Yes, another span of many weeks since my last blog yet again. Sorry world!
I´ve had lots of visitors lately and have more coming my way today. The Director of PC Paraguay, Michael, came by for an afternoon with our new Director of Security, Gustavo. They wanted to see what campo life was like from a security perspective, and quickly discovered no problems where I live! We sent them off with a big crate of delicious pineapples, so they were happy as clams.
The very next week, my new boss visited. His name is Fernando and he´s a really nice guy. Its been hard not having a boss for the past 3-4 months, but Fernando is hitting the ground running! He and our coordinator Chris (a volunteer that stays on for an extra year to work in Asunción with our my coop/municipality group) also enjoyed my community. We had a good meeting with my coop president, VP, tresurer, and my contact. I asked Fernando and Chris to remind my coop boys that I´m not here to work by myself, I´m here to work WITH them. Since then, they´ve been a little better about including me in on conversations regarding the coop, which I appreciate.
Speaking of my coop, we´re moving right along! We recently bought land in Guayaibi, which is about 11km (7ish miles) from our current "office," and have hopes to develop a credit and savings extention of the coop within the next 2-3 years. There are no banks in Guayaibi, so this could be a huge opportunity for us! The only problem? We don´t know a thing about credits! Our members get money for their pineapple and banana only, and its from a 3rd party. In fact, we can´t even get some of our members to pay that 3rd party back! I´m hoping they´ll let me help them plan this out a little and we can start a system of credits and savings where I live first as a test model. We´ll see what happens though!
The coop has had a lot of problems with keeping accountants. One was killed in a tragic car accident, so we retrieved everything from his home in Santani (about 40km from where we live) and hired a new lady that lives about 3 hours away. As you may infer, the education system is so poor that its very hard to find qualified people locally. This woman was kind of sketchy by my standards. Late 20s but dressed like a 14 year old. She worked for one week and the coop paid her 2.000.000 Gs which is more than a lot of people make in 2 MONTHS of work! She hit on socios and my family members. Then to top it off, one random Sunday she was at the treasurer´s house (my host dad´s) at 7am to ask for a loan from the coop. A loan for what? Not too sure, but because my guys didn´t want to say no, they gave her some cash. Now, no one can get in touch with her. She has information we need to pass onto another accountant if she´s not working with us longer, but she´s MIA. But honestly, that´s Paraguay for you! They´re probably the #1 country in being sneaky business associates! Today we´re hoping to find yet another replacement. What a mess!
English class has been going well, although I canceled call last Thursday due to Valentine´s Day and yesterday as well because I´ve got a headcold and can barely think. But my girls are enjoying themselves. They know all about family, colors, numbers, and body parts. I´m hoping to hold a more formal class starting next month. The first day of school for kids here is Monday, but again... the education system is so tarrible that they won´t start learning quite yet. The teachers will make them clean the school, although my family, a few neighbors, and I cleaned the yard at least. Normally, they just let it get overgrown for 3 months and make the kids do all the work. Its horrible!
Speaking of education, and maybe I´m so interested in it because mom, dad and Carolyn all started out as teachers, but I digress... I was recently helping a friend of mine that´s studying to be a teacher. She was working from a social science book published in 1980. The world has changed so much since then! She was also given an assignment to present to the class the boarders of Central American countries. BUT she´d NEVER seen a map before and there was hardly anything in her textbook. I gave her my world map and taughter her how to use it. But seriously, the teachers aren´t trained well so of course the children aren´t either. DISASTER!
I finally got my women´s group of the ground as well. Meeting #1 was a hit when you consider how many ladies showed up (25!!!!) but a miss when it came to communication. I´ve kind of been a bad volunteer and put the guarani studies on the back burner, and it showed! Afterwards, my host dad told me the following week wouldn´t be as successful because women don´t know how to go to meetings. I was all confident thinking he was just being an ignorant male and that women can do it just as well as men, but he was right! Last Saturday, meeting #2, I had a whopping 5 women. Afterwards, my host dad couldn´t wait to give me the I-told-you-so talk. He clarified that women have no patience here, but I also can´t do a women´s committee if no one wants to participate to get the ball rolling. I´ll give it another shot this Saturday of course, so wish me luck!
Tonight I´ll be hosting 10-15 volunteers from our area. We´ll be cramped in my house, but it´s a good opportunity to network and share ideas. I hope that I can travel a little and do some business "consulting" in other communities as well. I´m fixing 5 pizzas for lunch and burgers (and soy burgers) for dinner. I´m looking forward to hosting, but will it really be fun if I can´t make that famous spinach dip??? Then I´m hoping to hit the volleyball court down the street for some friendly competition. Should def. be fun!
Our radio station will also start in two days. They could only give us a 30 minute slot on Friday mornings, but I´m hoping once we build some street cred and everyone wants to listen to the Nortes, then we can get more airtime. But we´ll see!
I guess I went on a date Sunday? Its really popular for young people to go to what I would call a "swimmin´ hole." (That phrase just reminded everyone I´m from West Virginia I think!) Anyway, Juan and I went and brought along his fun 18 year old sister and a girlfriend of his brother. We drank beer, played some serious 2-on-2 volleyball (and yes, Juan and I DOMINATED. They thought I had never played before, but clearly they don´t know about my days as a Hamilton Jr. High Wildcat!) We then, fully clothed of course, went swimming. I didn´t see one girl in a bathing suit! Most Paraguayans don´t really know how to swim since its a landlocked country and pools aren´t popular, but it was HILARIOUS to watch them try. Watching Juan was like watching Zach Braff in Garden State. Good clean entertainment! We´re already making plans for this weekend and have vowed to play more volley. Rumor has it that my grandma has an extra net in her house somewhere, and if we can find it, we´re going to install it right in my front yard. Where´s Carl Harnish when you need him?
That´s pretty much all to report for now! In March I have a meeting with my contact in Asunción, so that should be helpful for work purposes. I´m also hoping to have a bit of a birthday bash mixing my American buds with Paraguayan amigos in April. Maybe even Kyle Bohman will make it for the festivities! Then its Brazil in May with Mom and Costa Rica in July with Dad. Time is FLYING! The end of Feb is actually 9 months. CRAZINESS!
Here are the currents...
BOOK: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (although I also read Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold and Extremely Loud and Incredibily Close by Jonathan Safran Foer recently too)
MUSIC: the iPod has been on shuffle for a long time...
GUARANI: adding ´i to anything means that it´s small. For example, roga´i is a little house (roga=house), mita´i (little kid), tomate´i (little tomato), etc.
Thanks for always thinking of me folks, because I think of you guys all the time!!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Rainy days and little activity
My dad called the other morning and mentioned that I hadn´t written in my blog for quite some time. “I guess you´re kind of bored and nothing exciting is happening?” he asked, and to be honest… he´s totally right! Its been completely tranquillo here due to the holidays, and I´m sorry I don´t have more enthralling adventures to report!
We did kill a pig for New Years which was pretty great. It was my second pig killing, but after you get over the shock of your first... the second is kind of fun! I´ve still refused to take an active roll in cutting anything, but I did get some fantastic pictures! I told them the next time, I´m all in so we´ll see if they remember.
Other than that it´s just been kind of rainy, and when it rains the world stops. I used to think that was horrible, but I LOVE IT! It gives me a great excuse to be a little lazy and just stay in bed and catch up on some reading if I feel like it.
