sammip24's TravelStream™ — Recent TravelPod.com entries TravelStream™ news feed for member sammip24 on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/sammip24 en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:38:10 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com VAC meeting — Guajayvi, Paraguay http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1213366200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1213366200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1213366200/tpod.html Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:38:10 -0400 Peace Corps adventures in Paraguay (2007-2009)
Guajayvi, Paraguay

Every two months or so we have VAC meetings...which are meetings of the volunteers in the area. In San Pedro, we have about 14 of us and we are spread out over a big area. So, the easiest thing for us to do is hold a meeting at someones house and stay the night. Many volunteers live in areas much more rural than my site, so some have only one bus to their site everyday. It is fun to make a meal that other people enjoy and to speak in English, so we look forward to these times.
Well, last Wed. we went to another volunteers site to stay the night. To get to her house, I first went to Santani to meet the other volunteers. When we all met up, we took a bus for about 15 minutes on the pavement and then the road switched to dirt. Then it was a little more than an hours drive on the dirt, uneven road. Once we got to the nearest town, we got off the bus. The volunteer was waiting for us in a cachape...which is a horse drawn carriage without a top. Actually there were two cachapes waiting for all of us. We took the cachapes for another 7km down a dirt road to the volunteers house.
She lives in a cute little town, but as you proabably guessed, no bus. She also only has one faucet of running water outside her house. So, she has an outhouse, or latrine. Anyway, the meeting was fine and the food was great! Veggie stirfry...YUM! Around 11pm we went to sleep. Well, around 2:30 a few of us got up to go to the bathroom. First my friend and then myself. I slowly walked near a tree, but then realized that I was next to the outhouse, so I just went in. Upon leaving the outhouse, I proceeded to walk in the wrong direction....luckily, she had a fence...made of barbed wire. I ran into the fence...not once, but twice. After the second time, I pulled myself together and realized that I needed to make a complete 90 turn to get back to the house. It was one of the funniest things! A few of us busted out laughing...the strange thing is that I had absolutely nothing to drink and I had gone to the bathroom many times earlier in the night. I have no idea why I walked the wrong way.
It doesn't end there. In the morning, we all got ready to leave around 6:45...well, it began to rain, so we got a late start. If you remember, we rode for about 45 min. in an uncovered wagon....at 7:30 it was still raining, but we headed out to the main road to try to catch a bus. Once we finally got to town, we were all soaking wet. We called and called to find out about the bus. They said there would be one, but we have been in Paraguay long enough to know that NOBODY does anything in the rain...
A few volunteers went out to search for another form of transportation. So, after an hour and a half of waiting for something, we found a small pickup truck to get 6 of us out and into Santani. Unfortunatly, the rain had gotten harder and the road was slowly being destroyed. The six of us got into the truck with our luggage. After the first half hour I was somewhat numb. We did have our rain jackets and a few umbrellas, but that doesn't help on a muddy, rainy day. After 2 long hours, we got to the pavement a little before Santani. Then it was really cold as we drove on the highway into town.
It was a long, wet trip, but it was also amusing and fun. That part of Paraguay is wetlands, so there were tons of beautiful birds and scenery. After a while, you just get used to being wet. It was an experience I will never forget. The red mud stuck to people's clothes and faces. We couldn't help but laugh..too bad no one had a camera.
Thought I'd share a fun Peace Corps experience with you all. These kinds of things are my weekly routine. You never know what will happen next.
]]> Projects in guajayvi — Guajayvi, Paraguay http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1210614720/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1210614720/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1210614720/tpod.html Mon, 12 May 2008 14:38:28 -0400 Peace Corps adventures in Paraguay (2007-2009)
Guajayvi, Paraguay

