I´M BEGINNING TO SEE WHY I´M HERE...

Although I still miss my kids, family & friends very much, I am REALLY beginning to see why I’m here and feel so blessed to have the opportunity to have this experience.

My Spanish has improved dramatically since I’ve been here and I’ve even learned how to introduce myself and someone else in Guarani. PROGRESS…

NEW FRIENDS

I’ve made a group of new best friends—mi vecinos (my neighbors)—more like the neighborhood children. I decided last week to self reflect on why I chose to have this experience and decided I needed to really put myself out there (despite missing my kids a lot). So, last week, after school, I changed into some comfortable clothes, went outside and asked my host nephew to play jump rope with me. Before I knew it…one kid asked to join us, and another, and another…and eventually there were about eight, in total.

KICK BALL

I decided I’d teach the kids to play kickball, since that’s what I always play with my own nieces and nephews. Well, it was a hit!!! They loved the game, which is what I’m supposing led them to really liking me. Although I had difficulty explaining the rules (due to my lack of fluency in Spanish,) through various hand gestures and laughter from them at my slaughtering of Spanish words, they eventually got the hang of it and we played until way past dark.

The next day, they were in the front of my house—waiting for me to arrive from school. I was filled with so much joy and warmth and right at that moment…I knew…this is why I made the sacrifices I made, to be right here, where I am at. Since then…we’ve been inseparable!

LEARNING/LOVE/LAUGHTER

The children are amazing teachers and not only am I learning Spanish and Guarani from them, I’m learning how to see things differently, how to truly laugh and have fun like a child, compassion and contentment.

Today I hung with my new best buds (Dedei, Alejandro, Santiago, Fausto, Ariel, Ismael, Matai, Rita, Fernando and a few others, ranging from 4-13 years old) and it was a great day!! We played Paraguayan Monopoly (which is identical to American Monopoly, expect it has Paraguayan cities and money,) we all went for ice cream, played a little poker (another game I taught them to play, ha ha) and went to Matai’s birthday party (he turned 9 years old, today.)

Birthday parties here are celebrated in a much simpler way. There weren’t any jumpers, games or prizes, but rather—true mingling and enjoying the company of one another. Of course, they decided they wanted to dance, but more importantly, wanted to see how I danced, so I danced my butt off with them for a good hour. It was so much fun!

And, the cake (torta) in Paraguay—is the best damn torta I have ever had. If anything is going to make me fat, it’s going to be the torta.

Dedei (who is 13 years old, beautiful, smart, funny and so sweet,) gave me a poem she wrote, specifically, for me. It, seriously, brought me to tears. I had to explain to the kids I was crying because I was happy. I’m sure they thought I was nuts.

I wish you could all see these beautiful children, all the love and happiness they have, despite how little they have. I feel so blessed to be loved by them and a part of their lives.

NEXT UPDATE…I’ll talk about the living conditions here and how hard Paraguayans have to work in order to accomplish such simple tasks…

Miss you all!

FIRST POST FROM PARAGUAY

It’s now been nine days that I’ve been in Paraguay and I’m not going to lie…I am still a little homesick, have been slapped in the face with ‘culture shock,’ and realize this adventure is MUCH harder than I ever anticipated, but…I know I´m going to make it.

ARRIVING IN GUARAMBARE

I arrived in Guarambare, Paraguay on Thursday at 10:00 a.m., after leaving Miami (where I met the group I would be leaving with) on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. and connecting in Brazil at 8:00 a.m. My hands and feet were swollen, for 2 days, from sitting so long! Once we arrived in Asuncion, Paraguay, we gathered our luggage and there was a lot of it, considering there are 31 in our group, which consists of three sectors (Urban Youth Development, Early Education and Rural Health & Sanitation,) we were taken directly to CHP, which is the school we’ll be receiving all of our training. No time for rest…

LIVING CONDITIONS

We received about four (4) hours of training (safety, scheduling, etc.) Thereafter, we were taken to meet our host families, which we will be living with for the next three months, during training. My host mother is Graciela and my host brother is Christian who is 21 years old, which is a much different environment than most other volunteers have, as most were placed in large families. Not to mention, this is the first time my host family is hosting a trainee.

