Rain Rain Go Away

Oh rainy days. The country of Paraguay shuts down when its raining. Its on these days that you put on some warm clothes, grab a good book and set yourself up with your mate equipo! So I had sat down at the computer to help my family and sneakily update my blog at the same time… however they were out of saldo (money to keep it running) for the modem so I couldn’t. So here in lies why my blog is really long because its been a while!

Two weeks ago was quite eventful. On Wednesday (the 12th) I spent the whole day at the school. I got to talk to a student named Alex, he is two grades behind and I will be giving him some extra attention with his studies. We had a real nice and awkward conversation where I just got to know him a little bit better and asked if he would like some extra help with classes and he said yes! Then the rest of the day I helped the teachers set up and decorate for the weekend festivities. I was glad to help because it showed that I can work hard and they all seemed impressed that I stayed all day to help out! Its all about getting that good first impression! Later that evening we had a big asado (they cooked a huge amount of meat) and party at our house because it was nurses day. There are actually many nurses in my town as well as many nursing students. Its one career that you can actually find a job in- so its becoming very popular. We sat around drinking wine and talking- I made a new friend, Laura. She is super nice, has an adorable blonde haired little boy and we bonded. I feel like everyday I find someone new that I know will be a really good friend in the next two years and that’s really encouraging. Even though most of the time I sit around just staring at people as they talk super fast in Guarani, most people do talk to me in Spanish which is very nice because I know they would rather talk in Guarani.

Thursday I didn’t do too much during the day, I went for a run in the morning then worked on my computer most of the day. I was cleaning it up to help it run faster, it was being really slow and stupid, but now it works better! Later that evening I ventured out of my house though… which was a great thing! I went to visit a friend and she wasn’t there, but another friend of mine was, Blanca. There was a girl there that was painting nails- she was going to school for that. So I got my nails painted and they are really pretty and sparkly!! Normally I don’t like to paint my nails because they always chip, but 4 days later they are still fully intact! Plus it is very Paraguayan to paint your nails, all the ladies have their nails painted, so I was trying to blend in!

Friday I was up really early, before 6am to help my family get ready for the festivities. It was Independence day, 199 years of Independence. I straightened two of the girls hair in my house then had to get ready myself and straighten my own hair and look good because I was going to a community wide outing- big deal! But don’t you worry I was looking pretty churra (a word they use for when someone is looking good!) I got to the school at 8am to start the program with the kids. Since Saturday was mothers day we combined the two holidays in one and celebrated together. So the kids memorized little sayings about their mothers, country and families. It was really cute and some of the real little kids danced and it was adorable. The boys had painted on mustaches… way too cute! The program went on for about an hour and half and then we all moved to the streets to watch the parade. There were two drum lines- one with the smaller kids from the elementary school and the other from the high school. My little “niece” was a baton girl and they all had their little costumes, it was really fun! I got to take lots of pictures to share with the family! Then we just hung out the rest of the day, we ate some asado (lots of meat) and some rice salad which had a mayo dressing on it. They LOVE mayo here, so I eat it and try not to think that its mayo, they mix it with some lemon juice, so it has a slightly different flavor! After lunch we went back to the school where there was music playing and we all danced. And when I say we, I mean- me and the drunk old guys danced. It was a slightly weird situation because I wanted to dance- y’all know me. But I didn’t want to give off the wrong impression, I’ve just met most of these people, so I eventually removed myself from the dancing area because I didn’t know what to do. Men here in this country are slightly different- it is not uncommon for a man to have many girlfriends or babies with different women. So I decided until I know some of these people better to just not dance, I even tried to dance with just my little girls, but that didn’t work for very long! After that I just went back to the house and Avelina (my contact) and I just laughed at all the crazy old men that were drinking and doing stupid stuff! Later that evening we went to a soccer/handball tournament. I bundled up warm this time because last time I got super cold… well I didn’t last long, I was so tired from waking up so early I left early to go home and relax. I ended up downloading a bunch of the photos from the day and showing my fam. Then Yohanna and I snuggled in my bed watching Glee, she doesn’t know what they are saying but she likes to watch them dance and sing! THEN I found the video that Laura and I made for Kyle when he changed jobs, it was where we did our safety Samantha/Sammy skits and it was so freakin hilarious I laughed so hard and Yohanna thought it was really funny, we’ve watched it about 7 times! Haha!

Saturday and Sunday I did a lot of nothing, but sometimes you need those days to relax. On Saturday I mostly just hung out and talked with Avelina about all the town happenings and who is with who. Which man has multiple women and babies… its kinda a problem here. The worst part is that the women know this is happening and they let it happen. But this is one thing I want to educate the high school students on is healthy relationships and self esteem! Looks like I have a lot of work to do! This week I’m going to be really guapa (hard working) and get out there and go visit people in their houses and meet more families. I also want to talk to the high school principal, I met her this weekend but I want to go in there officially. I also want to talk to the guy that I’m going to rent my house from to get that process moving, since I have to build a bathroom in the house (and when I mean “I” have to build, I mean I’m paying someone to do it!) I’m not trained to do that kinda work! So lots of work this week, hopefully I’ll be very productive!

