Another day....

Sept 20, 2011

 I wake up everyday. I make coffee or mate. Open my door and thank God for giving me the life I have. I sit on my front step, remind myself I'm living in Paraguay, South America. That I am in the Peace Corps. I have been in country for 8months basically. Yet I still am shocked that I am doing what I said I'd be doing. Paraguay is such a beautiful country. My sites are amazing. I walk or bike around to visit people and I can't believe I am so lucky. I have never seen so many beautiful birds and butterflies. All different colors, shapes and sizes. I lived in Arizona for4years the home of the Cardinal football team. Never once did I see a Cardinal bird... Every morning here, or while I wait for a bus I see more than one in a day. Its amazing! 

Along with that though I feel like I am camping 60% of the time. The whole no running water, sleeping under a mosquito net, with a sleeping bag, not always having electricity and sometime building a fire out of wood or coal makes me feel like camping. A 2yr camping experience should make up for all times I didnt go camping during my childhood. I do miss luxury camping though ; ) 

I am currently working on my garden, small personal charlas, cooking classes with my neighborhood children and managing the commissions in my communities and trying to stay healthy. To add to the list of sickness, I just recovered from slight concussion. Don't worry it wasn't a big deal and I HAVE the BEST doctors. I basically got hit in my face with a soccer ball and fell backwards. I recovered quickly. So keep your fingers October I have no medical issues! I laugh about it all because as many of you know I am a healthy person. Paraguay is testing my limits and I won't let them get the best of me. 

There are 65 days before thanksgiving mas o menos. At the end of Oct is my friends bday here and Halloween. For thanksgiving all the volunteers and Peace Corps Staff are invited to the south of Paraguay for a thanksgiving dinner weekend. We stay at a nice hotel with pools and hangout. The week before thanksgiving I plan on going to a training for HIV/AIDs than taking the bus down to the south to celebrate. Christmas I will be "alone" technically but prob spend it will one of my many host families and experience a PY Xmas. For the new year  I'll be in Chile, South America. 4 of my volunteer friends and myself will be together. We rented a house on the beach and since it will be mid-summer we will enjoy the heat and beach to the fullest! I am very excited... And before I know it I will be sipping on Cider in the Fat Cat! (pub in Norwich, England) 

So there you have it.. An update. My job is stressful, since I never know if I am actually helping. But when I find out someone has picked up on cooking more healthy or brushing there teeth it is once step closer. I don't clock in or get a huge pay check every month. I sometimes question what the heck I am doing.. THAN I play soccer with the kids or have a kid smile and I remember I am NOT here for me but for them. At the end of the day I am HAPPY and consider myself lucky to experience this life here in Paraguay! 

I miss you all, but months fly by here.. And I hope all of you are doing well. Get skype credit or calling card and call me! I'd love to hear from you all! I have more letters to send out but low on funds and internet in my site isn't working! But every 3 weeks or so I go to a city. So keep writing emails or facebook msgs and I'll get back to you! 

Adios! 

Got bday gift from auntie sue! Love the shirt. Telling all the kids about grandad being a futbol player..they think that's why I am "good".