I did that nifty camera trick where you take a few pictures in a row, and then sewed them together in photoshop. Red dirt and green hills. Paraguay.
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It’s been about two weeks now that I’ve had the phrase “Write blog post” on my to-do list. And today, I shall cross that off! I have been in my site now for 13 months. Which means I’m getting into year two. A trend for the services of many Peace Corps Volunteers is slow first [...]
A couple of weekends ago on that 7-Stop Trip of Paraguay I visited Areguá, home of the annual strawberry festival. Producers sell fresh strawberries (of varying degrees of sweetness) and hawk their goods out along the ruta. There are strawberry cakes, parfaits with whipped cream, juice, liquor, jams, popsicles, etc. Everything frutilla. I taste tested some [...]
I am cheating a little bit today and referring you guys to two posts from my friend Maureen’s blog. But they are highly recommended reads. I’m not kaigue (lazy). Maureen’s one of my best friends here in Paraguay. You’ve already heard a lot about her here, especially when it comes to cooking, traveling about, drinking [...]
Here’s a quick video from last weekend’s recorrido - or trip – through Paraguay. I visited Paraguarí, Yaguarón, Mbatovi, Caacupé, Tobatí, San Bernardino (Lake Ypacaraí) and Aregua with Santiago, Sebastian and Ellen. The film is by Santiago Iñaki. Enjoy and take note! Paraguay is beautiful.
I went with my host family this past week to a neighboring town called Santa Elena. My host sister’s dance group had been invited to perform at the night-time festival for their patron saint. I went along in support. The MC called it the Festival Agosto Tajy – The August Cherry Blossom Festival, essentially. The [...]
August 9 I celebrated my birthday in Paraguay (for the second time). That means, I’ve been in Paraguay for more than a year. Wow. Take a second to let that sink in. As I’ve heard other Volunteers say, the days go by so slowly, but the weeks and months fly. It was a truly unforgettable [...]
Note: I told this story to my mom over the phone, and she thought it was very funny. So I’m sharing it. I’ll be sure to embellish, and really draw out its moral. Once upon a time there was a Peace Corps Volunteer named Emily. She lived far, far away in a small pueblo in [...]
Life is good these days in Paraguay. There are plenty of activities keeping me busy and away from blogging. But the funnel is full with things to report on, so I’m going to let the writing flow. Buckle up! Día de la amistad : Friendship Day This would be my most recent success. This is [...]
You can see some new photos I have uploaded on Flickr. I reached my maximum upload limit for the month. Until next time, check them out here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/50451375@N08/ Peace, Emily
This blog comes a little late as my time spent in The States was jam-packed, even with scheduled napping and relaxation. And surely enough as I returned to Paraguay, I hit the ground running. But I most certainly want to share my experiences from home as there were many highlights in the 20 days I [...]
This past month has been flying by it seems. The hours at times, not so much, but the days and weeks, yes! And it’s very much due to being busy, finally. Bread Baking with Maureen and Socias Yesterday my PCV friend Maureen came to visit. She is an expert breadmaker having completed a course with [...]
“My service deeply impacted my life by leading me to meet people who told me ‘get into the shade’ and once I was there, invited me to slow down, drink tereré and listen to a story.” - Dan Westerhof, Returned PCV Paraguay (from Peace Corps Times newspaper) What is tereré (teh-reh-ray)? Some possible answers might be: [...]
My buddy Zach came to visit this week. He’s a volunteer in the southern part of the country, but he’s making his way through Paraguay right now visiting volunteers. As we were passing the afternoon drinking terere, eating lunch, touring Valenzuela (and climbing up the church bell tower! shhhhh…secret) and just generally catching up, Zach [...]
I’ve got a lot of avocados! Could there be better news!? It was brought to my attention recently that I have an avocado tree in my backyard. Meanwhile the peak época of the avocado is upon us here in the southern hemisphere. So you know I’ll be eating avocados every-which-way from now through July. Of [...]
As promised, here’s part 2 of 2 in a update that is mostly photos. Enjoy! No, you haven’t stumbled onto Etsy by mistake. Aren’t these hairbands precious? I visited a women’s group in a barrio (neighborhood) of Asuncion that is producing all kinds of handmade goods like bags, jewelry and these hairbows. They sell for [...]
I´m gonna take a break from being long-winded, and just do a super quick update with photos and captions. From my house, to my work, host family and volunteer fun, think of it like a mini-trip to Paraguay. Enjoy! These red grapes (still unripe) grow in my side yard. Add these to pineapple, mango, banana [...]
Dear friends and family, Thank you for the wonderful package of letters. I felt overwhelmed (in a good way!) to hear from so many of you all at once. The personal notes, words of encouragement and holiday well wishes are so appreciated. I will save them and refer back to them often. Sidenote: I know [...]
It′s been about a month since my last update. So I′ll get crackin′ on what′s up in these parts. I love you and miss you all. Don´t forget that I like mail. Look over there to the right sidebar…that´s my address. (hint, hint, nudge, nudge) Happy New Year Host mom Ada will be in the [...]
Loved ones – Merry Christmas from Paraguay! I hope the holiday was a good one for each of you. I had a superb Christmas here in Paraguay, and felt truly blessed to be a part of a family since I couldn’t be with my own back home. Emotions were mixed, and traditions certainly missed, but [...]
This event took place some 20 days ago. Yes, this is a reflection of my slowed-down blogging pace. But this post would have a very different slant had I written it in the hours or few days that directly followed the marathon. I needed some time for the pilgrimage to ruminate in my mind, and [...]
Hello friends and family! Excuse my absence. Life took over. Since my last update… I completed my painting class. My review of this is mixed. And mostly it’s a personal critique of how I had planned the classes. I realized early on that the students (young and old) just wanted to paint and have a [...]
