hn21.

this is more a post for my fellow volunteers who may or may not be experiencing the same thing, a means for them to weigh in on this topic if they wish. however, you may get something out of this as well as someone back home, but regardless, you have been prepared in advance.

what is the deal here with lack of perfectionism. now i know i can be anal sometimes, in fact i have been quite obsessive compulsive about certain things in work or school environments, but i have never experienced such a lack of desire for things to be of quality. its not even that a majority of people feel this way here, it seems like its everyone. nothing, no object or effort or project needs to have perfection anywhere. its feels as though everyone in this country went through school and never learned to color within the lines. or good penmanship. or drawing straight lines. i have seen so many things done 90-95%, with no effort to reach completion. if something is built, it may be built well, painted, and polished, but the garbage and refuse from construction is left lying around the site with no regard or worry. if something is painted, and it may be painted professionally with not a single blemish, you can count on the floor and the walls to be painted as well. no plastic or newspaper even considered to protect the surroundings.

maybe its a developing world type of thing. maybe with all the hunger and poverty, there's little room to fret about perfection. but i don't get it. its as if personal pride in one's own work doesn't exist. or standards are different. or people just don't give a shit all around. but it's hard for me, because i want things done well and done right, and instead i get things done alright and somewhat correctly, but in the end i get screwed with the damage control/clean-up/touch-up/whatever. ideas? should i just shut my mouth, suck it up, and forget my standards? maybe i should just lower my expectations and forget about it.