TravelStream™ news feed for member trevorivey on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/trevorivey en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sat, 17 Mar 2007 15:42:47 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1174159620/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1174159620/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1174159620/tpod.html Sat, 17 Mar 2007 15:42:47 -0400 To Paraguay and beyond....my wild adventures south of the equator!

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Wedgefield, South Carolina, United States

Well I've been back in the States now for about a week now and I am trying to pick up where I left off. Not a day goes by that I don't think about the wild experience that I left behind or the challenges that came along with the ride, but I am still confident that I made the right decision. Peace Corps, in reality, isn't for everyone. And right now at this point in my life, it just didn't fall into place for me.

I managed to secure a teaching position at High Hills Elementary School on base where I started back this past Monday. I am doing math PACT small group pull-outs. Contracts will be coming out later this month, so I am anxious to secure my position for next year at a local elementary school. I am currently staying with my parents. Trying to get other little pieces of life back together that we all take for granted....a place to stay, a phone, a car!!! LOL....the searches are coming along. If you particularly know of a small apartment for rent, please let me know (tivey2@hotmail.com). That would be most helpful.

I cannot begin to tell you how much this 5-week experience with the Peace Corps has changed my life. There are many positive expeirences that I will carry with me....but there are also just as many negative experiences that I will always remember and most importantly, so many lessons learned from those negative experiences.

I want to share a little story that a friend emailed to me this past week. When I read it, I think of myself...and I think that this is my greatest strength...the best part about my personality that I treasure the most.

John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always
in a good mood and always has something positive to
say. When someone would
ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were
any better, I would be twins!"

He was a natural motivator.

If an employee was having a bad day, John was there
telling the employee how to look on the positive side
of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I
went up and asked him, "I don't get it!

You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do
you do it?"

He replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself,
you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a
good mood or ... you
can choose to be in a bad mood. I choose to be in a
good mood."

Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a
victim or... I can choose to learn from it. I choose
to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me
complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining
or... I can point out the positive side of life. I
choose the positive side of life.

"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested.

"Yes, it is," he said. "Life is all about choices.
When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a
choice. You choose how you react to situations. You
choose how people affect your mood. You choose to be
in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your
choice how you live your life."

I reflected on what he said. Soon hereafter, I left
the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost
touch, but I often thought about him when I made a
choice about life instead of reacting to it. Several
years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious
accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications
tower.

After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care,
he was released from the hospital with rods placed in
his back.

I saw him about six months after the accident.
When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were
any better, I'd be twins... Wanna see my scars?" I
declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had
gone through his mind as the accident took place.

"The first thing that went through my mind was the
well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter," he
replied. "Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered
that I had two choices: I could choose to live or... I
could choose to die. I chose to live."

"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I
asked.

He continued, ".. the paramedics were great. They
kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they
wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on
the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really
scared. In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man'. I
knew I needed to take action."

"What did you do?" I asked.

"Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions
at me," said John. "She asked if I was allergic to
anything. 'Yes, I replied.' The doctors and nurses
stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a
deep breath and yelled, 'Gravity'."

Over their laughter, I told them, "I am choosing to
live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."

He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also
because of his amazing attitude... I learned from him
that every day we have the choice to live fully.

Attitude, after all, is everything! Therefore do
not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry
about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its
own." Matthew 6:34.

After all today is the tomorrow you worried about
yesterday.

I am still not past the worrying stage of this whole thing, but I'm working towards it. Your prayerful support is is much appreciated!

Trevor T. Ivey
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1173209520/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1173209520/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1173209520/tpod.html Tue, 06 Mar 2007 14:38:14 -0500 To Paraguay and beyond....my wild adventures south of the equator!

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Asuncion, Paraguay

I have been in Asuncion today all day. I am trying to get the last little bit of clearance needed in order for them to sign off on my departure. However, it doesn't look like I will be coming home anytime soon. You know...you just can't come to a third world country and not get some parasites....what would that be like? It's just jiardia...the doc says that it is very common in the States. But, I've got like thousands of these things just swimming around in my intestines...it's pretty gross when you think about it. They have this hard outer shell, which lets them keep living once..so once some "leave" my body, more are still there and the process just repeats itself. It's confusing. Anyhow, it explains a whole lot about the health problems I have been having since the second week I was here. So, I started the meds but the doc cannot sign off on his part until "he is satisfied." (so, half need to die.)

So, not sure when I will be coming back, but I'll be fine.

Trevor
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1173189060/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1173189060/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1173189060/tpod.html Tue, 06 Mar 2007 09:08:14 -0500 To Paraguay and beyond....my wild adventures south of the equator!