I will have my first visitor next month!! I´m really excited that my great former (and perhaps future some day?) roommate is making his way down from his new home in Florida! I wish I could tell you that Kyle and I just can´t live without each other, and although that is somewhat true, he actually works for American Airlines and its a lot easier (and cheaper!) for him to fly down. He´s promised many visits while I´m here, so let´s make sure he keeps his word!
My other fantastic roommate from college, Emily, is also joining the Peace Corps family in February. She´s moving to Malawi, Africa to be in their Environmental Education program. I´m slightly jealous because Malawi is right next to Mozambique where our good friend Zachery Scott is a Peace Corps Non-governmental organization AIDS volunteer. I tell Emily that she´ll have a great time, but who knows what Africa is like? I love it down here, and we´ll all just have to stay posted to her adventure too.
As for work, my 3 other PC neighbors and I managed to get a free show out of the biggest radio station in my area. We´re planning to start next month. It will be a one hour show where we´ll talk about everything from global warming to what´s going on in our neighborhoods. We´ll play any kind of music we want (although I don´t think Paraguayans are ready for any of the Microwave Mixes, right Cathy?) and we just chose our theme song. Don´t judge, because its totally musically based, but it´s Destiny Child´s Bootylicious! Should be a lot of fun, and if you plan on visiting... also plan on being on the show with us!
I´m doing two, 8 day youth camps as well. The days I´ve planned all by myself involve appreciation for nature and trees. I figured that would be more appropriate since kids between 5 and 11 probably don´t want to talk about computerized accounting methods or marketing tactics!
I recently made a trip to Asunción and trekked home with 8 packages! A BIG thank you to Dad and Carolyn, Laurie Sheldon and her family, Stephie, Nicole, Uncle Dave and Aunt Mary Jane. I absolutely loved each pacakge and my family and neighborhood kids were equally excited! Thank you guys for always thinking of me, and as usual... keep them coming! They brighten my weeks! But I am sad to report to Kely that the puppy he sent has not yet made it. I hope it makes it, but it´s been in that box for over a month now!
I´ve been hanging out more with my host mom´s brother, Juan. He´s the one that has been interested since my first weekend here, so we´ll see where things go. He´s a really good guy, and it´s just so typically West Virginian that I may eventually be romantically involved with my “uncle,” right?
Well I´m on coop duty right now so I at least better look like I´m working on coop related activities. Blogs are first though! I love and miss you all. Please continue the emails, phone calls and packages!
PICTURES UPDATED TOO!
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2280806390102107902moXAVH?vhost=good-times
We did kill a pig for New Years which was pretty great. It was my second pig killing, but after you get over the shock of your first... the second is kind of fun! I´ve still refused to take an active roll in cutting anything, but I did get some fantastic pictures! I told them the next time, I´m all in so we´ll see if they remember.
Other than that it´s just been kind of rainy, and when it rains the world stops. I used to think that was horrible, but I LOVE IT! It gives me a great excuse to be a little lazy and just stay in bed and catch up on some reading if I feel like it.
I will have my first visitor next month!! I´m really excited that my great former (and perhaps future some day?) roommate is making his way down from his new home in Florida! I wish I could tell you that Kyle and I just can´t live without each other, and although that is somewhat true, he actually works for American Airlines and its a lot easier (and cheaper!) for him to fly down. He´s promised many visits while I´m here, so let´s make sure he keeps his word!
My other fantastic roommate from college, Emily, is also joining the Peace Corps family in February. She´s moving to Malawi, Africa to be in their Environmental Education program. I´m slightly jealous because Malawi is right next to Mozambique where our good friend Zachery Scott is a Peace Corps Non-governmental organization AIDS volunteer. I tell Emily that she´ll have a great time, but who knows what Africa is like? I love it down here, and we´ll all just have to stay posted to her adventure too.
As for work, my 3 other PC neighbors and I managed to get a free show out of the biggest radio station in my area. We´re planning to start next month. It will be a one hour show where we´ll talk about everything from global warming to what´s going on in our neighborhoods. We´ll play any kind of music we want (although I don´t think Paraguayans are ready for any of the Microwave Mixes, right Cathy?) and we just chose our theme song. Don´t judge, because its totally musically based, but it´s Destiny Child´s Bootylicious! Should be a lot of fun, and if you plan on visiting... also plan on being on the show with us!
I´m doing two, 8 day youth camps as well. The days I´ve planned all by myself involve appreciation for nature and trees. I figured that would be more appropriate since kids between 5 and 11 probably don´t want to talk about computerized accounting methods or marketing tactics!
I recently made a trip to Asunción and trekked home with 8 packages! A BIG thank you to Dad and Carolyn, Laurie Sheldon and her family, Stephie, Nicole, Uncle Dave and Aunt Mary Jane. I absolutely loved each pacakge and my family and neighborhood kids were equally excited! Thank you guys for always thinking of me, and as usual... keep them coming! They brighten my weeks! But I am sad to report to Kely that the puppy he sent has not yet made it. I hope it makes it, but it´s been in that box for over a month now!
I´ve been hanging out more with my host mom´s brother, Juan. He´s the one that has been interested since my first weekend here, so we´ll see where things go. He´s a really good guy, and it´s just so typically West Virginian that I may eventually be romantically involved with my “uncle,” right?
Well I´m on coop duty right now so I at least better look like I´m working on coop related activities. Blogs are first though! I love and miss you all. Please continue the emails, phone calls and packages!
PICTURES UPDATED TOO!
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2280806390102107902moXAVH?vhost=good-times
Friday, December 28, 2007
picture update!
One, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Two, I have a ton of pictures but Webshots has given me a headache for the past month trying to upload just a few! After a many frustrated hours spent here, I finally got a few up. They don´t have captions though... so here´s a recap.
There is a picture of traditional PYan dance and attire. (little sister Romina in the middle)
If Romina has white on or people are in rain gear, it was at her end of the school reception. She got #1 student in her class for the third year in a row! As a reward, her parents bought her a COMPUTER! She is hands down the only almost 9 year old in the campo in the ENTIRE country to get a computer!
Christmas celerbations here happen Christmas Eve. You stay up until midnight drinking beer and then set off fireworks, give everyone hugs and kisses, eat a big meal and go to bed. If you want to have love in the next year, you wear red. I wore a little to humor them.
Its also pineapple time so there is one pictures of the 18-wheeler that pulled in to take our pineapples to Argentina.
Also a few other comic pics like Yoni getting his head stuck in a chair and their version of deocrating for Christmas. Not at ALL like ours!
Love you guys and shoot me an email and let me know you were holidays were swell!
Paraguay Tres
OR
http://travel.webshots.com/album/561913931RaouaE?vhost=travel&start=12
Two, I have a ton of pictures but Webshots has given me a headache for the past month trying to upload just a few! After a many frustrated hours spent here, I finally got a few up. They don´t have captions though... so here´s a recap.
There is a picture of traditional PYan dance and attire. (little sister Romina in the middle)
If Romina has white on or people are in rain gear, it was at her end of the school reception. She got #1 student in her class for the third year in a row! As a reward, her parents bought her a COMPUTER! She is hands down the only almost 9 year old in the campo in the ENTIRE country to get a computer!
Christmas celerbations here happen Christmas Eve. You stay up until midnight drinking beer and then set off fireworks, give everyone hugs and kisses, eat a big meal and go to bed. If you want to have love in the next year, you wear red. I wore a little to humor them.
