eventually lives with them and with time, a part of one's own to life.
My first home was, as already mentioned, in fact only a temporary solution, as my original family jumped in the last minute, two hours before departure, to be exact. There, I've never felt comfortable and was not taken very cordially. After the expiry of the scheduled six weeks I was then due to the inability to find AFS 'a new and permanent family, summarily to the sister of my first host mother deported to me but my own room, but still did not give affection. So I was forced about for weeks to sleep at about 30 degrees in my room without ventilation, while the rest of the family at night, modern air conditioning systems used. Both families
hatten von Anfang an einen eher schlechten Eindruck gemacht und diesen auch über die gesamte Zeit nur weiter bestätigt. Als ich Mitte Dezember schließlich meine dritte und auch finale Familie zugeteilt bekam, ging es allerdings aufwärts. Mir kamen sowohl meine direkte Familie als auch die Verwandten sofort sympathisch vor. Obwohl ich annahm, dass dieses Gefühl der Geborgenheit wohl nur vorübergehend bestehen würde, nachdem die anfängliche Freundlichkeit abgeklungen wäre, durfte ich feststellen, dass meine Familie tatsächlich wunderbare und hilfsbereite Menschen waren. Dabei half sicherlich auch, dass meine Gasteltern beide bereits Auslandserfahrung hatten und mein ältester Gastbruder momentan auch ein Austauschjahr in Deutschland spending, also with AFS. This cross-cultural understanding has contributed much to the fact that I could feel myself understood and respected. Also helped our daily dinner and regular visits to relatives on the weekend about to forge a close relationship. The farewell I fell really hard. Also today, I'm often with my host family over the Internet to contact. [...]

Stay tuned, next week when I talk about my true opinion of AFS, language problems and my future in the development policy.

your January

Skin Colored Bumps On Knee

Miss Stockmann ...

... added output, and takes her new bag with the same.

Too precious to be done for fruits and vegetables into it,

but there are still other things that "women's" needs.

And so the purse and the key is to find the same,

there is one inside pocket.

Where To Watch Family On Iphone

V. The Odyssey Part Five - Resolution

If you think it is no longer
comes from somewhere, the crowning her!

As every master piece of work and also has this story come to an end. Today we see the last part of the attempt on my part to create something new.
We now turn to the financial statements and manage the denouement, or untie, one of the basic conflict. Normally the audience is then brought through the death of the hero an emotional cleansing or catharsis, which helps him handle to one's life better.

equal advance I ever tell that I'm going with a death, and it would be ever so beneficial to your spiritual development, unfortunately not used. At least not at the time of publication of this text. Nevertheless, I aim at a purification of our aller Gemüter an, indem ich den angesprochenen Grundkonflikt, nämlich meine Sehnsucht, zu entmystifizieren gedenke. Gehen wir dem Übel auf den Grund, nehmen es auseinander und lernen somit gleich etwas fürs nächste Mal.

Lassen wir noch einmal kurz Revue passieren, da mein letzter Eintrag schon mehrere Tage zurückliegt und auch deshalb, weil das Thema immer wieder schöne Erinnerungen von früheren Reisen in mir wachruft: "das Grosse Wasser", was die Indianer schon vor langer Zeit Maiyami tauften.
Ich saß also im Flug von Sao Paulo nach Miami und dachte mir so, "Warum nicht einfach in Partytown bleiben und das Endziel sausen lassen?"
Ich war kurz wirklich versucht. It would certainly not have been too expensive to stay at least for one night there and then get a small transfer fee for a new connecting flight the next day.

least I would become in less than 24 hours of Paraguayan pampas of South Beach boardwalk. That's about as if the mower would be the night suddenly mutates into a Lamborghini, at least in my world view!

However, I quickly took this cheeky projects back distance, since my life I did not drive to Florida, but to my girlfriend. After reading Coelho's "Alchemist" you will surely understand when I speak of "signs" which reveal themselves on their own life again and again and whose existence and directions we can either follow or ignore. It's up to us! Some may think me a dreamer or unrealistic. Please! I really just can not cope. All the things in the planning and execution of the trip would have gone wrong were, like the rungs of our ladder, we are just started kicking!