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Asuncion, Paraguay

I write to you back in the States filled with so much confusion...about where am I actually supposed to be in life. I thought that this experience was going to bef or me...that this was what God wanted me to do, but I have hit the one month mark and I just don't see myself here in this Peace Corps picture. After careful consideration and prayer, I have decided to end my training with the Peace Corps. You may recall that I asked several weeks ago to pray for me as I had an unspoken. Well here it is...Peace Corps wanted me to chance some aspects about me in order to "possibly" be a successful volunteer in my future site. I am very disappointed with the PC system and somewhat in the culture of Paraguay in that certain characteristics and my behavior might be taken in the wrong way...hence, the changes they wanted me to make. Of course, this is the clean version.

What have I learned?

Good question. I am who I am. No one should ever have to change who they are...how God made you is who you are -- it's what is specail about me - my constant cheerfulness, my love of talking to other people about random things, always laughing, and carrying on... We as Americans pride ourselves on our individuality..it's what makes us a very special and unique people. I tired to explain... you know the old saying, "what you see is what you get." When I was told that I was going to have to change or face serious difficultues in my service within my community in order to integrate, that was a clean signal to me that...Trevor, you don't need to chance who you are in order to please other people in order to help them --- something that I can do without repurcussion back home in the States.

The fact of the matter is that we have it so gOOD in the good ole' USA. No one can ever truly and fully realize that until you travel to another country and LIVE just like the locals do for an extended period of time. I may have only done this for one month and two days, but for me, it was enough to tell me that ... you know, Trevor... this isn't for you. (Funny moments, including falling into the latrine, no toilet paper in the latrine, brusing teeth at the well, drawing water from the well in the morning, noon, and night, bug galore in my room and flies by the thousand, washing clothes by hand, and eating the same foods over and over). The cold hard fact is that Peace Corps isn't for everyone, and I am just not ready for two years of this type of service in a foreign country. My enthusiasm, granted, was completely squelched when I had to sit down and talk with my trainers about the "changes" that were needed to be made. It was like being stabbed in the back. I just couldn't breath. This is something that I have wanted to do for a long time...live in another culture and help in some way...but just a week into my experience, it turned negative and hasn't gotten any better since then (except for the time that I spend in the schools or am with reading club kids).

Yes, I am very disappointed in myself. I spent months soliciting support from my friends, families, and businesses in which I received both financially and prayerfull and now this dream is coming to a close. When your health and happiness comei nto question, the thing you need to do is to rest on it...I did that and am convinced, at least for the time being, that I am making the right decision to return home.
With al of this said, I know that months down the road and even years in the future, I will regret this decision. But, for now, I want to put this negative experience behind me and move on with my life. Any prayeful support you can offer for me would be most appreciated. The biggest challenge for me was getting on the plane on Feb 5. On that very cold day, I was convinced that this was going to be the greatest experience of my life..but I guess I came in expecting too much and, as a result, the system let me down big time. I don't expect any of you to fully understand where I am coming from and I expect many of you will be disappointed in me. I, with the support of my immediate family, am prepared for such disspointment.
What's in my future? If you only knew how many times I asked God that in the past month...I just don't really know to be honest. I have all these things that I want to do with my life, but this experience has for now...halted them.
The clearance process to leave the PC early is lengthy, but in the works as I type this. For those of you who supported me financially, I will mail a reimbursement check back to you by March 20. I am working on that now with my bank.

Until next time, Trevor
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1173188940/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1173188940/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1173188940/tpod.html Tue, 06 Mar 2007 08:50:23 -0500 To Paraguay and beyond....my wild adventures south of the equator!

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Asuncion, Paraguay

There are 66 pics that I have uploaded under entry number 17. Enjoy the laughs.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1173027180/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1173027180/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1173027180/tpod.html Tue, 06 Mar 2007 08:42:52 -0500 To Paraguay and beyond....my wild adventures south of the equator!

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Guarambare, Paraguay

I hope that I am going to be able to upload some pictures here!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1172783880/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1172783880/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1172783880/tpod.html Thu, 01 Mar 2007 16:25:16 -0500 To Paraguay and beyond....my wild adventures south of the equator!

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Guarambare, Paraguay

I have just finished my fourth week of training (actually just three, but who is counting!).

This week has been especially difficult, but I am glad it is coming to a close. By the time you read this, the first two people in our training group, G-23, are making their way back to the States. One of whom is a girl whom I have gotten to know really well and become really great friends with. Her name is Brooke. She has had a rough time since we got into country, and this past weekend, she got really sick and didn't get the kind of medical attention we have been promised. It's even got me thinking. Two other girls in my sector were hospitalized this past weekend for stomach viruses...most likely from the well water. It's been really sad, because it's like every time I get close to someone...something happens and someone has to leave. I am going to miss Brooke. She is the volunteer nearest me and that is where I have been doing my reading clubs and other projects for tech training. Pero, Espero Brooke mucho suerte! It's going to be rough for the next couple of weeks getting into the routine of her not with me...we did all our walks into town ( you can really get to know someone on an hour walk in the Paraguayan dirt roads with no end in sight....es la verdad!!) I think what has got me so down is not that I am going to miss Brooke, but it's like I'm thinking...I'm still here..she isn't. She is back in the States enjoying spending time with her mom and brothers on a nice comfortable couch with a nice hot shower...ehhhhhh....I could go on! Definitely, part of me wants to go with her...but I'm determined to be in this race for the long run! Say a prayer for Brooke and the other girl, Bethany, when you talk to God tonight.

