Sold Out!

Alright...I admit it...I'm a fraud!!! I've sold out and joined Facebook...sigh...I know, but just about everyone I know has it and apparently many of them are ADDICTS. As much as I don't want to feed the addiction, I have decided in the interest of ease and time I'm just going to be posting updates there for a while. When I have a lil more time and motivation, I'll blog a bit...maybe even post some of the better stories here... In the meantime, look me up on Facebook. Today I'm off to Argentina to start 9months of traveling :)

Hope you're all well, happy and healthy!!!

Much love!!
Lor

6 Semanas

6 weeks left to work…to teach…to divertirme…to say goodbye… I can’t believe how fast the past two years have gone!! It’s strange though, in some ways I feel like I just got here, and in others, it feels like I’ve been here forever. I’m torn between being SUPER excited to see my family and friends in the US again and to travel, of course, and being REALLY sad that I’m leaving behind so many people I love and cherish. I know I’ll be back in November, but that’s just for a flash. And honestly, when you’re used to seeing someone EVERY DAY it’s hard to imagine going 6 months without seeing them! And texting…I’ve become a cell phone texting junkie! I have friends here that I hardly ever see, but you better believe that we text every day without fail. What will I do without my morning dibujito (cute little text to say I love you that usually comes with a pic of a teddy bear o algo)?!?

Some of the things I’ll miss MOST about PY, aside from my gente? Shopping on the bus – you’d be amazed at the deals you can score on the bus here! I mean really – soda, socks, toothbrushes, hammers, manicure sets, coloring books…some of my best shopping has been done while in transit! Terere. Not even because I like it that much, but because it means sitting around doing absolutely nothing but chatting, gossiping and watching people go by. Red dirt handprints on my clothes…left by loving, but DIRTY, hands after big running-jumping type hugs, walking with a million little arms wrapped around me, and giving piggy back rides. Rain. Playing in red mud, it’s an excuse not to do anything and I love watching the streets flood (there’s no such thing as drainage here). Horse drawn carts sharing the road with Mercedes and buses. Riding in the back of milk trucks and cargo taxis and squeezing 8 people into a taxi to go out for the night. Dancing until 5am and taking the early morning bus home with the church crowd. And to be totally honest – feeling a bit like a movie star when I walk around…although I have a love hate relationship with this aspect of my life.

What am I looking forward to?? Weddings - YAY Randi, Jason and Janet! :) Jumping hugs from my momma, my little brothers (aka dogs), family and friends, sharing my experience, driving (I’m a little nervous), international food! And traveling…lots of traveling!

For now, I’m focused on being here…sharing…spending time…loving… And remembering that goodbyes are never final, and in fact I’ll be back in November. Time to dry my weepin’ eyes and enjoy the next 6 weeks :)

By the way…recently went to Florianopolis, Brasil – wow…if you have the chance to visit the beaches of Brasil, GO!!! Gorgeous doesn’t begin to describe the beauty! Check it out...

http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=274620995/a=40842554_40842554/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish

Love and Happiness!
L

Is it really 2009???

Good grief Charlie Brown!

Xmas and New Years were fabulous!! Spent them with people I love and danced till sunrise :) So much more fun than going to bed early, waiting for Santa ;) hehehe So what DOES happen on xmas? Well...xmas eve we have asado (bbq), people generally eat around 11pm. At midnight we light off whatever fireworks remain and take to the streets to hug and kiss EVERYONE. Then around 1am we mosey to la discoteca where we shake our groove thangs till the sun comes up. Xmas day is spent sleeping late and then just hanging out, drinking clerico (like sangria). What about presents you ask? Well, if you're friends and family aren't gift enough...I don't know what to tell you. Its a tradition I fully embrace and would love to adopt wherever life takes me :)

The new year has found me incredibly busy! I am in the midst of COS (close of service) paperwork and a frenzy of everyone wanting more of me than I have to give. People know my time here is very limited and want to grab whatever part of it they can. I can't lie, I'm stressin a bit. But it's going to be OK...I've decided to clone myself so as to ease the pressure ;) hehehe

Truly though, it's going to be incredibly difficult to say goodbye to PY and to so many people I love and cherish. My solice is knowing that I will be back in November for Carmen and Danny's graduations...wouldn't/couldn't miss either one!!

