Weird things that have become normal!

• When we go out to drink beer or at home - usually only one or two glasses are used for the group.
• When you show up at someones house you clap instead of ringing the doorbell.
• I start work before 7am - something I never thought I would do as a PCV.
• I work with a man named Chuck Norris and he has a brother named Rocky - NO joke!
• The electricty goes out a lot (like while I was writing this entry!)
• People make and drink Parsley juice - and its pretty good!
• I text message with adults and work companeros all the time!
• Its really hard to have people show up to meetings.
• You dont flush toilet paper - just throw it away.
• Towels, soap and shampoo dont live in the bathroom.
• You only buy groceries for one day at a time.
• Eggs dont live in the fridge.
• They use coca-cola to clean car radiators.
• Traveling underwear salesladies visiting your house is normal.
• People come to work (the muni to sell their veggies on an office to office basis incase you needed carrots at 8am at work!)
• People wear very funny english t-shirts (my host brother had a shirt on yesterday that said, ¨friends dont let friends vote republican¨ I about died!
• Everyone thinks Im blonde.

There are many more! Ill keep a list!

-r.

Funny Qs Paraguayans have asked me!

These are only a few of all of the great things Paraguayans have asked me!

Do you wash your clothes in the US? Or do you just wear them once and then throw them away?
Do you know how to cook?
Do you know how to drink beer?
Do you have a family there?
Its pronounced, s-ank you?
On my first day at the Muni, I had someone ask me...Can you hug me? (meaning...can you HELP me...but they kind of sound the same in English)
Does everyone use a sleeping bag in the US?
Is it illegal to have a Paraguayan boyfriend?
Why is your towel funny? (I use a quick dry camping towel)
Is it true you use liquid soap?
What is your language?
Do you speak French?
There arent still forests in the US are there?
Do you still have campo (country) in the US?
Doesnt everywhere in the US look like Asuncion (ie. big city)?
Why are you here?
So, I won a million dollars? (a new internet user asked me about his spam mail)
Your only have one last name?
Can you get me an email address? (almost every paraguayan has asked this!)
The US is the most polluted country in the world, right?
Whats the difference between Republicans and Democrats?
They teach Guarani where else in the world because its such a good base for learning other languages?
Is that thing on your bed, you know, the thing you get in and sleep in - its an airplane - right?
You only have 1 brother - but 4 parents?
Do you have a Paraguayan boyfriend yet?
Do you know what Coca-cola is? (yes...that was invented in the US!)
Here is how you turn the lights on - do you have light switches in the US?

More to come...Im sure!

SUCCESS!

I had the largest success of my Peace Corps Service thus far yesterday morning at about 705am! Earlier in the week I visited the Catholic School in Horqueta with a couple of the youth from our youth group to give commercials about our ´new´ public library. Because most people in Horqueta do not know that it exists, where it is or how it works, what a library card is and how it works. So we went to every classroom (36) and gave a short skit about the library to deliver the info in a slightly more fun way. It was a pretty amazing way to meet half of the student population of Horqueta in one day, but I wasn’t sure how successful we had been – we had fun but not sure if kids 1. Got it and 2. Would ever come and check out the library. So….back to my most successful moment! I was walking to the radio station at about 705am and walked past a boy of about 8-9 years. He said hello and then stopped me and asked me if I was the person who had come to talk to him at school last week? I said yes. And he said he had a question about library cards. He wanted to know if he had a library card could he come check out books anytime he wanted? And I said yes! You get to have them for two weeks and can come as often as you like! And he said, ok-when I get paid this week-I am going to come and get a library card! I could have kissed him! (that would have been slightly inappropriate…so I held off on the lip locking!) I was THRILLED that one kid got it! One kid listened! One kid is going to go get a library card! One kid is going to be able to read more! It was a moment of pure success! And the thought that just maybe other kids got it-like this kid, made shivers run up my spine! I am headed this week to continue our commercials in the other schools in Horqueta to introduce the library hopefully to more kids! And the greatest thing about talking to kids is they go home and talk! I have also had a couple adults tell me they know who I am or at least knew that I exist because their kid came home and said there was a funny Norte at school today doing skits about the library! Which means…parents are going to learn about the library too!
In Paraguay they tease about something called Radio So´o which the literal translation is – Meat Radio. But it really means the human chain of gossip and information sharing that takes place all the time everywhere here! News travels faster than you can walk from one end of your block to the other. Everyone knows pretty much everyone else’s business. Which is good should you want to share library information…but should you not want to share any personal life details it can be a bit ridiculous!

Three weeks in site

Three weeks in site. I have had the wonderful opportunity to experience many wondrous, ridiculous and mysterious things! I have learned many new things. Here are just a few of them…

I never knew that The Simpsons, Flintstones, Jetsons, Will Smith and the entire cast of Ocean´s Eleven spoke Spanish!