This past weekend and the first couple of days of this week, I went to visit another volunteer in my sector to see what life was like for a real-live PCV. She lives in a compania..very small village...very campo (out in the middle of no where) about 6 hours on the bus from Typychaty (where I live). You know, riding on the buses here in PY is one of the most interesting things you can do to firmly appreciate "your private space" in the States. If any of you really know me...you know that I have a bubble all the time around me...and when you cross into my bubble...I get clostophobic. If we stopped and picked up one more person, I kept telling myself, I was going to scream. I hopefully will get to load up a pic of a bus here in PY on this blog update. Just imagine a Brady Brunch bus....some of the windows don't even open, and the fumes just come up into the bus because the engine is like right below the gear shift. I think I had at least three buts at any given time on my shoulder and one in my face the whole trip to Guira - the department where I visited. Guira is so pretty..it is definitely the scenic part of the country..in fact, the only place in PY where there are ceros (large hills...not mountains) that give a rolling effect..very similar to the ones I saw in Germany. It was so funny on the bus...on the way to Asuncion to stop at the terminal so I could switch buses, the bus broke down. You just know the sounds a bus should make and the ones it shouldn't be making. Well, I instinctively knew that the sounds we were making when we got into the city limits were not supposed to be coming out. What does the driver do? He pulls over and leaves the bus running to try and fix the problem. He opens the door right under the gear shift - which exposed the whole engine and everything (Toyota make/model) ... keep in mind the bus is still running...he pulls on the chain which makes it rev up and what happens? The fumes and ash and all that stuff just spits out....and where am I sitting...right in the front. Needless to say, I wasn't all that white when I finally arrive in Santa Cecilia Ciudad in Guira. I'm glad we got this other bus experience, because now I know that whenever I need to travel to another department (state) in PY..I have to change buses in Asuncion at the terminal...kind of like an outdoor airport terminal...where you can catch buses going to all parts of the country.

I had to stay with another family during my PCV visit, because I visted a voluntariA...in PY...if a male stays over at a female's house..that only means one thing and...we didn't want to establish that, so I just stayed with a suitable house nearby. It was actually a mansion. They had hot water...I didn't discover it until the last night I was there. My host mom...Na Elva...is such a good cook. She just opened her house up to me and let me help her make chipa...oh my gosh...that is so good! And chipa wazu...another great PY dish I tried. Still...too much oil...and I've gained 5 pounds since I've been here...probably 6-7 when I get this uploaded. I am got to "observe" the culture in the campo..which is very different than that of the larger pueblos and citys I have visited in my three short weeks here in PY. The men have like outside casinos set up and just play cards all day and gamble with beans or maiz kernels while the women cook and clean all day...talk about...!!!!!The men also play a unique form of volleyball called pique (pronounced pee kay ) volleyball where you cannot use your hands..only your chest, head, and feet. It's kinda like soccer, but the ball is airborne all the time! The volunteer I visited lives in the typical PC postcard house...made of wood, latrine, running water occasionally, etc. I could definitely see myself living like her. I keep telling myself that "yes, Trevor..training is hard, but it ends..and then you get to look for your own place." I learned more about how to go about getting my own place and, particularly, getting it up to par in order to meet strict PC requirements regarding housing.

I also got to spend an afternoon, after my siesta (did you know that everyone and every THING shuts down for the siesta, which is usually from 11:30 until 1 or so everyday...literally), at the school in Santa Cecilia. This volunteer works with three area schools. We have so much to be thankful for in the States when it comes to our schools. I will never again complain about our schools (well, I will always try to think twice and modify the language I use). Teachers...listen up...be thankful that we have unit plans, planning periods, a bell, desks for our children, a teacher's desk, whiteboards...just anything you can think of...a tile floor is a big one! The kids here don't get a school lunch...they only attend school 4 hours a day...they can choose when they want to go - morning, afternoon, or night. Most children, anyhow, work during the early day to help their family. There are so many children that work in the streets selling just anything you could imagine. Just going to Asuncion alone (which is only an hour)..at least 20 people came on the bus to sell something - from cold drinks to watches and underwear - all of which was probably smuggled into the country illegally through Ciudad del Este on the Brazil border. It's crazy. And the teachers...well, that's another blog entry. I don't want to be so judgemental upfront, because I need to observe more... but my work as an ed volunteer here...my work is cut out for me! I know I definitely want to do a world map project and teach English in the evenings at the local colegio (high school).

