It's hard to believe that it's been almost a year since I created this blog with the intention of regaling the masses with my trials and triumphs of peace corps service in Praraguay. Clearly, I haven't made good on this effort and now I intend to try my hand once more at blogging. I find that writing, for me, usually happens in more tranquil times because you barely have a moment to look up when the action-packed parts of life are in full swing. Transitions, growth, acclimation are all processes that would be beneficial to analyze for me, but Así es la vida. However, I will do my best to recount the highlights even though I'm sure I will forget to include many things.
I have been in country since March of 2015 and will remain here until June 0f 2017. I have already learned a lot about Paraguayan culture as well as a bit about Guaraní culture. Like any place, there are all kinds of people in this country and nationality has little to do with a person's sense of humor or core beliefs. There are families here that I have great laughs with and who make me feel as though I'd never left home or perhaps just arrived back at my house in Baltimore. Then there are members of the community who are very guarded and suspicious of me. In the states I also had both kinds of neighbors. I've learned that you can't be friends with everyone. Not everyone is your type of person.
While the relaxed nature of the people here is frustrating at times when a deadline is approaching it is also very refreshing in a kt of ways. It seems to me that people here take life a day at a time. I try to do the same and spend my ample free time playing music, reading, journaling, and visiting the sites of other volunteers. At times, all volunteers can feel ineffective or unappreciated in our communities. It truly is amazing work that we are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to do, but with the great highs that come from success there are also lows during extended periods of downtime. Most volunteers are very driven people who arrived with little knowledge of what to expect and high hopes to make change so these inevitable periods with little work are hard for people. I've learned not to be too hard on myself and try to make peace with the ebb and flow here. Exercise and visiting people in your community really helps.
Obviously, the language can be frustrating too. In Paraguay, most people speak both Spanish and Guaraní. I have mastered cnversational Spanish and can understand the majority of what everyone says, but the Guarani still evades me. I have a few greetings and phrases that I use but most people only talk to me in Spanish here so it is hard to learn the native Guaraní. Usually it is reverted to discuss something that people don't want me to listen in on. I know that people want to include me in conversation when the speak strictly in Spanish without Guaraní mixed in. Some people are impressed by my Spanish and other have only witnessed me fumbling around for simple words. It is frustrating when at time I can speak quite well and other times I sound like a caveman. It usually depends on whether I sense that the person I'm speaking with actually cares about what i have to say.
I find that when I meet some one who has an level of interest in me that I speak much better and conversation is stimulating for both parties. It is surprising how little people ask me about my life at home or the united states. I feel that this may be a combination of not wanting to ask a "stupid question" and the idea of a persons place in the world. It is rare to speak with a young person here who has a serious desire to travel or explore the world in anyway. It is as if we are on an island and the thought of leaving isn't on the table. Global politics or current events are not on the news here unless it is a scandalous subject matter. We kind of live in a bubble, but inside this bubble the sense of community is strong. I have learned to laugh at myself when I frequently ask "stupid questions" here. There is a lot I don't know.
Well, I'd hate to burn up all my internet so I guess I leave it at that for now but I will make a consorted effort to continue checking in here. This blogging thing is rad.
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