One year meeting

As part of the Peace Corps Panama process, each volunteer has a one year meeting in which a supervisor comes to check in on the work you are doing and the see what you have planned for the coming year. They also come to address any problems or difficulties one may have.

The first meeting I had scheduled I did not want to have. I was not in a great place, things were not moving forward. I felt the office had no clue what was going on. I was afraid of what people would say to my boss. I felt like I had nothing to show for my year of work. It was also to be held at a bad time, during school vacation when lots of people were traveling or had family visiting. And for all this one person showed up to my meeting. One. For as much as I did not want to have this meeting, it really sucked when no one came.

Then I went home for two weeks and quite frankly it made me feel worse. Everyone talking about what a great job I was doing, so proud of me, etc. When that was certainly not the way I felt.

Once I returned things began to change, work was rolling in and my stove grant was approved. All the solicitation and planning in the past year was finally paying off. Time for round two of the meeting. This time I went house to house telling people, I did not rely on sending notes. I notified people far in advance so no one would plan a junta for cutting rice.  I kept reminding people. I was so ready for this meeting. Then the day before the meeting a woman died. I had no clue what to do. I called my boss and he said he would come, and just play it by ear. Turns out 8 people showed up and the meeting went amazing. All the feedback was positive from the community members. I printed photos of things we have done in the past year. And I talked about some of the things I have planned. And they gave me suggestions of things they would like to work on too. My boss left happy with me and I left happy with me too.

I have been slowly learning that everyone is not interested in working with me, and that is ok. I have found the people who really are motivated to work and want to learn about new techniques and have been working more closely with and supporting them. And now I go forward, newly energized and ready to work!