SO HERE IT COMES….
Since it’s the dead of summer, there isn’t much actual “work” to be done (and by “work” I mean what normal people think of as work). Schools aren’t in session, nobody shows up at the health post, most people are on vacations visiting their extended family members, and did I mention that it’s hot? Nobody leaves their houses or that shady spot under their tree.
Well, for whatever reason, I spent all month without leaving my site. So what did I do if there’s no “work” to be done? Well, I did the “work” of a Peace Corps Volunteer…
I sat in the shade. I drank lots of terere with my neighbors. I read 11 books. I bought a ceiling fan. I made lots of cold brew coffee. I went to orphanage once a week to hang out and play some cool games with the kids there. I taught zumba classes in the (very) late afternoons. I would go on long walks in the evening with Paraguayans. I would bake (banana scones are trending rn) and bring anything that turned out to be edible over to peoples houses.
So that may not be a 9-5 job, that may not even be a job at all…but for me, that was “work”. I spent all my days within my community, hanging out with people while promoting excercise and healthy eating habits in the most informal ways possible. And that, is literally what I did all month. Plus sweat. I sweated a lot. Currently sweating right now typing this.
Not the most exciting…. but I figured it was worth it for you guys to know I’m alive (even though I’m melting) and well. I’ll include some photos because those are worth more than the words I’ve written.
BUT ANYWAY, I am surviving (maybe I’ll go as far to say thriving) my first Paraguayan summer. I’ve got some exciting things coming up, I’ll be helping train the new batch of Peace Corps Health Volunteers who will be arriving in Paraguay Feb 23rd, and once school starts I’ll be teaching in the schools a lot more this year. So until then, think COOL thoughts for me, and enjoy your winter as I sweat through the summer here.