Swear-in Weekend

I made it! I’ve been promoted to volunteer status.

g33 looking spiffy

Friday morning (Aug 20) PC rented a bus to pick us up in our satellite communities. I said goodbye to my host family. But I anticipate seeing them again in November for a few days. After 3 months in site, we’ll have a training re-connect.

The bus took us directly to PC’s office in Asuncion first to put some of our things in long-term storage. The machete ended up in long-term storage. Then some security folks came over from the embassy and gave us the pat down as we boarded the bus. In an escorted caravan we were able to drive into the embassy complex for the ceremony.

getting the pat-down

The ceremony was short but sweet. Our sector boss, Elisa, spoke. Then the training center coordinator. Our country director is sadly out of the country in the US sort of re-patriating for a month (something about visas). And the ambassador was somewhere outside the capital, “burning tons of coke and marijuana” as her second-in-command so eloquently put. But the best speech came from one of our very own co-trainee, Taylor. He spoke about our experiences during training, what it meant to meet a group of people like our group. And then he talked about development work. One definition of development is helping others to have more and be more. And one time during training when we accomplished that as a group was at the youth leadership conference we attended. Though we were attending mostly as observers, we witnessed a group of 40-some highly motivated and optimistic youth. And they told us about the service projects they were conducting in their own communities: planting trees, collecting donations and conducting fundraisers to buy coats for families that couldn’t afford them, and leading workshops of their own about civic, health and environmental issues alike. The youth were shining examples of what a difference being more can mean in a community.

And then Taylor did what he does best, which is to tell a really strange story. And you wait and wait and wait, and then it makes so much sense! This particular story related Peace Corps to his friend in D.C. who left work one day and accidentally walked onto a film set, participated in the scene (which involved crossing a street), and literally brushed shoulders with Angelina Jolie. Haha. I think the moral is something like sometimes we have to leave our comfort zones, but when we do so, we are greatly rewarded with the experience of a lifetime. That’s the Peace Corps for sure.

And then we did the whole “raise your right hand and recite after me” thing. These are the words:

I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, domestic and foreign, that I take this obligation freely and without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge my duties in the Peace Corps by working with the people of Paraguay as partners in development and in peace.

After the ceremony we had a snack in the cincho or super big gazebo out back behind the embassy. It included tiny sandwiches, sodas, empanadas, steak and chicken milanesa and a delicious chocolate cake.
After that, PC was done driving us around in PC vehicles and we hoofed it back to the PC office (not far). We did some administrative stuff there–like get our cellphones and debit cards (so we can get our monthly stipend).

We also had a meeting with two volunteers to plan a leadership camp and business retreat. I am going to be working on the leadership camp planning logistics (I love details!) And I’m also going to help the business group create a logo/identity to professionalize the retreat so that then can recruit some sponsors. And I may even help them put together a sponsorship package.

Our first day as volunteers ended with a celebration at a local Mexican restaurant (I had fajitas, some nachos and a margarita) and then a night out at a local Irish pub. The pub’s about as Irish as me. And starting around midnight a Paraguayan cover band took the stage and rocked out to The Doors, U2 and The Killers.

I’ll write more later about the rest of the weekend, the trip to Valenzuela and my first day here. As a preview… I´ll share two pics. The first is Maureen, me and Nikki in the back of a cab on the way to the bus terminal. As you can see, it was a relaxing, comfortable ride.

cramped

That’s my window in my bedroom. My little sister had decorated it with little sayings in English, Spanish and Guarani to welcome me. They say things like welcome, your family loves you!

my welcome signs!

Love and peace,

Emily

Tags: asuncion, swear¡ng in, usa