A large part of our project involves e-mailing or calling various people, organizations, and places to set up meetings and interviews. Most people have responded to our inquiries and have set up meetings with us. However, as we have learned this week, even if someone schedules a meeting, that doesn't necessarily mean that they will show up to the meeting.
The first lesson in flexibility took place this Wednesday and also involved a lesson in language. Rebekah had set up a meeting with Cesar, the owner of Nazca restaurant for Wednesday afternoon. Unfortunately, Rebekah was unable to attend the meeting, so Nora and I visiting the Peruvian restaurant ourselves. We arrived at Nazca, asked the hostess where we could find Cesar, and was told that he would not be in until later that evening. The hostess informed us that Cesar was very busy and probably forgot about our meeting and that if we could not wait for him (which we couldn't), we could interview the chef instead. One catch- the chef, Marcos, does not speak English. We decided to give it a go with our classroom passable Spanish and see what happens. Luckily, the interview went well, and my Spanish abilities were better than I expected and I was able to have a pretty productive conversation with Marcos (Nora used her smiling and nodding abilities to the fullest).
The second lesson in flexibility happened that the Nueva Luz Urban Resource Center. We had set up a meeting with a man named Nathan. When we arrived at Nueva Luz, the secretary paged Nathan, but he was nowhere to be found. After waiting for a while, a woman named Erin came up to us and told us that she didn't know where Nathan was, that his phone was turned off, but that we could interview her instead. So, rolling with the punches, we sat down with Erin. Erin is a recent college graduate and a member of Americorps, an organization that will partially pay of college student's loans after they complete a year of community service. Erin works mainly with HIV/AIDs patients, and we learned some of the challenges HIV positive people face in the community.
Even though things don't always go according to plan, we have had some great experiences. If we have learned anything this week, it's how to be flexible.
Being and flexible and profound at the Shaker Lakes Nature Center
The first lesson in flexibility took place this Wednesday and also involved a lesson in language. Rebekah had set up a meeting with Cesar, the owner of Nazca restaurant for Wednesday afternoon. Unfortunately, Rebekah was unable to attend the meeting, so Nora and I visiting the Peruvian restaurant ourselves. We arrived at Nazca, asked the hostess where we could find Cesar, and was told that he would not be in until later that evening. The hostess informed us that Cesar was very busy and probably forgot about our meeting and that if we could not wait for him (which we couldn't), we could interview the chef instead. One catch- the chef, Marcos, does not speak English. We decided to give it a go with our classroom passable Spanish and see what happens. Luckily, the interview went well, and my Spanish abilities were better than I expected and I was able to have a pretty productive conversation with Marcos (Nora used her smiling and nodding abilities to the fullest).
The second lesson in flexibility happened that the Nueva Luz Urban Resource Center. We had set up a meeting with a man named Nathan. When we arrived at Nueva Luz, the secretary paged Nathan, but he was nowhere to be found. After waiting for a while, a woman named Erin came up to us and told us that she didn't know where Nathan was, that his phone was turned off, but that we could interview her instead. So, rolling with the punches, we sat down with Erin. Erin is a recent college graduate and a member of Americorps, an organization that will partially pay of college student's loans after they complete a year of community service. Erin works mainly with HIV/AIDs patients, and we learned some of the challenges HIV positive people face in the community.
Even though things don't always go according to plan, we have had some great experiences. If we have learned anything this week, it's how to be flexible.
Being and flexible and profound at the Shaker Lakes Nature Center
I think that flexibility is one of the biggest challenges of senior projects because the people we work with have such hectic schedules that plans can change very quickly. I think that this is the best introduction to the working world that we could get because this is very different from the classroom setting we are used to. I am glad that you guys are problem solving and finding ways to get your work done despite other people. I am curious as to why you guys are interviewing people in the community. I know that Esperanza works with the Hispanic community in Cleveland, so are you trying to get to know the community better? Are your interviews part of some larger project with the goal of building community in Cleveland? I have to say that I was slightly surprised to learn from your blog that you guys did not expect to have to conduct and interview in Spanish. Since Esperanza works with the Hispanic community, wouldn’t a lot of your interviews be done in Spanish as well as English?
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