Upon arrival at Miami International, I was so very good at the airport and checked out dutifully, though annoyed if the uselessness, my suitcase again.
refused Casual, I am still propagated to speak English, which in South Florida but due to the Prävalenz kubanischer und mexikanischer Reisender keine Rarität ist und deshalb auch immer zweisprachiges Servicepersonal eingesetzt wird. Dummerweise war deren Spanisch manchmal etwas ungewohnt für mich, was in mindestens einem Fall ein peinliches Nachfragen erforderte und mitleidige Blicke auf sich zog.

Auch hier hatte ich eine stattliche Wartezeit von etwa 3,5 Stunden, die ich inzwischen routiniert mit Räsonieren und People-Watching tot schlug.

An einem Kiosk sah ich dann noch den witzigsten Buchumschlag überhaupt. Es war das humoristisch-kritische Werk "I am America (And so can you)" von Stephen Colbert, einem US-Komiker, dessen Rückseite ihn freudig bei der Lektüre seines eigenen Document shows. This should take other, serious books and authors for a ride, which always seems to be photographed and retouched intellectually and pay for famous authors and politicians for a superficial praise. His printed Comment:

"I laughed, I cried, I lost 15 pounds I can not recommend this book enough.."

It may not come across as funny as I felt at that time, but after several hours of travel without sleep that stupid saying exactly met my nerve.
The last portion of a flight made me a bit nervous then. When I finally arrived, my host mother was waiting for me and I could not my English longer hold back.

the rest of my vacation I would not tell on. First of all, because it has no relevance for development policy, but above all because there is no one regards something.
Only applies it to mention that I spent a wonderful time and I again said a stab to the heart when I had to bring my girlfriend finally back to the airport. In addition, we were surprisingly still short in Florida, as my host mother still wanted a friend helping a bit. For us, then, is still out jumped a beach holiday. It always depends but everything as it should be. Life knows what it does! The

Rückreise war der Hinfahrt sehr ähnlich, nur, dass ich nicht über Miami fliegen musste und entsprechend nur lockere 10 Stunden in Sao Paulo auf meinen Bus zu warten hatte.
Das einzig Nennenswerte geschah etwa 15 Minuten nach Abfahrt des colectivos nach Asunción.

Unser Bus fuhr dummerweise einem kleinen Pickup-Truck auf. Der Fahrer des Gefährts hielt sofort an und stieg mit wütendem Gesicht aus. Ich konnte das sehen, weil ich ganz vorne im oberen Teil des Zweietagenbusses saß. Nach kurzer Stille hörte man ein paar laute, aber unverständliche Worte. Dann ging der gerammte Fahrer wieder in Richtung seines Autos. Ich dachte, dass man sich wohl verständigt und entschuldigt hatte. Das dachte ich. Bis der Geschädigte plötzlich mit einer großen Brechstange aus dem Kfz stieg und das Metall schwingend in unsere Richtung rannte. Ich realisierte die Gefahr erst richtig als die Schläge gegen die Windschutzscheibe Vibrationen im ganzen Bus auslösten, die bis in meine Wirbel durchdrangen. Kurz darauf fingen ein paar Frauen an zu schreien und mit geschlossenen Augen und unter Tränen ihre Ave Marias zu beten. Ich machte mir einzig deshalb Sorgen, da ich vielleicht noch länger warten müsste, heimzukommen.

Nach etwa einer Minute machte sich das "Opfer" wieder auf seinen Weg; anscheinend der Meinung, der Gerechtigkeit Genüge getan zu haben. Da sich für die nächsten Augenblicke nichts rührte, befürchtete I have been, he had taken the bus driver's head. But shortly after it went on as if nothing had happened.



She thus ends the odyssey of my heart. It was a long and educational journey. I have enjoyed it a lot, even if it has cost me a lot of power.

I thank you for your loyalty and attention.


Since we are already at the end ...
As you may have noticed, has been my year draws to a close. This also means that my blog has done his job for the most part. The Odyssey was the last major project. What is still missing are the first impressions upon return and one or two newspaper articles that I might will publish more.

So stay a little while and enjoy the last of my effusions to "jani Paraguay.

respectfully, your January