I drink the whole-est milk around – the option of skim, 1% or 2% do not exist! But we do buy it from a guy who drives his moto around from house to house with a large bucket of milk on the back and we take our pan out and dip in and TA-DAH! Milk! It is then taken in and boiled (3 times!) and then served up! I have had only one cold glass of milk since I arrived – Paraguayans think that it will upset your stomach if you drink it cold. (Which may or may not be true…not sure anymore!)

I have been text-flirted with. This is a new phenomenon that I am shocked that anyone over the age of 17 would partake in. For those of you who may be slightly less tech-savy text messaging is a form of communication where you can send a written message via cell phone, in many places in the world it is much more expensive to call so text-messaging is an excellent way to communicate short messages. TEXT-FLIRTING = is initiated by someone asking for your phone number (you may not know this person…there for…it’s a bad idea to give them your number…but this is just a word to the wise!) And lets say you know the person…perhaps a co-worker (in my situation-yes co-worker) so you don’t think anything of giving out your phone number because at home (US) the chances of your 30something co-workers (Thad, Josh and Sachin) probably wont try to flirt with you over text messaging! So it doesn’t cross your mind to be concerned about it! And then it starts. A simple text message sharing some information that is work related so you continue to think nothing of it and continue to act normal. Then you start to get messages asking about how your dinner was last night and if you are doing anything inparticular now or what your plans are for the evening. There are two directions this can go in your own personal ´chose your own adventure´, you can either respond and fuel the text-flirting fire or you pretend that you are not receiving them. Due to the fact that the last 3 months and the next 24 are one grand ´Chose my own Adventure¨ I have decide to pretend that I am not receiving them. However, I will keep you posted should I change the direction of my Adventure. (Don’t hold your breath!)
(PS. Nation Fellas thank you for your normalness!)

I now have an Avon Lady. You maybe surprised to know that a very common second job for women (mostly teachers) is to be an Avon Lady! I just made my first purchase last week…however it will not arrive until the end of September. How funny! Never in my life have I ordered anything from Avon Ladies…I always thought it was a grandma thing to do. I have crossed to the other side. At the end of September I will let you know how it is!

I may have visitors! My dad is possibly coming to visit! I hoping to be able to sweet talk him into bring a few things down for me…as I have had a few cravings for random American things!

Yesterday was a day filled with socializing. It was one of the best days I have had since I arrived in Paraguay! I tererred my way across town and then ate my way back! I have made a number of new friends and its funny when I meet people because they always say - ¨I have seen you¨ - as if I am some sort of spectacle. Which in some ways I am very much a strange site to see. It is a bit like being a rock-star I imagine. (With less drug use!)

BIG NEWS! I am joining the Horqueta Youth Orchestra! Yes, imagine that, Peace Corps service and playing in an orchestra. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that moving to Paraguay would equal me re-learning how to play the violin and playing in an orchestra! I am thrilled! I have been two practices so far. I have a private lesson with an 11 year old named Katia on Monday. They are travelling to Buenos Aires in the beginning of October and I have been invited. WHOA!! Buenos Aires with a youth orchestra…um…ok! I will keep you posted on these developments! My volunteer coordinator with PC is working with a landfill community in Asuncion that makes stringed instruments out of trash from the landfill. So, should I get serious about this orchestra business…I will be purchasing a trash violin! I could not have dreamed up this part of my adventure if I tried!
This also means that I have about 25 new friends that are between the ages of 8-12! How exciting!

Update on Joparadio-una mezcla de todo! (our radio show) We are still in negotiations with the owner. He doesn’t seem thrilled to have us…but we are hoping to sweet-talk our way back onto the radio waves!

Last week I made spaghetti and meatballs and my Paraguayan family liked them! SUCCESS!

I can now also add ¨Dog Undertaker¨ to my resume. Unfortunately, I had to have the experience of helping bury my host-dog. Pacha, our family’s dog who was about 7 died last night. She was laid to rest this morning. My host dad started to dig the grave but I don’t think anyone should be responsible for digging the grave of a close friend. It was an emotional experience however there were only two of us present.

I am moving families on Wednesday! I have lived with my current family since I arrived in Horqueta and I am getting ready for a change, to know a few more people. Asking people point-blank if you can live with them is so bizarre! But it is actually not that weird in Paraguay. And if and when they say no, they say…oh you should talk to ------- they have room at their house. So! I am moving in with a family that has 4 between the ages of 15 and 22 which should be a step out of the ordinary! It will definitely be a different experience than living with the two families I have lived with thus far (they have all had younger kids and not teenage boys!) The adventure continues!

Funny things I have learned today!

• Blackberries grow on trees, not bushes.
• To ask you to do something Paraguayans will ask you if you want to do what they want you to do. And it usually makes me want to say - No, actually I dont want to...(go get you a klennex or whatever it is!)
• Paraguayans like my spagetti and meatballs made by me!
• Its 85 degrees here and I still have 19 days of winter left before spring comes!
• It is amazing to use skype and talk to the US! (and see people!)

There is more to come!
-rachel