Las Voluntarias

So, I started writing this blog last night about the afterschool program, the Guadalupe Center, and about my nineteen first graders who are absolutely adorable. But, after community night, I knew that, at least for this blog, I had to change my theme and write about community. I know this topic has been written about already by several volunteers. But I feel the need to reiterate the sentiments of several others because community, at least here in Immokalee, is almost everything. We are one another’s roommates, one another’s social group, and very often, one another’s co-workers at our site placements.

Over the last month, the three other amazing women that I live with have become my family, my support group, and my mentors. They are the only ones who might understand why talking about babysitting at the Coalition might be funny. They are the only ones who know how hilarious it is to actually turn with a 12 person van into the driveway of the headquarters of a company that we were essentially there to protest. They are the only ones who would let me hide behind them as a strange dog comes sauntering towards us on the street on the way home from work. And, of course, they understand why Windex works so much better than insect killers on spiders, why you should never pick up a shell that smells, how great two scoops of homemade ice cream can be for two dollars, and how and why red ant bites hurt so much. My roommates are the ones who help me laugh about rough day at work, know how much fun it is to be a part of town events, and get as excited as I do about group trips and house events.

As we journey through this year, my roommates and I are together to share so many of the special moments in an experience and in a place that is beyond unique, and I appreciate their companionship along the way.