Its also pineapple time so there is one pictures of the 18-wheeler that pulled in to take our pineapples to Argentina.
Also a few other comic pics like Yoni getting his head stuck in a chair and their version of deocrating for Christmas. Not at ALL like ours!
Love you guys and shoot me an email and let me know you were holidays were swell!
Paraguay Tres
OR
http://travel.webshots.com/album/561913931RaouaE?vhost=travel&start=12
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Saludos a Todos!
Well crew, it’s been a few weeks and I apologize for leaving you on the edge of your seat! I mean, what kind of crazy, wonderful, awkward things are going on in PY with Beva?? No worries, its update time for all of you bloggers!
I was away from site for 12 days… which was fun and exhausting. Every year Peace Corps organizes a Thanksgiving weekend for all the volunteers. The festivity is always held at a great hotel in the southern part of the country, near Encarnación. The place completely reminded me of Jackson’s Mill in West Virginia, but with 3 pools and no bunk beds. But regardless of my student council flashbacks, it was a lot of fun. It was kind of like Animal House meets Earnest Goes to Camp. Whenever you get 130ish Nortes together with swimming, a Thanksgiving meal American style (I must report, no pumpkin roll though!), and a little bit of booze you’re bound to have an outstanding 48 hours. PC Paraguay delivered as usual, and since my group just hit our 6 month mark in country, it was definitely time for a reunion/vacation. I’m already looking forward to next year’s!
Being away from site for that long though, and speaking that much English, quickly took its toll on me. I love being with my friends and having the freedom to be Betsy (as opposed to be Beva, which is less outspoken and a little more wholesome than the Betsy you all know and love), but my life is here. My life is working within my community, studying and practicing the languages, and trying to figure out how I can help my neighbors improve their lives in a sustainable manner. A lot of my friends living in larger cities have no qualms leaving for a few days at a time because when they return, almost no one noticed they were out. I, however, live in very tiny, closely interwoven community. I’m gone for one morning and people start to ask questions! It’s hard to get back in the swing of things too. Language alone leaves me rapidly, not to mention potential projects and future plans discussed with community members that are forgotten after about 7 days if I’m not around. With that said, I probably won’t head back into Asunción until a required meeting with my bosses toward the end of January. It’s expensive and mentally taxing to leave, and for that… I’m sticking around for a long while!
Speaking of projects, I currently have a lot on my plate. Well, it isn’t on my plate quite yet so perhaps I should say I’m preparing to have a lot on my plate! Being a bit of an overachiever (just a bit, right??), I have a lot more planned for my two years, but I also don’t want to look around to see my hand in too many pots and many different activities not getting full attention. But to start it off lightly, I’ve got English classes for 2 hours, 2 days a week. The first class is this coming Tuesday, and I know I should have about 4 girls. If more kids show up, I’ll probably teach more classes. They’ll learn much better when I can give them more attention. Also, next Thursday I’ll have my first women’s committee meeting. I’m super excited about this one because I’ve wanted to do it since I stepped on PYan soil! The hardest thing with getting it off the ground is convincing the women that I’m not their boss and I don’t know more than them. It is their community and their committee, I’m just here to observe and help where I can. I’ve discussed potential projects with enough women that I know we’re going to start out talking about nutrition and making a good garden, and also cooking classes. I’d like to move onto an income generating project, but that will depend on interests. We just hit the peak of pineapple season here though, so if you have any good pineapple recipes… email them my way please! My nearest PC neighbors (Gariety—health, and Sam—education) and I will be starting a radio show on January 11. For those of you that can turn into Gauyaibi 100.7, be sure to listen Fridays from 7-8am (Although I don’t think our station has made it into PodCasts or Satelite Radio just yet! You can always call Steve Jobs and request it be added though!) The radio show will be fun and it will give us a great opportunity to talk about an array of topics from our sectors of business, health, and education, to more taboo topics like condom use, AIDS, gender and development, diversity including race and sexual preference such as homosexuality. Lots going on, but I still haven’t even touched my real interest which is the coop… but I think I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve for them still too!
Christmas and New Years Eve plans have yet to be determined. Pretty sure I´ll stick around here for Christmas because I want to see how they celebrate. Basically its nothing like ours from what I hear. Not a lot of gifts, NO Christmas tree, and a few pathetic lights here or there on a house. Should be interesting! I´d kind of like to be with my friends for NYE, but we´ll see. I´m kind of poor, so I´ll just probably make that call the week of.
There’s a little something that PY is famous for; it’s called chisme (pronounced: cheese-may) and it can be fun or damning, or both!. Chisme is basically rumors, and we’ve all been in 8th grade. We know some rumors are legit, and some rumors are just so people have something to talk about. I was recently clumped into the latter of the groups. I’ve been here in Guayaibi for a solid 3.5 months. I love my family here, and they have all taken me in as one of their own. Pablino and Raquel, although they are young parents themselves, have played all roles in my life from being my confidants and business contacts, to bug killers when my room is infested with wasps, and even mom and dad when they think I’m showing a little too much leg at a coop meeting. That’s why I was slightly overwhelmed when Raquel told me she heard some chisme among the other mom’s at school. Unbeknownst to me, these mothers claim that I’ve been having an affair with her husband, Pablino. I mean, REALLY? At least give me a cute member of my coop that is at well under the age of 35. But I quickly calmed as it wasn’t an interrogation session. Raquel knows better than anyone that it’s just not true. I spend the majority of my days with her, and speak mostly business or jokes with Pablino. I don’t think he’s heard the rumors, because she and I share everything practically and only about 15% makes it to Pablino. And past that, I’m a complete oddity in this community. They’re going to be talking about me regardless, and if some want to associate me with one of my 50 male, coop members, then naturally it would be the one that is closest in proximity and friendship. I can only wait to see what more chisme they can dream up over the next 21 months!
Paraguay also has a tradition previously mentioned in a former blog entry: dating days. Oh yes… every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday a boy will go over and drink terere (the weird weed like powdery mix I love and will never be able to live without after 2 years of Peace Corps!) with the girl’s family. This pretty much goes on for years until they get married. The potential couple is NEVER left alone, and if mom and pap don’t like the boy… he takes a hike! Well, I guess we could say I had my first potential suitor this week. I didn’t even realize it was Tuesday, but he came to Raquel’s asking if the Americana was around to drink terere. Like a good momma, she set us up and let us chat while she supervised from our outdoor kitchen. And the best thing? Not Raquel, Pablino (who actually works with the guy getting loans for land he’s developing next to our house!), nor myself know the poor young man’s name! He never asked me and I never asked him, so he’s just a mystery wannabe boyfriend! The whole thing made me laugh inside, although I showed him respect and chilled for a while drinking our mostly grass-like terere. Poor soul… we’ll see if he comes back, I don’t think I’m interested señor!
Big shout out to my care package masters! Mom, Cathy, Ming, Laurie Sheldon (Kely’s mom), Mary-David and George all win some major cool points! I mean, there are few things sweeter than knowing people care about you enough to send you goodies! Nicely done to all of you, although I think Cathy’s winning the record. She’s a little nutty for sending one 12lbs package followed by a 21lbs package internationally, but dammit do I love her! Please keep them coming because I can always use more things. With upcoming projects, I’m in need of more supply-like materials… so if you want to get a box together, shoot me an email. Thanks again for everything! Postcards are cool too… I ALWAYS need things to remind me of the states!
