Photo´s: top to bottom. Not the best way to transport cake. 2. Learning how to drink Terere (basically a really strong tea, more on this popular drink later) 3. Walking back to our houses. Notice the red dirt. 4. Bee stings--part of our medical evaluations.

My post this time will be in pictures. Since pictures say a thousand words it will save me a lot of time in writing—especially since I always seem to be running out of time.

Postal service—this lady comes to the CHP (main training center) about once a week. The postal service is in her house and she uses this scale to weigh each letter. A normal letter to the states cost 7,000 Gaurani’s (Gr) or about $1.25. There’s no telling how long it will take to get to the U.S. This lady gets the award for the most letters sent in all of Paraguay. She loves us.

CHP’i—The Crop Extensionist (CE) training site. We’re taking a break or Jaha recesope (to have recess in Guarani)

Canavalia—or jack bean in English. One of the many crops here

Buey—plowing the fields with the buey.

La vedurakuer’a—We cleared an entire table full of fresh vegetables in a matter of minutes. Haha…we don’t get enough fresh vegetables and you can tell we all love the food we’re going to be growing.

La tablόn—learning how to build raised beds while having the lesson completely in Guarani.

Rova—to transplant. Arova—I transplant. Arova cebolitape—I transplant green onions.

Tukuára (bamboo)—I’m cutting bamboo with a machete to build a bamboo fence. I’m not sure how to write a whole sentence like that, but I can say I cut with a machete (che akopi).

La cercado—the fence

Abono foliar Casero or “Compost Tea”—we simply put cow poop in a bag and submerged it in water and put a rock on top. You can add other elements like leaves, ashes, egg shell, and other organic material depending on the desired nutrients. We’re going to stir it for 5 minutes every day for 15 days. Then we’ll apply it to our garden or it could be applied with a backpack sprayer to tropical plants that absorb nutrients through the leaves.

Field trip—visiting gardens around our neighborhood. This farmer had really nice tomate plants supported by bamboo rods. He clipped the middle suckers to encourage vertical growth.

Che aquata—I walk. Walking home with my fellow CEer’s after a morning of gardening. My family is always laughing at how fast I walk. I enjoy walking and that’s basically my only option for exercise right now.

Chipa and the vaca—I was going to get my posts written on my laptop last time, but I got roped into making chipa. This is a picture of me and my host mom kneading the dough. It’s kind of like corn bread (main ingredient is aveticui or chopped up corn). It’s only really good when it’s hot out of the oven, but of course it’s fed to me all the time. It was enjoyable and I was told many times that I’m very guapa (in this context they mean hardworking). The home we made the chipa at was very interesting. In the next picture you will see the cow hanging from the tree. My host sister is standing next to it.

Tukuára leaves—the chip is placed on the bamboo leaves and then shoveled into the oven. During the whole process I was of course the source of amusement. It doesn’t matter what I say it’s hilarious. They asked me if I had a novio again. Since I had my camera on my camera on me my sister showed them a picture of him. I was told I was a “professional” at making the chipa and they laughed when I turned the ring into a heart.

Azado or BBQ not to be confused with an azada which is a hoe. It was Jen’s host sister’s birthday and everyone was invited. Kyle brought his guitar and we enjoyed some good meat, mandio (cassava), salad with tomatoes (legucha ha tomate), and rice.

(Left to right: Taylor, Kevin, y Michael)

Front: (L to R) Kevin and Charles. Back (L to R):me, Amelia, Michael, Jordan, and Kyle. I tried to get everyone in the picture, but I’m missing Jen and Taylor. Amanda left early and Marian was not in attendance.

Agriculturape and other thoughts

I’ve been in Paraguay a little over a week now. It’s hard to believe yet at the same time it feels like it’s been a long time. Gurani is a long slow process, but being immersed is helping. I can now say my name, where I am from, and what I do. Here’s a sample.

Che Cherera Raquel. Che Estado Unidoqua. Che aspirante Cuerpo de Pazpequa. Che amba’apota agriculturape.

It’s a tough language. I can also say a lot of agriculture words and crops.

Yesterday we learned gestures and when they’re appropriate and which ones not to do. We also planted a test plot garden with 13 different crops and 3 different tests. On 1/3 we applied just manure, on another 1/3 we applied manure and mulch, and the last third we left as the control. We had quite the audience as we used machetes to clear the weeds and hoes to turn the soil.