Life in the campo is very tranquillo. On Sunday, we went from house to house to drink tererre ( I still have not gotten this ritual down yet..I always mess up when I finish drinking and hand it to the wrong person or forget to drink all of it- pray for me that I can get used to this taste of grass and water mixed together! That's what it seems like to me...some brands are so strong!). We ate lunch at one of my volunteer's friends house. They killed a pig for me and a chicken. I was impressed. A quick funny story while there at this house. Every where I go, I am asked do I want a beer or do I drink...I say no and not even 10 minutes later, they ask you again...you drink? You want a beer? It's really annoying. Anyhow, I just told these people that I didn't drink. And here comes a man from the kitchen with what looks like juice boxes...you know....I see pictures of grapes and cherries and I'm like...wow ... jugo!!! I am so happy. So I pour me a big ole glass...they ask me do I want ice with it...I'm like ice? What do I need that for...I take this huge gulp down (everyone is looking at me) and then I realize that it isn't grape juice...it's wine!!! Very strong too...I had to spit it up...Thank goodness they laughed with me. I will never forgive myself for that! Paraguayans are such loving and forgivable people though!

What else did I learn? Paraguayans are the most honest people you will ever meet in your life. They will tell you the complete obvious in a heartbeat. When I got up from my first night in Santa Cecilia, my mom tells me "Good morning, red face." The next day, it was "Good morning, bumpy." (referring to the break out I had going on with my face.) You know - this is very much frowned upon on in our culture. You just don't get that honest with people...I know you see it...I don't need you to remind me. They are just such honest people.

Got my next set up shots this passed week. That's going okay. Still got the diarrhea problem, but it isn't as bad as it was when I first got here. I'm getting used to the well water. I have drank so much of that rehydration junk, it isn't even funny! I even got some anti-diarrhea pills...they're huge and taste like Pepto. Still don't have my med kit yet. I wonder when I'm going to receive that?


So friends and family... I still have this unspoken prayer request. I´m not ready to share it on here yet, but it is definitely in need of serious prayer soaking with the Father...it is and will be affecting my work on a large scale here during my anticipated service. I learn more on Monday about this problem. I am very nervous about it and scared, but those are the norms right now during training, but this is something totally different. I need you to please pray for me...there are decisions involved. Also, I received word that my grandfather, Charles Ivey, isn´t doing very well. He lives in Tennessee and is suffering from continuous problems with his lung. just something else to worry about I suppose.

A quick housecleaning tip before I close....please know that if you post comments on this blog site..they are in the public domain...anyone can see them. So, use caution. My email is tivey2@hotmail.com and while my time is limited on the PC in the cafe, I will read them but may not get the chance to respond in depth.

Until next time, your ambassador to the world....Trevor


PS....My mom-mom tells me that I got a Jury Duty summons last week! Woo---hooo! I have always wanted to serve on a jury..funny how I leave the country and then I am selected! Hope my dad went and took care of that for me...don't want an arrest warrant out for me!


]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1172266260/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1172266260/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1172266260/tpod.html Fri, 23 Feb 2007 16:32:21 -0500 To Paraguay and beyond....my wild adventures south of the equator!

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Guarambare, Paraguay

hopefully, these pics will show up.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1172264100/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1172264100/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1172264100/tpod.html Fri, 23 Feb 2007 16:26:24 -0500 To Paraguay and beyond....my wild adventures south of the equator!

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Guarambare, Paraguay

So, I have finished another week of intense training here in the pueblo of Guarambare. Training is very intense, but I learn so many new things every day. Yesterday, we had a mission impossible type scavenger hunt type thing to the nation´s capital ..Asuncion. We were in pairs. My partner and I left at 530 am to catch the 630 am bus from Guarambare. Keep in mind, the walk to the pueblo is an hour. I thought we were on the wrong bus, but you know me...I am not afraid to ask someone questions...it´s the whole ADHD thing. So we got to our stop...finding the right bus was a challenge in and of itself. Our first mission was to explore the Mercado Cuatro and find prices for school uniforms, materials, etc. Then, we went to ABC COlor...a leading PY newspaper to ask for book donations to a AIDS children´´s hospital that we are working with. They gave us so many materials that we had to come back in a PC vehicle to get the rest. Carrying those things on the bus is just not a good idea. You wouldn´t believe the number of people who just board the buses when it stops to sell things...crazy! Drivers of any type of vehicle in PY do not adhere to any laws whatsoever. If you literally put one finger out of the window...you would have a great chance of losing it at any given point in transport.

We found our way to the PC office in Asuncion. The crazy guards wouldn´t let me into the American embassy which was near the PC office. CAn´t believe it! They needed to see my Visa..which PC has kidnapped. I was like...how are you saying I can´t enter my own embassy.hellooooo...could someone that speaks English guard our own embassy......also, you wouldn´t believe the amount of security at the embassy. Other emabassies are near by but they don´çt have near as much of a security presence as we do. It was like going back to DC. In Asuncion..there are so many cars...so many people...so many things going on...it´s a very unclean city for the most part in my opinion. But, other groups got to see some more beautiful spots the city offers.

