Ñande Ha’e Tenonderã

Hey all! It's looking more and more like my blog has evolved from a weekly thing (my original intention) to a more monthly check-in. This is probably for the best, because it means most of the time I'm staying very busy, or at least preoccupied with my thoughts about the next meeting, project, or terere session with my neighbors (sometimes these are all the same thing). Regardless, this last month has been a busy one, and I'm excited to share it with everyone!

As you may have noticed, the title of the post is in Guarani. Basically translated, it means "we are the future," and was the name of our sector-wide leadership camp I talked about in my last post. That camp was by far the most incredibly experience I've had here so far. I find this rather ironic, considering I was originally nonplussed about the whole thing to begin with. Let me explain a bit how the camp functions:
The first step is identifying 2-3 youth in each volunteer's respective community to attend the initial camp.
Then you explain the camp to the youth, having them come up with some idea to pay for their bus fare to and from the camp (no small feat considering Paraguay is the size of California and we have volunteers that live very far away)
The youth attend the initial camp, where they are charged up and challenged to complete a project in their own communities (more on this later)
Each group of youth works together in their community to do projects and complete a minimum of 10 hours of service within this context
As a reward for their hard work in their communities, the youth are invited to attend a "reconnect" camp in 6 months where they get to see all the friends they made at the last camp, while at the same time sharing their experiences with projects

While in training, we had the opportunity to attend the camp "reconnect." However because of a number of factors, it didn't seem like a great project to most of us. We were in the middle of training, frustrated with language, and didn't know any of the youth because we had not attended the original camp. However I can safely say that these reasons blinded me to what this camp really is and really can be.

The week leading up to the camp was nothing less than chaotic for me. I had invited my youth rather late (I wanted to be sure that I was bringing kids that would really benefit from the experience, and like I said I was still unsure about the true benefits of the camp myself), I was working with the Cooperative on projects as well as teaching my English class, not to mention hosting visiting friends from Australia (an epic unto it's own; I'll share this side story at the end of this post). In addition I was trying to figure out how to give a brief talk about the importance of forming social networks and using tools such as text messages, facebook, and email to keep in touch and share ideas. Needless to say, the camp was upon me before I even knew what was happening.

The camp went on almost without a hitch. Every day the kids seemed to get closer and closer, sharing stories of frustration, building friendships, and learning how to be leaders. Many campers also approached the volunteers; they seemed genuinely interested in our role here in Paraguay, and how we had come to be interested in something as crazy as the Peace Corps. On the last night, we had the opportunity to tour the Itaipu dam, the largest operating hydroelectric facility in the world. While we were waiting outside the visitor's center, something incredible happened. The kids from the camp organized a dance routine together. Then they started chanting together. Then they started acting out ice-breakers that we had taught them, fun activities that emphasized teamwork and problem solving! They continued to chant, alternating between "Paraguay, Paraguay, Paraguay!" and "Cuerpo de Paz, Cuerpo de Paz!" (Peace Corps in Spanish). Everyone at the visitor's center looked at us like we were crazy; here were 50 odd Paraguayans, who rarely get this charged up for a game of soccer, chanting about the Peace Corps and how incredible it was to have participated in our camp! It was an inspirational experience. We gave these young leaders the tools they need, and in turn they took them, made them their own, amplified them, and emerged from our camp with the power to enact change. I know it might sound a little cliche, but if you had been standing outside the visitor's center that night, you would know that these kids will be the ones changing this country for the better in the next 10 years.

After an experience such as this, it was hard not to come back to site and see everything with the same charged optimism. This was both a benefit and a curse to working in my site. The entire month of January seemed to be everything I had wanted to get out of my Peace Corps service. It made dealing with those little bumps in the road that much easier. And more importantly, it renewed my hope in our mission here.

At the end of our camp, we formed a social network. We now have texting trees, an Excel spreadsheet listing everyone's talents and interests, as well as Facebook and Orkut (similar to Facebook) pages. Here in my site, my youth set out to work immediately. Together, we formed a youth group made up of local youth here in my site; so far we have about 14 kids. Since formation, we've had two (almost three; one got rained out) meetings with the kids where we've identified areas of opportunity for volunteerism and leadership in the community. I've largely tried to hang back, acting as a facilitator; encouraging the kids themselves to take ownership of projects. So far they have identified that they need to seek formal recognition from the mayor's office, as well as outlining three basic project ideas, all incredible! The first idea is for a city-wide competition, sponsored by city hall, in order to clean local neighborhoods. The would be competing against one another for the title of "Cleanest Neighborhood in Eusebio Ayala," as well as some potential prize, possibly a barbecue for anyone who helps. The second idea was for a lecture/activity series where we tour around to all the local high schools teaching civic education and leadership. I feel this is better than doing it myself, because not only is it an easy early success for the youth group to have, it also encourages continuous learning between Paraguayans. These ideas will sound much more convincing coming from peers. It's also probably the most likely to succeed here in my site..The third and final project idea we came up with is a mini-camp to teach civic education and leadership locally. It basically would mimic the larger country-wide camp, only on a more regional scale. I've already talked to several other volunteers who live nearby, and there's a general interest to do this project altogether. I'm really excited as to where this might go as well.

