TravelStream™ news feed for member chimmie13 on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/chimmie13 en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:48:06 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1247501510/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1247501510/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1247501510/tpod.html Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:48:06 -0400 Chipa, Terere, Bucketbaths..... just a few things within my life as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay.

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Concepcion, Paraguay

I'm writing this blog as I am finishing my last month of Peace Corps service here Paraguay. I’ve been commuting to the capital to work in the Peace Corps office, taking care of my garden (loving the lettuce, let me tell you!), and spending time with the husband and my in-laws before the big move to the states. This 3 month extension has allowed me to update and expand a math guide as well as finish up my grant to build a classroom in Concepción. The classroom is almost complete…we will inaugurate it on July 21st. The teachers and the students can’t wait until it’s done! The math guide is coming along…it will go much faster now that I have a laptop for the last month of my service. Makes things MUCH easier…especially when the commute is 2 hours each way! I like the idea of working from home!

My last day of PC service is July 24th…planning to spend the weekend with my in-laws…leave Paraguay on July 27th and head to Buenos Aires by bus and take a flight to the states on the 31st. I’ll be in the USA on August 1st! Planning to spend a little time in VA with my parents, brother and sister-in-law…meet my nephew…then road trip down to North Carolina to see my brother and sister-in-law in Charlotte…then down to Florida where I start job searching. I’ve already sent applications out to some school systems there and was offered an interview, but unfortunately interviewing from Paraguay just wasn’t possible. I’m still looking though…hoping to catch something for the 2009-2010 school year. I just might have to wait until I get there, but keeping my fingers crossed that something opens up at the end of August.

Here are a few pics to catch you up!

Much love from Paraguay! :)

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1239457500/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1239457500/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1239457500/tpod.html Sat, 11 Apr 2009 09:55:59 -0400 Chipa, Terere, Bucketbaths..... just a few things within my life as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay.

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Concepcion, Paraguay

Hey there...we´ll i´ve been on a 5 month hiatus from my blog and thought i might send an update. I´ve been hooked on the facebook phenomenom and seem to have neglected my blog...though I´m not sure that anyone actually reads this anymore. Here goes!

First...I got married February 28, 2009! We are currently going through the VISA process...just waiting for some papers from the states and then we can schedule our final interview.

Second...I´m not coming home in April...I´ve been offered a 3 month extension to work on a math manual in the Peace Corps office and work on my grant to build a classroom at my school. This will also give us time to wait for the VISA to get here.

Third...I´ll be moving back to my training community...AKA...my in-laws house April 21st. My close of service date would have been April 24th...so I´ll be there to say bye to my fellow PCVs who are heading back to the states or to travel.

Fourth...my new COS date is July 24th, 2009. I´ll be flying in to Dulles...going to see my family...meet my nephew...hopefully visit a few friends before we move my stuff down to Florida to live with my parents. Then starts the job search...or maybe before...I´m hoping to have some prospects lined up...we´ll see what happens!

Last...thanks for keeping up with me even though I haven´t been doing the best job keeping you all updated

Hope to see you in 2009!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1227107040/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1227107040/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1227107040/tpod.html Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:13:31 -0500 Chipa, Terere, Bucketbaths..... just a few things within my life as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay.

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Asuncion, Paraguay

I'm at the Peace Corps office on vacation (yah!)...leaving to go to Buenos Aires tomorrow! I can't wait! Going to be gone a week and then come back in time for Thanksgiving with PCVs and then my wedding! December 6, 2008...just running errands around town getting stuff ready...getting my dress this PM...I designed it...with the help of a seamstress so it'll be interesting to see how it turns out!

Work wise...I just wrapped up the school year...finished my world map project at the jail...finished our grant for a new classroom at my school (keep your fingers crossed for us)...finished my English class with my youth...now it's vacation time and on to summer projects. Mainly summer camps and I'll start up my English class again after the holidays. Then the new group of volunteers will be arriving (the ones that will replace my group)...and then I'll be heading back to the states!

Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving! :)
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1223313360/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1223313360/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1223313360/tpod.html Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:23:51 -0400 Chipa, Terere, Bucketbaths..... just a few things within my life as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay.

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Concepcion, Paraguay

7 months to go! A little less than...more like 6 1/2 but who´s counting...haha...

What kind of fun have I been having?

I went on my first vacation to the waterfalls in Argentina...they were amazing to say the least. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures to share because they accidentally got deleted off my camera (along with pictures from my birthday lunch too) L Yes, a real bummer...but the falls were so amazing that I'm planning on making another trip there before I head back to the states. Next trip: Buenos Aires and maybe a boat trip over to Uruguay...depends on how time...and money...go with another Educ. volunteer then it´s Thanksgiving weekend down in Encarnacion again. Pools...turkey dinner...who could ask for more? I just hope it´s sunny this time!

What projects am I working on?

I am still doing reading and math workshops in other communities. Just did my first classroom management workshop...we are working on developing a school discipline plan. We're still working on a grant to build my school another classroom...it's been a long, slow process. There's our world map project at the jail, art projects at the children's home, and my English class that just finished their 2nd exam. I'm also working with other volunteers in a joint project with youth and PCVs to bring HIV/AIDS education to rural sites in Concepción. Things will probably be busy until the end of the school year in November, but then my work will kind of come to a halt until school starts up again at the end of February.