So much for my really productive week… it rained… all… week… so turns out I didn’t do too much in the way of working. I mostly just hung out around my house, I wanted to go out and do things, but people were mostly inside their houses and the streets were a terrible mess of mud and really hard to walk anywhere. On Monday however, I did go talk to the high school principal we decided that I will start working there after the winter break doing the same subject (dental health) as the elementary school. That way I can prepare the same lessons at the same time! So I should be working most every day once winter break is over! Yeah work! Other than that I had a random idea on how to decorate my house, once I finally have my own house. I just finished a book called, Jesus for President and there is a chapter on the Fruits of the Spirit- so I got the idea to creatively write out all the words in both English and Spanish (I found the Spanish translation in my Spanish bible that my bestie Eliza gave me before I left for site!) on a piece of paper and leave room to put a photo, then I will find some sticks or something fantastic from the earth and make a frame out of it! You know just trying to be creative… but I do have to say they’ve turned out pretty good! I used the color pencils my mom sent me and really took my time, since I had nothing else to do, and made them look really pretty, turns out I’m a pretty good colorer! Now I have to pick out a picture that I put in each one. I haven’t decided if I want to put pictures of people or of nature/non-people things! Its going to be awesome and look great in my house!

I don’t have very many warm clothes so I ended up wearing the same thing most every day all week. I would take a shower at night- thank god my house has a hot water shower, which worked most of the time! Then I would change in between my red fuzzy pants and my blue fuzzy pants, and my WSU sweatshirt! Good times! I think my family thinks I’m gross but I don’t care because I don’t have any other clothes to wear! I’m going to try and buy something in Pilar- maybe a turtle neck, everyone wears turtle necks! Ha!

On Friday the weather did clear a bit, so I got really ambitious and ventured out after lunch! I started walking to an older ladies house who I really like and tells me to come over whenever I like, when I walked past a couple ladies playing some cards. So I decided to stop first at their house. Good decision, not only did I learn a new card game, that is very much like rummy and very fun I’ll teach everyone when I come home. But I met a bunch of new people and found my way into the card playing circle. I watched for about an hour how to play, but I picked it up really fast. Then I joined. We played for money and I didn’t have very much but I ended up winning the first hand I played and I think everyone was pretty impressed, they asked for my number so they could call me when they were playing- however they always are playing so I don’t think I’ll have a problem with that! However, I don’t have much money and I cant always be losing it playing cards. So I think I’ll just have to treat myself to a little card playing once a week or something! Then I went over to my friend Blanca’s house- she has rapidly become my best friend. Shes 29 and pretty fantastic, she is the preschool teacher and I’ve hung out with her basically every day last week! The great thing about it is, I don’t feel like I’m intruding, because she texts me to hang out with her, so I know she genuinely likes me and wants to hang out. Shes also very easy to understand and she corrects me when I say things wrong and she offered to help me with my Guarani! And in turn I’m going to help her with English because she really likes learning English and has taken one year in university already. Also she wants to start exercising so we’re going to walk together once the weather gets nicer and the roads dry up a bit! But its always good to have good friends, her husband offered to go to Pilar when I buy all my big things for my house and bring them back for me in his big truck! How lucky! And Blanca and her husband are really good friends with the person I’m going to rent my house from, so they are going to invite me over when he is over the next time, so I can develop a good relationship with him!

Saturday (22nd) I was walking around with my kids, and filming a video that I took of the town when my friend, Rilsi invited me to drink terere with her. So I stopped in the middle of my video and went to hang out with her and then I mention that I played cards the day before so we started playing cards and I ended up going back to her house later after lunch to play some more! This time was more fun, and I didn’t lose all my money! My little girls came a little later and we were all playing- but went back to the house when it got dark… and played some more cards! They love it! And whoever wins gets 100 G coin which is about 2 cents! We played all night and they loved it!

Sunday I went to church- Catholic church is so similar to Episcopal, so I felt right at home! But I figure not only is a good way to meet some more people, let them know I’m a good person, but it’s a great way to learn more and since the priests are from Italy they are easier to understand and I like that! I was preparing my computer and my blog for going to Pilar in the morning… then it started pouring… man this country and its weather. However, it is the rainy season. But I really wanted to see my new baby cousin, because she’s freakin adorable! And I was able to connect at my house, using my families modem for a short bit! Hopefully later this week I’ll be able to make it to Pilar, if it stops raining! I would really like to upload some photos but this connection is way way too slow to do that! Love you all!

