So I decided to write this blog entry because I was thinking about not having any mint oreos in Paraguay… which obviously made me very sad.
It is just 4 more weeks before I will be in Paraguay living an entirely new life!
People keep asking me about a few things, so I have compiled below a list of FAQ's about Peace Corps Paraguay. Anything in quotes came directly from my volunteer handbook.
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Why do you want to join the Peace Corps?
My primary reason for joining the Peace Corps is purely selfless. I am joining Peace Corps because I believe in a global concept of community. I believe in helping your neighbors, even if they are on the other side of the world. I believe in diffusing stereotypes and hatred for other cultures by interaction and relationship building. On a personal level, however, I expect to leave the Peace Corps with a clearer direction of how I wish to serve humanity. I am very passionate about human rights and especially, the right to health. At the end of my service I hope to better identify how I can best utilize my skills to benefit my global neighbors. I expect that I will learn a great deal about my strengths and weaknesses through this experience and this will help me to better narrow down the path I wish to take upon my departure from Paraguay.
How long are you going to be over there?
My primary reason for joining the Peace Corps is purely selfless. I am joining Peace Corps because I believe in a global concept of community. I believe in helping your neighbors, even if they are on the other side of the world. I believe in diffusing stereotypes and hatred for other cultures by interaction and relationship building. On a personal level, however, I expect to leave the Peace Corps with a clearer direction of how I wish to serve humanity. I am very passionate about human rights and especially, the right to health. At the end of my service I hope to better identify how I can best utilize my skills to benefit my global neighbors. I expect that I will learn a great deal about my strengths and weaknesses through this experience and this will help me to better narrow down the path I wish to take upon my departure from Paraguay.
How long are you going to be over there?
I will be in Paraguay for 27 months. The first three I will spend in intensive language and culture training.
Where will you live?
For the first three months I will be living with a host family. When I get on site I will have the option of living alone or with a different family in the village.
“About 80 percent of Volunteers live in small towns or villages, with fewer than 5,000 people, and some of these campo (countryside) sites have fewer than 200 inhabitants. Most (but not all) have electricity, as the country has increased the availability of electricity from 24 percent of Paraguay’s 3 million people in 1978 to more than 60 percent of the current population of about 6.2 million. Generally, streets in the campo towns are unpaved, and there is no running water or indoor toilets. Few people in these towns have traveled outside Paraguay, and many have never even been to Asunción. The only people with cars are likely to be the doctor, the priest, and a few business people, government officials, and ranchers. Horses, motorcycles, bicycles, and oxcarts make up the majority of local traffic, with children playing freely alongside roaming cows, pigs, and chickens.”
Is it safe?
The Peace Corps would not place me in an area where I was not safe. As with anything else in life, there are assumed risks. However, I will be learning about the culture, unwanted attention, and be familiar with the language before they let me loose! J
Do you get paid?
No. Well…kinda. I am a volunteer but the Peace Corps will give me enough money to live.
“As a Volunteer, you will receive a living allowance that enables you to maintain a modest but safe and adequate lifestyle. While the living allowance is calculated to enable you to live at the same standard as your Paraguayan neighbors, the Peace Corps requires that Volunteer housing meet minimal standards for security and that Volunteers have the resources to maintain a healthy diet and respectable lifestyle. Living allowances are reviewed once a year to ensure that they are sufficient to meet basic needs, and they are adjusted by the Peace Corps if necessary.
"You will receive three additional allowances: a monthly vacation allowance (along with two days of vacation for each month of service); a one-time settling-in allowance to cover the initial expenses of furnishing a house or room and purchasing basic supplies; and an allowance set aside by the U.S. government of $275 for each month of service. This readjustment allowance, which is available on completion of service, permits returning Volunteers to resettle in the United States without undue financial burden.”
Are you worried about the food?
Yes. Haha … it is mainly a meat based diet over there and anyone who knows me well knows that while I am not a vegetarian, I used to be and I use meat very sparingly in my diet.