For the first time in PY, I was offended as an American because I saw so much graffiti on the walls of Buildings denouncing Pres. Bush as a terrorist and other estranged sayings. I was offended...no matter how bad some policies can be from our political reps in DC...he is my president and I don´t think that was a nice thing...I was offended.

Did you know that 98% of people in PY have parasites. We had a big session on parasites again today. Crazy. I am now trained to look for the signs in children when I am working with them in the schools to detect in the parasites are active. The pictures we saw were just horrendous. Did you knowt hat 60% of the people in PY are illiterate...school is only mandatory up until 9th grade ... it is free until then, after that you have to pay. however, you can drop out at any time and not be harassed by truancy police like we have in the states. ´They only go to school for 4 hours a day, Mon thru Friday. Learned so much about the PY school system in the past couple of days. You have to think ... that this country is just getting over a dictator, who just recently died. This is a very young democratic country..the first group of students are just now finishing 9th grade from when they began the school system back in their Kind. years..the big ed reform act was in 94. Very, very young democracy here. Even still, the party of the dictator )Colorado= is still in power...but it isn´t a dictatorship.

So, I am leaving tomorrow for my PCV Site visit. I am visiting a PCV out in the campo...about 5 hours away from my community. I will spend all day tomorrow traveling...and I would be lying if I told you that I am not the least bit scared. First, I am going by myself with no phone!!! Scary, isn´t it. But I will make it. I have to change buses in Asuncion, and I should get there by 5 my time. I just hope that tomorrow isn´t a day for the caballos locos to be on the buses ...means crazy horses in translation.

I´m excited about being able to see another part of the country...it´s east of Asuncion. I will nt be staying with the PCV, but with another host family for the 4 day visit. I will be returning on Tuesday of next week. Training is so intense...please keep in your prayers. We see PCVs refquently and I always take aminute to talk to them ... they all assure me that training does end at some point and then you can get out there.

The diarrhea still exists, if you are wondering. The doc has supplied me with some rehydration mix...it´s not that bad. I know I´m not getting as much water as I was back in the states and that my body is still adjusting to it.

I do have a major unspoken prayer request..so please lift that up when you have your time with God tonight. The weather has been absolutely beautiful lately....yes...hot, but God gives breezes right at the right time!!!

Please keep the emails coming...a couple of more items for those that are interested in sending packages....multivitamins, hand sanitizer, rubber bands, pens and pencils, cheez it´s , healthy cereal, newspapers, I will stop so I won´t be so picky. Just a few tips that I have been givne again about my mail. Any packages sent through the USPS system are opened and inspected here in PY..so please be honest when you declare the value upon mailing it. They will make me pay duty on packages more than $100. If you send the package through DHL, it doesn´t go to the PY post office....it comes straight to the DHL office, and delivered without delay...much more expensive, but very much worth it. Just keep these things in mind. There is nothing that you shouldn´t send me. My mom will hopefully be sending some sweaters soon because winter is coming. Obviously, please do not send anything that is very expensive, home made goods, and that sort of thing and no cash!!!! That will guaranteeeeeeed be stolen.

WEll guys, I need to go. Long day of training, and I have an hour walk home but I need to go out of the way abit and stop at the mercado to get a couple of items.

Please keep me in your prayers.
Your ambassador to the world, Trevor
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1172093760/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1172093760/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1172093760/tpod.html Wed, 21 Feb 2007 16:49:19 -0500 To Paraguay and beyond....my wild adventures south of the equator!

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Guarambare, Paraguay

Hoy us un buen dia para todo ser vivo! ...translated...of course, it's my favorite phrase to say...Today is a great day to be alive! My language teachers just think that is the greatest quote!

Greetings people back home in the good ole USA! I have never felt so disconnected from my native language than I do now. I am forgetting words left and right...and I have only been here in PY a very short time. I am definitely going to need remedial English classes when I return home.

Anywho, the last few days have been extremely busy. It is so hard to find time to have by myself. Between training, eating, spending a little bit of time with my host family, completing homework, and getting my projects going and done in order to qualify for PC service...I barely can find time to write into my blog or my journal. I have taken my mom's advice and started writing into a special notebook describing the day's adventures. Training is so structured - that at times, it just makes me ill! Really! But, it's a good thing...I guess.

I'm having a ball integrating into my family and community. My host mom is such a nice lady. She is a typical PY woman...muy guapa (hardworking) and provides for her family in every way. She treats me just like her son. She has recently allowed me to start helping her in the kitchen. She is teaching me how she prepares some of PY's traditional dishes - sopa de paraguaya, sojos, mandioca, arrow blanco...and much more. Fruit is so abundant here in this country...hey, what am I saying, it is abundant in our yard. We just go and pick fruits off the trees in our yard - lemons, guyava, apples, bananas, avocados and grapefruit (Although they aren't ripe). The oranges here aren't orange though..they are green - and the lemons aren't yellow, they too are green. Same great taste! Our bananas are very small. And they ripen very quickly after you pick them from the tree. I walk early in the mornings with my host mom to pick out some of the fruits from the yard. I've recently learned about a new tradition that sons do in the family with their dads. Every time I leave and enter the house, I should fold my hands as if I am praying to my dad and he then blesses me. I've tried to do this as much as possible, but I have forgotten a couple of times...but I quickly run back to take care of that business. He is not doing very well health wise. He has a bad heart and takes medicine every day.

