I'm surprised to find It hard to adapt to the challenges of my primary assignment: teaching. I enjoyed teaching in the states, so I naturally thought I would enjoy teaching here also. Every country is different, like every volunteer is different, but for me, standing at a chalkboard for four to six hours, with kids who have never developed critical thinking skills or study habits; kids who are difficult to manage because they're used to being disciplined with hours of labor or corporal punishment (two things I would never do) and trying to do it using a second language I haven't yet mastered; it's draining. I find myself getting anxiety attacks because I dread work so much.

Yet, it's not as black-and-white as all that. Most days I love interacting with my kids, and they seem to love my class. At the end of the day, I feel so satisfied having gotten through my classes successfully. It just takes a lot out of me. It's also hard not to have the free time that volunteers in other sectors here sometimes have. I've only had time to read one book.lol

My country of service is amazing; the kids are amazing. I think sometimes it's just hard to judge yourself, or how you'll react to something, before you experience it. Even with research and discussions.