bon voyage party

Thank you to everyone who attended my goodbye party. I was truly overcome by the love and kind words expressed to me. I’m lucky to be surrounded by such generous and thoughtful people.

Katie Wheeler Miller got the award for traveling the farthest from Okinawa, Japan. BLux phoned in from Shanghai, China. LG e-mailed from Birmingham. Friends I’ve had all the way from preschool to college attended! There was a strong church contingent (and these folks are like saints to me, so I know their prayers go a long way) and Gamma Sigma (i.e., Girl Scouts) contingent. Grammy, aunts and uncles from Texas and Greensboro, and Alan’s future in-laws and nephews were able to make it, too. It was like a pre-wedding meet-and-greet.

I haven’t yet seen the pictures that Kim took, but here’s one of my favorites from Andrea. You can bet I’ll be printing this one and carrying it with me to Paraguay. It brings an immediate smile to my face.

Peace,

Emily

P.S. The other item I know I’ll be taking to Paraguay? The CD that Julia, Katie T, Katie Co, Mike and Taylor put together for me. It’s amusing and worth sharing. Here’s the track listing as Julia wrote it (songs are in quotes, and you can click them to listen to the songs on YouTube).

1. You’re “Simply the Best” and here’s why…

2. You’ll be a “Hero” to the people of Paraguay for…

3. Taking some serious technology to their “Politik“s.

4. And “If I Were a Boy” I would want to date you…

5. And my name would be Julian, but “That’s Not My Name.”

6. So this “Summer” be “the Champion“…

7. And not a “Cornflake Girl“…

8. Because we’re going to party like it’s “1901” (sad and without electricity)…

9. Without our little “Pistol of Fire” but…

10. When you come back, we’re going to “Effington“…

11. Where everyone “Better Be Good” to you.

12. In short, we’re sending “Cosmic Love” vibes to you across the seas…

13. So we’ll “Keep the Car Running” until you get back.

14. Not really, but we’ll remember “When You Were Young“…

15. And we’ll always remember when you were “Fancy.”

sites and sounds of paraguay

This video was created by some Peace Corps folks in Paraguay. I think it offers a great first impression of the people, the land and my work ahead. Enjoy! (My favorite is the 3:53 mark. What a spectacular way to announce your presence and see if anyone’s home. Doorbells? Eh, who needs ‘em!?)

What do you think?

a blog is born

First things first: Welcome! I’ve staked out this little corner of the web to share my adventures in Paraguay as a Peace Corps Trainee and future Volunteer. With some brainstorming help from a witty friend, I have selected a blog name: Oh by the ‘guay. Thanks, Danny!

I depart in 11 days for a 27-month commitment as a Community Economic Developer in a landlocked South American nation whose name translates place of many waters (in Guaraní, Paraguay’s indigenous language). The gravity of this has yet to sink in. Right now I am feeling excited—as in can’t-sleep-at-night excited. And nervous. And scared.

Only a couple of people have asked me outright if I’m scared. Neither time was I sure if the question was about personal safety, a fear of the unknown, or fear of being away from friends and family. I took it to mean a little of each. In response, I didn’t deny my fear, but I added that many worthwhile things I have done or accomplished were accompanied by fear. I think back to trying out for basketball and going to summer camp for the first time, leaving for college, speaking in front of a classroom of peers, interviewing to be a campus tour guide, studying abroad in Italy, riding a train through Slovakia, interning in Alabama, leaving my job. Joining the Peace Corps.

I cannot write how this adventure will end, or how it will get me started on the next great adventure. But I know that if I follow my heart doing something that I believe in, and especially if I’m nervous and a tad bit scared, I’m on the right track.

Well, I unintentionally set a serious tone in post número uno! In my next post I will get more logistical and share info about my assignment as Community Economic Developer.

Also, in the sidebar to the right you’ll see a button that says “get email updates from emily!” Click there, and you can sign up to receive an email notification each time I publish a new post.

And last, I would like to encourage you to write comments below, or to use the comments sections as an area for asking questions related to the blog post. I would love to hear from you.

Peace,

Emily