Summer Camp

As you know Paraguay is in full summer mode, hot as ever! So what better time to put on a summer camp! It is pretty normal for a group of volunteers to get together and plan out a traveling summer camp. I am so happy that some of my friends got together and we were able to organize this and see it actually happen!

Last Monday 3 volunteers came to my house and we put on a 3 day environment themed camp in my community. The Saturday before the camp I went around with some kids in the community to put up signs and invite people but wasn't sure how many people would show up or if any would even show up... Paraguayans are notorious for saying yes to attending something then completely acting like they know nothing of the event with the day comes. .. kids are a different story. I got a couple of weird looks from kids but the general response was excitement! Its still hard putting on events because my community is so big and I still and will probably never know everyone.

So Monday came and we started with about 8 kids and within the first hour there were about 70. I had a feeling this would happen. Word of month spreads quickly and they just kept coming. My friends and I were a bit overwhelmed...as anyone would be with 70 kids and 4 "adults/ tall and very pale girls from a different country." I think over all it was a success. I got to meet a lot of new kids and they all seemed to enjoy it and kept asking when we were coming back. We had planned to have camp last for 3 hours each day but we quickly learned 2 hours was best and the kids could hardly hold their attention span past the 2 hour mark. We wanted to try and buy as little supplies as possible and focus on recycling and teaching the kids about the environment. So each day there was a little craft / a drawing activity. Here is a quick overview of how each day went.

Monday Day 1- First we started with an ice breaker and a little introduction. Then we made name tags our of recycled cardboard. Next we split up into 2 groups. One group went and played field games. We had different relays and activities with the frisbees, jump ropes and balls. The other group made paper beads out of recycled paper from magazines. In between each group we had a snack break with watermelon and free time. We also gave each kid a little paper booklet where they could color and draw freely. It was so nice watching these kids get so excited to color and draw. They don't often get that opportunity and the fact that the book was theirs to keep! We ran out of drinking water in the first 15 minutes, and I would have to say that is the only thing that really went wrong day 1.

Tuesday Day 2- We started with another ice breaker and played a few group games then split up into 2 groups. The first group had a trash gathering competition and then we taught them about the difference of organic and inorganic trash. After they had time to draw in their books pictures of organic and inorganic trash. The other group did a 3 legged race and the human knot. Oh and we had more watermelon! This day went a little smoother and most all of the kids came back!

Wednesday Day 3- This day we had the kids bring an old plastic soda bottle. We cut off the tops and made planters to plant seeds in them. Each kid got to finger paint their bottle, which they absolutely loved! I'm pretty sure this was a new concept to them because they were so confused when I said to use your fingers..but afterwards loved it! Then we played some ball games, ate watermelon then had a water balloon toss...which they also LOVED. It was a bit of a mess trying to organize them in two lines with a partner, they were all just so excited to get the balloon. This concluded the week and the kids got to take home their name tags and booklets.


It was a good experience, I few details to change for next year but this will defiantly be happening again. It was a bit of a struggle getting the kids to listen. They are not taught the best manners at home and that was reflected at the camp. Kids will be kids where ever you go and that is the same down here in Paraguay. I think they had a good time and were given a chance to do crafts and participate in something they normally don't have. After Wednesday we traveled to my friends house to repeat the camp again with her community. Once Saturday came around I was exhausted. Now we have 1 week off and will be traveling to 2 other communities to do it again next week!

The last day, after the water balloon fight! 

The Holidays and New Year!

Well its been about a month since my last post and I am sorry to have kept you waiting but I was just to busy living the American dream! I mean I went home for the holidays and there is no place like home for the holiday's, ate some delicious food, planned and threw a bridal shower and even played in the snow. It was a good holiday! Really it was so special. I little overwhelming at times but that was to be expected. It came and went so quickly but here is a little reflection on my time at home and how its been since I've been back in Paraguay - the land of the hottest weather ever!

The flight home was long and it didn't help that I was totally anxious. I left my house in Paraguay at 7am and arrived at my house in Maryland at about 1:30am, long day. My first meal was a quesadilla with sour cream in the airport..then I got a Starbucks chai late. I almost forgot how to order it and I was having trouble remembering to talk in english. Literally i was freaked out by all the hello's I was hearing, it had been 10 months ya'll!

I had a great Christmas with my family and felt so loved and taken care of. It was so nice to see everyone even if it was negative degrees outside at some points. I got to spend a lot of time with my sister and do some wedding things I've missed out on over the year. I was also able to help plan, throw and host a bridal shower for her. That was definitely the high light of the trip! My mom helped so much and seriously is super mom when it comes to planning a party or a wedding. People if you are in the market for party planner, Jeanne LaRoque can really do the trick, she's magic!

I also got to see a lot of old friends which was wonderful. I tried to see everyone and I am sorry if we didn't get the chance to meet up! I could have never imagined how busy I ended up being! I guess if you really want to see me you will have to come to Paraguay! A few of my college friends made the trip to spend some time with me and that was also so special. Its crazy how you go from living with a person for 3 years and seeing them every day to only seeing them once a year for a weekend.. shot out to you Lauren Hammond! We went to the zoo and it was fabulous!

I was sure I gained double my weight while I was home with all the delicious fast and easy food I was eating. I mean I forgot how beautiful the mall food court is. You literally have so many options right at your finger tips. I went in for chick-fil-a but wanted everything else, panda express? You have no idea how lucky you are! But when I came back to Paraguay I was told I was skinner and needed to eat more and that they must not feed you good in America... all lies.

So coming back to Paraguay is about the least glamorous thing ever. Not that I expected it to be, but you know world traveling sometimes is glamorous... this trip, no. Leaving Baltimore at 5pm in negative weather then flying overnight to Brazil arriving at 11am in 100 degrees with 90% humidity then to Paraguay where its even hotter...then into a taxi car with no ac straight to my house. I'd lie if I told you I didn't cry a little. I mean yes I love Paraguay and now I'm all better. But the culture shock I was feeling arriving back into country was deep and raw and I wanted to run away. So I did just that. Back to the city I went for the night with some friends to celebrate another volunteers birthday! And its just what I needed to get me back in the groove. After that night I went back to my house and put my self together and its back to reality, or at least my reality for now.

It's hot here, like hottest ever. But it slows you down and has allowed me to really sit down with people and talk about things, teach them things and talk about future projects. I was a little scared I would be miserable but things are working out. I'm back working at the health post, planning a summer camp and lesson plans for school to start again. And in a few weeks I will celebrate 1 year in country and that in itself is a reason to rejoice and be glad!

Paraguay is my home right now, wither somedays I call it that or not. I am content and incredible blessed to call it a home. I am also more blessed have been able to spend in my other home. Now to figure out how to maintain those two homes.... All I know is that I am still happy and enjoying the sunsets each day... even after tasting the flavors of my favorite foods of america and saying goodbye again. I am learning over and over again just how simple and satisfying it is to do without, a lesson I will continually be learning.

Happy New Year and sweet sweet summer time for me! Enjoy these pictures from my trip up until now!

The beautiful soon to be bride at her Bridal Shower! 

The cousins at Christmas! 

Lynchburg' s finest! 

The summer evenings sky in Paraguay 

My greeting crew at the airport! 

                           

The best siblings anyone could have!

Celebrating Jules' Birthday back in Paraguay!