Little Miss Mimosa

In honor of International Cat Day yesterday, I would like to introduce you to little Miss Mimosa, which means cuddly in Spanish and conveniently a delicious beverage I would love to enjoy in English.  The new love of my Paraguayan life.  Well, actually my whole life.  She is 8 weeks old today and only the cutest thing on the planet.  

I got her about a week and a half ago from another volunteer whose cat had kittens.  We traveled about 3 hours on a bus, which did not love but we made it nonetheless.  Since the we went on a shorter bus trip to my nearest town and she did much better.  She is growing up so fast! 

She is an indoor outdoor kitten, mostly because nobody in Paraguay has indoor cats....ever.  She loves playing in the grass and the flowers, catches quite a few grasshoppers, the hammock is her favorite spot for a nap (and mine too) and she is the perfect amount of fun and tranquilo.

She is always ready to play, and has learned how to hiss at the neighbors dog and chickens pretty quickly.  She put up with her first bath yesterday and really didnt complain much (that does not mean she liked it) and usually sleeps the night through.  Although there's the occasional 2 am low blood sugar playtime date :-)

Anyways, as you can see I've become the crazy cat lady I always said I would be and I am so so happy that I have her.  Except for right now when she is clawing at my back wanting to play as I'm trying to write this.

Hope all is well in America! Keep in touch!

Just call me Profe

The school is an awesome place.  It provides so many opportunities for work and there is always a captive audience guaranteed... Well maybe not the captive part.  But having an audience guaranteed is fabulous, well unless it rains or is one of the seven thousand Paraguayan holidays or the teachers on strike. A lot of the work I do as a first time volunteer in my community is getting people acquainted with the weird blondie that dropped out of nowhere and understanding the type of work Peace Corps does.  So a lot of meetings and clubs and lessons I put tons of time and energy into and then nobody comes.  Which weighs on you.  So the school has been a pick me up in that way.

My life skills personal development class is going okay.  The way I'm teaching in the form of games and conversations definitely has the kids thrown off and they are still nervous to talk and engage but each week it gets better and better.  

The seventh graders making up a game with just a rock and a card to try and spark some creativity :-)

My English class is fun.  The one I started in August is in full swing now and there are 9 kids that come almost every class and really have a passion for learning.  We play fun games and have competitions and its a great way for me to look really guapa in my community because for some reason learning English is super super valuable.  I also just started a class for the 4th 5th and 6th graders which is absolutely nuts. Almost 30 kids attend and trying to get 30 10 year olds to learn a foreign language is quite the endeavor.  It's exhausting but luckily two of my older kids have been helping me which is awesome to see!

Practicing English in groups

Studying 

I also have been going to a school in my neighboring community which is about an hour walk for me to teach computers. At first I thought I would have to do a lot of research and preparation because I dont know too much about computers but then you realize that these kids dont understand how to move the mouse...and the class becomes instantly easier.  

Drawing her name in the program Paint

And lastly this week I started my dental health program in the school with preschoolers to 3rd graders.  And its a whole lot of fun.  I spend a good portion of the time telling them I love them too because they cant tell me "Arianna, te quiero" enough apparently. But my favorite memory thus far is their a answer to the question: for what do we use our teeth?  "For biting".  So I'm not sure what's going on at home but hopefully their will be less biting after my two years is over.  New goal. 

Showing off their smiles :-)

Birthday partays!!!

Hi!!! Tanto tiempo!!! So I've been a busy little bee lately and with the October rains the electricity and my internet signal haven't been the greatest so sorry it's been so long.  I've been working on my chicken cool project, gathering information and people to form our comission.  Also been planning a soccer tournament to raise money to fix the dentist chair in the health post to hopefully get a dentist working here at least once a week.  That and teaching in the school, beginning my dental health program with the younger kids next week.  As much as I love the sassy teenagers I am excited for a little munchkin love.  

I have also been going to lots of fiestas! Birthdays are awesome, there is always a ton of delicious food, often times the family pig or chickens are killed in celebration and its a fun chance to spend time together.  They're usually family events because the person whose birthday it is pays for everything so often they aren't too big and I'm usually the outcast. But they are so very fun and a nice break.  And did I mention delicious food?

My favorite of all the foods is by far sopa paraguaya.  Its delicious and I highly recommend you try it.  Here's a recipe!!

http://www.tembiuparaguay.com/2011/04/receta-de-sopa-paraguaya-economica.html?m=1

Good luck and hope it turns out perfectly! Miss you!