Wait, I’ve been here for a year! No me digas!

As of May 28thish I have been in Paraguay for 1 year and in Campo 9 for 9 months

I didn’t believe volunteers when they said it passes quickly, but it did. Actually I’d have to say that sometimes the days crawl by, but the weeks and months fly. It feels like I’ve only been here for 4-6 months.

So far 1/3 of my original group has left. We lost another one a week or so, which brings our current group to 12.

Work: I have my microbusiness class, which I’m very happy with. Though I wish I could have accomplished more by no; thus far it is my only notable project.

Living Situation: I lived with host families for 3 months during training and for another 7 months in-site. That is a lot by the way. Most volunteers only spend about 1-3 months in their host family’s house in-site. I’m so happy now that I’m in my own home. It took a while for it to stop feeling like Carly’s house and start feeling like mine, but I’m finally there

I’ve lived through a Paraguayan summer and winter without central air-conditioning or heating. The winter was hard, but only because I was living with a host family and had to get up and go to training at 6:30am every day, rain or shine. The summer was hot, but survivable. I’ve learned to tolerate if not appreciate the Paraguayans aversion to leaving the house during the rain. Unless it is on my micro business day and then I’m pissed because I want to have class.

Extracurricular Activities:

I’ve started learning the guitar. It is something I’ve always wanted to do, but never got around to. But now I can sing and play my heart out, out of tune, all I want in my little house without worrying about disturbing the people in the apartments around me.

I don’t have a TV and I don’t miss it at all. I have been able to see most of the big movies because I make a point of going to the theater when I’m in Asuncion.

I’ve read an obscene amount of books so far. I’m around 75.

I’ve almost lost all of the weight I gained during training and while living with host families.

I’ve learned how to be a much better cook. I was not bad in the US, but now, yea I can whip up about 5 different tasty meals with just tomatoes, onions, and green peppers.

Language: My Spanish has gotten better and worse. I speak Paraguayan Spanish pretty well, but I think I’d probably sound like an uneducated idiot anywhere else.

Guarani? What is that? Yea, Guarani hasn’t really been happening. I can say little things here and there, but not much.

Pets: Lila is doing awesome. I have no idea what I’ll do with her when I finish my PC service. Sometimes I lean towards taking her back to the US with me; sometimes I think it would be best to leave her with a volunteer.

Post PC: I’m strongly considering extending with the PC for another year, but into a different country. Hopefully with KIVA.

Newbies!!!
Not only have I been in here for a year, but my sister g (the g that is the same sector, but 1 year apart) arrived earlier this month. Tomorrow I’ll be hosting 2 of the volunteers in training. I can’t wait to meet them!