Sunshine

It might seem crazy what I'm about to say. Sunshine she's here you can take a break.  If you're up on American music, you get where I'm going.  If you're not up on American music, like me, I highly recommend this song: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Sxv-sUYtM.  And also, while I'm at it please send me names of American songs so when I come back I'm not a total loser (cut the sassy thoughts).  And yes, I've heard of Wiggle.  And loving it.  

So I'm happy.  Definitely the happiest I've been so far in country.  (Side note: this does not mean I won't be sobbing later today).  My emotions change rapidly as does everything in the grassroots development work.  But my work is starting, my relationships are being taken to a whole new level and I'm feeling more comfortable and useful than ever.  Things are falling into place.  

I'm teaching life skills to seventh eight and ninth graders every monday tuesday and wednesday morning.  I'm loving that I have the confidence to tell them to not be obnoxious, that they listen (for the most part) to my broken up guarani and Spanish and that they are doing things away from copying off the board for hours on end.  I love that they know that I I know when they're getting into trouble, I love that they think I understand Guarani, I love when they call me profe, I love everything about it. 

I also have a walking group that averages about 8 people that I love.  It's a beautiful way to end the day, watch the sunset, and get in some good exercise with some of my favorite Señoras.  

I'm starting a dental health program in the school or at least I want to in October.  I'm planning four weeks of fun and games and competitions and little lessons on why we should brush our teeth, writing out letters to get tooth brush donations, working with my health post to try and get a dentist to come to my community once a month and raising funds to cover the possible costs.  

I am teaching English to 7th-9th graders and it started as a random jumble of kids that would change every class and now it's the same 8-10 kids who have stolen my heart.  I love that I feel I can be myself around them and that they fully understand how hard it is to speak another language.  I love that they giggle when I talk on the phone in English.  And I love when they defend me when I say things wrong in Spanish or guarani and people laugh.  They had their first quiz and are just killing it!  Now all you visitors will have someone to talk to :-) hint, hint.

I am also having little meetings with neighbors because my community wide meetings weren't working because people were intimidated.  We make some kind of dessert and talk about community problems, possible solutions, and gather people that might be interested in participating.  It's a huge start for sure.  

Also, I am officially the coordinator for the all girls GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) here in Paraguay in February 2015 and I'm super excited.  I'm in the process of writing the grant for funds so I'll keep you posted on that and the planning is starting to take place.  And I can't think of anything I love more than camp.

So that and learning to cook for myself and do all of my housewife duties like dishes, sweeping my dirt lawn, laundry, and cooking for myself have been keeping me pretty busy.  

And there's just a whole bunch of happy here in my life.  And I can only hope it's the same for you.  And if it's not, well you know your only choice is to visit me.  

Sunshines, rainbows, hammocks, love, and smiles all around.  Life is gorgeous.