#TOTALSOCIAL - My 9-5

This month's theme for #TOTALSOCIAL is my 9-5. Right now I'm on a little real life hiatus or you can say I'm funemployed. I recently finished my Peace Corps service (in April) and have stuck around here in Paraguay, mostly to spend time with my boyfriend and well I wasn't quite ready to leave. I'll be headed home (for now) in August. 

So I thought I'd talk about my last 9-5 ... the Peace Corps. But, if I'm going to be honest the Peace Corps is not your normal 9-5 job. Its more like 24/7.  The tagline for the Peace Corps is that "Its the Toughest Job You'll Ever Love," and it couldn't be more true. When you are are a volunteer even when you aren't working you are still "working." 

*at my Peace Corps swear-in ceremony with my host mom

I was a Community Health Volunteer, which meant I spend most of my time teaching health lessons in the schools on things like nutrition, dental health, parasite prevention and in the high school, sexual education. I also taught healthy cooking lessons for families in my community and led a weekly exercise class which consisted of walking groups and volleyball games. I also taught English classes and Computer classes. One of my biggest projects was helping plan a national boys sports and leadership camp that taught young boys, ages 13-18, everyday values, morals, self-esteem and gender equality through sports. 

*first annual Camp Deporte y Vida!

However, some of my most meaningful time spent as a volunteer was when I wasn't officially working on any of those projects. Instead it was the time when I was drinking tereré (the national beverage of Paraguay) with my neighbors and telling them about my life in America. Or it was the times I was painting my nails with  my host sisters and talking about the importance of school, planning for the future and self-esteem. Or finally, those hundreds of times when my 3 and 5 year old neighbor would come over and we would read books and draw pictures and I would show them that it is ok to be creative and think outside the box. Sometimes it's hard, because when you are in your community you are always "on." You always need to be sure you are being a good representation of Peace Corps and the United States. So even when you aren't working you are "working."

 *after reading a book about cats we made cat masks

So, yes Peace Corps is not your typical 9-5 and it can be incredibly difficult and isolating. It lives up to its reputation being the toughest job you'll ever love because I won't lie, it is hard, but, I wouldn't trade my time as a Peace Corps volunteer for any regular 9-5 or for anything.