Hi everyone,
First of all, I want to say thank you to everyone who sent packages. We will be able to do many more activities now that we have more materials. Thank you!
Secondly, I thought I would write you all a little note to tell you what projects or activities I am doing in my site. I have been keeping busy with charlas (I´ll explain what this is later on), Reading-Arts class, English class, a girls sports group, a radio program, and dental health...well, some of these activities I´ve been doing for a while, some just starting, and some are about to begin.
In one of the local high schools and in a technical college, I have been giving charlas. Charla in Spanish means to talk or chat. There are many different topics that I give charlas on a few examples are- self esteem, leadership, how to look for work, sexuality, STI (sexually transmited infections), HIV-AIDS, gender roles and stereotypes. So, what I do is go into the classroom and teach about one of these themes each time. We try to make it as interactive as possible. Therefore, I do tons of activities with the students so that they learn about the topic without me just standing in front of the classroom talking for hours. In the high school I give charlas once a month for an hour. I just started in the college and I was there 2 days for an hour and a half and then 2 hours. I am hoping I will be able to work more with the college because the students are great to work with. They are are very inviting and are willing to share their opinions on the topics, which makes it easier to discuss.
Another project I have been doing for a while is a reading-art class in the elementary school. I have this class in the library. I bring books for the students to practice reading and we often do activities relating to the books. During a couple of weeks we talked about animals and their habitats and then each student drew animals in their habitat. Next week I plan on showing the film Ferngully...it is about deforestation...then I´m going to have a worksheet with questions from the movie to fill out. I work with 3rd-5th graders. I have been doing this project for a while and it is shortly going to be combined with dental health.
Colgate is starting a pilot program with Peace Corps. They are giving a number of schools Colgate kits and didactic materials for teachers. This program will affect 1st-3rd graders only and only 83 kids per volunteer, but it is better than nothing. In each kit is a toothbrush and toothpaste. We should be receiving the kits sometime mid June, so I am about to begin dental health charlas with the students. We will talk about everything from what is a tooth to cavities to how to care for our teeth. I am excited to start that project with the students, but most of them speak in Guarani and I have mostly been talking in Spanish here...so we´ll see.
Our radio show has been on for half an hour once a week since February. There are now 4 other volunteers doing the radio show with me. They come to my house on Saturday mornings and our show starts at 9. The radio is about a half hour walk from my house. A great workout uphill! Our radio program is educational and we are trying to touch on every topic you can think of. A few topics we have done already are- gardens, decision making, technology-computers, and education and why it´s important. Our radio program is called Hesa Porá, which means beautiful eyes in English. (Paraguayans just can´t stop telling us how pretty our light colored eyes are.) I was extremely fearful at first to speak on the radio in Spanish, but now I love it. I wish we had more time!
This Satuday I am going to start another English class. I´ve invited the youth and adults of the community to participate in the class. It will last for 12 weeks and it is 2 hours a week. The students seemed to really like the class last summer, so I hope it goes over well again. I am also starting a girls sports/health group. My plan is to practice and learn new sports (they really only play soccer here), teach about good nutricion, womens health, and maybe cook a few healthy snacks. I´ve invited the female youth to come to this group. It is also starting on Saturday.
Well, that is a brief summary of what I´ve been up to in Paraguay. I´ve also been trying to upload photos cause its been a really long time, but it isn´t working very well...hopefully they´ll be up soon. Miss you all.
Sam
]]> Donations- Packages — Guajayvi, Paraguay http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1204721820/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1204721820/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1204721820/tpod.html Wed, 05 Mar 2008 09:09:47 -0500 Peace Corps adventures in Paraguay (2007-2009)
Guajayvi, Paraguay

Hey everyone!!! I just wanted to let you know that I really want to start a Reading club for 2-4th graders in my community. I want to invite children to come to my house once a week for about an hour or an hour and a half and have them read and do other activities related to reading, comprehension, and learning about new things... However, my community doesn´t have a library and books are really expensive here. It is possible to check out books from the Peace Corps library, but I would really like other materials as well to work with the children...so, if you have a couple extra bucks and want to help out some needy children in Paraguay, these are things that would be useful for my class:
-markers
-crayons
-dry erase markers
-stickers
-pens/pencils with fun designs
-bouncy balls
-childrens books in Spanish (can be found in most large bookstores with other children´s books)
-glue, rubber cement
-scissors for kids
-letter flaschcards
-coloring books
-colored pencils
-learning to read books (English or Spanish)
-chalk
-construction paper.

I know this is a long list, but I´m looking for help to get these items...they are expensive in Paraguay or I may not be able to find some of the items here. These items will allow me to do different activities with the children. If you don´t like to help out needy children in Paraguay, you can always help out a Peace Corps volunteer. ; )
Since I´m sending you a list of items for children, I thought some of you might want to know what I´d like, so here´s a copy of my current wish list:
-South America Laminated map
-food packets/sauces: taco sauce, ranch, alfredo, hot chocolate, etc
-crest toothpaste
-chocolate: heath, snickers, twix, kisses...
-seasonings for beef, chicken...
-easy cooking recipes
-Learning English books
-any fun magazines...People
-cheap DVD´s...I now have a dvd player
-shout wipes
-hand sanitizer
-gum...tropical flavor.

