Hello, friends!

This post is to begin for the anticipation of 27 months of life in Paraguay. I still have over two months before I leave California, and am already nervous yet ecstatic to embark on a completely new kind of adventure after college with the Peace Corps as an Environmental Educator.

Why the title of the blog, "Under the Lapacho Tree?" I like trees. A lot. I just googled facts of Paraguay, including the national tree, which happens to be the Lapacho tree. It blooms gorgeous pink/white/yellow flowers and is believed to have some strong medicinal/health properties.

Mba’eitekoiko!! (Informal hello in Guarani)

One of coolest things about Paraguay is that they have two official languages, Spanish and Guarani. Knowing Spanish won’t be enough! I’ll have to learn Guarani in order to be able to more easily assimilate and get along with locals, and am very excited to learn a language many people may live their whole lives and not even hear the name. Thus I have begun self-instruction in Guarani through Podcasts from PC volunteers. Though I’ve only done two lessons in over a week, I’ve learned some greetings and a simple conjugation for speaking in first person, and fortunately my niece has found them amusing so I could do them while I take care of her.

I’ve been reading about current volunteers in Paraguay to procure a sense of life as a PC volunteer through their blogged experiences, and generally have picked up that the summer (our winter months) can be arduously hot! (Unlike the unusually cold summer days we’ve been having in Monterey Bay). And thus drinking cold terere (a traditional mate tea) in the shade, and spending the day tranquilopa (tranquil), helps the scorching hot days go by and form stronger relationships with others (it’s always done socially).

Well, I have much to look forward to, and already feel that there is too little time to prepare. I’ve read a little on doing recycled art, helped with a couple of visiting kid camps at the slough, read and practiced some gardening, and would like to do some more do-it-yourself projects around the house so I don’t feel so useless. And I need more cooking experience! After Trinity, what little talent I had in the kitchen kind of left me, so I am to reclaim it this summer!

If you have any suggestions on what else I could/should do please let me know!

Jajotopata (goodbye-just for now)!