Personal update...

I'm engaged! Let me just try to answer some of the questions I've been getting from the people I've shared this news with...

Yes, he's Paraguayan.
His name is Daniel.
I met him in training and we've been together almost my entire service.
He's learning English...it will be a lot easier to help him with this when we aren't living 8 hours apart.

No official date yet...still working out the details....
Yes, we are planning on going to the states after the long VISA process.
Anticipated date of arrival - May 2009...my new address will be in Florida with my parents to spend some much needed quality time! I miss them!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1217363820/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1217363820/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1217363820/tpod.html Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:34:51 -0400 Chipa, Terere, Bucketbaths..... just a few things within my life as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay.

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Concepcion, Paraguay

I survived my winter art camp, although I have to say the weather made it feel more like summer camp! Really it´s winter...so they say...and the temps are hitting around 90-95 degress...some winter. Apparently last year was unusually cold. Thanks to the help of my English students and other PCVs, it made the week much easier to manage. Friendship bracelets, color mosaics, noodle necklaces, mobiles, origami, paper airplanes, bubbles, drawing, masks, playdough...not to mention singing and games...45 students...5 PCVs...12 English students...10 hours of fun by the end of the week.

As a reward for my English students helping, I took them out for ice cream the other day and we went to the park and walked around downtown. They loved posing for pictures and took every opportunity to do so. It was a great time for me to take some pictures of the centro and our main avenida.

Sunday was my host sister's 13th bday...we had a BBQ...and cake of course! I took a picture of the 4 generations of women that live in my house (ages 7 to 99). Amazing!

Today I did dental charlas with 1st and 2nd grade classes. I put in a pedido for kits from Colgate...they sent us toothbrushes, toothpaste, and a boardgame to play. The kids were so excited and eager to show off their kits. The teachers were a great and they helped the students put on a play about dental health.

Tomorrow is Dia de Amistad (Friendship Day). The kids are having a snack and then they exchange gifts (they each have an 'invisible' AKA secret friend in their classes). So I´m on a shopping excursion to find gifts!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1215084900/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1215084900/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1215084900/tpod.html Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:36:49 -0400 Chipa, Terere, Bucketbaths..... just a few things within my life as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay.

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Asuncion, Paraguay

Just some pics...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1215037980/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1215037980/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1215037980/tpod.html Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:55:47 -0400 Chipa, Terere, Bucketbaths..... just a few things within my life as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay.

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Concepcion, Paraguay

Waiting to take the night bus into Asuncion for the 4th of July party...just got to talk to the parents and the brothers! Yah for internet phone calls! Check out a few more pics!

Thought it might be fun for you all to check out the websites of some of buddies here in Paraguay! These are some of my closest neighbors! You might even find some pics of me on their blogs!

Jill
Urban Youth Development, Horqueta
Big Red is my fire-dancing friend who came to Paraguay in the same group as me. We work at the jail together! I like hanging out in Horqueta, and it´s not just for the showers and the space heater!

Rachel
Municipality, Horqueta
Raquel, my local library expert and watermelon loving friend (really her house is painted like a watermelon, check out the pics)...has awesome BBQ dance parties on the patio. Good times!
http://threedaysonadonkey.blogspot.com/

Sarah
Bee Keeper, RL Petit (AKA Campo outside of Concepcion)
Sarah aka BEE is a beelover...I mean...I myself would be terrified, but give her 5 mins to talk about bees...wow she can really give you some insight. She´s also a writer and a guitar player...whoohoo!
http://beesinparaguay.livejournal.com/

Mary
Co-op, Tacuati
She lives way out there...I´m talking crazy campo bus ride to her site. When I went to visit her, we had to get off the bus and walk across the burned out bridge...she tells me now that they have fixed it...I´ll take her word for it! Whenever I need any tech advice, she´s my girl!
http://www.marykennon.com/
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1214234040/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1214234040/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1214234040/tpod.html Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:33:17 -0400 Chipa, Terere, Bucketbaths..... just a few things within my life as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay.

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Concepcion, Paraguay

That´s right...10 months to go. Before I know it, I´ll be 2/3 of the way there and well on my way to hot showers and slurpees. 27 months sounds like such a long time...but I´m on the downhill part and it´s going rather quickly!

Update on work related stuff...
I´m still giving charlas at the jail, teaching English, giving workshops on math and reading, and 0working at the children´s home. That´s a pretty steady part of my job. During winter break in July I´ll be having a camp for my neighborhood kids - art and games. Any of you craftsy people out there send me some ideas for projects (yes, I mean you teachers who have just started your summer break!) I´m working on my list of activities, but I can always use a few more ideas! Especially those that I can make out of recycled materials. I´m starting to work on a project to help other volunteers who are teaching English in their sites...trying to compile materials and teaching ideas for that.

Looking forward to the fourth of July party at the embassy...nothing like hot dogs and a volleyball tourney to warm you up in this chilly winter weather.

