not quite 3 days on a donkey

You will laugh (or at least smile) when I tell you that the duration of the trip to get to the internet is much shorter than I originally imagined and worried about. It is not three days on a donkey. In fact, a donkey is not needed at all! My municipality has internet access on every computer! This means that everyday that I come to work...I can check my email! So as one of my main concerns, my mind has been put at ease. I will be able to communicate with the outside of Paraguay world!

My adventure is wonderful! I have lived in my official home since last Tuesday night - so almost a week now. My work is still up in the air. Paraguayans are much more concerned about person to person relationships than getting work done - which means I have done a lot of hard work socializing. It is actually kind of tiring work! But wonderful!

I learned when I arrived that my contact (the person I am to work with in the Muni) is moving to Italy in less than a week! Which is very exciting for her! She lived in Italy for 10 years before and has always wanted to return! Which is excellent that she has the opportunity - however it makes me a little nervious about who I will be working with! But I have a meeting with the Mayor tomorrow to clear up my future in the crystal ball! (I also shared a beer with the Mayor on Saturday night - so we are buds!)

It is chilly again. But last week it was in the 80s. And today its probably in the high 40s and rainy! I am still pretty nervious about dying of heat come september/october!

I get to see lots of Americans! There are a number of other volunteers that live close to me - so there is more socializing than I expected! Which has been great for support and inside information!

I was on the radio twice last week - which is really fun! Its crazy - speaking a foreign language, in a foreign land and trying to be funny - imagine that!
Jill (the urban youth volunteer who lives in Horqueta) and I went to the radio station this morning to see if there was a way to continue our Wednesday night program. It is possible and we have another meeting next week to discuss the details.
So cross your fingers that they will be able to keep our program on the air!

I am headed home (to my host familys house) for lunch and to study my guarani. I continue to realize how much I still need to learn! Ane´ése guarani! (I want to speak guarani!)

I hope you are all well! I havent heard from most of you in quite a while! So you could email me...(enter peer pressure!)

More to come - let the adventure continue!
-r.