on the job: my first day “in the field”

So, my Volunteer Club project is moving;  I start a volunteer recruitment campaign in February.  In order to introduce myself and put the project out in the community, I went out “in the field.”  It was a little intimidating for me.  While I like meeting people and can talk to just about anyone, I like to schedule meetings to talk about projects and professional stuff.  But most Romanians don’t fly that way, rather you show up and maybe you’ll run into who you want to (or need to) talk with.  Also, just walking in somewhere cold, when you don’t speak the language all that well, is scary.  But I channeled my friend Gretel who says: There’s at least one person everywhere you go that will be excited and interested in your project.  The job is to find that one person.

And so the search began.  Tuesday afternoon, David and I started our trek to each of the high schools in the area.  Despite my nerves about my Romanian and new people and such, the visits were successful.  Letters of introduction were handed out; I met directors and English teachers, most of whom were warm, patient, and interested.  I think my next venture will be to the churches in the area — 13 Orthodox churches, 1 Catholic, 1 Kingdom Hall, and 1 Baptist church.  That’s a lot more letters and a lot more introducing, but I’m liking the “field work” as it gets me out of the office and it pushes me language-wise.

In order to pump myself up for my afternoon in the field, I donned my green accessories — a green hat (given to me by Courtney and her mom!  Hi! Courtney’s mom!!) and my green-aqua cowl (knitted by Erin’s relative and given to me by Erin).  With my freckles, glasses, and mascara (*gasp* yes, I wore mascara!), I think I was looking especially cute for my trek in the field.

Yay!  Field work!  And yay!  Cuteness!