Headlines & Lessons Learned

It’s about time for an update, no? Let’s do this in headlines and lessons learned.

In a phone conversation last night with my mom (I talk to my folks Sunday nights), I was talking like I usually do. This is what I did this week. This is what is happening next week. And then I realized I was making more sense than usual. I was realizing that in my frustrations with work in the past few weeks, though I haven’t done a whole lot, I have learned a lot.

Gah, I’m sounding more and more like Peace Corps Volunteer. Things just happen at a slower pace. That means there’s plenty of time for reflection and self-doubt! Tranquilopa.

AMUR house inaugurated in Minas Cue
The organization with which I work officially opened its location 12km from me last weekend. I went with some of the socias from my community to show our support for their work. Highlights included our country director’s attendance with wife and kids, an awesome speech from Nikki’s contact Rosa and a roasted chicken lunch (more on the chickens in the next bit).

inaugural ceremony: rosa introducing the socias

However, what troubled me about the inauguration was the absence of some important people. Namely, two individuals that were integral in the founding of the organization. There are plenty of ruminations about why they weren’t there, but it was a statement. A statement about hurt feelings, about feeling under-appreciated. And in my personal opinion, it has something to do with the group of women that outgrew the very people that conceived of the organization. It’s a shame.

But what’s important is that the women have a great deal of momentum to launch some successful projects in their new space. And I took the opportunity to be frank with one of the group’s key leaders, first congratulating the group on a superb opening party and beautiful house, and second encouraging her to keep moving forward, while always remembering the inaugural day and the work it took to have the house. Because it seems that 8 years since my group’s inauguration, some may have forgotten the house’s potential and the dreams they had for it.

Lesson learned: My work is difficult in ways I least expected. I didn’t anticipate having to negotiate political and personal issues within group and community dynamics… it’s much too like middle school. Perhaps I was naïve and idealistic.

Emily and Nikki retrieve 120 frozen chicken legs
You can’t have an inaugural party without grub. Nikki volunteered to do the errand work to pick up 120 frozen chicken legs from the Pechugon factory in Capiataa. This was a nice offer because Nikki doesn’t have an entire family’s laundry to do, nor the cooking or taking care of children, feeding chickens, etc.

I went for moral support and for a good laugh. Plus we were going to the grocery store to eat lunch in their cafeteria. Hello salad bar!

Later we enter the factory store. Nikki approaches the counter, where an eager young man, Sixto, is waiting as two rubias approach him. Nikki collects her thoughts, and recites the order. She wants 120 muslos frescos (chicken legs, not frozen)…how much will that be? Way too much. She works the price down accepting fewer legs, frozen.

And then Sixto is slinging frozen chicken parts into giant, woven plastic sac on a scale. When he’s done Nikki pays up. And I’m looking outside at the divided highway we have to cross to catch our bus going back home. Luckily, Sixto has read my mind. He and buddy carry the 30-kilo(?) bags for us, across the street. And wait with us until the bus comes to load it on. We pass the time covering the topics of work in a chicken factory, Sixto’s much-older girlfriend, Mormonism (there are lots of Mormon churches in PY), what we like about PY and skiing (I explained that you make the pizza shape with your skis to stop, and parallel french fries to GO!)

Lesson remembered: There is adventure in the mundane when you’re with friends.

some of the chicken we brought (marinated in herbs, roasted in the tatakua--brick oven), plus rice and sopa paraguaya

Emily battles bacterial stomach bug, Survives
I woke up a few Saturdays ago feeling the way I did freshman year of college when I contracted NoroVirus. For the first five hours I told myself this will pass, just drink water and some Sprite. After reading the PC Medical Handbook entree on cholera and its evil comrades, I called the PC Medical Nurse who told me to begin a Cipro regimen immediately. By Sunday, and helped along by a visit from a friend, I was able to leave my bed. Fully recovered by Wednesday.

Lesson learned: There are people in Paraguay that care about me! My host mom was a dear. When I stumbled out of my room and grumbled, “Estoy enferma,” she zipped into her role as SuperMom. She went out and purchased bottled water and Sprite for me, and made me boring old white rice and toast. And she made me laugh when I felt pathetic.

Emily prepares to move into her casita
The house is coming along. In an attempt to overcome some of the humidity issues the house has, I have been visiting daily to open the windows and allow fresh air inside. My ceiling fan was also installed this week. The ceiling fan has seven speeds. Seven. Speed 1 is the North American equivalent to high. Speed 7 = helicopter. I joked to the saleslady at the hardware store that I would sleep using speed 1, and fly with speed 7. Oh yeah, she laughed.

Additionally, I enlisted my neighbor carpenter to make some window frames for me that have metal screen in them. The purpose being that I can insert the frames into the windows to have fresh air in my house, without having fresh mosquitoes. On the outside, I have sturdy, locking wood shutters. For the curious about my security (hey Dad!), my house also has a tall metal fence, lockable with padlock, and is topped with barbed wire. Home Sweet Home!

Nikki came to town and helped me do some painting. For reasons unknown, the owner painted four feet up the wall a khaki color. Helped along by a soundtrack from the Dixie Chicks, Alison Kraus and Faith Hill we painted over everything with white

prepping to paint the walls

I cleaned up the patio (front yard), side and back yards. For two reasons.

One: lindo patios (well-manicured yards) are important. It’s as if the inside of the house could be a wreck, but the yard should be well groomed. So I raked up leaves, moved stray bricks to the pile out back. And I’m working toward doing the same in the backyard. It didn’t hurt that the neighbors admired my work and came over to chat. “Oh, que guapa Emily!” – “How hardworking!”

Two: the house has a history of tarantulas. There I said it. It’s a truth I wish to deny. But keeping a lindo patio will discourage any sort of creepy crawly from seeking habitation near me.

Bathroom renovation will come later in the year. I have asked my host dad to install tile on the floor and about 7 feet up the walls. For easier cleaning. And because I shower daily. Sometimes twice daily when it’s hot hot. That could reach 3 rinse-offs everyday come December-February.

Lesson learned: This casa is like another job at the moment.

Emily paints mural on fabric with host mom and teacher
Year 2011 marks PY’s Bicentennial of independence from Spain. To mark the occasion, schools have each been having their own bicentennial celebrations. Students recount stories from history to celebrate PY heritage and culture. Host mom recruited me to paint a backdrop for her school’s production. This was a big project (3.5 meters x 2 meters big). The design is the PY flag around the outside, and centered within is the Casa de Independcia in Asunción (think of the place like Independence Hall in Philly). Fortunately, host mom and one of her teachers have been assisting me to meet the deadline.

back drop

When host mom asked me what I charged, I replied that I will work for food and clean laundry. And then she called me letrada (clever). But also said for the work I earned a place among saints. Ha.

Lesson learned: There are Peace Corps projects. And then there are personal projects that I’ll do just because.