Month 12: Qualifying and Reflecting

 HELLOOOO HAPPY THURSDAY!

This post is especially special because as of about 4:25am this morning, I have officially lived in Paraguay for one whole year! It's crazy to think about how fast the time has passed, and how different I felt stepping off the plane a year ago. 

I'm gonna get into a bit of reflection and reminiscing a bit later on, but for now let's talk about September!!

We've had such a fun and packed month. To start it off with a bang, a couple friends and I (Shoutout Chris and Kate) were gifted tickets to see Kchiporros, one of the most famous musical groups in Paraguay at the moment. I'm dropping a link to my current favorite song by them (Ruta 1 y Ruta 2 - which talks about the two main highways that divide Paraguay [I live off of Ruta 2, the superior Ruta]). If you know anything about me, you know I'm my father's daughter and I LOVE live music, so this group was so much fun to experience. 

Another amazing thing that happened this month was that Paraguay qualified for the World Cup! This is monumental because the last time this happened was 2010 (The year that Waka Waka by Shakira was the World Cup song). We went up to Asuncion to watch the game in the city, and there was such an incredible energy in the air before and after the game. The streets were flooded, everyone was so happy, and it was truly a great night. 

An important cultural holiday also took place this month: Dia del Folklore. This is a celebration of Guarani culture and history, and usually includes many traditional dances, food, and presentations. The most notable part of this festival is the students' creations of "casitas" or traditional houses. They work hard for weeks constructing houses out of wood, bamboo, mud, and other materials, and then dress in traditional clothing and present their houses to a panel of judges. The whole event (and presentation) is completely in Guarani, so I tried my very best to follow along. A fun addition to this years event was that I was invited to make a stand and talk about MY culture as well. I settled on talking about Rhode Island (things such as the Rhode Island Red, Dels Lemonade, the Newport Bridge, Waterier in Providence, and Block Island were all very prominent), and made cookies from my grandmother's recipe to go along with it. They were a huge hit - and  I loved being able to give my students a little sweet treat after they danced in the festival!

On a more environmental note, I traveled to a fellow volunteer's site nearby (Hi Logan) and along with 6 other volunteers, hosted a charla series at his colegio (high school). This was a big event for me because it was only my second time working with high school aged kids in general. It was a lovely afternoon and I got to spend time with a great group of volunteers. The town we went to is known for its ceramic work, so after the presentations we were gifted some ceramics by the artisanias of the community.

Wow. One year. It's crazy to think about. I feel so blessed to experience life down here every day with these kind generous people. Even just sitting outside my house and being able to say hi to (and know the names of!) everyone who walks by feels like a major change from just a few months ago. 

I look back on the people who have without question taken me into their homes and families, whether it's someone who LITERALLY took me in (like Mama Clara from training and Manety from site) or friends I've made who open their arms to me like I've always lived here (like my best friend down here - Maria Liz, and her daughter Mariel). Even the teachers in my school sipping terere - and asking me why I don't have a Paraguayan boyfriend yet so I can stay here forever - feel like family.

I think about how lucky I am to have this community, these people, and can't help but feel luckier to have the volunteers to go through this experience with. No matter the cohort, or the site location, I feel so supported and validated through every downslope. If I'm calling my friend to rant about my neighbors' rooster waking me up at 4am, or the pile of cow poop I just stepped in on the way to school, or even just the heat that this country exudes in the summer; they're always there to relate and support me, and probably share a story or two of their own.

And of course, I wouldn't be here in the first place without my support system back home. Thank you all for accompanying me so far, and I can't wait to keep you updated on all that happens in the next year!

**I have been fighting with my computer for months and it simply no longer wants to let me upload any pictures into these blog posts. Trying my best to resolve the issue but unfortunately for now we are without any proof that I did all the things I said I did. You'll just have to take my word for it**