King of the Plaza: Zeus
Just days left and I can’t believe that I have not once posted a photo of Zeus.
Capilla Cué Micro
I was waiting for my micro in Paraguarí when I realized just how much this old bus has grown on me.
Pantanal: Los Tres Gigantes
The Pantanal is the largest wetland on earth and sort of a Mecca for Environmental PCVs here. With less than three months left I thought I better make the pilgrimage now to prevent any regrets.
Huerta Escolar
For the past two years I’ve been working with my school contact, Profe Vilma, to teach a gardening class. My first year I was assisting, this year I was the Profe.
Ahecha National Competition
I had so much fun teaching Ahecha last year that I wanted to do again. This time I had five students. It was just like last time, teaching the basics of camera usage, but most importantly trying to get them to see the world a little bit differently.
Party Like A Paraguayan
The electronic scene is alive and kicking in Paraguay, at least down in Pilar.
Chasing Waterfalls
Its seems just about everyone in Paraguay knows about Salto Cristal. But you wouldn’t think that if you just stumbled upon it. It’s so far off the beaten path there’s a chance you’ll have it all to yourself.
Paraguay Verde V
Last month we had our big environmental summer camp where we, through a variety of means, try to inspire youth to be more conscientious about the environment. This was my second time, but it was a whole different experience as it was my G’s turn to run it. Everyone had their part and I decided to help the media team with documenting the camp. I also brought along my youth contact Nery, whom I shadowed to film his experience.
Wild Things
One of my new volunteer cohorts, Nick Gengler, works in wildlife monitoring, and brought some specialized cameras to Paraguay to study the local biodiversity. After visiting my site during PCT he proposed bringing out his cameras to Capilla Cué for a test run.
Ahecha In Capilla Cué
For the past three months I’ve been working with six students, teaching them what I can about photography.
Photo by Araceli Torres González
Inspiring Through Art
Incorporating art into my English class
Adding some artistic flair to a task can make work into something fun, and help you get things done.
Parque Nacional Ybycuí
Ybycuí is Paraguay’s most visited National Park, famous for its cascading waterfalls and numerous butterflies. I just want to give kudos to whoever proposed having our last VAC meeting here.
Friendly Fires
Back in Colorado fire is seen as a destructive force, one that wrecks havoc on the landscape every year. At home its use was limited to campfires, barbecues and birthday candles. But here in Paraguay its an integral part of the culture.
Ahecha, I See
I’ve not been posting consistently in the past few months because a lot of my attention has been diverted into something else. After getting into photography I realized that it can significantly change the way you perceive the world, and it’s something that I want to share with others.
Brazilian Recharge
Despite what you may think, Peace Corps is not a vacation. So after ten months in site, and halfway through my service, I took a break and traveled with my parents to nearby Brazil.
Planting Trees
Every few months all the environmental volunteers meet up to get additional training. José, my youth contact, came with me to a Peace Corps Project Design Management meeting in Atyra.
Eco Reserva Mbatovi
Along Capilla Cué’s Southern edge is a private Eco-Reserve called Mbatovi. Since I live so close I frequently get asked about how to get there. If you’re thinking of heading up this way this post will help you plan your trip.
Che Roga… My Home
A few years ago the National Police of Paraguay had a small police station in Capilla Cué. But they realized that they were spending most of their time waiting for crime, and went back to the city of Piribebuy, leaving the building with the community. Since no one is using it the community council said I can use it for free!
Semana Santa
Holy Week is a time when many Paraguayans come together to celebrate. If you take a stroll along Pirebebuy’s streets after dark you’ll encounter a procession of priests, choir members, and youth role-playing biblical stories complete with torches and crucifixions.
Simple Things
The autonomy we have, combined with worries that are so unlike those back in the states.. things that I hardly noticed before really stand out here. These are some of the creatures that I encounter daily –minus the chickens.
Still Scratching the Surface
As with last month I’m still partly in ‘adventure mode’ trying to explore the landscape and experience the culture more before getting caught up in a routine of sorts. Much of my exploring is done by bicycle accompanied by a host brother.
On Assignment
Christmas Eve in Paraguay is a night filled with smoke and flames. Every kid on the block has a stockpile of firecrackers, roman candles, and sparklers to set off at midnight, and the whole show repeats a week later on New Years Eve..
Capilla Cué: The Eden of Cordillera
My site is Capilla Cué, “the Eden of Cordillera.” It’s a small barrio found in the rolling hills east of Asuncion which owes its reputation to its nearby streams, waterfalls, and forest.
Give Us A Hint: PCV Site Visits
Just over three weeks left before we’re volunteers, and I have to admit, the PC Paraguay Training team has done a pretty good job making me feel ready.
Learning how to work with bamboo
Welcome to Paraguay!
Three weeks of photos, here is a glimpse of life as a Peace Corps Trainee.
We hit the ground running. Within a few hours of arrival we were bused to our host families.
Staging: Its Go Time
I’m heading off to Miami in just a few hours. The anticipation has been killing me and I’m starting to understand why patience is such a common theme in RPCV stories. One of my short term solutions has been going out on meditation retreats near Fort Collins. I think I’m starting to get the hang of it and I have actually found myself sitting for hours now just watching the clouds. Though I still have a tinge of guilt when I realize I’ve spent all day sitting around outside. So I’ve tried to be objective with this and play around with the timelapse feature on my camera.
Anyways, I’ve realized that I’m not a writer, not yet at least. And with the time demands of Pre Service Training coming up I think I’m going to push my focus to pure photography. Hopefully I’ll post some pictures soon!
The Endless Summer
There’s nothing like tubing down a river on a 95-degree day. Thankfully the Poudre is just a 30 minute drive away.
50 Nations
Time goes by so fast in the months leading up to staging! I’ve just been so busy practicing Spanish and getting final medical clearance (As a tip for new volunteers, go to a USA-ICD Dentist for a free dental exam and check your local VA Hospital to see if they offer a free physical).
In between doctor visits I’ve been reflecting on goal two of the Peace Corps, which is “Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.” How do I show Paraguayans American culture?
The Heart Of South America
Its amazing how quickly your motivation can change. One moment you’re mechanically going through another chapter of Rosetta Stone, the next your heart is starting to race as you realize that in less than four months you’re going to be 5000 miles away, learning how to speak two new languages so that you can help protect one of the last great wilderness areas left in the world.
Practicamos Español.. En Cuba
Last week I traveled to Cuba, the largest island in the Caribbean and the only place in the Americas where communism still has a strong presence. I went under a people-to-people educational license and was bused around the country to experience the culture, rum and cigars (and of course practice Spanish!)
Nominated
Yesterday I was nominated to the Peace Corps! I’ve been recommended to the Environmental Sector and have promised my recruiter that I will better my Spanish. I’ve figured that this is a good time to start writing about the experience.