Talita’s Beginning at IICD Michigan, on Her Way to Africa.

Talita’s Beginning at IICD Michigan, on Her Way to Africa.
My life in IICD started in March 14, 2010. It doesn’t seem like a very long period of time that I have been here but a lot has changed in that time. I can remember, like it was yesterday, when I arrived at the South Bend, Indiana Airport. I tried to use the public phone there, but I found it to be impossible. I didn’t have any idea how to use a public phone in the U.S. The only thing I could do was wait anxiously for someone to pick me up, but how was I going to even know who this person was? I wondered if they would be holding a sign with my name on it, or what? I looked around for several minutes and saw nothing like that. Eventually everyone from my flight went their separate ways and I was left standing alone. After some time passed, here came “Mette”. I didn’t know her, but I thought she looked Danish. She came up to me and out of everything she said, I could only recognize my name. I thought, “Yes, this is her.”
We walked to the car and there I met Christoffer. I sat in the backseat. Mette started to ask me some questions, but I couldn’t understand most of what she was saying. I was really unable to answer her. At some point I could see her look at me in the rear view mirror where we silently agreed that we would not be able to communicate. We became silent. I remember just looking out the window as we drove. I sat there wondering if I would be able to adapt and if everything was going to be o.k. here. So, as you may have already noticed, my first difficulty would be English. I thought, ‘What kind of language is that?’ I am still trying to learn, crawling like a child.
I am blessed to have so many good people in my path. When I arrived at the school, who was there to show me the school, and explain the rules and routines? It was Bia (Anna Biatriz Villela), who could not be a more lovely person. She was with me for three days, explaining to me everything in great detail, leading me around and introducing me to everyone. Speaking Portuguese herself, she was able to help me with English. She was always telling me to just relax, and that everything would be alright. So, I had help from everyone. English classes with Loren got me to at least be able to communicate, and express myself a little. I was able to understand what was being asked of me, and begin to build friendships with everyone. I still say that my English is poor, or far from what would be considered “good’, but in the battle of words, I can now express my desires. I am able to build thoughts and understand what people say to me.
So began my life in promotions at IICD. It took me a little while to understand what promoting was going to be like, and what responsibilities it would bring. After two months I think I started to work better, with the ease of people who spoke my language. Promoting IICD in Portuguese was not the greatest of all challenges. In the initial months I participated in the design of the garden made by Kabrielle. I had many classes on gardening with Kabrielle, Vivian and Anthony, a lot of practice and help from all of the teachers and all of the volunteers who knew more than me, such as Sebastian.
We began the project with bees, a dream of mine that became reality. I always wanted to care for bees, and with Anthony, I learned what it was like. He encouraged me and always sought my help. Now they are all still, sleeping, since the cold weather arrived.
I attended courses on HIV, on projects in Africa, Hygiene, and education. We learned how to make bracelets using rope, how to build “Tip-taps”, latrines, compost bins, and many more. Trine lead many morning courses, and showed educational films which lead me to better myself.
I had the opportunity to meet and live with different people, and participate in their joys and sorrows. Even having seen their struggles, as the time has passed, I have been able to see them through to their projects’ completion. I am so thankful to all of the teachers and the staff in Promotions. Thank you to the November, February, March, and May Teams, Camp Future, and my new friends in the September and November teams who have just began. I also thank each person who shared moments and continues to share with me.
In August, once again my life changed, when I started with my own team. I do not deny at that time, I didn’t want the change, to leave promotion and start my team. The time had come and there was no use fighting it. Change must always come.
It was then that I met the members of my teams, Mauricio, So Young, Ronan, Chiharu, Tommy, and Ji Eun. My team leader, Cristiani, I already had the opportunity to spend a few days with and talk a little. Early in our journey, our differences were evident. Our cultures were very different. Korean, Brazilian, and Japanese, all trying to mesh together. The Brazilians always talking your ear off, and the Koreans and Japanese very careful with their words trying to be polite, and not always expressing their wishes directly. There were so many Cultural differences, that we each learned a lot from one another and grew as people from each experience.
Our journey is not over and my days here at IICD are not either. This is just a small report of the beginning, and there is much more to come. My conclusion so far is that what matters in life is happiness , and being surrounded by people who are good, helpful, and open. These are the people who allow me to share my days and my feelings. - Talita
Talita chose to stay at IICD Michigan for a whole year. Though she still says she is not confident in her English abilities, she is able to communicate very well with everyone. We became good friends and is someone whom I have a great amount of respect for. My life is better for having had her in it. As I write this, she has only just arrived in Mozambique, Africa and I am anxious to hear of her first experiences and see pictures of those she is able to touch there. She has also chosen to spend an entire year in Africa, rather than the usual six month period that most participants enroll for.
I may not be as adventurous as Talita or many of the other volunteers that come through IICD, but each of them make me to feel that I am somehow contributing to the bigger picture. I currently work in promotions and teach English classes here. It is a place filled with amazing people who each have one thing in common, a sense of selflessness and a desire to change the world for the better. -Loren
If you are interested in reading about more experiences at IICD and at their project destinations, or what our participants train to do there to make the greatest impact on each community, please visit our website or contact us. Our monthly newsletters are available for download and you can subscribe if you like. anthony@cctg.org 510-734-6777 www.iicdmichigan.org add us to your facebook, where you can meet some of our amazing participants, past and present, or just be able to view their updates. Talita, Loren, and Anthony are all there. search Loren Baker for direct updates on Talita and other volunteer stories! http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=628893712 or search for IICDmichigan. You can even check out our channel on Youtube to see some of our videos. www.youtube.com/iicdvolunteer