Completed Service!
Trip Start
Jan 24, 2005
1
28
33
Trip End
Apr 2007
Asuncion,
Paraguay
Saturday, April 14, 2007
It has been a busy last four months. Simon spent a lot of time painting a world map on the basketball court he had built at the school in Yataity. He also built a fogon at the school in San Ramon, and helped Chris and Marissa build their new house. Chris and Marissa are new volunteers that just moved to San Miguel in December, only 6 K from us. Chris is environmental ed., and Marissa is agriculture. We are also getting follow ups, Roberto in Yataity to continue Simon's health work and Annie in Yhu (the nearby town where I gave some workshops) to continue my education work.
I gave before school inservice for two days to all of the area teachers (90 of them, yikes!) and gave a workshop on how to use new materials all of the kindergarten teachers recieved to create centers and teach Spanish. I also worked with the teachers in Yataity on using the library to read with kids 15 minutes everyday, and with San Ramon to get their library up and running.
Packing was difficult. We had to decide what to do with everything, down to the pencil sharpener we found when we moved the fridge. Everything we take with us, we are carrying home, so unlike when I have moved before, I couldn't just throw everything in boxes and worry about it later. But that's done.
Leaving was difficult. We had four small going away parties with different groups of people. It felt good to say good bye to everyone, to have closure. We almost couldn't leave Oscar and Pablina, but we did. That's done.
Finishing everything for Peace Corps was difficult. Lots of details and not a lot of time. But I completed the manual on model lessons and it can go to the new volunteers who will start at the end of April. That's done.
Last night we had our going away party with other volunteers. We had fun and said good bye. That's done.
Now we're going to travel to Ecuador to see the Galapagos, Peru to see Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca, and Chile to see the desert and Santiago. I'm so excited to have some time to relax and sleep in comfy hotel beds. Then we arrive back in the States May 25! I can't believe it. I remember the day I started this log. I wrote the end of service would be April, 2007, but it seemed so far away. Here we are!
Thanks to all of you for the support you have given us. You may feel like you haven't done much, but even sending an email, or just reading what I write here has meant a lot to me. .
a. Tomatoes
