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.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
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.
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