“Paraguayans tend to eat more simple meals than people do in the United States. Dietary habits and the lack of agricultural diversity often limit meals to beans, rice, noodles, meat (when available), corn, onions, tomatoes, and manioc. Manioc or mandioca (more commonly known in other countries as yucca or cassava) is the staple food in rural Paraguay and is as ubiquitous at the table as bread is in other countries. Paraguayan food is not spicy and is quite different from Mexican food (for instance, in Paraguay, a tortilla is a kind of fritter). Most Paraguayans are exceptionally generous and will insist on sharing their food, no matter how little they have.”
So… You are going over to educate people on health ailments but aren’t you susceptible to the same diseases while you are over there?
“The most common illnesses that plague both Paraguayans and Volunteers are also found in the United States: colds, bronchitis, diarrhea, constipation, sinus infections, skin infections, headaches, dental problems, minor injuries, STDs, emotional problems, and alcohol abuse. These problems may be more acute in Paraguay because certain environmental factors increase the risk or aggravate the severity of some illnesses and injuries. For instance, problems associated with cultural adaptation may exacerbate emotional problems or contribute to alcohol abuse. However, the most common ailments, which are easily preventable, such as diarrhea and giardiasis (caused by a common parasite) are either water- or food-borne. Hepatitis is much rarer, but it can also be transmitted by polluted water or poorly prepared food.
"Paraguay is fortunate to be free of many of the diseases endemic to tropical areas, such as amebiasis, Guinea worm, and typhoid fever. But there are seasonal outbreaks of dengue fever, which is transmitted by mosquitoes. Yellow fever is uncommon; however, there was an outbreak recently. Chagas disease is found in Paraguay, but no Volunteer using the safety measures taught has ever contracted it. Malaria is rare and limited to a small part of the country. Therefore, Volunteers do not need to take malaria medication, but Volunteers traveling outside of the country may be exposed to malaria or other diseases not normally encountered in Paraguay. Volunteers are issued mosquito repellent and mosquito nets, which can be effective in the prevention of mosquito-borne diseases.”
Do volunteers get vacation days and can we come visit you?
YES and YES!!!
I will get 2 vacation days for every month of service. You are more than welcome to come visit me (however the tickets are about $750 roundtrip)
Does the Peace Corps pay to fly you home for holidays and vacations?
No… most likely, I will see you in 27 months J
What is the weather like?
It reminds me of Tallahassee weather except the seasons are reversed…although the summer is a wee bit hotter.
“Unlike more tropical countries, Paraguay does have distinct seasons. Summer (November through March) is long, hot, and humid, with temperatures on occasion reaching as high as 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius). Winter (June through mid-September) is short and mild, with periods of cold weather (down to 30 F) and occasional frosts. Because of the high humidity and lack of indoor heating, cold winter days may seem more severe than they actually are. The short spring and autumn seasons usually are mild and balmy.”
What do people do for fun?
“Recreation in smaller towns often centers on the family, with an occasional dance, soccer game, or horse race to attend. In the evening, many families gather with friends for volleyball games. The losers often pay for drinks, which might be soft drinks (gaseosas) or beer. People frequently sit in clusters (often limited to one gender or age group) to drink the ubiquitous yerba mate, a common local drink made from the leaves of a shrub native to the region, either cold (tereré) or hot (in the early morning or in wintertime). During the hot summer, an important social activity is likely to be bathing in the local stream (arroyo). The electrification of the countryside has increased the popularity of boom boxes, TVs, DVDs, etc. Volunteers often participate in organized groups, such as ecology clubs or youth groups, which meet occasionally for selected activities.
"In Asunción and larger towns, there is a wider variety of options for social activities, including movie theaters, nightclubs, restaurants, and sporting events. Volunteers usually take advantage of their rare weekends in the capital to see the latest movies and enjoy some night life. Volunteers also have access to the swimming pool at the U.S. Embassy while in Asunción.”
How do we contact you?
I will have access to the internet… however, I am not sure just how often that will be. You can leave comments on this blog, send me an e-mail, write on my facebook page, or send me letters.
Can we send you care packages?
Yes. You can send them to this address J
Emily Teachout PCT [for trainee for the first three months] or PCV [for Volunteer beginning in April]
Cuerpo de Paz
162 Chaco Boreal c/Mcal. López
Asunción 1580, Paraguay
South America