The first day was rough with the family, as I’m not sure they knew what their role really should be, so for both of us, it was a bit of a challenge and discomfort. It felt strange settling in with a new family, house, room, environment, etc…. My room isn’t too bad—it has a bed (where a board comes through the mattress, lol,) a small table, an armoire, chair and thank God- -a fan!!! The house is small and modest. The kitchen has a portable 2 burner stove that is sometimes in the kitchen and other times, outside. There is no sink, but there is a refrigerator, which requires a board to push up against it, in order to stay closed. There’s also another part of the house, towards the back, but I’ve never seen it. There is no door in the kitchen, leading to the outside, but rather a gate, which is exposed. Have no clue how that works during the winter…

Okay…I know many of you are wondering…is there indoor plumbing? Well, there is a makeshift showerhead (no shower curtain or enclosure, of course,) a toilet and sink. Score! Uh, wrong…I thought I hit the jackpot, but I was only given a tease, as the first day I was able to shower (despite it just being a trickle,) but since then , there’s been no water, due to the hot days and I’ve had to have bucket baths. Not fun and flipping cold, despite how hot it is here!

I’m surprised at how fast my Spanish is improving. Not to mention, I’ve already learned a Guarani phrase (which is the native language of Paraguay). Mba’eichapa ne ko’e, which translates to How are you, this morning.

FOOD

What am I eating, you ask? It’s actually not too bad, with some exceptions… The first night we had hot dogs (without the bun,) with mayonnaise on top of them and pureed potatoes (uh, the potatoes were good…need I say more)? Paraguayans largest meal of the day is lunch, so for breakfast we usually have café con leche (coffee & cream, for you Gringos) and these little cracker nuggets (similar to what you put in clam chowder), lunch has consisted of some type of pollo and arroz or a sopa , which has chicken (and I mean all parts of the chicken, along with little chicken eggs,) combined with noodles. What’s strange is they also call their cornbread Paraguayan sopa. Oh, and I can’t leave out the biggest food staple they serve with all meals, which is Mandioca. It’s to them, what bread is to Americans. However, it doesn’t consist of a bread texture. It actually tastes and looks like a potato.

The other big thing in Paraguay is its Terere’ which is their tea, but it’s not made in any way like in America. They even have special jugs they carry around with them all day. It consists of a combination of special herbs, such as burrito, which means mint (not like our yummy carne asada burritos back in the States,) kapi’I kati (which is good for calming,) koku (good for the liver) and/or anything along these lines. However, you never use more than 3 herbs when making Terere’ with the main source of terere being yerba.

CULTURE

Paraguayans are very attractive people, which caught me off guard, as I expected the people to be more indigenous looking, due to the Guarani Indians, which founded this country. I guess that’s a good example of ignorance on my part and/or preconceptions. Also, although this country and the living standards are very poor, Paraguayans take a lot of pride in their appearance, so always look nice and clean, there doesn’t really seem to be a problem with hunger and they have a good health system. The people, in general, seem to be happy with the very little they do have. I don’t know if this is true for the entire country, but it doesn’t seem like they have that much of a need in Guarambare’, so I’ve been struggling with this, the past few days, as I feel like I sacrificed so much to help people in need. Perhaps the city in which I will be placed, will be completely different???

Tranquillo is a word in which I’ve become very familiar with, as that’s exactly how the culture is…very tranquil. People walk everywhere, don’t sit around watching T.V., they gather on their front lawns and just talk with each other and/or neighbors stop by. There seems to be a lot of visiting and never things to run out of talking about. Also, there are more motorcycles then there are cars and every Saturday night, the majority of the youth congregates at the plaza and just hangs out. It’s like something you’d see out of a movie that took place many years ago…

It’s hard being away from the States, home, my loved ones, taking bucket baths, struggling with speaking the language, living with strangers, some of the foods, and all the comforts of home, I no longer have. I thought it’d take me a while to become humbled and appreciate all the wonderful people and things I gave up, by coming here—but only after only a couple of days of being here, I can’t even think of the words to use to express the appreciation I have of all the people and things I’ve left behind.

I can only imagine how much my appreciation and humbleness will increase over time.

Until next time...I miss you all!!