Alright, now that I´ve taken up all your time reading my wish list, I just want to say thanks! I´ll keep you all posted about my work. School is just starting, so I´m hoping to work more in the high schools and elementary schools...Thanks again.
Sam

You can send the packages to:
Samantha Parker
Cuerpo de Paz
Santani, San Pedro
Paraguay
South America

Make sure to clearly mark the packages so that they will have a better chance of making it to me...Anything over 5lbs. will probably be sent to the port in Asuncion and I may not get it...and it would be really expensive to mail somthing that heavy. THANKS!
]]> Things you probably didn´t know about me in PY — Guajayvi, Paraguay http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1204290000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1204290000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1204290000/tpod.html Fri, 29 Feb 2008 08:25:17 -0500 Peace Corps adventures in Paraguay (2007-2009)
Guajayvi, Paraguay

Things you probably didn´t know about me, my site, or Paraguay:
1. Paraguayan children and adolescents go to school for 1/2 days only for about 100 days a year.
2. When it rains, there is no school in the elementary or high school.
3. Pineapples grow from a plant on the ground.
4. In Paraguayan weddings, there is no ´´kiss the bride´´ moment.
5. A quince, or 15th birthday for a girl is a huge, expensive birthday party. She dresses in a white prom dress, the guests feast on pig, cow, potato salad, rice salad...and then the dancing begins.
6. Funerals: the dead are mourned for 9 straight nights after they die.
7. Nap time is from 1-3 everyday.
8. The stores in Guajayvi aren´t open on Sundays...some do open around 5 or 6pm.
9. Ok(e) in Guarani means to sleep...
10. Most windows in Paraguay don´t have glass or screens...normally they just have shutters to open or close them.
11. Paraguayans eat avacados with sugar! They make a shake/juice with avacado, sugar, and milk. They are shocked that we eat them with salt.
12. The school year begins in March and ends in November.
13. Once they get to high school (9th-12th) they are required to take English class.
14. In Paraguay, they don´t use AM or PM, only military time.
15. Just like in the U.S., 2008 is an election year.
16. All of my clothes are considered elegant...whether I bought them in the U.S. or Paraguay.
17. Piki volley is a popular sport played on a volleyball court. They play 2 on 2 and have to hit the volleyball over in 3 touches, just like volleyball. The only catch is that they don´t use their hands...they use their head, chest, knees, and feet to get the ball over. Volleyball + soccer = Pikivolley. P.S. only the men play.
18. For those of you who speak Spanish: guapo/a in Paraguay means your hardworking, not goodlooking...either way its a compliment, right?
19. In Paraguay, you can´t flush your toilet paper. You have to throw it in the garbage...smelly!
20. Many Paraguayans believe the U.S. wants to steal their "agua dulce" or sweet water, i.e. their well water.
21. Paraguayans typically don´t wear swimsuits when they go swimming, they just wear regular clothes: jeans, shorts, t-shirt, baseball cap, etc.
22. Paraguay and California are roughly the same size.
23. I was once informed by an organization in Asuncion that 75% of Paraguayans have a relative living and working in another county...this is due to lack of jobs in Paraguay.
Hope you have all enjoyed the list...there are probably many more things that would seem strange, but after being here a year, I´ve just grown accustomed to...
]]> Summer Camp — Guajayvi, Paraguay http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1203102660/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1203102660/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1203102660/tpod.html Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:24:07 -0500 Peace Corps adventures in Paraguay (2007-2009)
Guajayvi, Paraguay

