What is my inner drive?

Life is not always simple. It’s a constant up and down. We look for approaches. We are sometimes afflicted by doubts. Many despair of such situations and choose too fast the easiest way. However, is the easiest way the correct one? Does the way of the slightest resistance lead us always to success?

I’m a volunteer in Viet Nam. I teach English at VPV/Coma 6 and I am a key member in our dialogue group. Circumstances can complicate work. Firstly, I am not a professional teacher. Secondly, work is hindered by missing social awareness of the Vietnamese society. However, in spite of all I go on working with unbroken drive. I wondered why I don’t choose the way of the slightest resistance. A good friend sent me a book, “The purpose driven life”. It encourages me to maintain my line. I believe that the way of the slightest resistance is only a way of avoiding facing to problems. I take moments just for myself. This is important. Though, a lonesome life is a dreary life. I share my life with others. My life is ruled by relationships. It enriches my life. I walk with family and friends through life. I asked over, what is the greatest gift of your life? Many answered this question with material bits and pieces. Conversely, this is wrong in my opinion. The greatest gift of my life is time. I can earn more money, but I cannot obtain any more time. My time is restricted. Our time is restricted. Hence, whenever someone is spending time with me, this person is investing his precious time in me.

The time with my pupils is eventful and useful for me and them. We’re a community. A community is a great warm place of friends. I commit myself to this community. I take responsibility and honesty. The lessons should be in contrast to the common practice of superficiality. My demanded goals are high aims. I need the help of others to succeed. The dialog should follow on an equal level. I am nothing special among them. Everybody has got the same rights and will be treated in the same kind way. Respect is the highest bid. Respect different opinions and take consideration of the feelings of others. I expect patience and understanding. Communities, in this case an intercultural community, will improve our social competence.

We often have a discussion about differences, yet I appeal to unity. Sure, the origin differs but we have more in common than we think. I remain realistic by some means. I know that I cannot change the society. I am although aware that I can adjust some mindsets at least. Excessively, the work here will finally alter my way of thinking. My lessons and of course every day dealings are likewise far off perfection. None of us is perfect. There are no perfect people on earth. Encouraging is better than criticizing. Protecting and keeping community is difficult. Encouraging is not always understood as good deed. Therefore it depends on the correct approach.

The subsequent codex is kept more difficult in Viet Nam. People who have been here already will agree to following points. Most people learned to think in one direction and will always believe in it. They stick on it no matter how evidently the facts are. I should have been dead in Vietnamese traffic. Road users don’t understand that less selfishness is safer and leads them even faster to their destinations. To elbow your way through everything is always the first choice of use here. I asked one student about his everyday life. He said that queuing is unfair and it takes him always too much time. Many Vietnamese share this judgment and do not queue. Sorry, what? What is unfair about queuing? No discrimination at all – who comes first, will served first! They are often noisy and easy to temper. Discretion is missing. Many Vietnamese will say that they are friendly, respectful, polite, hospitable…shy, open minded, sensitive. Hum, only a few foreigners visit this country again. Many tourists report rip off and impolite manners. Cold comfort, the Vietnamese are troubled by the same problems. I experienced and will always suffer a setback. But the achieved result is amazing. Many of my pupils appreciate my work much. This feeling keeps me going and makes my work meaningful.

Relationships are important in our life. Make the effort to maintain them and to restore them. I work for Volunteers for Peace Vietnam. Can you see the two important words? Volunteer and peace! I work here because I have chosen to work for the community not for money. Moreover I work for peace. Rick Warren quotes in his book: “Blessed are those who work for peace…not the peace lovers because everyone loves peace. Neither blessed are the peaceable; those who keep silent and are never disturbed by anything. Blessed are those who work for peace!” Running from a problem is pretending it doesn’t exist. Sometimes we should avoid, occasionally provoke and sometimes we need to resolve problems. Peacemaking is tough work! So maybe you understand now, why my blog often deals with pointed out problems. It is difficult but worthy for my part and probably in addition for others.

I acquainted VPV from beginning, that I am not a troublemaker. And that I will do my best to keep the peace. I will encourage and demand to achieve the best for them and me. Whenever a problem popped up, I discussed the problem with me first. Then I talked to VPV. No matter if I was offender or victim. Maybe I am a part of the conflict and the longer I wait solving it, the greater my suffering is. I sympathized with VPV and tried to see their point of view. I value their opinion; I care about a good relationship and feel responsible to my students. I didn’t attack VPV’s management team personally, but I attacked the problem. I cooperated as much as possible. But VPV’s thinking and dealing is far away from my procedure. We couldn’t come to a conclusion. My move out six month ago was at least an agreement. We realized that we couldn’t solve the problems at that time but agreed in disagree.

~ by buudien on November 29, 2008.