on the job: finding my niche

So I’ve been having some challenges on the job recently.  I keep telling myself that I haven’t even hit the 2-month mark at site.  And, really, when have I known what I’m doing at any job that I’ve had only two months?  So yes, plenty of bumps in the road.

Right now, in my relationship with my organization, I have been torn between the expectations of a full-time employee (hence I should be at my NGO 40+ hours a week regardless of what’s on my plate) and that of a volunteer (hence I have no work to do really, and can do whatever the org needs of me that moment).  And in reality, it should probably fall somewhere in the middle of these two roles.  For the past 8 days, that’s entailed making hundreds (possibly thousands) of black fabric roses for 6 – 7 hours a day. Here’s the material and finished product.

These are being made for a dress shop that is covering evening gowns with them.  While I’m not happy about how my time as a development volunteer has turned into hours upon days of making these and halting my project brainstorming/researching or the other small irons I have “in the fire,” I’m trying to look at it as a chance to get to know the ladies in the workshop better and to use some Romanian.  Language and relationships are important to my success here.  I know that.  And I think I still have work to do defining my role and finding my niche.  So that will stay on my list of “things to do.”