2 weeks in Paraguay!

These past two weeks have gone by so quickly yet it feels like I have been here for much longer. I believe this is because of how wonderfully supportive my training group (G41) is and how beautiful this country is and how kind its people are towards all of us “Nortes”.

 Immediately after arriving in Paraguay we had a brief welcome speech, interviews for host family placements, medical reviews, and then we were off to meet our host families. As we rode over to our new host town we all shared the little info that we received about our host family placement. I’ll admit I was kind of sad at first that I was placed with a family of two older parents and no children. But now I would have to say that I was perfectly placed and I love my host parents! It was interesting arriving to our little town and standing in front of the awaiting families trying to guess who we would be spending the next 3 months with. One by one they called a volunteers name and then the family’s name, then we met in the middle with a hug and two kisses (that how they do it here!). My sy (mom in Guarani) is a very creative cook and is a queen of all trades. My tua (dad) is a talented carpenter as well as a tranquil person to be around. Although they are older they are some of the hardest working people I have ever met who also love to learn from the volunteers they host. This is the 13^th year that they have hosted volunteers, so they are pros! They do have a son (my brother) but he lives in a different town with his wife and two sons who are 22 and 18. Occasionally they will stop by to have dinner with us and one time so far we have gone to their house to hang out and have dinner.

The first weekend that I was here in Paraguay my host family and my neighbors (who are also hosting volunteers) threw together a party to fund raise money for a woman who has cancer. 500 people showed up throughout the day to support, eat, drink, dance, and listen to music. It was a fun day meeting the whole town and other host families while dancing and drinking terrere.

Did I mention that my sy is an amazing cook? She is keeping me fed too well! I can see why some people gain weight while they start volunteering here. Although most of the Paraguayan main dishes consist of carbohydrates or meat most are delicious when my sy cooks them. The nice thing is my family is accommodating my vegetarian diet, my mom even told me that they ask for vegetarians because they feel healthier eating like one. So lucky me!

I would have to say the only down I have had was because my external hard drive doesn't work anymore =( So I am music less and picture less (besides the printed pictures  I brought).