1st Anniversary

This past week was a busy one. At my CTC, we hosted an event to celebrate our first anniversary. We were a bit disorganized at first, and I was rather stressed for several days (the most stress I’ve experienced here!). However, everything came together at the last minute, and I was rather proud of the outcome. Everyone worked hard to prepare the center for all the visitors. We cleaned the CTC, decorated, set up chairs, discussed the procedure. Then everyone went home to get dressed, and when everyone returned, they were all so elegante! We were all proud and excited. We knew what this anniversary meant; it was finally an opportunity to promote our services and really show the community what a great resource the CTC is.

I had to say a few words for the ceremony, so I drafted a short speech beforehand. I’ve gotten used to speaking in front of people in spontaneous Spanish, but I wanted to say something special. During the event, I was a bit nervous, but I think it came out all right. So, here goes my speech (translation below):

Buenas tardes, señoras y señores estimados. Gracias por venir aquí. Su
presencia es muy importante para nosotros todos.

Yo tengo mucho suerte para vivir aquí in esta comunidad. Estoy
agradecida para trabajar en este gran CTC. Gracias a ustedes por aceptarme en su
comunidad.

El CTC ha logrado mucho en este año pasado. Ciertamente, este CTC es un
buen ejemplo de oportunidad y progreso. En el año que viene, espero que logremos
mucho más.

Queremos implementar más programas, más charlas y más talleres. Sin
embargo, necesitamos su ayuda. [Nuestro pueblo] tiene muchos recursos y buena
gente. Juntos, nosotros podemos movilizar la comunidad para hacer este CTC uno
de lo mejor en el pais. Si tiene un idea, un tema muy importante para la
comunidad, compartalo, y ¡lo hablemos! Aproveche el CTC, su CTC.

Este CTC es como una familia. ¡Juntenos y trabajemos juntos! Gracias
por el privilegio para ser una parte de esta familia.

And now the translation:

Good afternoon, esteemed ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you for coming here. Your presence is very important to all of us. I
am very lucky to live here in this community. I am grateful to work in this
great CTC. Thank you all for accepting me in your community.

The CTC has accomplished a lot in the past year. Certainly, this CTC is a
great example of opportunity and progress. In the coming year, I hope that we
accomplish much more.

We want to implement more programs, more talks, and more workshops.
However, we need your help. [Our town] has many resources and good people. We
can mobilize the community in order to make this CTC one of the best in the
country. If you have an idea, an issue very important to the community, share it
and let’s talk about it. Take advantage of the CTC, your CTC.

This CTC is like a family. Join us and let's work together! Thank you for the privilege to be a part of this family.

Now that I’ve translated it, it doesn’t sound as brilliant as I had hoped, but I’m still working on my Spanish. I think I have a long way to go before I can master the sophisticated literary manipulation of the language. Ah, one day.

So here I sit, glad that the event turned out great. Now, I must move on to my other project – my diagnostic report and presentation. I have a lot of work to do, and our conference is in a week!

Making posters!

Damas muy elegantes

My speech

Speaking with PC Volunteer Leader Kathy