Time is more than money.
In America, we have the habit of saying “time is money.” As it turns out, time is far more valuable than money because we never really know how much we have…so we better not squander it. It also makes it the greatest gift. Choosing to spend time with people we love, or people we don’t know, can add incredible meaning and memories far more valuable than any currency. Those who understand this are the best people to be around because they won’t take you, or the time you give, for granted.
Say what you mean, when you mean it
I constantly met new people — from my village, extended host family members, through other volunteers, and when I was travelling. Sometimes we stayed in touch, but for many meetings our connection only lasted a few minutes and I never saw them again. For this reason, I had to really capitalize on the moments that I had with everyone I met. If I liked a girl’s shoes, I said it; if someone spoke eloquently, I said it; if I appreciated that someone held the door for me, I said it.
There were moments when people would randomly compliment me, which how I came to realize to good it feels, how it can turn your whole day around.
This was not only important in making the most impact in micro-moments, but for volunteers, too. We often found ourselves sucked into work or village life, focusing on our own successes and struggles. In truth, we were all struggling with different challenges all the time. A “normal” day was never truly normal. And all it took was a sexist comment or eating the wrong thing to make it a very bad day. So reaching out randomly just to say hi or check in became essential, not only for my mental health, but for my fellow volunteers.
Dads are dads — the world over.
From the time I was little up through now, my dad has always pointed out the moon, planets, and constellations whenever we were out at night. It always made me feel connected to him as he enthusiastically shared the wonders that left him in awe. I felt the wonder through him.
Which is why it gave me a sense of comfort, of home, when my host dad did the same thing one night walking through the village.
Simply looking above nonchalantly, pointing up at the moon and giving its phase, as if he has done it time and time again, perhaps with one of his two boys. It gave me the overwhelming sense of unity. No matter how different our beliefs, cultures, and lives are, we’re all still human beings at the core. And that core is surprisingly uniform.
The smallest impact can have the largest ripple…
…you just may never get to see it. That has been one of the hardest things about my Peace Corps experience. From start to finish, I have always been looking for a way to quantify if I really made a difference, even a small one. Were the last two years away from my family, friends, and comforts really worth it? What if the lives of the people I met in Morocco went the same way regardless of if I’d never come at all?
It’s taken time and space, but I’m slowly excepting that I’ll never truly understand how much of an impact I did or didn’t have.
The truth is that Morocco left a great impact on me and I planted seeds. Seeds that I hope will grow into something beautiful, whether I know it or not. Whether it was encouraging the girl who dreams of studying in America or helping bring park rangers into the youth center to expand students career ideas, I tried to focus on facilitating opportunities others could pursue. Perhaps something took root.
E. Rae Barnes 