Friday, March 27, 2009

RANDOM SHIT (EXCUSE THE TERM)...

I really did try to come up with another/better term, but there is nothing more suiting than this title. Along with being humbled the past couple of months, I have managed to also find humor in all the random shit I’ve observed and/or have done, since I’ve been here and have to share with you all. So, here goes…

· A diesel flying by on a busy route with about 8-10 teenage boys sitting on top of (not in) the cab of the truck
· Walking down the unpaved streets and ripping my gladiator sandals and having to hobble back to my house
· Getting lost on a morning run, which was meant to be only 20 minutes, but ended up being 45
· Having one dog barking at and chasing me—only to be joined by 6 others (for no apparent reason, other than to let me know I was in their hood)
· A vacant lot where garbage is burned one day and kids playing volleyball in it a couple of days later
· A battered and deep fried boiled egg
· Running out of water during my shower with my hair full of shampoo and having to tip toe (in order to avoid cracking my skull open on the concrete floor) over to the sink to rinse it out
· Blowing up my blow dryer because I forgot to use the surge adapter
· Families of up to 4 (including infants and/or toddlers) ALL together riding on motorcycles with no helmets
· Being 3 miles from town on a bus and having to walk in the scorching heat because the bus had a flat
· Having to sleep with my mosquito net only 10 inches above me because the ceiling’s too high in order to hang (I’ve become Spider Man)
· Trying to make a Skype call without it dropping 8 times before it finally goes through
· Drinking beer in front of the gas station, along with several others (common hang out in Paraguay)
· Hearing Boy George on a local radio station (this makes me very happy)
· Strategizing my walks to coincide with the shaded parts of the streets
· Attending class outside and seeing two dogs attack and kill a chicken within 15 feet of me
· Bus rides and learning to forget all about “personal space”
· Cows , horses and chickens roaming about freely and knowing their way back home
· Cats, instead of dogs, begging at the dinner table
· Being sick with a temperature of 102 and not knowing which end the junk’s going to come out of (I’m convinced I have dengue—I don’t)
· Being best friends with my flashlight (hey, it’s dark in my room)

Life is good… Miss and love you all.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

RESPONSE TO THE INDIVIDUAL WHO LEFT SEVERAL “ANNONOYMOUS” DERROGATORY MESSAGES TO MY POSTS

As is clearly posted on my blog site: DISCLAIMER: THE CONTENTS OF THIS WEBSITE ARE MINE, PERSONALLY, AND DO NOT REFLECT ANY POSITION OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND/OR THE PEACE CORPS.

I will only say a few things in response to the mean, unfounded and fruitless comments left by the mysterious “anonymous” individual who has chosen to call me a racist. First and foremost, I have NEVER been accused of being a racist and there has not been one single thing I have written in my blogs that any intelligent, perceptive individual could ever construe as being racist. Not to mention the fact, I am Hispanic myself…

I’m sorry if this individual or anyone has been offended by my comment that I was surprised at how attractive Paraguayans are and that I expected they would be more indigenous looking (refer to my post dated 02/14/2009). I don’t see how any of that can be construed as racist--perhaps a little uneducated about the culture/people, but certainly not racist. In fact, my comments in my blog are reflective of why it is just as important that Peace Corps volunteers not only show the people of the countries in which we are sent to, a different view of Americans, but that we, volunteers, ourselves learn not to make prejudgments and learn about and be exposed to a different culture, as well. In fact, I specifically said “I guess that’s a good example of ignorance on my part and/or preconceptions.”

If “anonymous” is, in fact, a RPCV (Returned Peace Corps Volunteer)—this individual should know just how much volunteers sacrifice by giving up 2 years of their lives to live in foreign country in order to help others. So, derogatory, unfounded comments such as the ones I had to erase are very hurtful and saddening.

Adjusting to a new way of life and being away from my loved ones is difficult enough, than to receive hurtful comments from someone (i.e., a supposed RPCV) who should know exactly what I am going through.

I can only hope this individual will refrain from passing unjustified judgments in the future and will rethink his/her approach. I am all about constructive criticism, advice and feedback, but not when it comes to hurtful, unjustified comments…

By no means were/are my posts meant to upset and/or offend anyone. .. I am merely sharing my journal/experiences with my friends, family and those who are interested in reading about them.

God Bless…and I will update about my experiences very soon!