Yeah, I pretty much love my site. Although its about a 4km walk in from either direction, it is LOVELY! However, I'm not really looking forward to hauling my groceries that far. If you're trying to find it on a map its about a 20 min bus ride NNE of Villarica, a pretty sizeable city. The site itself is settled in the hills which pretty much ensures a firm rump by the end of my 2 years. The community is filled with really nice people including those firey Paraguayan grandma types that I love so very much. Although there's a good share of political issues that have been going on in the past few months, the community itself seems pretty motivated and hard-working. It is economically sustained by mostly sugar cane, as there is both a sugar processing plant and ethonol plant within a few miles. I get to learn about a new crop.
This week, I saw the COOLEST plant. It was a pitcher plant, but it was a VINE, which is really cool for the nerd within.
Anyway, I need to go pick up groceries for Thanks Giving. Plus its 2:15pm and I havent really eaten anything today. I Love you all
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Site assignment
Well folks, I know where I'm going to be living for the next 2 years: the Department of Guairá. I go to visit it this Friday. I'll tell you more about it when I have a better feel for what I'm getting myself into. Chau!
Camila
There aren't many options, living in the campo. It makes people grow up quickly. Camila is in her mid-teens. She dresses nicer than any of her family. Each authoritative broom stoke she leaves on the orange dirt floor of her house counts the days down to her still unforseen wedding. They say here that if you sweep well you'll get a handsome husband. She's well on her way.
I stayed with Camila's family during Long Field Practice and felt a little child-like in her presence. Here was a woman, several years my minor, who looked as if any day now she'd be prepared to run a household and make babies. The maturity train must have skipped the Ptates and gone straight to Paraguay.
The last day I was there, her suiter made a house call. He was just leaving as I emerged from packing my things. Passing the family sleeping area, I caught a glimps of this Paraguayan beauty laying on her bed, sucking her thumb. Sometimes I wonder if the campo makes people grow up too fast.
I stayed with Camila's family during Long Field Practice and felt a little child-like in her presence. Here was a woman, several years my minor, who looked as if any day now she'd be prepared to run a household and make babies. The maturity train must have skipped the Ptates and gone straight to Paraguay.
The last day I was there, her suiter made a house call. He was just leaving as I emerged from packing my things. Passing the family sleeping area, I caught a glimps of this Paraguayan beauty laying on her bed, sucking her thumb. Sometimes I wonder if the campo makes people grow up too fast.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Well, its been a while. I find updating the blog to be a chore, but not because I don't want to keep you all updated, but rather because I have no clue what to write about. So much happens, and all I have time to write about is the frogs or the moon. Oh well, here goes.
This week we have Long Field Practice. In groups of 4 we go to a current volunteer's site and stay with families, help them with current projects, and generally see what its like to be in the campo (countryside). Side note to parents: remember when I was in 3rd grade and couldn't get the proper spelling of 'countryside' down? I still use the same ditty, you know, the one that goes to 'Camptown Ladies?' And I still remember that Concord is the capital of New Hampshire, thanks to that hampter and his silly fruit preferences.
In a week and a half we find out our site assignments. Throughout the history of Peace Corps training, this has been a major source of anxiety. For me, it's not really because I don't trust that they are going to put me into an appropriate site, but rather just the inability to plan and mentally prepare oneself. Like the states, Paraguay has many distinct regions that have their own way of speaking, traditions, ect. I'll be sure to keep you all posted when I find out.
Where did October go, anyway?
This week we have Long Field Practice. In groups of 4 we go to a current volunteer's site and stay with families, help them with current projects, and generally see what its like to be in the campo (countryside). Side note to parents: remember when I was in 3rd grade and couldn't get the proper spelling of 'countryside' down? I still use the same ditty, you know, the one that goes to 'Camptown Ladies?' And I still remember that Concord is the capital of New Hampshire, thanks to that hampter and his silly fruit preferences.
