Yet Another New Beginning!

Its official ... I am now a real deal Peace Corps Volunteer. I am no longer a trainee. I have stood up in front of the American Ambassador to Paraguay and Sworn/Affirmed to protect and defend the constitution of the United States of America and all that jazz. I took the same oath that the President of the United States takes.

The past few days we all have been staying in Asuncion (the capital) to celebrate being volunteers and spending our last few moments together before we go off to site on our own.

The Presidential Palace

But today is that day my friends. The day I go off to my site, by myself, where I will be living for the next 24 months! The first 3 or so months I won't really be doing any work. Just hanging out and getting to know my community. So let the adventure begin.

Last Few Weeks of Training in Pictures

Giving a condom "charla"

My "roommate" -- yuck.

Lujan's 4th Birthday

Chipa - National Food of Semana Santa (That is my Easter Bunny Chipa)

"Rojo" is like American Idol in PY -- we met some of them at the mall

Traditional PY dancing at Site Presentations

Baby cow I fed a bottle of milk to during my Future Site Visit

My training Community - Nueva Esperanza- Our Tech Trainer Hannah  in the center with glasses

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

This upcoming week is my last and final week of training! On Friday we swear in as real and official volunteers. Up to now we have just been trainees. After Swear-In we are all going to Asuncion for the weekend to celebrate then on that Tuesday its off to our sites!

Due to the trouble of internet in third world countries. I never told you much about my Site visit. It went great. I stayed with this lady Maragarita, she is the head of a Women´s Committee in my site. My room was actually had her mother-in-laws house next door (who is one of the nicest ladies in the world.) But, I spent most of my time with Margarita and her family. My new best friend is a 12 year old boy named Geraldo. He is awesome.

I also had a lot of cow experiences on my site visit. I milked a cow for the very first time, fed a baby cow milk from a bottle and witnessed a cow slaughter. They literally use every single part of a cow too, its pretty impressive. They take the intestines and fill them with meat and vegetables and then boil them. Sounds disguisting ... but it was actually one of the more delicioius cow dishes that I ate, a whole lot better than Cow Liver Soup and Stomach Lining.

There is a Colegio (high school), escuela (lower school) and a health post in my site as well that I got to visit with a little! I´m super excited to work with them.

Ill try and update more this week! (And a lot more pictures!)