My Paraguayan Family

I realized something the other day. I mention all these peoples’ names, talk about their families, share my good times with them; but you all will likely never meet them. And seeing as they have become such an important part of my life, I have decided to take the time to describe to you some of my closest friends and family in site.

Silvia – easily my bestie in site. 16 years old, but very mature. It took us a while to get beyond the ‘let’s drink terere and have small stalk’ stage, but now I find that it is her that I go to with my stresses, exciting news, and miscellaneous commentaries. We hang out daily. Maybe I am helping her with her English homework, drinking terere, playing pool, cooking up something delicious, attempting to dance zumba along with my workout video, gossiping about boys and our neighbors, going to the town parties, whatever. She is who I most look forward to seeing on a daily basis.

Esperanza – my neighbor, but really my second mom. She gives me advice, puts up with my terrible Guaraní, invites me over for meals weekly, and I know she thinks of me as her daughter. An excellent example of how you don’t need much to be happy, just your family and friends by your side.

Esperanza, Dulci, Me, Armin, and Mom!

Sixta – my community work contact and favorite mother to visit. There is always something happening at her house, and I have yet to have a dull moment with her family. She is incredibly hard working, and is always coming up with new ideas of things I can do in the community and ways to help. Every volunteer’s community contact dream!

You never know what you'll find at Sixta's...

Fatima – Esperanza’s daughter, and was my first friend my age in site. She was there for me when my dogs died, laughs at me when I butcher my guarani, and respects the work I do in the community. Also, she is superb at painting nails! Oh yea, and most important – she is pregnant and I am going to be the baby’s godmother!!!

Auxi & Erika – These guys were my first friends. They are smart, beautiful, curious, and patient. They come to absolutely everything I plan and have enthusiasm that is contagious.

Auxi (left) and Erika (right)

Ña Eli, Dana, Vanesa – These are Silvia’s mom and two sisters. I think the reason I love the whole family so much is because they remind me of my McWilliams cousins. A family full of girls, there is never a dull moment! Every time I go there it turns into a big singing/dancing/laughter fest. We make fun of each other all the time, a sign of true comfort with one another.

Ña Eli, Silvia, Dana, y Vanesa

Thiago – Knows English from Dora the Explorer, shouts my name across fields when he sees me, and gives me running hugs. ‘Nuff said. (Oh and he is definitely the best high-fiver in site)

Now, I realize that for a typical 23 year old girl this is not your normal group of friends, but this is my life, and I wouldn't change it. These people, along with many others, make life here in Paraguay worthwhile on a daily basis. I feel so fortunate to be a part of their lives, and am so grateful they have taken me in as one of their own.

My Biggest Frustration

I actually wrote a similar blog post one time when I was really frustrated about a year ago, then decided not to post it. But after over a year working here in site, the frustration remains, and thus, the blog post has been revived.

I would like to take you all back to my 4^th grade classroom. My teacher was Mrs. Jackowitz, and she was amazing. We dissected owl pellets, built parachutes and launched them, learned through competitions and games, and I walked into a classroom covered in color and interesting information to look at. Then there was freshman year of high school where my biology teacher made me excited about photosynthesis, my math teacher stayed late to help me when I struggled with algebraic proofs, and my photography teacher taught me that a photo really is worth a thousand words. I was so incredibly fortunate to be raised in a town with a great education system that helped to prepare me to take on the world as an adult.

And then there is the school system I have come to know here in Paraguay. The 4^th grade classroom’s walls are bare, the teacher arrives late, and they spend the entire morning copying from the chalk board. Or the 9^th grade students, who spend half the class texting on their phone because the teacher doesn’t bother to tell them not to. The students are typically at a much lower reading level than they should be, and kids are continuously slipping through the cracks.

These differences are for many reasons, and cannot be pin pointed on a single one. Some parents in site claim it’s the lack of motivation and preparation in the teachers. Some say they are doing the best they can with what is available. Some say it’s the kids who aren’t interested. Some say it’s because the classroom isn’t provided with all the books and materials they should have access to. Some say it’s the short school day (students from K-12 go to school for 4 hours a day here). I say it’s all the above. I have seen several really great teachers who do their best to motivate the kids, but they are limited by funds. And how can I fault the teacher for asking the kids to simply copy from the chalk board all class when there aren't enough supplies to provide all the kids with books?

Working in the schools is what I was most looking forward to in joining the Peace Corps. I get along great with kids, and knew my energy and activities would excite them. But it’s hard to succeed as a volunteer when you don’t necessarily have the support of the teachers or your charlas keep getting post-poned due to holidays/rain/strikes. I am a third time volunteer, and just about all the options have been exhausted. There have been workshops for teachers to make didactic materials, but very few used what they learned. There are workshops for the students to become leaders in the community, but unless pushed by myself or the previous volunteers they fail to use what they learned.

Today I started a new program with the high school that I am really looking forward to. It is called ‘Como Planear mi Vida’, or “How to Plan my Life”. I’m excited to work with 10^th and 11^th graders, and hope that they find the information I teach useful. The topics covered will ideally help the students prepare for their future - be it university, work or family. I hope that we get great conversations going, and I can engage the kids. This is likely my last attempt to work extensively with the schools, so I really hope it goes well… wish me luck!