As for the favorites of the week…
BOOK: A Widow for One Year by John Irving (I’m kind of on an Irving kick)
ALBUM: Sam’s Town by The Killers… I couldn’t just pick one song this time!
AWKWARD MOMENT: thinking an 8 year old was talking about my varicose veins (thanks mom!) when really she was being secretive asking her mom if my shorts were cut by a pair of scissors (Nike made them that way!!)
REVELATION: Rio in May with mom, so look out world… I’m going to be bikini ready!
GUARANI WORD: kaigue (pronounced ka-ee-guay) which means without energy.
I’m without energy: Che kaigue
You’re without energy: Nde kaigue
He/she is without energy: Ikaigue
I was away from site for 12 days… which was fun and exhausting. Every year Peace Corps organizes a Thanksgiving weekend for all the volunteers. The festivity is always held at a great hotel in the southern part of the country, near Encarnación. The place completely reminded me of Jackson’s Mill in West Virginia, but with 3 pools and no bunk beds. But regardless of my student council flashbacks, it was a lot of fun. It was kind of like Animal House meets Earnest Goes to Camp. Whenever you get 130ish Nortes together with swimming, a Thanksgiving meal American style (I must report, no pumpkin roll though!), and a little bit of booze you’re bound to have an outstanding 48 hours. PC Paraguay delivered as usual, and since my group just hit our 6 month mark in country, it was definitely time for a reunion/vacation. I’m already looking forward to next year’s!
Being away from site for that long though, and speaking that much English, quickly took its toll on me. I love being with my friends and having the freedom to be Betsy (as opposed to be Beva, which is less outspoken and a little more wholesome than the Betsy you all know and love), but my life is here. My life is working within my community, studying and practicing the languages, and trying to figure out how I can help my neighbors improve their lives in a sustainable manner. A lot of my friends living in larger cities have no qualms leaving for a few days at a time because when they return, almost no one noticed they were out. I, however, live in very tiny, closely interwoven community. I’m gone for one morning and people start to ask questions! It’s hard to get back in the swing of things too. Language alone leaves me rapidly, not to mention potential projects and future plans discussed with community members that are forgotten after about 7 days if I’m not around. With that said, I probably won’t head back into Asunción until a required meeting with my bosses toward the end of January. It’s expensive and mentally taxing to leave, and for that… I’m sticking around for a long while!
Speaking of projects, I currently have a lot on my plate. Well, it isn’t on my plate quite yet so perhaps I should say I’m preparing to have a lot on my plate! Being a bit of an overachiever (just a bit, right??), I have a lot more planned for my two years, but I also don’t want to look around to see my hand in too many pots and many different activities not getting full attention. But to start it off lightly, I’ve got English classes for 2 hours, 2 days a week. The first class is this coming Tuesday, and I know I should have about 4 girls. If more kids show up, I’ll probably teach more classes. They’ll learn much better when I can give them more attention. Also, next Thursday I’ll have my first women’s committee meeting. I’m super excited about this one because I’ve wanted to do it since I stepped on PYan soil! The hardest thing with getting it off the ground is convincing the women that I’m not their boss and I don’t know more than them. It is their community and their committee, I’m just here to observe and help where I can. I’ve discussed potential projects with enough women that I know we’re going to start out talking about nutrition and making a good garden, and also cooking classes. I’d like to move onto an income generating project, but that will depend on interests. We just hit the peak of pineapple season here though, so if you have any good pineapple recipes… email them my way please! My nearest PC neighbors (Gariety—health, and Sam—education) and I will be starting a radio show on January 11. For those of you that can turn into Gauyaibi 100.7, be sure to listen Fridays from 7-8am (Although I don’t think our station has made it into PodCasts or Satelite Radio just yet! You can always call Steve Jobs and request it be added though!) The radio show will be fun and it will give us a great opportunity to talk about an array of topics from our sectors of business, health, and education, to more taboo topics like condom use, AIDS, gender and development, diversity including race and sexual preference such as homosexuality. Lots going on, but I still haven’t even touched my real interest which is the coop… but I think I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve for them still too!
Christmas and New Years Eve plans have yet to be determined. Pretty sure I´ll stick around here for Christmas because I want to see how they celebrate. Basically its nothing like ours from what I hear. Not a lot of gifts, NO Christmas tree, and a few pathetic lights here or there on a house. Should be interesting! I´d kind of like to be with my friends for NYE, but we´ll see. I´m kind of poor, so I´ll just probably make that call the week of.
There’s a little something that PY is famous for; it’s called chisme (pronounced: cheese-may) and it can be fun or damning, or both!. Chisme is basically rumors, and we’ve all been in 8th grade. We know some rumors are legit, and some rumors are just so people have something to talk about. I was recently clumped into the latter of the groups. I’ve been here in Guayaibi for a solid 3.5 months. I love my family here, and they have all taken me in as one of their own. Pablino and Raquel, although they are young parents themselves, have played all roles in my life from being my confidants and business contacts, to bug killers when my room is infested with wasps, and even mom and dad when they think I’m showing a little too much leg at a coop meeting. That’s why I was slightly overwhelmed when Raquel told me she heard some chisme among the other mom’s at school. Unbeknownst to me, these mothers claim that I’ve been having an affair with her husband, Pablino. I mean, REALLY? At least give me a cute member of my coop that is at well under the age of 35. But I quickly calmed as it wasn’t an interrogation session. Raquel knows better than anyone that it’s just not true. I spend the majority of my days with her, and speak mostly business or jokes with Pablino. I don’t think he’s heard the rumors, because she and I share everything practically and only about 15% makes it to Pablino. And past that, I’m a complete oddity in this community. They’re going to be talking about me regardless, and if some want to associate me with one of my 50 male, coop members, then naturally it would be the one that is closest in proximity and friendship. I can only wait to see what more chisme they can dream up over the next 21 months!
Paraguay also has a tradition previously mentioned in a former blog entry: dating days. Oh yes… every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday a boy will go over and drink terere (the weird weed like powdery mix I love and will never be able to live without after 2 years of Peace Corps!) with the girl’s family. This pretty much goes on for years until they get married. The potential couple is NEVER left alone, and if mom and pap don’t like the boy… he takes a hike! Well, I guess we could say I had my first potential suitor this week. I didn’t even realize it was Tuesday, but he came to Raquel’s asking if the Americana was around to drink terere. Like a good momma, she set us up and let us chat while she supervised from our outdoor kitchen. And the best thing? Not Raquel, Pablino (who actually works with the guy getting loans for land he’s developing next to our house!), nor myself know the poor young man’s name! He never asked me and I never asked him, so he’s just a mystery wannabe boyfriend! The whole thing made me laugh inside, although I showed him respect and chilled for a while drinking our mostly grass-like terere. Poor soul… we’ll see if he comes back, I don’t think I’m interested señor!
Big shout out to my care package masters! Mom, Cathy, Ming, Laurie Sheldon (Kely’s mom), Mary-David and George all win some major cool points! I mean, there are few things sweeter than knowing people care about you enough to send you goodies! Nicely done to all of you, although I think Cathy’s winning the record. She’s a little nutty for sending one 12lbs package followed by a 21lbs package internationally, but dammit do I love her! Please keep them coming because I can always use more things. With upcoming projects, I’m in need of more supply-like materials… so if you want to get a box together, shoot me an email. Thanks again for everything! Postcards are cool too… I ALWAYS need things to remind me of the states!