In a week and a half we find out our site assignments. Throughout the history of Peace Corps training, this has been a major source of anxiety. For me, it's not really because I don't trust that they are going to put me into an appropriate site, but rather just the inability to plan and mentally prepare oneself. Like the states, Paraguay has many distinct regions that have their own way of speaking, traditions, ect. I'll be sure to keep you all posted when I find out.
Where did October go, anyway?
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
These are a few of my favorite things...
Sunsets
For lots of reasons (dust, burning, humidity, pollution), there is always a lot of sediment in the Paraguayan sky, so even if there aren't any clouds to speak of, there is always a brilliant splash of orange and yellow behind all those spikey palm trees.
Frogs
There is a wetland area across from my house where the frogs like to hang out. Some nights are filled with maybe a dozen calls. Some sound like cats, some bellow, most just sound like they came direct from an old science fiction movie. Paraguayans say that when the frogs sing, its going to rain soon. Oddly enough, they also say this when a cat washes its face.
The Moon
The moon here is slightly askew from what I'm used to seeing, but recently it's been a brilliant white pearl in the sky. I was walking home with my host mom on a normally very dark road that last night was dappled with the shadows cast by the trees in the moonlight. It was lovely.
For lots of reasons (dust, burning, humidity, pollution), there is always a lot of sediment in the Paraguayan sky, so even if there aren't any clouds to speak of, there is always a brilliant splash of orange and yellow behind all those spikey palm trees.
Frogs
There is a wetland area across from my house where the frogs like to hang out. Some nights are filled with maybe a dozen calls. Some sound like cats, some bellow, most just sound like they came direct from an old science fiction movie. Paraguayans say that when the frogs sing, its going to rain soon. Oddly enough, they also say this when a cat washes its face.
The Moon
The moon here is slightly askew from what I'm used to seeing, but recently it's been a brilliant white pearl in the sky. I was walking home with my host mom on a normally very dark road that last night was dappled with the shadows cast by the trees in the moonlight. It was lovely.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
A day in the life of me
Ok, here goes.
6:45-- get up, drink cosido, get dressed, brush the teeth and I'm out the door by 7:30.
7:45-- Intensive language class. We're talking 4 hours of Guaraní here. At least we get two recesses. Bring out the frizbee!
11:30-- Walk back home and eat lunch with my host mom.
1:00-- technical classes, some times language. Topics include Paraguayan soils, farming calendar, small animal husbandry, cover crops, agroforestry, etc. It's all pretty interesting
5:00-- Jaha che rógape! Go home, drink more cosido, chill, study, dinner and chatting.
10:00-- bed!
Well, this goes for most days, but pretty often we have breaks in the routine. Wednesdays we go to Guarambaré for the big meeting of all 4 sectors.
My living situation: I live mostly with my host mom. My host sister, who's 20, comes home from Asunción on the weekends, and is really fun to hang out with. My host dad shows up when he feels like it/ when he's not traveling for work. My host mom is probably the sweetest lady I know. I know its in 2 months still, but I hope I can visit her regularly when I go to my site. She's also a great way to get to know the community since she's lived here all her life and knows pretty much everybody.
Mail: It makes me sad when I don't get letters when the post arrives. An email is dandy, but its not something I can hold and take with me to the campo. Write me letters!
6:45-- get up, drink cosido, get dressed, brush the teeth and I'm out the door by 7:30.
7:45-- Intensive language class. We're talking 4 hours of Guaraní here. At least we get two recesses. Bring out the frizbee!
11:30-- Walk back home and eat lunch with my host mom.
1:00-- technical classes, some times language. Topics include Paraguayan soils, farming calendar, small animal husbandry, cover crops, agroforestry, etc. It's all pretty interesting
5:00-- Jaha che rógape! Go home, drink more cosido, chill, study, dinner and chatting.
10:00-- bed!
Well, this goes for most days, but pretty often we have breaks in the routine. Wednesdays we go to Guarambaré for the big meeting of all 4 sectors.