So what IS the plan?? When will I FINALLY be home?? Please take a deep breath here..... Ok, so I'm coming home for about 2 weeks in May for Randi's wedding (YAY!!). As much as I'd like to see and visit everyone, I have to be realistic. I'm limiting myself to MI and Chicago (my grandma had a stroke a while back and I REALLY want to spend some time with her). I fly to Buenos Aires the 15th or so of May to travel with my friend Lara until November, after which i'll spend a couple months in PY before coming home. So expect to see me early 2010 :) Sorry, I know it's longer than I told you all...and believe me, I miss you too!! It's just that I can't let life, nor wonderful opportunities pass me by... And with any luck, I'll be coming home with a PYan youth or two :) Carmen and Danny are both wonderful kids and we're working on getting them scholarships/internships/work programs so they'll be able to study/work in the US. It's helping me with my separation anxiety. hahaha

In about a week, I'm off to Florianopolis, Brasil for a week of fun and relaxation with some of my better girl friends (volunteers). Although the timing is a little stressful, I'm absolutely looking forward to the trip!! I've heard wonderful things about the island and lots of PYans vacation there. We'll be renting a house so we can cook and hang out more tranquilas...it's also around Carnaval time, so it should be a fun time to be there...pics to come :)

Sending love and happiness!
Lor

I blinked...

and there went another 3 months! Seriously, time goes by soooo fast!!! Well, with exception of the hours between 11am and 4pm when it´s 105 and humid....those 5 hours last eons. hehehe

Things are fantastic here!!! I can´t believe I only have 5 months left ;( Computer classes continue to go well, but I´m tired of repeating ¨no, we don´t have internet yet¨50 times a day ;) We´re working on it...it´s just expensive - $19 a month is the cheapest we can find and so far they don´t want to give it to us free just because we´re a community foundation...we haven´t given up yet though. Still teaching english and reading, writing and math. A few of the kids didn´t pass their grade so we´re getting ready for next year.

It´s summer here, which means varying levels of hot all day long. We´ve been lucky to have more rain this year than last, but it´s still not uncommon for it to cool off to no more than to 85 at night. Wow, que refrescante ;) This, my friends, is why we drink ridiculous amounts of ice cold tereré. Although I readily admit, to the dismay of many, that I still drink my steaming hot mate every morning, regardless of how hot it is. And in fact, get up earlier than I need to (5:30 generally) to do so. I do love my yuyos (natural remedies) and honestly can´t remember the last time I put medicine into my body. Why bother when there´s a yuyo for it? :)

I´m pretty sure I had mild dengue fever last week...having a fever of 103 when it´s 100 outside (and at least 110 in my bedroom) combined with body aches, headaches and a sore throat is not what I consider a good time. Thank goodness my dad sent me a shammy type cooling towell that holds it´s coolness for hours - it´s the only reason I got any sleep at all for those few days. Thanks Dad! Happy to report that I´m back to healthy and sweating instead of shivering in the heat :)

Didn´t walk to Ca´acupe this year...last year was enough. But I´m told it was just as crazy. Looks like I´ll be spending xmas in the new asentemiento (shanty town) that my contact has been working so hard on. I took two representatives from PC out there to check it out and see if it would be a good fit for a volunteer. They´ve decided to consider the location for a couple who will be coming in April. I´m sooooo excited!!! It´s a great spot full of people who are motivated to improve their situation, life, future for their children...I can´t imagine a more inviting place for a volunteer to be (even if it looks a little rough around the edges). Then New Years I have committed to spending with a friend of mine at her family´s house in a more country side/rustic area. Should be pretty chill. The people in my community are a little mad at me because they think I should be there and no where else, but I told them I´d definately be there for Dia de Reyes on January 6. I can´t be EVERYWHERE at the same time after all, but it´s nice to be wanted.

Hope you all are doing great! If there´s snow, please toss a snowball, make an angel, or just admire it for me. I have a pang in my heart, a longing for snow if you can believe it. I know, call me crazy, many do, ;) but it´s true. Enjoy your holidays, whatever they may be, and take time to love the people around you - after all, they are what matter.

