Monday, October 15, 2012

LSP '12


(Learn Serve Paraguay 2012)

Round Two. It’s possible I failed to make note of this experience (in a non-verbal sense) when I first encountered it last year. Forgive me. But in my defense, I was an adrenaline-infused, nervous wreck prematurely overcoming my bewilderment then. I had to regroup; once I finally did, the week had blurred by quicker than it arrived and thus (I regret to say) clouded my detail retention. However, this year I assured myself that history would not repeat itself, and my awe of the efficiency this time around has made it much easier for me to make good on that promise. Per usual to my perfectionistic habits, I began planning and recruited a small unit to help me back in early April.  The team consisted of David (very guapo colegio student/dear friend), Adaliz (ex-compañera of Paola/also guapa), and myself. The three of us usually met in my home each Sunday to discuss specifics, then we hit the barrios (neighborhoods) of Isla seeking out the folks we thought would be kind enough to host an American (or two).  We also outlined the activities coinciding with the three cooperating schools’ schedules and planned the meals around herbivores and allergens (neither of which were a cake walk, but we managed despite the challenges). Next, I got busy organizing the likely supplies as far as what could be found locally and what needed to resourced via stateside. Being there is only one of me and there was to be three groups at three different locations, I then turned to my fellow PCVs for any aid whatsoever they could offer. Rose, Zach, and Jaime (all representing G-35) plus Mel (G-34) all came to the rescue for which I was grateful (and still am) because I couldn’t have done it without them. In particular, Zach and Jaime tag-teamed the Escuela Grande with exercise charlas (lessons) and a playground paint touch-up. Rose and Mel took on the Escuelita with nutrition charlas and fruit tree planting, and I worked with Colegio students on recycling. We did a little community clean up as well and following suit from last year escorted the children from the comedores (soup kitchens) to the nearby health center for check-ups. During our down time we: took a mini tour of Isla, attended the local San Juan festival*, pulled up some mandioca (known as yucca in the U.S.) for lunch one day, attended both a harp practice and concert (the latter in our honor), gave David a surprise birthday cake this year, and for a little extra mescla (mixture) of cultures we hosted a goodbye party supplied with smores and chipa asador (the local corn bagel cooked campfire style). All in all it was a very organized chaos kind of week, but I found I was much more tranquila (calm) this year so my excessive planning wasn’t completely in vain. It’s a great feeling knowing putting forth a little extra elbow grease eventually will pay off in the end. Another year, another success under my belt,
I’ll take it :)


*The San Juan festival is held to honor the patron Saint Juan known for his love of fire. Ironically it usually takes during the winter months (yet any drastic changes that bring about random humidity are typically chalked up to San Juan’s influence).  
Traditional foods like chipa in its many forms (stuffed with meat or cheese; grilled or baked), mbeju (chipa pancake style), assorted empanadas, and “Clerico” (fruit salad for adults) are sold and consumed. Some sort of entertainment is often provided as well: a comedy and/or musical act for the adults while the kids take turns kicking around kicking around a ball of fire, literally. Last year I witnessed in awe at the frequent panic as it was kicked consistently beneath poorly parked cars. Although to my further astonishment none of the vehicles were ever relocated nor was the fireball ever extinguished. It is also not uncommon for multiple community establishments to each host their own. Basically if you’re a county fair kind of guy or gal, (unlike myself) then a San Juan festival is just the thing to make your South American dream come true, ha. 


Making recycling receptacles :)

Team Colegio!
peeling mandioca to make chyryry!

our hands-on decomposition demo

the whole crew + the birthday boy David

Pasaporte Por Favor (Passport Please)

This post is to help me sequence and remember the places I'm fortunate enough to travel to outside of Paraguay :)

1. Iguazu Falls (Misiones, Argentina)


Last year I was offered the generous opportunity to tag along with Learn Serve* however, due to Peace Corps policy that prohibits traveling within the first and last 3 months of service, I was not able to. Given permission this visit and with the offer still good, I didn’t hesitate to take it up. In spite of my unsteady nausea (the chipa asador from the night before upset a few of our stomachs; mine included :/), I packed a bag a boarded the “sick van” as it was deemed with a third of the Learn Serve group. I nursed my Sprite and drifted in and out of sleep for the majority of the five-hour ride, and wasn’t feeling much better when we stopped midway for lunch. However, I started to feel the slight ping of hunger (a good sign) when we finally reached Ciudad del Este (City of the East). Determined to not miss out on the big trip the following day, I ate some crackers and later half a sandwich and was able to hold both down. The next morning I felt significantly better and only got nauseous once more while we were taking the ferry ride over to Argentina. Luckily, one of the group leaders had a mint and surprisingly it helped. The rest of the day, I was able to enjoy the scenery. The park is divided into three parts providing a view of the waterfalls from different levels: above, below, and behind. Unfortunately we were unable to see each side, but the section known, as “The Devil’s Throat” was my personal favorite and by far the most breathtaking. In order to reach it, you must take a train ride constructed alongside a butterfly sanctuary that drops you off near a winding bridge that you must walk onto until it stops. Once it does, you are overlooking the top of the Iguazu Falls in all of its ferocious wonderment and beauty. The end of the bridge was packed with people and I didn’t expect to not hear myself think amid the noise, but I was still able to take it all in. How land can be perfectly constructed then taper off so severely (this baffled me and still does). Random butterflies fluttering amongst the wind and spritzing water. How we all looked like ants standing beside skyscrapers. Rainbows danced to absorb sunlight in between the shadows cast. It felt unreal in more ways than one; a scene from a movie or a little slice of heaven depending on your views (literal and spiritual). Either way you feel a presence and that is why I believe so many tourists flock to see it. This is a case where pictures simply do not do something justice. It is much more than mighty streams of water indeed, and I am grateful I had the opportunity to witness it for myself. Words hardly describe it (even my own), so I recommend to any and all to go and see it as well. Oh! I almost failed to mention the additional perks of possibly having your food stolen by a Coati (local animal; imagine an opossum mated with a raccoon), or for the true adrenaline junkie riding the waves of the Falls in a raft for a few extra pesos (Argentinian money) is another option. Neither of these appealed to me, but my point is there is much to be seen and something for everyone. It is most definitely a trip you’ll eagerly share the details of and likely carry with you forever. I know I will! J

*(Refer to post “LSP 12’ “ for further explanation/more details)








Signs for those pesky Coatis!