I went to the campo and came back with a Pedicure.

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  Ita, Paraguay
Thursday, December 7, 2006

We're going to try this again.  Last time, I typed half an entry out and then the power decided to go out, and that was the end of that.  Hopefully I can get this one off.
Where to start?  I went on my future site visit last week.  For the next 2 years I will be located in the Departmento de Paraguari about 7k outside a town called La Colmena.  Google Map it if you are bored at work.  The actual site is called Potrero Garay.  If Google has that on it's map, I will be throughly impressed.  My site is absolutely beautiful.  It has hills whcih means it has a nice view.  (Of the bigger hills AKA Mountainitas in the neighboring dept.)  Also, there is a lot of forest and a river, all adding to the aestetic value of the place.  The people were amazing.  They were extremely welcoming and very friendly.  I'm the first volunteer in my site, and so I think they are pretty curious.  Sometimes people think we are spies, and that is something we have to be patient with and try to earn trust.  There is definetly one person who thinks I'm GW Bush's secretary.  I will be living with a different family every 2 weeks for the first 2ish months.  It's a good route to take because it helps with the trust issue after you actually live with people, and it's a great way to get to know families better.  My job and success is contingent on my integration into my community... so trust and understanding are key!
There is a lot of Ag work to be done, too, but that will come with time.  First I have to get the farmers to be willing to work with me and I have to assess what the community needs... rather that what I think they need.  The point is, I can't make assumptions, I need to really get the facts.
My training group swears in next Friday, in Asuncion, most likely at the house of the Ambassador to the US.  There's a big party that night (a welcome party for us and a Farewell party for the group of volunteers we're replacing) and then we leave for our sites on Monday the 18th.  I will be spending Christmas in my site, as well as New Years.  It's cool, because I've never really been a Christmas person... I'm definetly going to miss my US family, though, and I'm going to miss the joys of beer on New Years eve ;)  Ah well.  Such is the life of a female volunteer alone in rural paragauy.
Lastly a huge thanks to the people whose letters I've received:  Grandpa (told you I was his favorite!!!), Manko, Eldon, Beth Wnuk (soon to be Podd... congrats!), Audge... I think that's it.  If I forgot one, I apologize!
I know some people have sent packages... be patient, because they are probably hanging out in Brazil somewhere soaking up some stale hangar air.  They'll get here eventually!
Also, ask my mom if you want to send me an x-mas gift, she hopefully knows what has been sent already and not.  I continuously send her more things that I want/need.

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