I know I haven´t written in a while..I made a trip home for the holidays and now am finally getting back to working. However, they are currently setting up an internet cafe in Guajayvi (my town) just a block from my house, so I don´t have anymore excuses not to write you all more often....
The last four weeks have been very busy for me. I´ve been doing a summer camp for 2-5th graders at local schools. I shouldn´t say I, because there was lots of help. My nearest PC neighbor and I prepared and planned the camp. Two other volunteers also helped out with their technical skills. We had a 2 wk camp in my site and then a 2 wk camp in Gabi´s site.
First I should tell you that to advertise for the camp, I went on the radio. There is an older woman (in her 60s) who has a 2 hour radio show a couple days a week. So, I went on the air for a few minutes to explain what we were planningf for the summer camp and to invite the children. On air, as she announced me, she called me Pomela Parker. I was shocked because she had previously called me Samantha, so I thought she knew my name. I couldn´t say anything and so I just let it go...so now my new nickname is Pomela...hehe
Anyway, the camp was Mon-Thurs. We started around 7:30 and went until 11 each day. We had different activities, themes, and games. A few of the themes were: identity, dental health, nutrition, parasites, habitats and animals, and a little geography. Each day, we started with a song, then talked about the importance of the topic of the day. We had a snack around 9ish each day as well. They would bring their toothbrushes and brush after the snack. We would have another hour and a half of activities , games, or other information.
Overall, it went really well and the students seemed to learn a lot. So, after an exhausting month of summer camp, I´m going to rest a few days at my house and go the the first soccer game this Sunday...hope you are all well!
]]> Sam´s new house — Guajayvi, Paraguay http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1193920260/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1193920260/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1193920260/tpod.html Thu, 01 Nov 2007 08:41:18 -0400 Peace Corps adventures in Paraguay (2007-2009)
Guajayvi, Paraguay

After 6 months of living with a Paraguayan family, I decided to find my own place. Luckily, I found a great house with the help of friends in the community. I´m renting a spacious house near the high school. I have a large foom where I keep all my books and materials for work. Then a smaller room where I´ve begun taping up all the pictures I brought with me from home and the new ones I´ve taken here. Across from the small room is the bathroom. I recently got hot water...unfortunetly I don´t use it because it is blazing hot here now.
The next room is my bedroom. I have a bed and armour. The kitchen is right outside the bedroom door. I bought a stove, fridge, and large table and they are all functioning great! I´m very happy to be cooking for myslef again...especially with the buffalo wild wings sauces that came as birthday gifts..thanks dad and Chris!
In the kitchen I have a large window and now that it is hot, my new favorite thing to do is sit in front of the window and watch baby hummingbirds in a nest in the tree. I also have a back room to the house that leads to a small patio. The patio is shaded by a few trees during the day. A fabulous luxury for the Paraguayan heat. I recently found out one of the trees is a lemon tree and the other is a peach tree. The fruits are starting to grow and I´m anxious to start eating the fruit off of my own trees!
]]> Dia del Niño — Guajayvi, Paraguay http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1188226980/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1188226980/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1188226980/tpod.html Mon, 27 Aug 2007 11:20:03 -0400 Peace Corps adventures in Paraguay (2007-2009)
Guajayvi, Paraguay

I just can't put out a good entry. So, after Dia del Nino (day of the children, kid's day, however you want to translate it) I had a few photos and I thought I'd tell you what I did.
First I need to tell you that Dia del Nino is an important holiday for everyone. This past Thursday was dia del nino. I was invited to Raul's aunts house to help celebrate with them. Around 4am, many of the members of the family got up to begin butchering a cow. Luckily, since I was a guest, I was alowed to stay in bed until 6:45. Which was probably a good thing because I'm not ready to watch a cow be killed yet. So, after getting my beauty sleep, I woke up to find everyone moving around the house working on moving cow parts or preparing breakfast or even preparing for the children.
The first thing I am offered is cocido and bread. The traditional Paraguayan breakfast drink is Cocido. In order to make Cocido, you put herba and sugar on a plate. Then you add hot charcole and mix it around. After it is mixed well, it is all put into a pot of boiling water. When you are ready to drink it, you pour the water through a filter, so that you don't get charcole in your drink, and add milk.
After having breakfast, I tried to help some of the aunts in the kitchen, but they told me there was no work for me...I really think that there was a lot of work, but they wanted to treat me like a guest. So, I sat outside and watched the men cut and carry the meat to a table where someone else was cutting it so that they could throw it into the pot to cook.
After some time, the children started to arrive. This aunts house has a soccer field, so this was going to be where all the kids could play and celebrate. So as the kids arrived, they quickly made themselves at home on the soccer field. Before any games started, I was able to take a few pictures of everyone!
Then they started playing soccer. First a group of boys, then a group of older girls, then a group of boys, and so on...it was great to see that they were all getting a chance to play and have fun.  While all this was going on, the adults, minus myself, were cooking meat on the grill and a stew with the meat from the cow they'd butchered that morning.
Around 11:30, the food was ready and everyone sat down to eat. One of the uncles brought out his guitar and started playing songs for the children as they ate. As we finished eating, an entertaining group arrived. They sang for the kids and had a puppet show. After this group, each child received a gift, like you would receive from a birthday party...coookies, noise maker, a lollypop.
By this time, many were tired and the children began to go back to their homes...so for many, it was a long, but eventful and fun day.
]]> The First Few Days — Santani, Paraguay http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1178719320/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1178719320/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1178719320/tpod.html Wed, 09 May 2007 10:15:01 -0400 Peace Corps adventures in Paraguay (2007-2009)
Santani, Paraguay