My host brothers are the coolest. They are so patient with me. Luis had an oral exam today at the university..I didn't get the feeling that he did very well. When I asked him about the exam, he didn't say much about it. Nelson, on the other hand, couldn't start commenting on the "chicas Linda" in his class (beautiful girls). I am so lucky to have them as my host brothers. They take their time when they speak to me so that I can understand them. They have recently expressed an interest in learning English, so I have been trying to teach them as much as possible (mostly at dinner time when it's just us). My older brother, Luis, is studying to be an attorney. He will be finished in April. My younger brother, Nelson, is a sophomore at the national Universidad in Asuncion. He is studying agriculture. My host sister, Marlena, who is married - but does spend time at our house, is almost finished at the national Universidad in Asuncion. She is studying economics. She, on the other hand, is very eager to share about her exams. When I show them pictures of how large I was "before," they can't believe it. But they are eager to read the things I have brought in English. I have several uncles - Polly, Augustine, and Erico. Polly just recently visited us from Argentina. I can't understand anything he says, but boy did I have a good time cutting up with him and just letting him make fun of me!! The stupid American...life is so good! I definitely have grown closer to my family because of his visit and for that, I am grateful. Augustine and my aunt, Gabriella, run a store together, and stay at a smaller house on my family's property. Gabriella's birthday is next week. One of the trainees that I have really good friends with, Brook...her birthday is this Thursday. I have several cousins that I have met. I particularly enjoy spending time with Jose Luis...MArlena's son.

Language classes are going okay. Learning so much. And you kinda know me...I am eager to try the new words out on the street. The great thing about living here is that no one knows you - so I just make a fool of myself all day long! PY people just don't care how badly you butcher their language...they are so tranquillo with you and just help you with it! They snicker - surely, but they are super agradable people (kind hearted and nice).

I have my second reading club tonight. We had 23 altogether. Management is definitely a problem. Remember, I am working with another trainee who is pretty good with the language, but I throw in my English management techniques which she translates into Spanish. I use warhead's sour spray with my kids tonight, and they absolutely loved it - except for this really small child...she cried. They really did like it. Again, they were so much into the book. This time, I got to read it and it was good practice for me. They were just given the words...we asked them to draw in pictures to the story. You just wouldn't believe how interested these kids are when it comes to reading. At the end of our last club meeting, we announced a contest to see which child could bring in the most bottle tops (something we can use as manipulatives in the schools to teach math). I am guessing that we probably got over 500 bottle caps. And they only had like 5 days to work on this...I gave the winner, a girl named Catalina, a new jumprope. It was dark when I walked home from the reading club that night, and on the way home, I saw her using it with her dad. She absolutely adored it! I really do like the reading club, but pray for us when it comes to management!

Tech training is going okay. Surprisingly, it is more overwhelming than language training. Just try making teaching materials from scratch and what you find on the ground - something that USC did not teach me. However, they are doing a good job of teaching me....we have been visited by a lot of currently serving volunteers. They ease my anxieties. This week, we started our dias de practica - just like practicum in the states - we visit our assigned school and our assigned grade. My practicum is in second grade during training.

Tomorrow, I am going on a tapeapovo - a scavenger hunt to Asuncion. I have a list of places that I am supposed to stop and talk to certain people that will guide me to my next stop. I am a bit scared about riding the bus though. They have told us so many horror stories about the caballos locos on the bus (crazy horses - of course these are thieves). I have to be really careful what I do, say, and bring. Can't talk in English on the bus, they advise us to sit in the middle close to an older person...because they won't mess with them. I am looking forward to this bit of freedom to explore the capital city. I hope that I can get a group together to return to further explore possibly next weekend.

You wouldn't believe how hard it is to teach kickball to PY children!! Another story - another day. Guess what? I got a jury summons in the mail today, my mom told me. I couldn't believe that it took me this long to get selected.

This weekend, I leave for a small trip to visit another currently serving volunteer somewhere in the country. tomorrow, I find out where I will be going and the logistics of such..it will definitely be an experience. i will be staying with the other volunteer in his or her home. it´s going to be quite tricky...i will be totally by myself...so i will definitely be branching out! i will be back in my little town this coming tuesday. the schedule is going pretty fast.

just a little update ...i got my first letter from home today. thank you angie and donna for the letters and cards. they meant so much to me. it is so much like mail call depicted int he movies at a boot camp...we all gather around and the person calls our last name and distributes the mail..so it means so much when i get a letter from home....

peace be with you all. today is ash wednesday. i am going with my mom to church where i am going to get ashy!!! well, not really.

your ambassador to the world, trevor
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1171808760/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1171808760/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/trevorivey/pcparaguay-2007/1171808760/tpod.html Sun, 18 Feb 2007 09:30:03 -0500 To Paraguay and beyond....my wild adventures south of the equator!

