6 weeks down in Paraguay.

Things are getting real down here. Really hot. Really dirty. Really weird.

My brain feels a little bit like it got stuck inside of a dryer and then stuck back inside my head. Of course, I know that didn´t happen - mostly because I haven´t seen a dryer since I got to this country. I have three more weeks of training before the real thing begins and until that point I will continue to spend every day trying to sip from the fire hydrant of information that hits us in the face hour by hour. As it turns out, the government has a lot of rules it wants you to follow. Damn.

Anyway, in reality I´ve been receiving training on very relevant topics and getting first-hand experience in education, construction and water source preservation. It´s nice to get my hands on things and feel productive in the American sense. Productive in the Paraguayan sense is an entirely different monster and it includes drinking a least a litre of tea before proceeding to anything "business-like."

Here are totally cute snippets that describe my experience thus far:

-There´s a toad in my bathroom almost every night. They are the size of my face. I sweep them away with a broom made of trees branches.
-I ate (tried to eat) cow intestine. Never again.
-I taught a nutricion class to preschoolers in their native tongue (not Spanish, not English).
-My bedroom window opens onto the cowpen.
-Histamine can lead to insanity.
-Two food groups at my house: Sugar and meat.

I will try to post again soon but after these training sessions sitting at a computer is my least favorite activity.

Thank you everyone for the cards and letters. I love you all and the United States of America!!!