Halloween weekend

Oct 22, 2011

Can't believe another month is coming to an end. With every month i complete here, another group of volunteers is One month closer to ending their services, while another group is ready to depart the USA to start what i have already begun... Sooo What's new? Let's see. 

I've been working on my garden. My friend came out to my site this past week to set up the frame to the fence. I know NOTHING about gardening. But I've come to realize I know little in life. Since I've been living here I have learned a lot. We go through 3months of training but that really is just the start of it all. It is not until we are put in our individual sites that we begin to learn and I have trained myself to survive. I'm not on some island, or alone in the middle of nowhere. I have great neighbors who are getting a real kick out of watching me daily. But in 18mths I am sure they will agree I've come a long way. Cuz already I've learned how to pull water out of a well, wash clothes and dish by hand, grow vegetables, attempt a forign language & more. 

My language is getting "better". I talk to the kids In simple sentences. Like "rejapohina" (what you doing) "moo rehota" ( where you going). "tereho nde roga!" (go home!) my fav! It's a very interesting language and I'm amused by it. I've learned to laugh at myself but also be proud when I speak and get my point across. At least I know more guarani then 99.99% of my friends and family back at home! I remember when I saw "Mba'echapa" in the welcome manual and thought to myself what the heck does that mean. Now I say that at least 20times a day : ) hopefully in 6 more months I can spit out full sentences. 

Work. Well living in the campo alone is work. But for PC work. I'm keeping busy. Some of my friends who live a couple hours away are always in the school teaching. I have chosen to go another route. I continue with my model home. I've had 4 more people ask me about my hand washing station. My garden is coming along. My latrine is always clean with a tapa. I've noticed my neighbors r burning less trash and using their plastic bottles for storing water, beans and even putting a hole in the lid for a watering can like I HAVE! Causal conversations about using carne de soja instead of red meat have come up. I plan on doing a charla with my womens group about simple nutrition. I might even make banana bread or something to share. "guapo/a" in Mexico and many other Latin countries means good looking. But here in Paraguay it means hard working. My community has expressed that I am very GUAPA! Weather I am carrying bamboo 1km or just getting water out of my well they consider it guapa. And that makes me feel good! Well I least expect it I am doing work. When I go above AND beyond no one notices, and it's frustrating. 

As for this first spring here in PY! It's HAKU! (HOT!) it's not even summer yet and I don't think I've ever sweat so much in my life! If it wasn't for the tradition of terere I wouldn't be surviving. To drink terere in the shade with neighbors any time of the day is heaven! A couple sips and im more refreshed than super cold water alone! Amazing! Keep joking that I'm taking a suitcase back full of "Yerba". And PY's can't believe the states and many (all) parts of world don't have the same tradition. I'm starting to think the rest of the world is crazy for not having it as well. Especially hot countries like Mexico or states like Arizona! 

There are many stories to be told. But not enough energy or time to share them all. Stamp prices here have gone up. So on my budget I'll have to figure out who I owe letters to next and send them out. I broke my fridge too. So having to pay to fix that is going to be expensive and suck. But lucky enough my neighbors send over ice with the kids for my terere and I store my food at theirs. My neighbors dog is pretty much mine. Sleeps outside my door on a sack. Protects my house, and follows me around my communities. His name is Terry but since that is my old roommates name I find it hard to call him that. So I renamed him to Dingo cuz he looks like a dingo. Speaking of Terry (old roommate) i use to enjoy going out to target ranges in Flagstaff. I left that behind in Flagstaff and I've adjusted to the local form. All my neighborhood kids have sling shots. Mostly to herd cattle and keep chickens,pigs and horses out of their yards. But I've set up targets in my yard and the kids love it. (so do I) 

Well all is well here.I keep preparing myself for the number one question I am sure you are all asking yourselves..."are you happy?" the simple answer is Absolutely! 

Until next time.... All my love from the campo here in Paraguay!