As for the favorites of the week…
BOOK: A Widow for One Year by John Irving (I’m kind of on an Irving kick)
ALBUM: Sam’s Town by The Killers… I couldn’t just pick one song this time!
AWKWARD MOMENT: thinking an 8 year old was talking about my varicose veins (thanks mom!) when really she was being secretive asking her mom if my shorts were cut by a pair of scissors (Nike made them that way!!)
REVELATION: Rio in May with mom, so look out world… I’m going to be bikini ready!
GUARANI WORD: kaigue (pronounced ka-ee-guay) which means without energy.
I’m without energy: Che kaigue
You’re without energy: Nde kaigue
He/she is without energy: Ikaigue
Monday, November 12, 2007
its´s been a long time and i shouldn´t have left you without a dope beat to step to
First off, a hundred apologies for not writing sooner. Internet time has been sparse, but I finally have a few minutes to type up this novel! Read on if you have the time, if not... the blog´s not going anywhere!
COOP news is kind of complicated. My host dad/treasurer of the cooperative and I sat down a few weeks ago. I had questions involving finances and then it ended up being a conversation about my future work. He basically told me that he and the president, also his best friend, had no idea why they asked for a volunteer. I mean, that´s always good news when I´m hear for two years! It doesn´t frustrate me at all, because I see holes in their business practices, its just a matter of bringing them up slowly and delicately. A few weeks after that, we got some REALLY good news! Some government organization is giving our COOP 3 or 4 computers since I´m living in the community! They are specifically for me to teach technical classes! I´m stoked about that and although I´m not getting too excited until I see that the computers are actually located in my community. PYans don´t do anything quickly!
A few weeks ago I had a real cultural experience. A little something they call rezos. I have been to a TON here, but actually helped with one! Basically, when someone dies you have 9 days of mourning. They don´t sit around crying, but they do get together every afternoon to say the entire rosary. And this is right after someone dies AND every year after that. So the last day is a big production. They usually have a celebration of sorts with music and prayers and of course, the rosary. They also give out cookies, candy, and this special PYan bread called chipa. Chipa consists of flour, animal fat, cheese, corn flour, and anise. Oh, and a TON of manual labor too. I stayed at my host mom´s family´s house and got up at 2:45am to start kneading the dough! I mean... my arms were sore! Basically they have t make hundreds of pieces of this stuff (http://www.webescuela.edu.py/Contenido/Fotos/CocTipica_chipa2.jpg) because every kid within walking distance will show up for free food. Its also cooked in a wood fire outside, known as a tatakua (http://www.cockaigne.demon.co.uk/santamaria/images/tatakuafood.jpg) Its all a lot of work, but def something I was glad to help out with! I didn´t managed to take pictures because I was elbow deep in dough for 12 hours but luckily, we´ll do it again next year!
Can we touch on relationships again please? I´ve become very close with my host mom´s family. They are all close to my age and they´re just down right FUN! In addition to her parents as well, whom have adopted me as one of their own. They live about 15k away, so I don´t get to see them all the time, but they visit a lot. Well the parents have told me they want me to be a part of their family forever, and I know I will be. But they´re looking for something a little more concrete, as in marring a son! They´re only half joking, and I´m sure when I tell them I´m never living here they would change their mind. But there is one son that is 25 (the other two are 20 and 35) and he really does have a massive crush on me. His name is Juan, and I don´t think I could wish for a more typical South American name! He asks me out a lot but since I can´t ride on motorcycles, nothing ever comes of his asking. Most PYan men are really obnoxious with huge egos and uneducated and work in the fields, but Juan graduated high school and has taken a lot of technical courses. I am DEFINITELY not dating this guy, but they are all trying hard to make it happen! There are some serious consequences to dating in site though. A friend of mine about 15k away has a boyfriend, and that´s all anyone talks about. She has trouble working too because the community is always talking about them being together. I want my community to say that I am hard working and trying to speak guarani, not that I´m moving my way through the locals!
Second tarantula murdered. Wasp infestation about once a week in my house and I don´t know where they are coming from. Gotta love NATURE!
My nearest PC neighbor (Gariety and she´s a health volunteer) and I decided to go to a birthday party the other night. There was dancing, and of course I wasn´t going to say no to an opportunity to shake my thing! We danced for a solid two hours and my host mom said the next morning in church, all the girls were talking about how the Americanas really knew how to bust a move! RIGHT ON!
I spent a week farther out in the campo, back to the days of latrines and cold showers. It was a really great opportunity to practice more guarani and get to know more members and families of my coop. I can tell within 2 minutes of the male of the house is interested or not interested in working with a woman, so I made sure to make notes of the ones I can probably forget about in general. Just like West Virginia, the farther back into the hills you go, generally speaking the people are poorer. We´re talking 10 to 12 kids and barely enough food for 2. Its hard to see but makes me proud to be trying to change the lives of the people here!!
Many of you have asked what you can send me. So here is a random list of goodies. I have everything I NEED, so let it be known that these are WANTS and nothing more!
Chai tea (I miss making lattes with Kyle!!)
cookbooks WITHOUT gourmet ingredients
postcards
pictures
magazines (trash or intellectual)
macaroni and cheese (if you want to go all out, Velveeta!)
peanut butter (almost impossible here!)
Nutella
letters!!!
Orbitz gum
Wintergreen mints
any spices especially exotic or Indian or Asian varities
any condiments... GOOD honey mustard, bbq sauce, salsa, etc.
Ralph Lauren perfume in Cool
any clothes in dry weave for outdoors HOT weather (size M or 8)
I´ll update that list as random things pop into my head! Thanks again to all of you that have sent me packages and notes. They are highly appreciated and makes me smile every time! Cathy, naturally, is holding down the record I believe! Love her!!
And now for my current reads and revelations...
Book: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (LOVING it! Thanks CLG!)
Song: Brothers on a Hotel Bed by Death Cab for Cutie (shout out to MING!)
Relevation: Going to India the year of my 28th birthday
Favorite word in guarani: ndoikoi (doy-koy) which basically means a lot of things... it doesn´t work, it doesn´t live, it doesn´t taste good. (this positive of this word, aka it works, it lives, it tastes great! is oiko, pronounced oy-ko)
Again, I think of you all often and keep the emails and updates coming my way!
COOP news is kind of complicated. My host dad/treasurer of the cooperative and I sat down a few weeks ago. I had questions involving finances and then it ended up being a conversation about my future work. He basically told me that he and the president, also his best friend, had no idea why they asked for a volunteer. I mean, that´s always good news when I´m hear for two years! It doesn´t frustrate me at all, because I see holes in their business practices, its just a matter of bringing them up slowly and delicately. A few weeks after that, we got some REALLY good news! Some government organization is giving our COOP 3 or 4 computers since I´m living in the community! They are specifically for me to teach technical classes! I´m stoked about that and although I´m not getting too excited until I see that the computers are actually located in my community. PYans don´t do anything quickly!