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Guarambare, Paraguay

Mba'eichapa! Iporante ha nde!
Greetings to all my peeps in the good ole' USA! I am able to post two entries today, because I am starting to use my laptop when I can at my house to catch up on blog entries...this way, I don't spend all afternoon at the internet café. The computers there are extremely slow and there is always a line! I learned about a new program called SKYPE...I would encourage you to google it and find out more about it. But, basically it is a phone program that I can use on a computer in PY to call someone back home in the states or anywhere in the world, for that matter. It is free for internet to internet. So, if you do not have a landline telephone that you tap into for your internet, then I can pay 2 cents a minute to call you on your cell phone or other phone. That is much better than what they charge here at the publica telefono COPACO. I am excited about that.
This past week, I learned a lot more about what I have to do in order to qualify for Peace Corps service. As you know, I am in an intense 3-month training program...dubbed the longest job interview ever. This is true! I was particularly glad to learn this information because it provides me with a sense of closure about some anxieties that I have recently been having with this whole process. Just because I go through training doesn't necessarily qualify me for service. There is a paper trail. Every so often, I will sit down with different people, including my language and tech trainers and the country director himself, so that they can evaluate the progress that I am making in five areas ... they include community development and personal adaptation, personal health, safety and security, language, and technical training. The process is dubbed TAPS - Trainee Assessment Packet. I have a part to complete every now and then and the staff adds additional assessment. The assessment process is based on the trainee qualification criteria and the achievement of the above five competencies and performance objectives. The process includes check-offs, quizzes, exams, and/or simulations, as well as language interviews and monitoring by each of you of progress toward meeting my goals. The way they put it to me --- I particularly like...they said "working with you to see if this is going to work for you." I like that, because I want someone to talk to me every now and then and tell me how they think I am doing compared to what they have seen in trainees for the past 40 something years.
Informal feedback happens all along. The formal TAP for assessment of my progress and participation is scheduled at two points in the training cycle. The first is in week number five, which is a benchmark review of where I am on the road to qualification by meeting the competencies and indicators of the five component areas of pre-service training (PST). During this time, I will be given the opportunity to reflect on commitment and gauge knowledge, skills, attitudes, and practices in the context of Paraguay. It is also a time for me to analyze the progress I am making and to develop and strategies necessary in order to improve. The second formal TAP assessment and interview is in the final week of training. Once again, my self-assessment and the staff assessment is brought into context. Questions I ask myself - --- the big one is do I recommend myself for PC service? My PC-LPI (language proficiency interview/exam) score is weighed into the mix of things. Did I meet the language level criterion? This is what I worry about the most.
If I make it through, then CHP (the people who are training me) will make a formal recommendation to Peace Corps in Asuncion based on my record of progress to meet the qualification criteria. The PC country director makes the final decision of whether or not to act on the recommendation to accept me, or not, as a PCV. It's a very technical process, but I am very glad that it is in place.
So, that's what I have to do in order to stay for the entire two years. I have to say that there have already been a couple of days that I am questioning my presence. Today, however, answered why I am here...I met with my Reading Club this morning. Myself, along with a partner...a very nice young lady from Wisconsin named Brook, went out the past couple of nights to invite the kids in our barrio to our Club de Lectura. We invited a host of children. This morning, a total of 15 showed up, including our three teenage volunteers. It was absolutely amazing. When I got up this morning, it was raining, and I thought that we surely weren't going to have a good show. The banners that we made got wet and kind of messed up...but all the confusion cleared up when the first couple of kids came in. The purpose of this project is to further integrate ourselves into the community. We started with a couple of icebreaker games to learn the children's names. I thought that we had some strange names in South Carolina. Let's just say that it isn't just an issue in our country...but okay..so I got their names now! Then, we read them a story and we asked some questions about it...it took me so long to ask the questions that I had....then we had the children draw their favorite part and decorate our club banner and so forth. They were so interested in the story...I have never seen anything like it. American school children aren't all that interested because they are read to everyday of their lives almost! Here in PY, reading is frowned upon. I have spent many a hour after dinner this past week reading and studying in my room-when my mom and dad see me...they always say "Que guapo!" Which translated, means you're hardworking! Reading is not considered a leisurely activity here...I am in a country where the illiteracy rate is super super high, especially among adults. Pictures are going to be doing my talking for a while! You should have seen how many of them raised their hands so anxious to answer questions we had for them.
