The North American Dream Sweeping Team.

Today I learned about humility. When you are a white middle class teenage girl (or anyone really though the white middle class is especially good at this) it's easy to see yourself as a "saviour" (a great example of this is How Not to Write About Africa). I have to say I was like that when I learned I would be participating in a habitat for humanity project. It's easy to get a swollen head when people are telling you how great it is that you are doing this, the gift that you are giving someone.
Yes I am giving the gift of my time, I am making a small small contribution. 
I had to be reminded of that. We all have to be reminded of that.
How?
Well sweeping for about eight solid hours will do that for you.
I did briefly use some power tools and I put up some drywall but basically it was solid sweeping. Picking up discarded pieces of wood and insulation. Cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning.
I must admit I complained. I bitched. But I got the job done. By the end of the day I was tired and covered in a thin layer of dust.
I was at a loss for what I had learned. What I had contributed.
It was only when I saw on my facebook page that another student was talking about how happy he was that he didn't go. That it was ridiculous to spend $50 dollars on a broom (all participants must raise $50 in pledges.)
That's when I saw the I's. That's when I realized that this day wasn't about being a saviour and it wasn't a waste of time.
Volunteering is simply about time. It's about effort and contributing no matter what the cost. It's about solitude sometimes and bonding with people others. It's about doing what is needed not what looks pretty. It's about giving everything you have whether it's your talents or simply some physical labour.
In a way it's about giving up and giving of yourself. 
So I guess the only thing I'm left wondering is
What are we going to do next?

Today I learned that some days you don't learn anything cause your sick.

Now time for my attempts to make something out of this!

Today was an average day. Most of us have a lot of those. And I learned that it is only when you are having on of those average days that you get to try out all the things that you supposedly learned. Today I learned about the commonplace ritual of saying goodbye to things. People,Ancient School Buildings,Pairs of Shoes and Dregs of Ice cream Sundaes. I learned about small victories. I may not be able to discuss the current Iran situation with my sister but last weekend we watched the original French Persepolis

Our favorite scene "A ba Le Shah! "

(No idea how to spell that one) The expression on her mothers face is priceless.

Other than that it's a sparse day. Tomorrow marks the last day of school then exams. Expect a slightly nostalgic,picture laden,polyester uniform explosion,pictures of geese-ing post tomorrow. I shall be ditching 2nd and 3rd periods to go to the lake and that gelato place by the record store. Also in my anger over the mean people who sent things to Mary ala Hail Mary-honestly it makes you want to hurt someone she handled it with class. Of course I didn't realize that I was on embracing Mondays! Ah! Seriously life is good.