So there’s lots of things out there that you either a) thought of before but never really thought that that would be a thing that you would do in your life or b) never even crossed your mind as a possbility of something that you would even think of doing in your life.
I’m realizing that there’s lots and lots of those things that I do every single day and have been doing since I moved down here to Paraguay. I decided to make a list of the TOP 10 THINGS I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD DO BUT I DID DO. So without further ado, here they are:
I’m realizing that there’s lots and lots of those things that I do every single day and have been doing since I moved down here to Paraguay. I decided to make a list of the TOP 10 THINGS I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD DO BUT I DID DO. So without further ado, here they are:
1. Become an elementary school P.E. teacher
So on my list of things to do in life, never did this profession come across my radar. However, I agreed to teach P.E. in my elementary school last year, and it turned out to be pretty fun. Twice a week I worked with grades K-6 and we played capture the flag, soccer, handball, ultimate frisbee, sharks and minnows, yoga, and run relay races. I found myself breaking up fights between the fourth grade boys frequently, and getting beat in soccer by second graders on the regular. Although this may have never been a life dream of mine, I definitely enjoyed this little teaching gig I had going. You know what they say, those that can’t do, teach, and those who can’t teach, teach P.E.
So on my list of things to do in life, never did this profession come across my radar. However, I agreed to teach P.E. in my elementary school last year, and it turned out to be pretty fun. Twice a week I worked with grades K-6 and we played capture the flag, soccer, handball, ultimate frisbee, sharks and minnows, yoga, and run relay races. I found myself breaking up fights between the fourth grade boys frequently, and getting beat in soccer by second graders on the regular. Although this may have never been a life dream of mine, I definitely enjoyed this little teaching gig I had going. You know what they say, those that can’t do, teach, and those who can’t teach, teach P.E.
2. Be able to express myself in an indigenous language
Alright, so I am far from fluent, but I am still able to express myself in this crazy guttural-sounding language of Guarani. Although my most used Guarani phrases consist of “I’m hungry” “I’m tired” “I’m so broke” “It’s hot outside” “I’m looking for a boyfriend” and “That’s what your mom said” I think that still counts for something.
3. Become a yoga instructor
So I dabbled around in yoga before I came here and tried out all the different yoga studios around the Seattle area. But did I ever think I would be teaching my own class? Never. Basically within my first week in the area, I was approached by a group of women who asked me if I did yoga. I said yes, and they said great, when can you teach it? I figured how hard could it be? So I started teaching classes where I mostly made stuff up on and fly, but guess what? We all had a great time. My sister (an actual certified yoga instructor) would probably gasp at my methods and teaching style, and there’s no way I would be allowed to teach an any legitimate yoga studio, but I can add “yoga teacher” to my resume now although I don’t imagine I’ll be in demand to teach yoga back home.
4. Run for fun
My old motto was “Run? Yeah, I’ll run if somebody is chasing me with a knife.” Except for the weird thing is now I actually go for runs for fun, with nobody chasing me. I actually even PAID to run a 5k. Who am I? I don’t know, but I’m probably in the best shape I’ve been in since high school when I played soccer so I’m not complaining.
My old motto was “Run? Yeah, I’ll run if somebody is chasing me with a knife.” Except for the weird thing is now I actually go for runs for fun, with nobody chasing me. I actually even PAID to run a 5k. Who am I? I don’t know, but I’m probably in the best shape I’ve been in since high school when I played soccer so I’m not complaining.
5. Enjoy living alone
I went from living in a sorority with over 100 girls to living in the middle of a swamp in a house by myself for two years (I am Shrek). I thought I would be lonely and go crazy (well I may have gone a little crazy…) but I’ve actually enjoyed having my own house. It may not have hot water, it may flood when it rains, and the brick floors may never be fully dirt-free, but it’s come to feel like home to me. I love retreating into my little house at the end of a long day, and what’s even more fun, no one is there to complain about my singing. Plus, I pay less than 50 bucks a month for an entire house to myself, don’t think you can find a one bedroom one bathroom for this price in Seattle, so I may have to get used to living with roommates again.
6. Become a mom
Dog mom that is, I am crazy obsessed with my pup and want the very, very best for her and I can only guess that this is exactly what motherhood feels like. Exactly. I hope she is reading this.
7. Eat cow stomach (willingly) and often
Yes, cow stomach has been a meal I’ve eaten more frequently than I ever imagined. Luckily, its always breaded and fried when its offered to me and I can just pretend it’s something else. When I finish my first serving and my host mom throws a second piece of stomach on my plate I don’t even question it, I just start cutting away at it.
8. Bike over 1,400 kilometers
This is definitely an underestimate, but for the past two years I have relied on a bike as my form of transportation. Unable to use the local transportation method (a motorcycle) and without a bus that passes through my site, I had no choice but to bike to where I needed to be (except for the occassional hitchhike). Biking 7km into town to get groceries once a week adds up to 1,400 kilometers over the course of two years. This doesn’t count biking to various schools, homes of people I worked with, or going on rides to the rivers surrounding my community, all of which I did frequently.
9. Take a vacation by myself
Last year for winter break I decided to hop on a bus to Salta, Argentina by myself without an itinerary. I ended up meeting so many different types of people from all over the world and had the most amazing time. Although I was traveling by myself, I was actually hardly ever alone. I definitly can’t wait to get on the road again (solo!) and see what else is out there!
10. Survive two years in the Peace Corps
Okay, so although this was the original goal from the beginning, I never actually imagined that my two years would finish and I would be done with my service in the Peace Corps. It always seemed like it was off in some far-off future and never actually going to happen. It’s absolutely crazy to think that I’m about to be done. Crazy. Crazy, I tell you.
Okay, so although this was the original goal from the beginning, I never actually imagined that my two years would finish and I would be done with my service in the Peace Corps. It always seemed like it was off in some far-off future and never actually going to happen. It’s absolutely crazy to think that I’m about to be done. Crazy. Crazy, I tell you.
**Bonus: Casually run into a monkey on my evening run