Che avy´a che familia ndi Guaicápe

I just got back from my visit to what will be my home for the next 2 years and I loved it! I didn't want to leave and come back to training but alas, we have 3 more weeks before we are official Peace Corps volunteers. My town is smaller than I imagined and extremely tranquilo. I spent pretty much every day sitting in the shade, drinking tereré, talking with different people and just enjoying the day and enjoying being with other people. Everyone spoke Guarani so I just zoned out, fully aware that I was the topic of discussion quite often. I would catch a word or two here and there and then suddenly someone would direct a question at me in Spanish and I'd have to start paying attention again.


Guaicá supposedly has 150 houses but I didn't see nearly that many. That may include the surrounding barrios too. Everyone there has electricity and running water most of the time. There is a barrio I visited not too far away (about a 40 minute walk) that doesn't have running water. My site also has a nice looking church (bright green!) and a school. I met the director and some of the profes at that school and the one in the other community. I would like to work in both schools but will probably focus on the one in Guaicá.


The site is a lot more developed than I thought it would be. So right now I'm not sure exactly what I'll be doing. There really isn't a need for a modern bathroom or fogón project. But during the first 3 months we have to complete a census of our community to discovery the needs of the people and the resources available so that will definitely be helpful.


This visit really made it real that I am actually in Peace Corps. I mean, I've been here for almost 3 months but it's all been very structured and with other Americans. This past week I spent time in a community where most people had only seen one other American in their lives (the education volunteer that I'm following-up). I had to explain multiple times that although I'm a Health volunteer, I am not a nurse. I also tried to get the point across that even though the most complicated thing I can say in Guarani is “my house is near the church” I do, in fact, have a college degree. That one was a little more frustrating but it'll come with time. I did make some friends my own age already, which is awesome.


Overall it was a great visit and I can't wait to get back and start working. It's going to be a great 2 years!