Life in my new town Tacuaras

Well I’ve been in my site for almost a week now. And it feels like a month! Ha! No not that long, its just right now there’s not tons to do so I sit around a lot and my days feel like they’re really long! And I feel like all I’m doing is just staring at people, because they all speak in Guarani and they speak so freakin fast I can only pick up a couple of words. But I really like it here, the people are all very nice, they stare at me a lot but that’s to be expected! I mostly hang out at my house because there is always something going on. There are four kids in the house with the youngest being 3 years old and he is a little hellion. Hes really cute and has pretty blue eyes, but I don’t think he knows the meaning of no! he spills things on my bed, he ripped apart the calendar I made myself, he cries all the time! But sometimes he’s super cute and really fun to play with! But its really nice in this house, I don’t have a lot of privacy or space but it’s a good way to meet people because there is always people at the house and new families to meet! Other than my house I spend lots of time at the doctors house hangin with his wife. She’s super nice and she seems to really like spending time with me! So I helped her in her garden one afternoon. We had lunch yesterday and drank some wine with pomelo (grapefruit) juice! Its crazy all the things they add to their wine- and its crazy that I drink it! Ha!

But I went to the school one day to talk to some of the teachers and just introduce myself. Then the director of the school came up and I started talking to her. She wants me to help with a kid who is in 6th grade but is 15 years old and needs some extra help. So I offered to come back to the school this morning (Monday) so I went and the kids wasn’t at school today, so we just talked about what I wanted to do in the school. We talked for a while and came up with a plan to start in the middle of July after they have their two week winter break at the beginning. I’m going to start giving charlas on the topic of teeth brushing and a clean mouth! She seems really excited for me to do work in the school and that will keep me busy for at least a couple of months! And its one of the easier topics to teach and there are lots of games, activities and songs that I can do with the kids! I think my first project in the high school will be a class garden. I haven’t talked to anyone there yet, but hopefully they’re cool with that! I think it will be a easy way to get to know some of the kids! Other than that in the first couple of months I’m going to be working on my community census, which lucky me has just been done by one of the nurses, so I’m going to be collaborating with her about the information she has already collected and what other information I need to have! Plus shes a really nice lady and one of my closest friends here so far!

On Friday I went into our town of Pilar which is close and where I am now! It’s a really cute little town and has everything you need! I walked around with another volunteer named Brian who lives in Pilar- we were suppose to have our VAC meeting. The VAC meeting is a time where all the local volunteers in the area get together to talk about PC happenings and the potential of working together on projects! Or just to see other Americans and talk in English! But it rained the night before and into the morning so no buses were passing and our other people in the group couldn’t get out of their sites so it was cancelled. Brian showed me around, we looked out over the river and saw Argentina, which was really cool! He showed me where to buy groceries and where the post office and bank were! And I found a really great wireless cafe!

I have started running to get into shape and loose a couple of pounds I’ve gained in the last three months. Everyone looks at me funny and asks me what I’m doing and why! Its just something they don’t do here, but everyone sees me and asks me about it! Its just really hard to say no to food here, they love giving you more and more food and its TONS of carbs. We eat break for every meal and mandioca which is a potato like thing and tons of rice and pasta. Ohhh and sugar in everything and a lot of it! So here in lies why Sarah gained some weight! Its okay though, because once I start living on my own I can make what I like and eat more veggies! Especially since I’m going to have a super sweet garden! But until then the family I live with now doesn’t feed me too much. We rarely eat dinner and if we do its just something little. I usually just have a cup of coffee and little pieces of bread! P.s. I love the coffee here, maybe its because we put a lot of sugar in it, but you put the coffee grounds and sugar in the bottom of your cup add a small amount of water then stir until it becomes a lite tan color then you add water to the top! It has a nice amount of foam and tastes delicious- I drink it every night before I go to bed!

But I think I’m really going to enjoy my two years here, I’ve met some really great people and I know I’m just going to continue to meet more. I need to be a little more adventurous and start just showing up at peoples house to talk to them! But I came at a really good time, because this weekend is Independence Day, mother’s day and nurses day. On nurses day we’re supposedly playing volleyball and drinking wine! Woot- my favorite things! And for Independence Day there’s going to be a parade through town and I’m sure lots of fun things to do and hopefully plenty of people to meet and talk too! So next time I write hopefully I’ll have plenty of photos and stories to talk to you about. Love you all and hope you are having a wonderful day and please update me on your lives, I feel slightly disconnected! Chau Chau- Sarita.

Cheers to being a real volunteer!

The first picture is our group and the second one is the jello shots us girls made for our going away party! It was fabulous, our Paraguayan families did not know how to eat them, it was great!

Okay guys its official, i am a real volunteer! My swearing in ceremony was yesterday, we raised our right hands and repeated almost exactaly the same words that the president says when he swears into office! It was pretty cool, and the United States ambassador was there to give a speech! and we were all looking very pretty, i wish my computer wasnt being so retarded right now and I could download my pictures for you to see... ohhh well, thats just life in Paraguay! Everythings good here, just hangin out in Asuncion we celebrated last night at a bar and we danced up a storm, it was really fun! Now i'm just getting ready to head to my site, i'm kinda nervous but really excited! It is soooo nice that i have a phone now cause I can stay in contact with all my friends and people from home can call me for free (its only free for me though- not you!) I dont know my internet availability in my site, so it will be really sparatic when i'm on, but i'll probably get an internet chip later in a couple of months when i'm living on my own and will possibly have some more plata! Other than that life is good, we're headed to a talent show night tonight to hang out with our people and meet other volunteers that came in for the weekend!