My living situation: I live mostly with my host mom. My host sister, who's 20, comes home from Asunción on the weekends, and is really fun to hang out with. My host dad shows up when he feels like it/ when he's not traveling for work. My host mom is probably the sweetest lady I know. I know its in 2 months still, but I hope I can visit her regularly when I go to my site. She's also a great way to get to know the community since she's lived here all her life and knows pretty much everybody.
Mail: It makes me sad when I don't get letters when the post arrives. An email is dandy, but its not something I can hold and take with me to the campo. Write me letters!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Oh Paraguay, you're so funny.
Well, I literally just got back from visiting a volunteer at her site, which generally rocked. The moment I got there I was thrown into the celebration party regarding the chicken coop project that the volunteer helped with. Then more social activities, tereré and dinner. I slept almost all of Saturday and on Sunday we did a river walk in a very jungley area, which made me feel like I was in South America or something. Today I got up at 4:00am to catch one of the two busses into town, then to Asunción, then to Guarambaré. In all, a lovely getaway from then intensity of training, and nice look into my future reality.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
*Gross! I Just kicked a frog.
Well, it's back up near the 100's again, but it's not so bad. That good ol' north wind keeps things warm around here.
So there's this insect here that likes to lay eggs in peoples' feet that they call a pique. It's quite painful, and it actually feels good to dig into your toe to get it out. The only draw back is that there's a small hole where it was. I feel so hard-core!
I walk everywhere here; its about a mile to the community where I spend most of my days with the 11 other crop extention people, and about 2.5 miles to Guarambaré where all 42 of the training group meet. The roads are made of sand and are speckled with flattened, dried frogs. *See title
I also got my mosquito netting this week, which is awesome since now I can sleep in a somewhat naked state and not have to worry about being eaten alive. Plus, its a great place to dry recently cleaned underwear. Rock!
My host sister celebrated her 20th birthday last night and nearly all the crop people came. Birthday parties here consist of a ton of meat, sopa paraguaya, soda, beer, and more meat. Oh, and Cumbia played so loud that you can't have a proper convirsation. But they're pretty fun if you can get away from the speakers. People always dress up for parties.
As far as my studies go, this is the week where they really start pushing us out of our comfort zones, which is what training is all about. Wednesday we travel to Asunción in pairs and have to do a sort of scavenger hunt, then find the Peace Corps office by ourselves. Thursday we have a day of practice which involves working one-on-one with a community member, and this weekend we visit a current Peace Corps volunteer at his or her site. Uuuf! Must. Learn. Guaraní. I don't even get siesta during training.
But! I do like Paraguay. Despite the machismo attitude that manifests itself in weird ways and the lack of trash collection, things make sense here: you want chicken? You go out to your yard and butcher one. Milk? Antonio down the road has a cow, go buy some. Things are simple here.
So there's this insect here that likes to lay eggs in peoples' feet that they call a pique. It's quite painful, and it actually feels good to dig into your toe to get it out. The only draw back is that there's a small hole where it was. I feel so hard-core!
I walk everywhere here; its about a mile to the community where I spend most of my days with the 11 other crop extention people, and about 2.5 miles to Guarambaré where all 42 of the training group meet. The roads are made of sand and are speckled with flattened, dried frogs. *See title
I also got my mosquito netting this week, which is awesome since now I can sleep in a somewhat naked state and not have to worry about being eaten alive. Plus, its a great place to dry recently cleaned underwear. Rock!
My host sister celebrated her 20th birthday last night and nearly all the crop people came. Birthday parties here consist of a ton of meat, sopa paraguaya, soda, beer, and more meat. Oh, and Cumbia played so loud that you can't have a proper convirsation. But they're pretty fun if you can get away from the speakers. People always dress up for parties.
As far as my studies go, this is the week where they really start pushing us out of our comfort zones, which is what training is all about. Wednesday we travel to Asunción in pairs and have to do a sort of scavenger hunt, then find the Peace Corps office by ourselves. Thursday we have a day of practice which involves working one-on-one with a community member, and this weekend we visit a current Peace Corps volunteer at his or her site. Uuuf! Must. Learn. Guaraní. I don't even get siesta during training.
