Thoughts After Day Two

Today we had the opportunity to volunteer at Surf the Nations--handing out food, breaking down boxes, or doing whatever else needed to be done. I wasn't sure what to expect or how I would react--I'm not always good with uncertainty. I think that these next few weeks will help me develop some uncertainty tolerance!

I'm glad that I went today and did something that stretched me even just a little. I have to say, it felt like I was in another country. The area we are staying at reminds me of Ecuador--the nicer part of Ecuador, at least. We aren't in a fancy or upscale area of Oahu. It really feels like I am in a different country at times, between the completely different landscape--the tropical, flowering trees, the scents.  The ocean. I think that I am becoming more self-aware of things that I take for granted about myself, about the culture that I grew up in.

I think that this class will be useful to me as a professional.  In the Technical Writing field, one of the main things that we stress is audience analysis--who is our main audience? What are their needs? Their cultural background could easily fit into the analysis. No pictures for you today--I didn't really think that the people at the food distribution would want to be in my pictures, and I didn't go to the beach today.  Maybe tomorrow I'll share some, since we are going on a little excursion.