Recent accomplishments and fun times

We finished our "Ahecha Paraguay" program with an exhibit opening at the school and certificates for each student. (Certificates are VERY big in Paraguay.) I'm now looking to move the exhibit to the bank in town and then maybe to the hospital. I will also trade photos with a Volunteer from another part of the country to show my students another example of the "Ahecha" program.

I taught 7 Family Finance classes in total, covering topics of what we value, why do we save money, how to make a budget, how to use credit, the difference between loaned money and your own money, and how to open a bank account. Over 20 women came to at least 2 classes, and a solid group of 6 ladies came to almost every one. We celebrated the last class with a decorated cake that I bought in town and certificates for each participant.

Finally, in the middle of my second winter here in Paraguay, I've bought myself a small charcoal stove. It doesn't get super cold in Paraguay, but living in continuous 45 or 50 degree weather will still chill you to the bone. So now on cool nights I light some charcoal when it gets dark (around 5pm) and keep warm until I go to bed (around 9pm). Sometimes I cook my dinner over it in the cast iron pot my mom sent me.

This year's San Juan festival at the school finally happened in July, after a weather postponement. I braided hair for 4 girls, every grade did a great job with their traditional Paraguayan dance, and it was a fun time for all.

Here me and my neighbor Silvia pose after her dance performance.

After all of the students dance, there is a DJ and dance party for everyone to get in on the fun. In a surprise turn of events, my dance partner for most of the night was Isabel, my six year old neighbor. Man, she knows how to groove!! We had a blast and I must say that she is my new favorite dance partner, by a mile.

Last week two Volunteer friends came to help me with a Winter Kids Camp for three days. It was an "arts" camp, complete with songs, dancing, recycled arts & crafts, and a different Odyssey of the Mind challenge each day. The kids loved it and on our last day, almost 30 came! I was especially proud of their creativity with the Odyssey of the Mind games, because creative expression is generally discouraged here, so it can be hard for people to think outside of the box.

On the last day of camp, my friend Jose (in the white shirt) came to visit and brought some of his friends, Korean Volunteers from other parts of the country. They made lunch, I made banana bread, and we had a nice afternoon.

My friend Carmen (in yellow) celebrated her 35th birthday last weekend. I helped her make a HUGE birthday cake (4 lbs of flour!) and it was a small tranquilo dinner celebration with close family and friends, chicken, cake, and dancing until the power went out and cut the party a little short, haha. It's hard to dance in the dark and without pounding music!