But! I do like Paraguay. Despite the machismo attitude that manifests itself in weird ways and the lack of trash collection, things make sense here: you want chicken? You go out to your yard and butcher one. Milk? Antonio down the road has a cow, go buy some. Things are simple here.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Training
I haven't even been here a week and already it feels like longer, which is neither good nor bad, it just is. Peace Corps doesn't fool around with the words 'intensive language studies.' uf! *Guaraní is actually a pretty easy language to learn; what makes it hard is putting togeather a lot of unfamiliar sounds to make something that has meaning. Today we learned how to conjugate verbs, which again, in theory isn't really that hard, but man, I had forgotten how hard it is to learn the basics of a new language.
Its been cold and wet here, in the low 50´s during the day, much like a western Oregonian winter. The funny thing is, the day before, it was right up near 100 degrees. Oh, Paraguay. You make me glad that I have my down comforter.
Anywho, I get to go to a birthday party tonight, and I have no clue if i'll have a chance to study tonight. Oh well, they say community integration is as important as our studies, so I can justify it. Yeah, thats right.
¡Adio!
*Guaraní is the native language that survived European invasion. It is the second official langauge of Paraguay and is the primary langauge of most rural inhabitants. I have just been informed by my host sister that Guaraní has recently been made the second official language of South America to be used in commerce and govermental stuff. Nice.
Its been cold and wet here, in the low 50´s during the day, much like a western Oregonian winter. The funny thing is, the day before, it was right up near 100 degrees. Oh, Paraguay. You make me glad that I have my down comforter.
Anywho, I get to go to a birthday party tonight, and I have no clue if i'll have a chance to study tonight. Oh well, they say community integration is as important as our studies, so I can justify it. Yeah, thats right.
¡Adio!
*Guaraní is the native language that survived European invasion. It is the second official langauge of Paraguay and is the primary langauge of most rural inhabitants. I have just been informed by my host sister that Guaraní has recently been made the second official language of South America to be used in commerce and govermental stuff. Nice.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Paraguay
Well, I made it! After a long, sleep-deprived trip, we arrived in Paraguay and imediately jumped into training. We had information sessions and interviews for host family assignments and then off we went! My host mom is the sweetest lady ever, and my host sister goes to university in Asunción, but is home on the weekends. She's awesome by the way, and today I hung out with her and a friend, drank tereré, and practiced my Guaraní. Yay!
Yesterday had an action-packed day which included a discussion about our first night with our host families, another general information session, medical interviews featuring two vaccinations for me, basic greetings in Guaraní, language assesement, and the most fun of it all: a bee sting to be sure we don't have an allergie. Mine is still really big and red and after that, I barely felt the shot for my vaccinations.
Today,we had our first language classes in Guaraní and some more cultural training. It was awesomely intersting, and today I actually got to sleep a little siesta, which indeed, rocked my socks off.
What it's like here: The roads are of dirt and sand, and I enjoy looking at all the footprints in the red soil. It gives the area a very human feel.
Contrairy to popular belief, roosters will crow at any hour in the morning, and trust me, there are a lot of them. Cows too.
The people here are super-friendly, and everybody greets everybody else when they are out and about.
I promise photos later. I hope you find this country as charming as I do.
Yesterday had an action-packed day which included a discussion about our first night with our host families, another general information session, medical interviews featuring two vaccinations for me, basic greetings in Guaraní, language assesement, and the most fun of it all: a bee sting to be sure we don't have an allergie. Mine is still really big and red and after that, I barely felt the shot for my vaccinations.
Today,we had our first language classes in Guaraní and some more cultural training. It was awesomely intersting, and today I actually got to sleep a little siesta, which indeed, rocked my socks off.
What it's like here: The roads are of dirt and sand, and I enjoy looking at all the footprints in the red soil. It gives the area a very human feel.
Contrairy to popular belief, roosters will crow at any hour in the morning, and trust me, there are a lot of them. Cows too.
