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.
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