Thursday November 27th 2003
My brain is a bit better, but not a whole lot. We improvise like crazy, and thankfully, time runs out. There are some good things that come out… some basic communication problems, problems prioritizing, and some clear conflicts of interest.. but all in all, this is a management problem that cannot be solved by workshops. There is also a high level of distain, if not straight up prejudice from many of the VSO program staff here. I found out that we have to go through a ‘cultural sensitivy’ screening, and training.. but not the staff. Hmmm. I think that someone really fucked up there… I hate to think that it is related to the whole –only white people- can be racist thing.. but there might be some of that going on.. its either that, or total incompetance. So, one of the big cultural differences.. is the role of a volunteer. I think that Volunteers are perceived as the lowest rung of the totem pole here (hmm. Totem pole). The belief seems to be that we should know our places, and act accordingly. We, on the other hand, come here thinking.. we’re all in this together.. a clubby kind of thing…mixed with some: look at what I have given up to come here…Anyway, the mix of the two is kinda ugly. I wonder how it is in other Program Offices. I’m sure a lot of this has to do with the culture and personalities here. Well, whatever, I’m here and not there… and I certainly have no desire to fix the VSO…which needs some serious help.