The people here are super-friendly, and everybody greets everybody else when they are out and about.
I promise photos later. I hope you find this country as charming as I do.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Miami
Well, I made it to Miami. The hotel they have us in is super-nice! Internet, pool, exercise room, the works. I arrived with little trouble, and am I glad I did! There are about 40 of us total, and everybody seems SO COOL! It's fantastic. I'm exhausted, but I don't want to go to bed because I want to meet everybody. Tomorrow we have the official staging event, and then head south around 8:30pm. In short, what I have been waiting for for 9 months is finally happening.
Friday, September 18, 2009
I'm heading South with the Sun
Well holy crap from a hat, it's finally here. It of course being the weekend before the day I leave for Miami for a night for Peace Corps for. Yeah. From here on oot, bloggage featured here will be juicier than ever sauteed with only the finest tidbits of cultural observations and seasoned with the most tasteless of personal complaints.
The three summer months went quickly in some parts and practically stopped in others. I laughed, I cried, I coughed. I'm glad to be getting out of Des Moines again. It was great to see my family and friends, but three months really isn't enough time to form lasting new relationships, and I'm looking forward to entering a situation where I can. I'm excited to meet my fellow trainees.
I've noticed that the days are getting shorter and the sun closer to the southern horizon, and I'm grateful that I won't have to spend winter away from my love in the sky for a few years. *See blog post title. I'm pleased that I got to see a little Fall color before leaving.
I'm looking forward to feeling nostalgic about the food. When I went to northern Argentina after high school, I encountered a lot of Paraguayan influences, especially in the food. I'm looking forward to Sopa Paraguaya and Guiso and mandioca. Oh! and how could I forget Chipa Paraguaya: nummiest snack EVER! I'm going to be a happy camper drinking mate every day.
Siesta's going to frickin' rock my socks off. (Again)
For the past two days I've been packing and flu-ing. The only logical conclusion is that these two occurrences are connected in some way. Regardless, I'm glad that both are happening before I leave. I may be ill, but at least I'm eating Ramen and speaking English.
The three summer months went quickly in some parts and practically stopped in others. I laughed, I cried, I coughed. I'm glad to be getting out of Des Moines again. It was great to see my family and friends, but three months really isn't enough time to form lasting new relationships, and I'm looking forward to entering a situation where I can. I'm excited to meet my fellow trainees.
I've noticed that the days are getting shorter and the sun closer to the southern horizon, and I'm grateful that I won't have to spend winter away from my love in the sky for a few years. *See blog post title. I'm pleased that I got to see a little Fall color before leaving.
I'm looking forward to feeling nostalgic about the food. When I went to northern Argentina after high school, I encountered a lot of Paraguayan influences, especially in the food. I'm looking forward to Sopa Paraguaya and Guiso and mandioca. Oh! and how could I forget Chipa Paraguaya: nummiest snack EVER! I'm going to be a happy camper drinking mate every day.
Siesta's going to frickin' rock my socks off. (Again)
For the past two days I've been packing and flu-ing. The only logical conclusion is that these two occurrences are connected in some way. Regardless, I'm glad that both are happening before I leave. I may be ill, but at least I'm eating Ramen and speaking English.
Friday, August 7, 2009
A Force Hidden in the Open
Culture is complicated! and before I went to Argentina, I didn't even understand what it is. Now that I'm preparing to go abroad again, I cant stop noticing it everywhere. I notice the ease at which I hold a conversation, all while picking up on social cues, sarcasm, and the implications and complexities of language. I notice clothing and cultural color preferences.
It, along with the familiarity of home, is all so comfortable!
And I throw it all away in less than two months.
It, along with the familiarity of home, is all so comfortable!
And I throw it all away in less than two months.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Home
Intro.:
They say home is where your heart is, and for the longest time, my heart was anywhere where the corn didn't grow tall and the people were as liberal-minded as they come.
