Today at King's Harvest I as I arrived at King's Harvest I was informed
I would be working in a different place, the food line. I would be serving the
visitors food. Which wasn't too difficult, because for the green beans I was
serving, I only gave each person 1 scoop if they desired. While serving the
food I was able to talk casually to the people in line and ask them about their
day. Many were reluctant to share with me; however, some did share, which was
very nice. I was disappointed that many of them acted like I was from I
different planet. It seems that the people their act as if everyone serving
them were rich, which stinks because I can relate in a way to what they are
feeling. As a child my mother never had a good job, although I could have lived
with my father and he would have provided, I always stayed with my mom; she
needed me more. Never the less my father did pay child support but that went to
paying the bills. Which in turn made us rely on food stamps, and I can remember
as a child waiting to see if my mom’s card went through, or when they changed
to ebt cards that it was
approved.
While at King's Harvest today I feel like I did
experience some stereotyping, just due to the fact that I was the one helping
out, not the one getting help. People assumed that since I was wearing nicer
clothes and things of that nature. Also I was talking with another volunteers
that I had met named Jan, she was asking why I was there and things of that
nature about me. Unfortunately, after telling her I had to do this for a grade
she grew upset. She said to me, "Not to upset you but that isn't
volunteering if you are doing it for a grade, that is voluentold. It defeats
the whole purpose of volunteering, you know?" To tell the truth I agreed
with her; although a little disheartening it's true. According to
dictionary.com a volunteer is, "A person who freely offers to take
part in an enterprise or undertake a task". Although this is a service
project, it stinks to have the lingering reward of a grade on your mind while
serving. However, on another concept I observed today was mindless
listening and mindful listening. As I spoke to many of the visitors, many of
them dismissed my greeting with mindless listening. I don’t take this to
offense though, I assume that many of them think that no one truly does care
about how they are; however, I was genuinely concerned. On the other hand some
people did use mindful listening when I spoke to them. As I spoke they greeted
me with smiles and were happy to talk, hoping that I truly did care; which made
the whole day for me; just knowing that someone knows that I do care about
them.
Today
was a little bit more difficult than most after hearing someone criticize my
volunteering. Instead of using mindless listening on Jan I personally used
mindful listening and her opinion struck home with me and I definitely saw the
truth in it. Another important thing I learned today was that just because a
person wears nice clothes it doesn’t mean that are rich, or vice versa for that
matter. Although it didn’t feel to great being stereotyped, it is true that I
am better off then them. For future reverence I will take that into
consideration, and not to judge people by their clothing choices or outside
appearance as much. Only one blog to go, if the next blog proves to be anything
like this it will end at the climax, and keep me hungry.
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