Last night I attended a little girl’s birthday party. She was turning 12. Apparently I am very entertaining. I told them (in Espanol with the crop names in Guarani) about working in our garden (la huerta) because my Mama told them my hand were rough. Laughter erupted on multiple occasions as I attempted conversations in both Guarani and Espanol. Shortly after arriving I was asked to get my camera and photos. I can’t count how many times I have shown people my photos. Everyone is always very curious to see. They especially love of Julie and Tango. It’s a close up of her eye. They usually ask if Jeremy is “tu tio?” (your uncle?)to which I respond “no, el es mi novio” (no, he is my boyfriend). Usually, follow up questions of where does he live, what does he do, and how old is he come next. They are always very curious about my family. I tell them about working at the orchard and that we grow apple trees and have a store and restaurant. I should have brought more pictures about the orchard, but I know my little sister understands at least. She mostly just speaks Guarani, but I gave her paper and markers and she drew a scene with pumpkins and apple trees.

I received a few more shots last Wednesday and we also had a lecture on Diarrhea. Lot’s of fun.

I must go. Adio.

I´m finally in Paraguay

Hello again,
It´s been quite an adventure just getting to Paraguay. I sure am glad I did not have to try this on my own. I slept a lot on the flights, but it´s never good enough sleep.
I arrived at the Peace Corps training center around 1 in the afternoon. Of the entire group we only lost one bag. Unfortunately, It was my bag. The good new is I got it this morning. I managed to do without everything in it without too much trouble.
On Thurday, a few hours after we arrived the leaders introduced us to our host families. We had a few interviews first to determine who would be best placed with whom. Questions such as do you like children, are you allergic to anything, do you like to walk, and are you a vegetarian.
My family is very nice. I live with my host Mama, Papa, and two sisters ages 15 and 7.

Ýou´re probably wondering if I live in a hut and if I have to boil my water. I was expecting a lot less modern, but I actually have a flushing indoor toilet and warm running water for my shower. I have been drinking water straight out of the tap. It tastes really good. My family has a pet dog named cookie and a little pig.

I have my own room. It´s very simple with a dresser, table, and little bed. I have been sleeping really well and getting a lot of sleep which is great. A lot of people hear the dogs and roosters which compete with eachother to bark and crow throughout the night. They all seem a ways off and I usually don´t hear them.

I have been enjoying the food a lot more than I thought. The hardest thing for me to get over and not think about is all the food safety rules I know are not being followed. It´s hard when you grow up with the orchard and then later working in restuarants. I´m always so hungry for each meal that I dont´have trouble eating.

My very first meal was probably the most entertaining. I was lead home from the CHPí (the smaller training sight) by my host Mama and sister. She called out to hear relatives that this was her daughter and that I was beautiful (mi hija. ella es linda) At dinner and bunch of my Mama´s sisters came over. She asked if I was hungry. I told her I was. She made me a sort of beef stew and then everyone proceeded to watch me eat. I didn´t let it bother me. My Spanish speaking abilities is sadly very limited, but I communicated as best I can. Since I had a long flight it was all I could do to get them to let me sleep.

One more story. I have huundreds of comical things that have happened, but I´m not sure how much this internet cafe is going to charge me. Next time I´ll prepare something in advance, but I didn´t have time and I´m sure everyone is eager for a little taste of Paraguay.

Over the course of the next 11 weeks I will receive about 8 different vaccinations. Don´t worry if you visit me you only need about 2. Malaria is not a concern here. On the same day that we had a medical interview it was required for us to receive a bee sting. You might assume that it´s a shot that mimics the toxin in a bee, but no. The guy in charge of the beekeeping extension technical training had a hat full of African bees. He would capture them one at a time and then hold one onto our arm until it stung us. We were then required to leave the stinger in so the toxin could be deposited. I´ve been stung before and that didn´t help if be any less painful. Mine swelled a little and had a little bloodred H shape where the stinger penetrated. The Hep A shot was less painful.

I tried to explain all of this to my family, but my Spanish is not good enough and my Guarani even less so. My language training is focused on Guarani for all of training, but I´m hoping to work on my Spanish on my own.

I must go, but please keep me in your prayers. I appreciate your comments and emials.

sonrisas,
raquel

I'm in Miami

I left this morning from Willard airport.  There were many hugs and pictures and then I finally had to walk through security.  It's hard to believe I am now sitting in a hotel in Miami and tomorrow I will be spending my golden birthday waiting to leave for Paraguay.  

My flight was mostly uneventful except for the overly helpful and repetitive flight attendant on my flight to O'Hare.  By the end, everyone was laughing in exasperation.  Especially since the majority of the passengers looked like seasoned fliers.

I looked ridiculous carrying my 35 lbs daypack around in addition to a huge rolling suitcase and an additional backpack.  I managed to find the shuttle and make it to the hotel without any trouble.

There are 42 people in my staging group who will be joining me in training in Paraguay.  I fall right in the majority age category.  I think there is one older woman and one married couple.  Otherwise everyone else is early twenties and most of us are women (at least 3/4).  Everyone has agriculture related programs.  I'm jealous of those in beekeeping, but I am sure I will get to collaborate on their projects, given that pollination is an important part of growing viable crops.

I miss everyone dearly.