Comparison

I can't help but compare this summer in Russia with last summer in Guatemala. Here are the main differences:
1. My organization here (CCS) puts a lot of effort into teaching me about Russia's culture. We have weekly lectures on a variety of cultural or historical topics and we also have weekly learning-and-fun-filled field trips. They also provided some Russian language classes. I have also paid for extra language instruction and have taken other trips during my free time. CCS has really made my time in Russia educational. When I was in Guatemala, the organization (GCP) did not offer formal learning opportunities. That definitely doesn't mean I didn't learn while in Guate. The learning I did was a result of experience and of asking my own questions.
2. I do so much less work here. With the GCP, I was able to put in 40 or 45 hours of volunteering per week. Here in Russia I do about 15. It's kind of funny that I do so little volunteering here. our time is limited, of course, by all the other stuff they have planned for us. Also, while I was in Guatemala, I had the opportunity to spend extra time (weekends or overnights, if I wanted) helping at Casa Jackson, the clinic for malnourished kids. Here it is much more difficult to arrange independent volunteering. Whenever I go to a placement with CCS, it is with a group of volunteers and a Russian translator. I read in one of my handbooks that I might be allowed to arrange extra volunteering, but it is a lot of work because of the language barrier and because I'd have to find transportation to the facilities. Work and home are much farther apart in Russia than they were in Guatemala. It might be possible that I could volunteer more, but I'm a bit too lazy to actual try. So here I am, working less than part time.
3. I feel like the people I helped in Guatemala had far greater need than those I'm helping in Russia. That is a crude statement. I know that in Russia, the women at the hospital benefit greatly from the therapeutic socialization and artsy work we do with them, and I know that the walks and hugs the babies get from us at the orphanage might help them stave off psychological problems in their adulthood. However, the kids I worked with in Guatemala were literally starving. Consider Maslow's hierarchy of needs. People need food before they can appreciate or even benefit from socialization. I don't think need is black and white, but I cannot deny the overwhelming feeling that volunteers are more necessary in Guatemala and with the GCP.
Those things being said (and rather thoughtlessly so), I kind of, sort of conclude that I like last summer better. I love Russia. It's interesting. I am doing good work. I am having lots of fun and seeing beautiful things. I am learning. But last summer was all of those things, and then some.
I apologize to anyone who sees this as the unappreciative, crude hogwash it is.
Oops.