A few weeks ago I had a real cultural experience. A little something they call rezos. I have been to a TON here, but actually helped with one! Basically, when someone dies you have 9 days of mourning. They don´t sit around crying, but they do get together every afternoon to say the entire rosary. And this is right after someone dies AND every year after that. So the last day is a big production. They usually have a celebration of sorts with music and prayers and of course, the rosary. They also give out cookies, candy, and this special PYan bread called chipa. Chipa consists of flour, animal fat, cheese, corn flour, and anise. Oh, and a TON of manual labor too. I stayed at my host mom´s family´s house and got up at 2:45am to start kneading the dough! I mean... my arms were sore! Basically they have t make hundreds of pieces of this stuff (http://www.webescuela.edu.py/Contenido/Fotos/CocTipica_chipa2.jpg) because every kid within walking distance will show up for free food. Its also cooked in a wood fire outside, known as a tatakua (http://www.cockaigne.demon.co.uk/santamaria/images/tatakuafood.jpg) Its all a lot of work, but def something I was glad to help out with! I didn´t managed to take pictures because I was elbow deep in dough for 12 hours but luckily, we´ll do it again next year!
Can we touch on relationships again please? I´ve become very close with my host mom´s family. They are all close to my age and they´re just down right FUN! In addition to her parents as well, whom have adopted me as one of their own. They live about 15k away, so I don´t get to see them all the time, but they visit a lot. Well the parents have told me they want me to be a part of their family forever, and I know I will be. But they´re looking for something a little more concrete, as in marring a son! They´re only half joking, and I´m sure when I tell them I´m never living here they would change their mind. But there is one son that is 25 (the other two are 20 and 35) and he really does have a massive crush on me. His name is Juan, and I don´t think I could wish for a more typical South American name! He asks me out a lot but since I can´t ride on motorcycles, nothing ever comes of his asking. Most PYan men are really obnoxious with huge egos and uneducated and work in the fields, but Juan graduated high school and has taken a lot of technical courses. I am DEFINITELY not dating this guy, but they are all trying hard to make it happen! There are some serious consequences to dating in site though. A friend of mine about 15k away has a boyfriend, and that´s all anyone talks about. She has trouble working too because the community is always talking about them being together. I want my community to say that I am hard working and trying to speak guarani, not that I´m moving my way through the locals!
Second tarantula murdered. Wasp infestation about once a week in my house and I don´t know where they are coming from. Gotta love NATURE!
My nearest PC neighbor (Gariety and she´s a health volunteer) and I decided to go to a birthday party the other night. There was dancing, and of course I wasn´t going to say no to an opportunity to shake my thing! We danced for a solid two hours and my host mom said the next morning in church, all the girls were talking about how the Americanas really knew how to bust a move! RIGHT ON!
I spent a week farther out in the campo, back to the days of latrines and cold showers. It was a really great opportunity to practice more guarani and get to know more members and families of my coop. I can tell within 2 minutes of the male of the house is interested or not interested in working with a woman, so I made sure to make notes of the ones I can probably forget about in general. Just like West Virginia, the farther back into the hills you go, generally speaking the people are poorer. We´re talking 10 to 12 kids and barely enough food for 2. Its hard to see but makes me proud to be trying to change the lives of the people here!!
Many of you have asked what you can send me. So here is a random list of goodies. I have everything I NEED, so let it be known that these are WANTS and nothing more!
Chai tea (I miss making lattes with Kyle!!)
cookbooks WITHOUT gourmet ingredients
postcards
pictures
magazines (trash or intellectual)
macaroni and cheese (if you want to go all out, Velveeta!)
peanut butter (almost impossible here!)
Nutella
letters!!!
Orbitz gum
Wintergreen mints
any spices especially exotic or Indian or Asian varities
any condiments... GOOD honey mustard, bbq sauce, salsa, etc.
Ralph Lauren perfume in Cool
any clothes in dry weave for outdoors HOT weather (size M or 8)
I´ll update that list as random things pop into my head! Thanks again to all of you that have sent me packages and notes. They are highly appreciated and makes me smile every time! Cathy, naturally, is holding down the record I believe! Love her!!
And now for my current reads and revelations...
Book: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (LOVING it! Thanks CLG!)
Song: Brothers on a Hotel Bed by Death Cab for Cutie (shout out to MING!)
Relevation: Going to India the year of my 28th birthday
Favorite word in guarani: ndoikoi (doy-koy) which basically means a lot of things... it doesn´t work, it doesn´t live, it doesn´t taste good. (this positive of this word, aka it works, it lives, it tastes great! is oiko, pronounced oy-ko)
Again, I think of you all often and keep the emails and updates coming my way!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
adventures in the campo!
Its been quite a couple of weeks! I´ve been busy, but have managed to upload pictures too so please follow the link at the bottom of my blog to see visual evidence of the fun and friends here in PY!
I had a trip into the capital, Asunción, about two weeks ago. It was really entertaining and great to see my friends that I´ve missed for 6 weeks, but it´s not my home. My home is here, out in the middle of no where, and after 3 days I was more than ready to return to my tranquil life. We did manage to see another movie, and go to an American restaurant... yes, we chose HOOTER´S! Turns out they play American football, so we went for that and seriously stayed for the wings!
At my house we have a pretty extensive love triangle going on, and I may be the one who benefits! We have two male dogs and one female. The girl, Chickitita, was on a type of birth control which is in the form of a shot and given to her every six months. They tried to give it to her and a few drops didn´t go in her hip, and she went into heat that night. We didn´t know who the daddy would be, but the giant dog, Tobi, has been really protective of her and naps with her during the day so looks like we know who big poppa is! In four months I may have a pupi!! (Puppy in spanish but pronounced poopy)
I´m sans a daily schedule so I´ve invented my own. Its been working pretty well and gives me a lot more direction with my days. Time for coop info is in there, as well as language study, visiting the school, talking with neighbors, exercise and of course.. CHE TIEMPO! (me time, in Guarani)
Last week I had my first brush with death. Yes, I killed a tarantula! I´m sure its of of many to come, but let it be known world... I screamed like a school girl throughout the entire process! I woke up to find it in my bathroom halfway under my trash can. I stared in disbelief for a solid 15 minutes debating my strategic attack. I eventually opted for one tennis shoe (why not both? your guess is as good as mine!) because I had the most control over my foot. Brooms seemed risky and I didn´t want it to charge at me! So I smashed it, with my right foot, and squealed!! The I had to scoop it up with cardboard and through it outside, all the while shivers ran down my spine. Good times!!
Yesterday was a blast! Real campo day for me! Got up at 4am to kill a cow! I had seen this before, so it was a little less traumatic since I knew what to expect. I will however, never eat the stomach again. I had tried it, and didn´t exactly enjoy the flavor, but now that I´ve seen them push probably 40lbs of poop out of it then just rinse with a hose and boil to it? I think I´m done, thanks! I also helped them prepare blood sausages... which I politely tried but also, won´t be requesting. They basically take the liver, heart and some other internal organs... grind them up, mix them with the cow´s blood then throw the concoction back into the small intestines. Yummy! My family was picking at it all day saying how good it was. Knowing the process just takes away the flavor for me.
Peace Corps has asked me to come into Asunción Monday to help them write an annual report for PC Washington, D.C. so I look forward to enjoying two days and three nights on their dollar! I also hope to pick up materials about bananas and pineapples so I can better understand the work of my farmers, potential projects for the women´s committee, materials to teach English when school gets out here in November, and information about a PC scholarship for my guarani teacher who is the perfect candidate! Its for any female in the country that has a desire to continue their education, and she´s more than qualified because she´s in hair school and becoming a teacher at the same time while still fitting in a few lesson for me each week. She´s great!
I´ve been doing a lot of reading, but I´ll start from here on out updated on my book selections.