Disclaimer: I write this report as an observer, acknowledging that Peace Corps forbids me to have involvement in Paraguayan politics. But… Change has come to a small pueblo in Paraguay! This past Sunday was Election Day nationwide for intendente (mayor) and consejol /junta municipal (town council). In my site there were three candidates for intendente: [...]
I went about a month ago for the first time to Caacupé with my host mom. For two reasons: to buy groceries (there are more options, better produce in the supermarket there), and to see Paraguay’s most renowned and beautiful church. Some background on Caacupé. It is the halfway mark between my site and Asunción. [...]
It’s about time for an update, no? Let’s do this in headlines and lessons learned. In a phone conversation last night with my mom (I talk to my folks Sunday nights), I was talking like I usually do. This is what I did this week. This is what is happening next week. And then I [...]
Villeta host mom’s friend came across this page in the social section (La Vidriera – Looking Glass) of the Asunción magazine TVO. She tore it out of the magazine at the hair salon. It says… The Kilks en Kilkenny: Luego de una semana sin musica en vivo, The Kilks, la banda del pub [...]
Cuerpo de Paz is a rollercoaster. I’ve had some less-than-perfect days (almost crying in language in class, missing my friends’ weddings and July 4, getting sad news from home), but every once in a while I have one of those unbelievable the-world’s-conspiring-in-my-favor days. Luckily, today was the latter. I have to give a shout-out to [...]
What is new on the work front, you ask? Good things. Very good things. PC has three worldwide missions that guide my role here. You’ll notice 2/3 of my job is cultural exchange (and that’s why it’s the best job in the world): Help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained [...]
Because his posse was locked out of the gate, and he had to ask the neighbor for the spare key. This is a regular sight at my neighbor’s house. On a side note: I’m going to have my very own egg-laying hens (gallinas or ponedoras) when I live alone! There’s space in my backyard. Eggs [...]
I was in the AMUR house this morning, like usual, tending to the little store. It was doing some work on my computer to prepare for my site presentation in the afternoon (my PC boss would be visiting to introduce me officially to the community, plus I would give a little speech). And then I [...]
Don Amado’s Asado My host dad turned 66 this past Monday, so we celebrated on Sunday with a big family gathering and asado, or what we in the South would call a cookout. Sunday lunch is a special meal among Paraguayan families, and most Sundays we do something extra nice. For Don Amado’s birthday the [...]
First night (and morning) in Asuncion About a month and a half ago, there was a national exposition of industry and crafts in Paraguay. It was held outside the capital at a place reminiscent of the N.C. Fairgrounds. Well, a few of us from the Villeta crew had the ganas or willpower to venture there [...]
What a day today was! I got up around 815 to have breakfast: cocido con leche y mani (yerba tea with milk and peanut bits) and some bread with dulce de guayaba (a sweet and tangy fruit jam). And then I dressed in my gym shorts and my Carolina (Go Tar Heels!) t-shirt and vowed [...]
My contact info remains the same if you´re interested in mailing something to me! Look over there to the right in the sidebar–the Asuncion address is it. You´ll send it to Emily Balog, PCV. Don´t send anything expensive or breakable because it will either not arrive, or arrive broken! Regular cards I believe are $0.96. [...]
I made it! I’ve been promoted to volunteer status. Friday morning (Aug 20) PC rented a bus to pick us up in our satellite communities. I said goodbye to my host family. But I anticipate seeing them again in November for a few days. After 3 months in site, we’ll have a training re-connect. The [...]
Hello Friends and Family! Tomorrow I swear in as a Peace Corps Volunteer! Whew, these 11 weeks of training have flown by. Really flown by. It feels like just yesterday I arrived in Villeta and told my family buenas noches and went to bed at 6:30pm because I was so exhausted and confused about what [...]
Hi! Hi! Hi! It has been a few weeks since my last update! During week 8 of training we finally received our site assignments. I am proud to announce I’ll be heading about 2 hours by bus east of Asunción down Ruta 2 in the department of Cordillera to Valenzuela, The City of the Pineapple. [...]
Week 7 of training is complete. I’m writing this wrap-up to tell you folks at home what is up, but also as a refresher for me! It was a long week spent in Altos, just east of Asuncion, visiting a volunteer, Julie, in her site. I went with a technical trainer, a language professor and [...]
IS LONG FIELD PRACTICE! This is supposed to be one of the most exciting weeks in PC training. I will be going to Altos, about an 1.5 hr drive from the Villeta area (it is located directly east of Asuncion). I´ll also be taking side trips to Pirayu and Atyra. Everytime I tell a Paraguayan [...]
This is Ruffo, the best dog in Villeta, who belongs to one of our host families. According to his owner, Ruffo thinks he is human. He sits in chairs at the dinner table, for example. He´s a loveable pup and likes to play volleyball with us when we visit his house. We were invited to [...]
Hello to all! It’s time for another update! But first, Felicidades to Brian and Carolyn on the occasion of their wedding out in Washington state. I was there in spirit and I thought about you and all of our friends having an incredible time together in Seattle. Second Felicidades goes out to Dad who celebrates [...]
Congrats to Megan J! And Happy upcoming Fourth of July! I am very sad to be missing the festivities at Topsail. Cozort–pour a little out for me at the Homeport. And I expect everyone will make it an exciting last weekend for Blux as a bachelor. A few things about the past few days… Festejo [...]
A little late, but as promised, this is my account of last weekend when I went to Ayolas to visit a volunteer in-site. I got up early on Friday, and met two fellow travelers at the bus stop at 645am. Regular buses begin running at 3am so that people can get into Asuncion and open [...]
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