Other than that, school will be starting soon here, which means I will have A LOT more on my plate. I'm already committed to teaching some basic accounting in a local post-high school institute, leadership and civic education in the high schools, family finance via an hour long radio show, and a course on how to start your own small business (either with the Cooperative or with the institute). This may sound like a lot, but all of these would only be one day a week. I'm just really excited to get things rolling! A lot of the kids in my site already call me "profe" or "teacher." Hopefully I'll have a bit more to share about my projects the next post..


The Australian Epic:

One day, three Australian backpackers decided to visit their American friend who's serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay. Since they will already be traveling on the west side of the continent, and want to finish in Buenos Aires on the east side, it seems like an obvious pit stop to rest a bit on the way.

Having prepared all their things, they headed for the border between Bolivia and Paraguay. Thinking that surely Australia has excellent relations with almost every country in South America, and not having required a visa to enter any other country, they proceeded to the border, prepared to pass through without incident. However, they probably should have read their travel guidebook a little more closely.

At the border, the backpackers (now with 4 other Australians) are denied entry, informed that they do, in fact, require a visa. Only one of the three really speaks Spanish, so he acts as the interpreter. The other Australians, only understanding basic Spanish, become frustrated. One decides to take matters into his own hands, and yells at the border guard "NO NECESITO UN VISA" (I don't need a visa). One might imagine that the border guard is nonplussed with this behavior; in fact the Australians are consequently detained at the border for 8 hours, until which point the interpreter goes to apologize and all Australians are issued 48hour "travel-through" visas. They then make it as far as Filadelfia, located in the middle of nowhere in the Chaco desert.

At the bus terminal, I was very confused why the Australians didn't show up in Asuncion on time. With no way to contact them, I returned to my site to await some word. Finally, the Australians call and explain their plight, informing me that they will be arriving the next day. I then gave them very explicit directions, making them write down exactly how they should go about changing buses, and where to go once they arrive in my site, Eusebio Ayala.

The next day, knowing exactly how long it takes to get from Filadelfia to my site, I wait. And wait. And wait. Knowing that the last bus should pass around 10pm, I began to become concerned as 10 came and passed. Finally, a little past 11pm, I received a phone call from a number I didn't recognize.

"Hello, this is the police chief. I have your friends here with me."
"Oh god. What did they do?! Are they alright?"
"They're fine, they just are a little lost, and very confused. You live here, right? Can you come and collect them?"
"Of course. I'll be right there. Thank you so much officer."
Washed with relief, I set out immediately for the police station.

Bursting into the police station, I set about asking a very confused night officer about Australians. I knew something was wrong, as the officer looked at me more and more like I was insane. The officer had never in his life come across three backpacking Australians. Filling with fear yet again, I called back the unknown number.

An Australian answers, "We're waiting in the police station, where are you?"
"The police station in Eusebio Ayala?" I asked fearfully.
"I don't know. We just got on a bus, asking if it went to your site. The bus driver said 'Si' and we got on."
"Please, is there a Paraguayan standing nearby? Can I talk to him?" I asked pleadingly.

After talking to the police chief yet again, I found out that (surprise) the Australians had gotten on the wrong bus. They were currently waiting in the police station of a city about an hour and a half's drive away. They weren't even on the right highway. Thinking fast, I asked the officer if there was any way they could possibly get to my site. After negotiating a bit, he agreed to give them a ride to where they could catch a bus, given that they reimbursed him for the gas money. I said of course, and got the Australians on their way. They finally arrived in my site at 3am.

While they were here, we had an absolute blast. I took them on a tour of my city, they helped out in my English class, and we had an EPIC barbecue. It was great to catch up with them, and also to share my experience with some from an outside culture. I really enjoyed their visit, even if they had quite the time of it actually getting here.