After we read to them, we played two games - Simon Says and a water balloon toss. They loved both games very much. We also announced our contest awarding a prize to the child who brings in the most bottle caps. They are going to be great to use in the schools to help teach math. If you would like to send dollar tree prize items to me...muchas gracias!! You just would love these kids! I have three favorite little girls. Their names are Catalina, Fatima (Pronounced totally different than what you think), and Faviola. They are so angel - like! They are so sweet and precious, and just love to help me out. They also love to tell me what I am not saying correctly and how to correctly say it! Most of the children that came today didn't have shoes. Some had their sandals. You could obviously tell that many of them didn't bathe that morning or night before (many in my community bucket bathe - I am grateful that I have a bucket that I can pour into my shower head to make it work for 4-5 mins and my toilet!!).
This coming week is going to be super busy. Monday is a normal training day. Tuesday is our first dia de practica...part of the TAPS process. We are visiting some area local schools to make ourselves known...it's kinda like in the US when you are in an education program. All of us have been assigned to schools that we will be doing our practicum work in...where we will present model lessons and complete workshops with the faculty. I will be working at the school in downtown Guarambare. Super excited! I was, however, informed today that I need to get a school uniform..which I thought someone told me that I didn't need to get one. Oh well...I will be visiting the modista (clothesmaker) in my barrio pretty soon. The dia de practica carries over through Wednesday. Thursday is going to be pretty interesting. I haven't been into Asuncion yet...none of us have. So, the CHP staff have designed a scavenger hunt type deal for us to complete. Not sure when we need to leave because I have no idea how to get where I am going, but we have to be at a central meeting location at 12:30 in the PC office in Asuncion. I am supposed to ask my family how do I get to my particular destination...al Mercado cuatro. Again, the language barrier is a problem. I have to do this by myself. That means taking the bus into Asuncion by myself. The horror stories I have heard about on the buses that go into Asuncion just scare me to death. Again, be reminded that the economic situation in PY is extreme...and people just put knives up to other pppl on the bus to take what they want. I, however, do believe that I am preparing myself correctly. I have made my fake wallet and I have everything around my neck suspended from a loop. So, if they want it, they have to take my neck too!! That is the trend with cell phones in PY - the ppl are suspending them from their necks. So say a special prayer for me on Thursday. Friday, we have a regular day. Some of us will leave Friday night for our first overnight tech excursion. Friday through the following Tuesday, I will be working with a currently serving PCV in education somewhere in the country - it could be as little as one hour away or as far as 11 hours away we have been told. So, I'm kind of nervous about that to, again...we are on the buses and I will be by myself. IT's going to be interesting and eventful I am sure, because I get a first-hand look at what other PCVs in my field are doing - how they are living, working, socializing and so on. Plus, this will be a great chance for me to get the information I need for my first CHARLA presentation the following Friday on 2nd grade education in Paraguay.
So, it's going to be a long next ten days or so! Things will move fast, that's for sure! Tonight, I made empanadas with me family. My host brothers and I continue to play our nightly game of UNO..they love that. It is truly the game that will never end. I didn't get a chance to exercise the past couple of nights, because it's been raining. I got my helmet from the CHP staff so I can lawfully ride a bicycle now! I look so dorky with that thing on.
I do want to share an amazing cultural experience that happened yesterday. While in Guarambare for group training, I witnessed a funeral. It is very different than prevailing traditions in the US. The coffin is carried from the church down the street in the hands of the pallbearers - no hearse. Behind the coffin follows the family of the deceased and any who are joining in the parade. There were at least 100 people in this "parade of mourning." Some were nicely dressed in traditional black somber dress, but there were many who just had their normal clothes on drinking their terrere in the middle of the street. They were also chanting something - couldn't make it out. But man it was pretty culturally exciting.
My health is okay. I am still adjusting to the new foods. My host mom is a fantastic cook. She is starting to let me help out in the kitchen (both outside and inside). The foods just rarely seem to settle with me...I still have bad diarrhea, but I feel so much better and just getting it all out!! LOL! I started drinking SUERO CASERA ..a dehydration juice type thing so I can get fluids back in me per the doc's order. It just seems to make me go more. I know I'm not getting enough water in me...not near as much as I was consuming before I left the states. Oh well, it will get better I am sure. The mosquitos are so bad here...everytime the first one comes out in the AM or PM - my family is just scared to death...screaming DENGUE, DENGUE..where is the spray!!
This week, I am especially missing a couple of things --- some orea cookies and my mom's fruit smoothies!! Gosh, I would love to have those!! Thanks my friends for sticking with me and keeping me in your prayers. It means so much to me and yes, I do feel your prayers! Thank you again. I do have an unspoken prayer request and would GREATLY appreciate you lifting that up on my behalf to our Lord for his guidance and assistance.
I am able to load a few pictures, not too many. Hope you enjoy them. Pics of my host family are forthcoming!!

PSSS.....church again this morning was very interesting. i am typing some of my blogs at home on my laptop, so i am going back and forth..so i am not crazy. just conservative with the time. i took communion this morning for the first time here. i lined up to get it from the nun..it was very nice. my friend helped me to translate what the priest was talking about in his message ' it was on the golden rule..treating others how you want to be treated!
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