The west Coast:
Ah! That's better. Make friends: check. Get job: check. Schoolin': you betch'a! And after a few craaaaaazy adventures, I felt mostly settled. I knew Corvallis better than most natives my age and you know those people that everybody seems to know? Yeah, that was me. Yet three years later, when it comes time to move back to hot, humid, corn-growin', pig-stinkin' Iowa, I had some reservations.
Des Moines: I can't believe nobody told me the S' were silent!
Corn:
Ok, admittedly it smells like corn here. It really does. Its a distinct smell that, in the city, I can catch a faint hint on the breeze. At grandma's, its a constant reminder of its presence, as if seeing it everywhere weren't enough.
Birds:
Oh how I missed hearing the song birds! Cardinals, Mourning Doves, Yellow Flickers, the "Yoo-hoo"s of Chicka-dee-dee-dee's and Cicadas. The latter may not be a bird, but it undeniably falls into the category of the Iowa soundscape, feathers or no.
The trees:
It is nice to see the trees and plants I grew up around. (NERD!)
And how can we forget? The People:
I didn't realize this until I visited Iowa last summer, but there are distinctly subtle yet crucial differences between the social interactions of an Iowan and an Oregonian (yes, they really call themselves that). In Iowa, it all feels so natural! People talk to strangers in public, and (on the surface at least) are generally easy to talk to.
That, and my close friends and family live here. If that isn't warm and fuzzy (like a fluffy bra), I don't know what is.
In short:
I almost hate to admit it, but I really like it here! And I had put so much time and effort into hating it.
They say home is where your heart is, and for the longest time, my heart was anywhere where the corn didn't grow tall and the people were as liberal-minded as they come.
The west Coast:
Ah! That's better. Make friends: check. Get job: check. Schoolin': you betch'a! And after a few craaaaaazy adventures, I felt mostly settled. I knew Corvallis better than most natives my age and you know those people that everybody seems to know? Yeah, that was me. Yet three years later, when it comes time to move back to hot, humid, corn-growin', pig-stinkin' Iowa, I had some reservations.
Des Moines: I can't believe nobody told me the S' were silent!
Corn:
Ok, admittedly it smells like corn here. It really does. Its a distinct smell that, in the city, I can catch a faint hint on the breeze. At grandma's, its a constant reminder of its presence, as if seeing it everywhere weren't enough.
Birds:
Oh how I missed hearing the song birds! Cardinals, Mourning Doves, Yellow Flickers, the "Yoo-hoo"s of Chicka-dee-dee-dee's and Cicadas. The latter may not be a bird, but it undeniably falls into the category of the Iowa soundscape, feathers or no.
The trees:
It is nice to see the trees and plants I grew up around. (NERD!)
And how can we forget? The People:
I didn't realize this until I visited Iowa last summer, but there are distinctly subtle yet crucial differences between the social interactions of an Iowan and an Oregonian (yes, they really call themselves that). In Iowa, it all feels so natural! People talk to strangers in public, and (on the surface at least) are generally easy to talk to.
That, and my close friends and family live here. If that isn't warm and fuzzy (like a fluffy bra), I don't know what is.
In short:
I almost hate to admit it, but I really like it here! And I had put so much time and effort into hating it.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
The Basics
1. A few weeks ago I was (finally) officially accepted to serve with Peace Corps, Paraguay.
2. I have the summer In Iowa. Around the 22nd of September I depart.
3. After about three months of intensive language, cultural and technical training in the city of Guarambaré, I will move for the next two years to my assigned community.
4. I will know where my assignment will be after about two months of training.
5. I will live with host families for a minimum of six months, possibly for the whole 27 months.
6. I may have limited access to the interwebs, but I will update this thing as I can.
2. I have the summer In Iowa. Around the 22nd of September I depart.
3. After about three months of intensive language, cultural and technical training in the city of Guarambaré, I will move for the next two years to my assigned community.
4. I will know where my assignment will be after about two months of training.
5. I will live with host families for a minimum of six months, possibly for the whole 27 months.
6. I may have limited access to the interwebs, but I will update this thing as I can.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
