Before I came to Solentiname, Nicaragua I was determined to arrive and get to work immediately. I imagined riding up to the remote archipelago in a long, thin wooden boat where children and families eagerly awaited my arrival. I would jump out of the boat, introduce myself with a smile, a handshake, and a hug and take my bags to my room. Then, I would roll my sleeves up and start teaching the islands’ first photography classes. I’d also begin taking the first pictures that would contribute to my independent photo documentary of Solentiname and it’s people.
Well, in my first few hours in Solentiname I realized that rushing into my projects was not the right way to start my year as a volunteer. The best thing I could do was to switch gears and take my time. After all, I was entering a small village with a population of roughly 300 people where life moves at a much slower pace than São Paulo – the metropolis I call home.
Before I got started on my work I had to start learning about the islands, their inhabitants, and how things work here. Don’t get the wrong idea, I’m not lying in a hammock all day twiddling my fingers. I’ve been busy helping teach reading classes to children and young adolescents, I’ve helped lug all sorts of heavy objects in preparation for Solentiname’s first music festival, and, most importantly, I’m constantly making an effort to establish new friendships and integrate myself into the community by participating in as many activities as possible, such as playing hide-and-go-seek with the kids, soccer with the young guys, and checkers with the old guys.
I can say that my change of plans is working out better than I had hoped.
Now, two weeks after my arrival, I’ve met most of the people that live in my village and feel more at home every day. I’ve started to photograph the people here as they go about their daily lives and, consequently, have received a lot of interest from several curious children and adolescents who are eager to attend my photo classes. If everything goes as planned I should be teaching my first class next week. In the meantime, I’ll start transitioning out of my “take your time” state of mind and into my “let’s get cracking” mode.
To check out some of my first pictures from Solentiname, check out my personal photo blog. For further reading on working as a volunteer within a new community, have a look at “Community Relations & Expectations.”
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I think you did the right thing. Weirdly enough, I’m also living in a town of around 300 people, so I spend about as much effort just being a good member of the community as I do getting actual work done. At first I found the pace of my work-work frustratingly slow, but I’ve since adjusted to Ecuadorian time. It definitely helps to take time and adjust to the rhythm of life.