people we've met

After five days of volunteering we have met a gaggle of people. Every day we sing our happy-clappy song to people who are leaving. July and August are the busiest months of volunteers and that is evident as we say farewell each morning.

Here's who I remember:

• Judith: a lady similar in age to most of my female colleagues (older than me but not old) is from Hungary and is here for 5/6 weeks. She came last year as well. She's a trooper who just works.
• John, John, Stefan, Thomas and Andrew: they are all South Korean and are all in year 2 (except John is year 4) of 8 years of seminary. They are all in their early 20's and are training to be priests. Their English names are the baptismal names they were given as infants; they're all named after saints. These guys fascinate me because in my early 20s I didn't even know what courses to take/degree to pursue and they've already committed the rest of their lives to a strict, serene, controlled, contemplative life!
• Sidebar: Mother Teresa was named after St Teresa de Lisieux which I find especially interesting since our school competes in sports against a school of that name
• Katherine, who I've spoken often about: she's going to be a junior at Notre Dame in Indiana. She's from Minnesota. She's from a family of 9 children: she's the third oldest. I knew there was a reason I liked her instantly! Her family has 7 girls and 2 boys, so we differ in that way. Her parents had 7 children and then, after a bit of a break, adopted two children locally. They're Catholic. The only reason this is funny to me is because I have FINALLY met a large, Catholic family. So often when people would find out about my family, one of the first questions they would ask is, "are your parents Catholic?" Anyhow, Katherine is just plain great. She's down-to-earth and is exhibiting a mature, servant heart, especially for someone her age. She would have been on the iBlock program if she had been at TD! 
• Keevan: from Scarborough, has an older sister at Notre Dame and is pre-Med with a poverty studies minor. I'm quite sure he is Chinese: I do know he goes to a Chinese Baptist church in Scarborough. He knows his food. I like him for many of the same reasons that I like Katherine and...he reminds me of a great iBlock alumnus, Joseph Kim.
• Leia (not sure of spelling): a university student from Spain who is here with a group of 31 students. She wants to be a nurse. She is on site with her teacher, who speaks little/no English. This teacher, however, is THE doppelgänger of Jeannette Verkaik! Everything about her screams Jeannette: build, smile, laugh, work ethic, hair...it's uncanny and super fun.
• Manon: a university student from France
• Katherine: a New Yorker who is bio/pre-Med and will be a senior at Siena college in New York. She came with a group for 6 weeks, they left and she extended her stay for 2 weeks more.
• Mareid and Mary: primary teachers from Cork, Ireland. They're a hoot so far and they're even funnier when I get them to slow down so I can understand what they're saying.
• Daniel: 18 year old from Mexico. Speaks Spanish, English and French. Advises people not to go to Mexico during spring break as there are too many teenagers
• Carol: from Mexico. Been here for a month and a half. 
• AnnaPaula (not sure entirely on her full name). Been here 6 months and leaves on Friday. Early 20s. Went to Nepal twice and climbed the Himalayas twice (an avalanche kept her from the peak the first time). A property broker who teaches evening religious classes in her local parish. While serving here she found herself in the dressing room helping the Sisters attend to wounds. Then she found herself at the dispensary (a clinic) treating more wounds. She is now convicted that she is to become a nurse.
• An Indian man from Kerala was there today. Seeing domestics volunteer is exciting.
• Sarah and Clara: both from Boston but did not come together. Both are young and eager. One is here for one week, the other for 6.
• Rafael from Spain, I think. He's an older gentleman who comes for 3 months, goes home for 3 and returns for 3 months etc...he spends half his year here giving the men hair cuts and shaves
• Bernard the Austrian who lives in Germany. Mid, maybe late 20s? Spent a couple of days in Kolkata after travelling India for 3.5 months. Has a masters degree in political science and economics. Quit his job to travel India. 
• Stefano: mid 20s? Returns every year. Studied international development. Landed a job with an NGO and will be stationed in Nairobi.

There are plenty more, but they are nameless. This is a quick snapshot into the people we've met in a mere 5 days. This really is quite the hub of volunteerism...which I have a concern with but I'll address that eventually, once I ponder and gather my thoughts a bit more.