Hope to hear from you soon!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1212495060/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1212495060/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1212495060/tpod.html Tue, 03 Jun 2008 09:13:30 -0400 Chipa, Terere, Bucketbaths..... just a few things within my life as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay.

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Asuncion, Paraguay

It's June! Can you believe a whole month went by without an update from Paraguay? I know you are excited...so here goes!

Last school fundraiser: Party in the cancha til 1 AM
Why? We needed money for flags so that my school could be in the parade this past Saturday
The party was a success, for the first time since my school has been opened they were able to be in Concepcion's founding day parade. I put some pics of my school and of my host sisters...it was COLD...I'm talking I had 4 shirts on so I know my girls were cold in their lindo uniforms.

Last charla given: Gender to the inmates at the jail

Last jornada given: Math Didactics and Games for 1st and 2nd grade teachers at my head school

Last English class topic: In the Kitchen

Last person I talked to from the states: Mom

Last book I read: The Rapture of Canaan by Sheri Reynolds

Last phone call made: Taxi to get me to the bus station last night by midnight

Last email received: Cute pics of my nephew!

Last breakfast: chipa at the bus terminal at 5AM this morning

Latest purchase: a mirror (hard to believe I've lived 16 months with a mirror no bigger than my hand...now I can see what I actually look like...don't know if that's a good or a bad thing)

Latest package received: movies, clothes (yah!)

Last haircut: November 2007

Last time I took a shower: May 19th...(I do bucket bathe you know!)

Last person who read this blog: YOU!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1208888160/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1208888160/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chimmie13/pc_paraguay/1208888160/tpod.html Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:00:31 -0400 Chipa, Terere, Bucketbaths..... just a few things within my life as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay.

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Concepcion, Paraguay

Things are going well here in Concepcion as the weather goes from the hot summer, to a few random cold days after the rain, and now we are back to hot again. As I walked down the road from the jail sweating and sunburned as I walk/bike the 5K with a fellow PCV...she reminds me of last week when we were standing on the side of the road waiting for the bus freezing with our fleece jackets and winter hats...funny how fast the weather can change around here.

Yes, you did read that right, I did say jail...and no, I wasn´t arrested nor was I there visiting a friend. A fellow PCV and I have now given two charlas/lessons there and it has been quite an interesting experience. When the project was first mentioned, I remembered back to a year ago when I was first getting settled in site and my site mate told me how her and another volunteer were doing some lessons at the jail with the inmates. I thought, man, is this girl integrated! They did about 6 weeks of charlas on self-esteem and work skills. So when the opportunity to continue the work they started after they finished their service (yes, both my site mates are gone now, but I´m getting a new one at the end of the month!), I thought, why the heck not. It might be cool to work in with the inmates at the jail. I mean it´s certainly work I´ve never done in the states, that´s for sure! Paraguayans thought we were crazy to go...but, it has been an enlightening experience. Let me share a few things that surprised me about working in the carcel.

1. There are no metal detectors, nor searches of our bags as we entered. (Leave your keys and cell phone, no mas.) We ask the teacher ´Are there any other things we aren´t allowed to bring in?´ Her reply: ´No.´ Wow, what a security check. These days you have to take off your shoes, stand on your head, and state your name forwards and backwards just to go anywhere these days in the states.
2. The inmates don´t wear jumpsuits. Regular street clothes will do. Oh, and they hand wash the clothes themselves...hang them up to dry on the fences.
3. The inmates are polite, appreciative, and amazing to work with. Heck, they serve us terere, help us set up, pack up, and thank us at least 2 dozen times while they are doing it.
4. They have a school and a library. AMAZING. My neighborhood school doesn´t even have electricity.
5. They teach leather tooling...enough said? But I¨m looking forward to get a nice thermo and guampa (AKA terere team) before I leave Paraguay. Personalized they said...for much cheaper than anywhere in Concepcion.

So we´ve given 2 charlas so far...the first one was on TEAMWORK and COMMUNICATION. This week TEAMWORK, COMMUNICATION, and LEADERSHIP. They´ve enjoyed the activities so much, that today when we are finishing up they wanted to know when we were coming back. I remember to last week when some of them told us that their own families don´t even come visit them and they are so glad that we are taking the time to work with them. We are off next week, but we´ll be back again on CINCO de MAYO. I´ll give another update then.

As for other work I´ve been doing...working on conquering my fear of public speaking...in Spanish. A couple weeks ago I gave a math workshop with another PCV for 50 teachers and principals. Heck...I didn´t like giving presentations in English in the states and here I am...doubling the group size and then adding in a second language.

This week I have a math workshop on Thursday and then a communication (literacy) workshop on Friday...English class on Saturday...it´s going to be a busy week. Then I´m off to Asuncion for my Mid Service Conference where I get to see the doctors...see if/how many parasites I have (just kidding mom!)...get my teeth cleaned, finally!...present to other PCVs on teaching English...share all the work we have been doing for our first year in site...see fellow PCVs we haven´t seen since September! APRIL 30th...is our 1 year mark...1 more year to go. WHOOHOO!
]]>