September...still winter...it´s 97 in the shade

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  Concepcion, Paraguay
Saturday, September 8, 2007

Hey all itīs September and Iīm getting my first dose of what summer might actually look like here in Paraguay.  Meanwhile...itīs officially still winter and itīs hot as well....ITīS HOT!  Take my word for it.  All I know is that when itīs 97 inside my room in the shade...I can only imagine what the temp is in the sun...I just keep reminding myself that real winter doesnīt come until the end of December.  Then the other volunteers tell me that itīs hotter up here in Concepcion...that would only make sense..further north.  At least the bucketbath just got easier!  The bucketbath is actually refreshing now!  My motto now is stay hydrated by drinking as much terere as possible.  My roommates and I can easily put away 7 2 liters of water a day...thank goodness I bought that fridge! Ice is a bit of a luxury that Iīm enjoying at the moment!

Workwise...what have I been doing these past 2 weeks... 

Letīs see...I started teaching English classes...weīve had 3 classes and they are really excited...for once I feel like I am the expert on something!  Itīs been fun to share the knowledge...trying to invite some more people...first week was 6...then 7...today was 4.  Weīll see what happens. 

Iīm still working with the team from the hospital doing health charlas...nutrition, family planning, sexually transmitted infections, still trying to organize our motherīs group but canīt seem to get them to show up for the meetings.  Gave 3 more nutrition charlas with Preschool, kindergarten, and first grade.  They love when the teacher sings songs!  Going to start dental charlas with the kids and a toothbrushing and flouride program at the school.  Iīm bringing back 160 toothbrushes from Asuncion that I bought from a factory with the help of a dentist...a host brother from the family in my training community.  Got good quality brushes for a good price to bring back for the kids.  I never thought of myself as much of a health teacher...but if thatīs what the community needs...then Iīll learn right along with them.  More power to all you healthcare workers out there! 

Also went to a training for the local youth on sexual health, HIV/AIDS, gender, discrimination....they are going to be giving charlas in their schools to their peers. Another volunteer and I slept at the military base with them...picture it...one large room...separated by a half wall to divide the girls and the guys...55 youth...2 volunteers....2 moms...shared bathrooms.  Letīs just say...we didnīt get much sleep that night!  They were up talking til 1 and then up and running around by 530...there is no such thing as sleeping late in Paraguay.  It was fun though after the charla on Thursday we played football, soccer, ultimate frisbee, and volleyball and then they danced until it was time to go to bed!  Theyīre great though and a lot of fun.  Just hard to get up for a whole day of work the next day with them!  They didnīt seem to mind though...for them it was like being on an overnight field trip.

The latest big event in Concepcion was the EXPO.  Pretty much like a local fair...games, vendors, animals, rides, and junk food.  We went on Thursday morning with the kids from the school. 

Tomorrow I leave for Asuncion with a teacher from my school.  We are going to a 3 day training on project management.  This is to help us work with our community members on a joint project...working on that whole sustainability aspect that we strive for so much as PCVs. 

While Iīm in Atown...on a computer thatīs not gonna scream virus when I put in my flashdrive...iīll upload pictures. 

Also...Iīm now officially a tia!!!  Unfortunately I canīt be there in person to see him, but Iīm sending my love from miles away!  Congrats to the proud parents and grandparents! Keep sending the pictures!

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