These past few months have been the most incredible and worst times in Paraguay. I have been traveling more and more, visiting my friends, going out at night, and enjoying the days. It has all been wonderful. The first couple months here in Paraguay were really hard for me and I started to not like the country because of other reasons, in which the country itself has nothing to do with. I was using it as an excuse, but once I faced my problems I found my way to be happy in one of my favorite countries of all time. I am in love with Paraguay; the culture, food, people, weather, and nature. I love this country and it is going to be so hard to go home in July. However, there are always downsides to exchanges and the obstacles are hard to overcome, but once you do, you only see the good in the country and forget about the bad. I've had some problems with my family and it's just hard because nothing can replace the family you're born into and it makes you realize how much you love them once you're away from them.
If you or anyone you know is planning on going abroad, I strongly recommend a length of at least 9 months, a year even better. 6 months is not enough time to learn the language completely and be fully immersed in the culture. At my 5 month point, I was thinking about going home and I really was unhappy. However, now I am so glad I stayed after the 5th month. These last few months have been the best time of my life and I can't wait to see what the last 4 have in store for me. You have to be committed to what you want and what you choose to do, but from being on both sides of the subject, I recommend a full year.
My friend, Emily came to visit me last week and it was quite fun being her tour guide for the week. We did all the fun stuff in my city and she also got to experience my life for a little bit. It's so strange how different people's experiences can be, yet you're in the same country. She had a good time and then I went back with her to Asuncion for a couple of days and we traveled to her families summer home on a ranch. It was absolutely gorgeous with nature everywhere, a pool, great food, great people, and animals too. I am planning on seeing more of Paraguay with her and another friend these last few months.
Other than that, not much has happened. I started work again, in the mornings and afternoons, which is fun and keeps my pretty busy. The kids are back from vacations so now it's their school time which I'm exceed for. Not much else has happened over here, but I will try to remember to post when something does.
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Work, Carnaval, Vacations
Hello all, I'm sorry I haven't been writing much, I've been very busy with summer and starting my new work! I finally found a place I can work at and help kids and adults who have special needs. I am so happy and love it!
The place I work at is called Cenade and is around 5 minutes in the car from my house. It is a huge and nice facility (for Paraguay), and provides a lot of different services. They have orthodontists, dentist, psychologists, physical therapy, doctors, medicine available, and many other things. In the summer time, December-February, they have daily appointments and physical therapy available for all ages. However, during the school year, there are kids who attend school there and some who even live. There is a gym, swimming pool, kitchen, art rooms, classrooms, and all the necessities for a child with special needs to live and go to school. It is targeted for people with very little money, so most of the services are very cheap which is nice. At the moment, I just work in the afternoons from 1-5 and sometimes in the mornings too from 7-11. It is quite mellow right now, since all the kids are on holidays, but I can't wait for March so I can start working with them everyday when they are in school. It's very interesting to see how different the facility is than in America because their are many differences.
Last week at work, I saw cardboard boxes piled up in the corner with the brand name "TOMS" on them. I thought that's weird considering how expensive one pair of those shoes are in America. TOMS is famous for their "one-to-one" slogan, meaning that if you purchase a pair in America, a free pair will be handed out to someone in a poor country who can't afford shoes. I always saw that in America but never really thought twice about it or believed the company, because I hadn't seen it myself, until that day. I asked the secretary if I could look at the shoes and yes, they were real TOMS, but much better quality and with more supportive soles. That day, every patient who came in with no shoes on, we handed them a pair, and they were the happiest people! It made me so happy to see that it was actually a true, real, brand and that they are helping people in need across the world. I almost cried out of happiness. So for all of you who want to buy TOMS, go ahead and please do!
Carnaval is still going on, there is one more weekend left of it. It is such a fun time of the year and everyone loves it! If you ever come to Parguay, you must come during Carnaval season to experience it. There is nothing else like it that I have ever seen and it is truly amazing! For pictures, just look it up on google- "Carnaval, Encarnacion, Paraguay". It is truly incredible.
I have been taking many little vacations here and there, since I am technically on vacation here, and they have been wonderful. I went last week with my friend from America, to her house in Asuncion and from there travelled to her vacation home in a place called San Ber. It was the hot vacation spot for Paraguayan's to go to in the summer, before Encarnacion got re-modeled and is now currently the new place. However, San Ber is beautiful with little markets, a beach, jet skiing, boating, swimming, and shopping. I loved it and my friend, her sister, her sister's friends, and I all had an amazing weekend!
I am planning more trips to go on throughout these last 5 months I have, and am so happy with my choice of taking a gap year and coming to Paraguay. I do miss home and my family, but I will be united with them sooner than I know!
The place I work at is called Cenade and is around 5 minutes in the car from my house. It is a huge and nice facility (for Paraguay), and provides a lot of different services. They have orthodontists, dentist, psychologists, physical therapy, doctors, medicine available, and many other things. In the summer time, December-February, they have daily appointments and physical therapy available for all ages. However, during the school year, there are kids who attend school there and some who even live. There is a gym, swimming pool, kitchen, art rooms, classrooms, and all the necessities for a child with special needs to live and go to school. It is targeted for people with very little money, so most of the services are very cheap which is nice. At the moment, I just work in the afternoons from 1-5 and sometimes in the mornings too from 7-11. It is quite mellow right now, since all the kids are on holidays, but I can't wait for March so I can start working with them everyday when they are in school. It's very interesting to see how different the facility is than in America because their are many differences.
Last week at work, I saw cardboard boxes piled up in the corner with the brand name "TOMS" on them. I thought that's weird considering how expensive one pair of those shoes are in America. TOMS is famous for their "one-to-one" slogan, meaning that if you purchase a pair in America, a free pair will be handed out to someone in a poor country who can't afford shoes. I always saw that in America but never really thought twice about it or believed the company, because I hadn't seen it myself, until that day. I asked the secretary if I could look at the shoes and yes, they were real TOMS, but much better quality and with more supportive soles. That day, every patient who came in with no shoes on, we handed them a pair, and they were the happiest people! It made me so happy to see that it was actually a true, real, brand and that they are helping people in need across the world. I almost cried out of happiness. So for all of you who want to buy TOMS, go ahead and please do!
Carnaval is still going on, there is one more weekend left of it. It is such a fun time of the year and everyone loves it! If you ever come to Parguay, you must come during Carnaval season to experience it. There is nothing else like it that I have ever seen and it is truly amazing! For pictures, just look it up on google- "Carnaval, Encarnacion, Paraguay". It is truly incredible.
I have been taking many little vacations here and there, since I am technically on vacation here, and they have been wonderful. I went last week with my friend from America, to her house in Asuncion and from there travelled to her vacation home in a place called San Ber. It was the hot vacation spot for Paraguayan's to go to in the summer, before Encarnacion got re-modeled and is now currently the new place. However, San Ber is beautiful with little markets, a beach, jet skiing, boating, swimming, and shopping. I loved it and my friend, her sister, her sister's friends, and I all had an amazing weekend!
I am planning more trips to go on throughout these last 5 months I have, and am so happy with my choice of taking a gap year and coming to Paraguay. I do miss home and my family, but I will be united with them sooner than I know!
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