After taking multiple walks and talking with Paraguayans, I can tell you a little about how beautiful my area is!
Let me start by telling you there are two orange trees (the fruit) right outside my bedroom door. The yard is very large and is filled with all sorts of plants, flowers, and trees. The flowers attract beautiful butterflies. We have a couple of mango trees too. I can´t wait for mango season!
The area produces a lot of bananas and pineapple. YUM! The countryside is incredibly green! One of my favorite things about Paraguay are the random palm trees scattered throughout the country. Sometimes they are in groves, which is so strange for me. They remind me of scenes from a Dr. Seuss book.
I am very happy with the physical landscape of Guajaiyvi. I wish my photos could capture the beauty. I´ve only had the chance to meet a few people in town, but they all seem very nice...and curious about who I am. My light skin, colored eyes, and strange clothes gives it away that I´m not Paraguayan. Just the other day I was sitting outside on the patio drinking Terere when a man on a moto drove by. He was staring for so long that he started to drive off the road. When he caught himself, he overcorrected and almost fell off his moto! It was pretty hilarious-we all had a good laugh.


]]> My new site — Guajayvi, Paraguay http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1178229840/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1178229840/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1178229840/tpod.html Thu, 03 May 2007 18:09:40 -0400 Peace Corps adventures in Paraguay (2007-2009)
Guajayvi, Paraguay

Hey all!
Just wanted to let you know that I am in my new site of Guajayvi. So far, I have just been getting settled in to the room where I am staying. My mailing address is the same as it was before and if you forgot it, it is on the first page of my blog. I also have a cell phone for security reasons, so if you want my number, just email me. I obviously have not begun any projects yet, I am just learning where things are in town. Once I have more information about what I am doing, I can let you know. But for now, all is fine and I am enjoying my site!
]]> Site Visit — Asuncion, Paraguay http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1176750120/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1176750120/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/sammip24/pc_paraguay/1176750120/tpod.html Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:29:06 -0400 Peace Corps adventures in Paraguay (2007-2009)
Asuncion, Paraguay

Guajayvi is the town I'll be living in for the next 2 years. The town is located right on a ruta (highway), so there are many motos, cars, and trucks transporting goods. It is a pretty small town of about 3,000. I went to the high school on Friday and found out there are only about 200 students in the high school.
The scenery is really pretty. There is a large hill just outside of town. Also there are tons of trees and forests nearby. Very green!
There is a larger town about 30km qaway that has internet and a supermarket. Unfortunately, Guajayvi does not have internet, but that doesn't mean you can't email me ;). I will probably be going into this town about once a week to check email and buy food.
Guajayvi is roughly 3 1/2 hours away from Asuncion to the NorthEast. We are close enough to Brazil that many of the people who own a t.v. get their channels from Brazil...so hopefully one day I'll be able to understand Portugese as well.
Friday night we went to a 10 year anniversary of a basketball court. A former volunteer helped get $ and then build a bb/soccer court on the school grounds. Because I'm a Peace Corps volunteer, I was able to have a "special" seat in the front row! This meant that I was a judge to pick the queen of the school. I also got a close up view of the Paraguayan Micheal Jackson! He was dressed up just like Micheal Jackson and he danced to Billie Jean. It was great! Unfortunately, I forgot my camera, so no photos:(
Overall, the trip was a snapshot of what my life is going to be like in a few months. It's nice to finally know where I'll be living and working.
]]>