Currently Reading: Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
Comments: hands down one of the subtly funniest books I´ve read to date!
And here are the pics.... They don´t all have captions right now because the computer is being slow, but the house ones are kind of obvious... before, and the glory that is NOW!
Peace Corps Paraguay Dos
I love you all and please keep the emails, notes, and packages coming!
I had a trip into the capital, Asunción, about two weeks ago. It was really entertaining and great to see my friends that I´ve missed for 6 weeks, but it´s not my home. My home is here, out in the middle of no where, and after 3 days I was more than ready to return to my tranquil life. We did manage to see another movie, and go to an American restaurant... yes, we chose HOOTER´S! Turns out they play American football, so we went for that and seriously stayed for the wings!
At my house we have a pretty extensive love triangle going on, and I may be the one who benefits! We have two male dogs and one female. The girl, Chickitita, was on a type of birth control which is in the form of a shot and given to her every six months. They tried to give it to her and a few drops didn´t go in her hip, and she went into heat that night. We didn´t know who the daddy would be, but the giant dog, Tobi, has been really protective of her and naps with her during the day so looks like we know who big poppa is! In four months I may have a pupi!! (Puppy in spanish but pronounced poopy)
I´m sans a daily schedule so I´ve invented my own. Its been working pretty well and gives me a lot more direction with my days. Time for coop info is in there, as well as language study, visiting the school, talking with neighbors, exercise and of course.. CHE TIEMPO! (me time, in Guarani)
Last week I had my first brush with death. Yes, I killed a tarantula! I´m sure its of of many to come, but let it be known world... I screamed like a school girl throughout the entire process! I woke up to find it in my bathroom halfway under my trash can. I stared in disbelief for a solid 15 minutes debating my strategic attack. I eventually opted for one tennis shoe (why not both? your guess is as good as mine!) because I had the most control over my foot. Brooms seemed risky and I didn´t want it to charge at me! So I smashed it, with my right foot, and squealed!! The I had to scoop it up with cardboard and through it outside, all the while shivers ran down my spine. Good times!!
Yesterday was a blast! Real campo day for me! Got up at 4am to kill a cow! I had seen this before, so it was a little less traumatic since I knew what to expect. I will however, never eat the stomach again. I had tried it, and didn´t exactly enjoy the flavor, but now that I´ve seen them push probably 40lbs of poop out of it then just rinse with a hose and boil to it? I think I´m done, thanks! I also helped them prepare blood sausages... which I politely tried but also, won´t be requesting. They basically take the liver, heart and some other internal organs... grind them up, mix them with the cow´s blood then throw the concoction back into the small intestines. Yummy! My family was picking at it all day saying how good it was. Knowing the process just takes away the flavor for me.
Peace Corps has asked me to come into Asunción Monday to help them write an annual report for PC Washington, D.C. so I look forward to enjoying two days and three nights on their dollar! I also hope to pick up materials about bananas and pineapples so I can better understand the work of my farmers, potential projects for the women´s committee, materials to teach English when school gets out here in November, and information about a PC scholarship for my guarani teacher who is the perfect candidate! Its for any female in the country that has a desire to continue their education, and she´s more than qualified because she´s in hair school and becoming a teacher at the same time while still fitting in a few lesson for me each week. She´s great!
I´ve been doing a lot of reading, but I´ll start from here on out updated on my book selections.
Currently Reading: Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
Comments: hands down one of the subtly funniest books I´ve read to date!
And here are the pics.... They don´t all have captions right now because the computer is being slow, but the house ones are kind of obvious... before, and the glory that is NOW!
Peace Corps Paraguay Dos
I love you all and please keep the emails, notes, and packages coming!
Thursday, October 4, 2007
And the adventure continues!
So let´s just walk through an average morning of Betsy trying to get to the internet, shall we? Great... So my alarm blares in my ear at a lovely 4:45am. I turn it off, wash my face and brush my teeth in just enough time to make it outside to see if the bus will even show up today. Last night was the first night in my house (woo hoo!) but while I´m bus waiting, I like to chat so I go over to neighbors house. Every time I hear a large vehicle trekking through our bumpy, dirt road I have to run out to the road so i don´t miss it. Usually there are 1-3 false alarms, but then it comes trucking down the road. This morning, I say goodbye to my family/neighbors as the bus driver´s little assistant guy is saying something to me as the bus continues to COAST on. I swear I hear ¨no brakes,¨ but can´t be sure yet that brakes in English is the same as in español. Regardless, the americana is a little confused and trying to figure out what they want me to do as the bus stops and clearly, is no longer functioning. Great! Is this my fault? I was the one they were slowing down for? Its right in front of my house? Needless to say, I feel awful and can do nothing about it.
So what´s the next logical step when you have a bus stranded 11km from the paved road with 15ish passengers, mostly old men and women? That´s right... flag down my host dad/neighbor (I´m switching to ¨neighbor¨ since I am now living solo, although I still consider them my family closest friends!) He´s a good guy, so he offers his truck. That´s right, his truck and a rope that looked a little too thin for my liking pulled that giant bus to a few different locations while the guys pushed at various, specified times. Eventually, after about 45 minutes of this potentially Beva-caused charade, we get to little hill in the road big enough to push us down and we start the engine. After this, I realize he was correct... he did mean brakes and if I even make it town to write my blog it will be a miracle! We sped through those country roads like the Dukes of Hazard, picking up zero passengers, including my nearest PC neighbor that had to walk 5km to the main road and get another bus (with working brakes, I´m sure.) The bus driver didn´t feel like slowing down over the 45 minute bus ride to town, but I made it alive so that´s exciting!
Oh buses in Paraguay...
As for updates, its been an interesting two weeks. After my last entry, I received a phone call from the PC office. Turns out the director of the coop and municipality volunteers, and our director of security for PY responsible for the safety of all 140 volunteers were fired. Misuse of government computers was the reason, but what that means is still very unclear. To make that day even brighter, my favorite doctor in the office (who worked there for 28 years and 9 months) quit. Why go to work if your buddies aren´t there? The PC/PY office lost 3 great paraguayan employees and its going to be hard to adjust without them! They were all great guys. To top of the week, we had a guy from our small 16 person training group quit. He was a coop volunteer, so now we´re down to a whopping 6. He was 35 and didn´t feel he could continue to do this for two years, so he fled back to DC. He´ll miss out, but we all choose our own paths!
After 6 days of painting, almost 4.000.000Gs (about $720), 631 songs on my iPod and a lot of sweat, my house is basically ready! I still need to buy fans and get them installed, but I slept there last night and although I think rats live in the roof of my kitchen, I´m still loving my house! Its great to have my Independence back, although my family/neighbors are sad that I´m not in there house. I thought Raquel (my host ¨mom¨) was going to cry last night, but I´m not far and still spend a lot of time with them. I´m glad to be on my own so I will be able to work on my projects in peace (3 and 8 year olds can be distracting... who would have known??) and explore other neighborhoods. Preparing my own food without judgement and exercising will be great! My first cooked meal was curried rice... appropriate, although I had to ask myself... am I in Peace Corps INDIA??
Speaking of projects, I basically have my next two year planned out in secondary projects but still have NO clue what do with the coop! That will come in due time, but for now I´m focusing on starting a women´s committee, a youth committee, and lots of activities for the school that´s near me including teaching English during the summer, doing health presentations (I´ll start with dental health next week!), art classes, and my big thing is a culture class once a month! These won´t all hit me at once, but at least I´m starting to get the ball rolling.
