As of today, I have been in Ayolas for exactly one month and every morning I keep waking up asking myself that same question. Arriving to site in mid-December is somewhat complicated. Since I am an environmental educator, my primary job is in the schools. However, Paraguayan schools started summer vacation in the end of November and do not start up again until the end of February. Thus, I do not have any substantial work for the first few months. I spent most of this past month drinking terere with neighbors, reading a handful of books, practicing my Spanish, and just trying to get my face out in the community. While it sounds pretty easy and tranquillo there are times when I feel really awkward. We are supposed to go up to random peoples houses, clap outside their gate (since there are no doorbells), introduce ourselves, and hopefully drink terere with them, which will help us to get to know the people better and vice versa. It is kind of an uncomfortable process – especially during the holiday season – so everyday I just keep telling myself that knowing one more person will make my site that much more comfortable for me the next day. Which is very true. As I have slowly gotten to know community members, I have enjoyed seeing my new friends around town.
The great thing about being a Peace Corps Volunteer is that everything I do is considered work. Por ejemplo (for example), writing this blog post is part of my service here since I am sharing with all of you back in the United States or wherever about my experience here with the culture and language. Some of my 'work' here in Ayolas has been quite entertaining. I went fishing at the river, was interviewed on the local TV channel about my future work here, cut wine bottles into water glasses with neighbors, have cooked and shared meals with neighbors and new friends, and I am currently walking daily with a neighgor woman.
While there have been times when I have felt pretty lonely and have deeply missed family and friends back in Washington, I am starting to find my place here in Ayolas. However, I am anxiously awaiting the school year to begin. I need to start pushing my walking partner to run a little bit with me, so I can keep up with all the kids at recess when school starts!
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