Hey all,

I thought I’d kick this blog off with a little Spanish lesson. (Don’t panic — it’ll be quick and painless). For our first class, we’ll learn just one word: convivencia, meaning coexistence or living together. Even those of you who took a year or two of Spanish way back when might recognize the roots of this word: con, meaning with, and vivir, meaning to live. Convivencia is an essential part of the shelter’s function and has been a crucial theme throughout my time as a volunteer. Since it doubles as my workspace, it can be easy to forget that FM4 is first and foremost a home, and a home not only shapes those who reside in it but also vice versa. Housing anywhere from 70 to 120 people at a time, FM4 takes . The lack of privacy can take a toll on the migrants and exacerbate tensions. The diffusion of responsibility can leave shared spaces looking... rather unpleasant. The incessant presence of procedures and rules can damage some guests’ sense of independence and agency. This is why we constantly remind the FM4 community of the responsibility we share to care for the shelter, but convivencia sometimes requires a hard hand and an unwavering commitment to equal application of the expectations. Lately, I’ve had to respond to various breaches of shelter rules with written warnings, leaving several residents one step away from expulsion, and those shifts are certainly my least favorite. However, any sense of partiality, bias, or laziness when it comes to applying the rules can rip a hole in the fabric of the community. Though it leaves me with a heavy heart (and unfond memories of uncomfortable interactions), the enforcement aspect of my role has certainly helped me grow as a leader and better understand how to facilitate bonding. Something I must remember in this final month is that, those very rules and principles are what allows us to dance in the kitchen, sing karaoke, and learn from each other’s stories.

It’s been a tough few weeks, but I haven’t spent all my time playing bad cop. In fact, I promised an update on my expanded role in the shelter, so here it is! I struck a deal between the areas of social action and publicity/content creation, allowing me to take on a hybrid role where I’m both collecting content to promote FM4’s work and actively connecting with both local and international institutions. This week working in social action, I got to give a tour of the shelter to a group of fellow Americans! I must have answered 40 questions and ended with a sore throat, but it was a fun way to showcase all the amazing work FM4 does and encourage more folks to volunteer. (Not to mention, it was a perfect coincidence that I, the native English speaker, debuted my role that very same day). Also on the docket is a radio interview with a local station, an opportunity I certainly did not expect. If I’m able, I’ll be sure to publish a link to the episode. On the social media side, I’m collecting photos and videos for Instagram reels that will illustrate the parts of FM4 that naturally get less visibility. It’s important for the community to see that FM4 is more than just a place to eat and sleep — there are so many activities, classes, and other services offered each day in the shelter. This new type of work has been a welcome break from the day-to-day chaos of the shelter.

That’s all for now, folks. Thanks for reading, and I’ll be back in touch soon with more updates (including some pretty awesome trips I’ll be taking in November).

Best,

Aaron Benito