Seeing Progress in Little Ways

This week marks the 7 week mark, which doesn't seem like a long time but in the eyes of a toddler it can be a very long time. Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday I spend time with toddlers and parents either at the toddler group or at the drop in session with Bridging the Gap. 

The first week, some of the toddlers wouldn't even look at me and they clung to their mums. But since I have been a steady face every week, they are starting to get more comfortable with me. This week was a milestone when multiple toddlers played with me and wanted to sing next to me at the different sessions. I can see their growth in just 7 weeks and it gives me hope that just as they are getting comfortable with me over time, I too will become more and more comfortable with my life here in Glasgow and my place in the different work I do. 

On Tuesday one of my favorite kids, and yes I do have a few favorites, who is really quiet even said goodbye to me and was laughing and screaming with happiness during the running around time of toddlers group. Another one of my favorites is a little baby and the first week she wouldn't leave her mom and over the last few weeks she has been crawling on her own and playing on her own. Last week she still wanted her mum in view while playing but this week she was completely on her own crawling around playing near me, not even looking at her mum. It was a proud moment and I can't wait for moments like these even if they seem small. A lot of these kids are foreign and don't speak much English but to see them playing with each other and laughing is a wonderful sight!

Blessings, 

Julie

A Little Bit of Awkwardness....

I have shared a passage from d365 which is a daily devotional website. I read it the other day and thought it related very well to my situation so far: 

"We have all felt like the outsider at some point in our lives. When we feel lonely or isolated, we want so badly for someone on the inside to come close and draw us in.  This scenario that Mark tells us about is a reality that many of us live everyday; and it becomes most real at lunchtime. Whether you are 15 or 55 years old, there is always a debate about where to sit and who to sit with at lunch. It is easy to sit with our friends, but look around — is anyone isolated? Jesus teaches us that to love one another is to be in relationship, no matter what. We may disagree, we may think that we have nothing in common with someone, but Jesus tells us to look past that. See beyond the differences and seek one another out. Follow the example of Christ, risk a little awkwardness or ridicule, and see how you connect to your fellow human beings, your brothers and sisters in Christ."

Ashley Lytle

Since I have only been here a month I have felt isolated and have wondered who to sit next to at lunch or who to converse with during the drop-in or mum and tots group. I have had to tell myself to just jump in and sit next to someone even if it is a little awkward at first. I have met a lot of people at the drop-in that do not speak English fluently and it has been difficult to have a conversation. I have had to go out of my comfort zone to build relationships. But I always remind myself that this what my year is all about. I am here to build relationships, to help others feel comfortable at lunch, to see beyond our language differences or cultural differences and to learn from one another. I am so grateful for the opportunities I have had thus far and I am learning each day from the community around me.

Blessings,
Julie

A Normal Work Week

I am sure many of you are wondering other than hiking and visiting beautiful places what have I been spending all my time doing. Here is a look into the life of Julie as a YAV each week!

On Mondays all the YAVs and our Scottish volunteer Iona meet with our site coordinator Lynn. We talk about highs and lows of the week, what we have been doing over the weekend and we check in with her to make sure that everything is going well. On some Mondays we meet separately, one on one, and other Mondays we meet as a group and usually get to listen to another person or speaker come in and tell us about their organization. Last week we had the pleasure of visiting Eleanor at Wevolution. Wevolution is an amazing organization that helps groups of women become self reliant and allows them the space and training to become a group, think of an income generating idea to do each week, and give them the skills to make that creation happen. These women are then able to have a social circle, somewhere and something specific to do one day each week, and they learn to save money and be accountable. Wevolution took their model from self-help groups from India and are trying to spread the model across Glasgow. It was really great to hear from Eleanor and to see their work space and how they were inspired. Here is a link to check out if you are interested: WEvolution

On Tuesdays I spend my morning with a mum and tots group. Each week we set out toys for them to play with, we do an arts and crafts time, a run around time with hulahoops and balls, and a singing time. It is amazing how many little kids songs I have learned in the last 4 weeks. I wasn't aware there were so many, but Little Green Frog is probably my favorite. Maybe if everyone is lucky I will do a video blog of me singing it! In the afternoon on Tuesdays I have a meeting with my supervisor John to talk about my work placement and how things are going and then at 3pm I help out with the children's choir. The Children's choir is run through a program called Givin' It Laldie, which comes from "Gie it Laldie", which means to do something with gusto in the context of music. The organization has 8 different musical groups all designed to give people music to build confidence. The children's choir helps bridge the sectarianism between two of the primary schools in the Gorbals area. For the first half of the school year they practice at the non-denominational primary school and the other half the year they practice at the catholic primary school. The kids are encouraged to make friends with people from the other school. Here is a link for more information about the choir: Gorbals children's choir

On Wednesdays I get to work in the community cafe that is located in the church. We serve soup, tea, coffee, sandwiches, and treats. It is a great time to talk with the customers sitting in the cafe and learn about their lives. There are a lot of regulars and it is a great time to learn about the community.

Thursdays are a crazy day with Bridging the Gaps Drop In in the morning and first part of the afternoon and then in the afternoon I go to the Bridging the Gap Transition in the Schools and then in the evening I help with a drama group in the church. The Drop In is at a community center in the Gorbals area and it is a place for people to come and meet other people, play games and do different activities, and get a meal. There are activities for both the children and the adults. I work with the kids team and a lot of the parents on Tuesday also come to the Drop in on Thursday.

The school transition works with primary 7s who will enter into secondary school the next fall. The kids will go from a small primary school to the largest catholic secondary school in Europe so it can be very overwhelming. The program that Bridging the Gap runs takes secondary 4s and pairs them with primary 7s to make the transition easier. The drama club at night is just 10 kids and we are working towards a show every 3 weeks. We do mime exercises with them and little scenes each week.

On Fridays I get the morning off and then in the afternoon there is another mum and tots group. I love all the work I am doing and all the new people I am meeting. It is never a dull moment in the Gorbals area!

Blessings,
Julie