Speaking of art, I need your help! My years of Dance Marathon fundraising has left me no shame when it comes to asking for money! I´m starting to work with a committee here that is working to raise money for cameras kits so students here can learn more about photography and we can learn how they visual their world! Its called Ahecha, which is ¨I see¨ in Guarani. The project was inspired by the documentary Born in Brothels, which if you haven´t seen I HIGHLY recommend! It was a favorite during my social work studies at USC. Below is a link, and if you can give a small (or large!) donation I would really appreciate it. There is so little creative energy in this country, so us Peace Corps volunteers are trying to generate it one project at a time. Its the first committee within the PC/PY world that has really sparked my interest. I love art so much and it can be so important for development, but its rarely expressed here. We´re trying to raise just over $5,000 which is pennies compared to my old DM goal of $100,000! Help us reach this goal too if you can, and I thank you in advance! Donations can be made by clicking this link:
https://www.peacecorps.gov/resources/donors/contribute/projdetail.cfm?projdesc=526-179®ion=latinamerica
Well someone buy some ice skates and ship them to Satan... I actually went to church last week! It probably been a solid 10 years since I willingly went to church, but I want to experience every aspect of life here so I gladly got up Sunday morning and went. Turns out the kids here play the same game I loved as a child before Sunday school... kick the dead tarantula! Yep, that´s what they did in the TINY church with about 40 chairs and 20 church goers. I wish I would have had my camera! The service lasted about 2 hours and although there was an apparent priest upfront (90% of the country is Catholic), there were 2 guys in the congregation that actually felt what they were thinking was more important so they would often interrupt the priest mid sentence to present their views on the topic. It was all in Guarani so I didn´t understand 99% of what was said, but somehow they got on the topic of women in politics. That got all 20 people chatting up a storm! Not a good idea to put down women when without them you´d have a church of 2 long winded men! It was an interesting morning to say the least!
Tomorrow up I´m early again to catch a hopefully working bus to Asunción. Its been 6 weeks since I´ve been into the city and its time to pick up packages (hopefully!), mail, and more importantly... see my friends! My group of trainees is spread out and I´m the only one that hasn´t seen anyone else, so I´m more than excited to be reunited! Thanks for continuing to keep me in your thoughts and look for another update in a few weeks!
So what´s the next logical step when you have a bus stranded 11km from the paved road with 15ish passengers, mostly old men and women? That´s right... flag down my host dad/neighbor (I´m switching to ¨neighbor¨ since I am now living solo, although I still consider them my family closest friends!) He´s a good guy, so he offers his truck. That´s right, his truck and a rope that looked a little too thin for my liking pulled that giant bus to a few different locations while the guys pushed at various, specified times. Eventually, after about 45 minutes of this potentially Beva-caused charade, we get to little hill in the road big enough to push us down and we start the engine. After this, I realize he was correct... he did mean brakes and if I even make it town to write my blog it will be a miracle! We sped through those country roads like the Dukes of Hazard, picking up zero passengers, including my nearest PC neighbor that had to walk 5km to the main road and get another bus (with working brakes, I´m sure.) The bus driver didn´t feel like slowing down over the 45 minute bus ride to town, but I made it alive so that´s exciting!
Oh buses in Paraguay...
As for updates, its been an interesting two weeks. After my last entry, I received a phone call from the PC office. Turns out the director of the coop and municipality volunteers, and our director of security for PY responsible for the safety of all 140 volunteers were fired. Misuse of government computers was the reason, but what that means is still very unclear. To make that day even brighter, my favorite doctor in the office (who worked there for 28 years and 9 months) quit. Why go to work if your buddies aren´t there? The PC/PY office lost 3 great paraguayan employees and its going to be hard to adjust without them! They were all great guys. To top of the week, we had a guy from our small 16 person training group quit. He was a coop volunteer, so now we´re down to a whopping 6. He was 35 and didn´t feel he could continue to do this for two years, so he fled back to DC. He´ll miss out, but we all choose our own paths!
After 6 days of painting, almost 4.000.000Gs (about $720), 631 songs on my iPod and a lot of sweat, my house is basically ready! I still need to buy fans and get them installed, but I slept there last night and although I think rats live in the roof of my kitchen, I´m still loving my house! Its great to have my Independence back, although my family/neighbors are sad that I´m not in there house. I thought Raquel (my host ¨mom¨) was going to cry last night, but I´m not far and still spend a lot of time with them. I´m glad to be on my own so I will be able to work on my projects in peace (3 and 8 year olds can be distracting... who would have known??) and explore other neighborhoods. Preparing my own food without judgement and exercising will be great! My first cooked meal was curried rice... appropriate, although I had to ask myself... am I in Peace Corps INDIA??
Speaking of projects, I basically have my next two year planned out in secondary projects but still have NO clue what do with the coop! That will come in due time, but for now I´m focusing on starting a women´s committee, a youth committee, and lots of activities for the school that´s near me including teaching English during the summer, doing health presentations (I´ll start with dental health next week!), art classes, and my big thing is a culture class once a month! These won´t all hit me at once, but at least I´m starting to get the ball rolling.
Speaking of art, I need your help! My years of Dance Marathon fundraising has left me no shame when it comes to asking for money! I´m starting to work with a committee here that is working to raise money for cameras kits so students here can learn more about photography and we can learn how they visual their world! Its called Ahecha, which is ¨I see¨ in Guarani. The project was inspired by the documentary Born in Brothels, which if you haven´t seen I HIGHLY recommend! It was a favorite during my social work studies at USC. Below is a link, and if you can give a small (or large!) donation I would really appreciate it. There is so little creative energy in this country, so us Peace Corps volunteers are trying to generate it one project at a time. Its the first committee within the PC/PY world that has really sparked my interest. I love art so much and it can be so important for development, but its rarely expressed here. We´re trying to raise just over $5,000 which is pennies compared to my old DM goal of $100,000! Help us reach this goal too if you can, and I thank you in advance! Donations can be made by clicking this link:
https://www.peacecorps.gov/resources/donors/contribute/projdetail.cfm?projdesc=526-179®ion=latinamerica
Well someone buy some ice skates and ship them to Satan... I actually went to church last week! It probably been a solid 10 years since I willingly went to church, but I want to experience every aspect of life here so I gladly got up Sunday morning and went. Turns out the kids here play the same game I loved as a child before Sunday school... kick the dead tarantula! Yep, that´s what they did in the TINY church with about 40 chairs and 20 church goers. I wish I would have had my camera! The service lasted about 2 hours and although there was an apparent priest upfront (90% of the country is Catholic), there were 2 guys in the congregation that actually felt what they were thinking was more important so they would often interrupt the priest mid sentence to present their views on the topic. It was all in Guarani so I didn´t understand 99% of what was said, but somehow they got on the topic of women in politics. That got all 20 people chatting up a storm! Not a good idea to put down women when without them you´d have a church of 2 long winded men! It was an interesting morning to say the least!
Tomorrow up I´m early again to catch a hopefully working bus to Asunción. Its been 6 weeks since I´ve been into the city and its time to pick up packages (hopefully!), mail, and more importantly... see my friends! My group of trainees is spread out and I´m the only one that hasn´t seen anyone else, so I´m more than excited to be reunited! Thanks for continuing to keep me in your thoughts and look for another update in a few weeks!
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