In the meantime, I´ll be here...melting...sending you all a ton of love!
En Paz,
Lor

Che avy'a Paraguaype! :)

I know...I know...TANTO TIEMPO!!!! It's been way too long...

Things here are fabulous! I started teaching computer classes recently in my neighborhood in my contact's house...we have three computers and right now I have 5 classes every Tuesday and Thursday - it's tiring, but soooo worth it! It's so funny that people just assume that I'm capable of teaching ANYTHING, but so far, I've got them fooled ;) It's only a basics course at this point, and I'm certainly versed in the basics! Good thing I've had so many jobs that required me to use a variety of Microsoft programs, haha. Oooo, and I learned how to use Paint here - fabulous program to help teach kids how to use a mouse! And a great way to color/draw without wasting paper!!

Still teaching English in the high school and municipality and tutoring the little ones....the girls soccer team is being lazy about practicing, but we still have tournaments - all the glory, none of the hard work ;) hahaha... Started working with a home for children without parents...makes me think of my foster care days. It's amazing - one family has made it's home a home for 28 children!!! And now they're working towards building a larger place more conducive to housing such a large number of kids. It is truly a work of love and pure altruism. Impresionante!

My Guarani is coming along. My profe, Norma, is a good friend of mine and she teaches Guarani and Spanish in a couple different schools...I have the luck of having free tutoring sessions with her every monday morning. She says she wants more students like me because I'm so motivated and excited about learning... Che avy'a astudiahina ha'e ndive (I'm happy to be studying with her) :)

Had a fabulous birthday! My host family from Guarambare came (for the first time) and my mom brought me a cake. We went to the villa to have lunch with everyone because it was also dia de san miguel and they always close the street and do a big lunch and have a party (it's our patron saint day). Then I took my family, for their first time ever, to the movies. Saw Agent 86 :) It was wonderful!! That night I had what turned into a house party...had planned on a few friends no mas, but once people know there's something going on.... So we danced and had a great time. Cleaning up the next day would be my only complaint. hahaha And so far, my 31st year of life has been going well :)

I hope to have pics to post soon... In the meantime, I have recent pics on my Orkut account - orkut.com (everyone here uses Orkut, it's like Myspace or Facebook) You can look for me using my full name no mas.

Hope all is well on your side of the globe.
Che rohaihu,
Lorien

Time flies when you´re having fun...

Its been too long...I know. Where to start???

Way back in May I went to Ecuador with my bro and cuz...great times!!!! Absolutely beautiful country and fabulous bonding time :) Highlights: hot springs in Papallacta, butterflies, waterfalls and tucans in Mindo, the Equator line in Mitad del Mundo (even if it IS a tourist trap) and the gorgeous orchid gardens in Quito. I´d go back, but next time I´m hittin the beaches too!!

Back in PY I continue to lead a telenovela style life...full of drama, a few crazies, lots of movement and great friendships. I absolutely LOVE teaching it turns out. Not only are my alumnos fabulous, but it´s just fun and so rewarding. Perhaps ¨Teach for America¨ is in my future, if they´ll have me that is.

Lately I´ve been hanging out more and letting myself have a bit more fun. You certainly don´t have to be 18 to enjoy dancing till dawn (although I admit most of my time is spent with jovenes between 16-22). What can I say? Most people my age are married with kids already...makes me ever thankful that I´m still single footloose and fancy free :)

Speaking of being free...apparently I´ve been gone long enough now for people to begin to get impatient for me to come home. Hasn´t it been two years yet is a pretty common question these days. Well...I have some good news and some bad news. Good news: I have a fabulous opportunity to travel South America with a really good friend after my service ends (May). Bad news: I won´t be home quite as soon as I originally thought... I am now planning on being home in time for the winter holidays 2009, so roughly a year and a half from now. For those of you who are sighing and crying nooooooo right now, I promise I´ll stay in the states for at least a few months when I come back ;) hehehe

Oh....yeah....one last thing - the wedding is off. It´s a long story and all that really matters is that it´s for the best. The great news is that I´m immensely happy and enjoying my life! And that´s what it´s really all about isn´t it?

I promise I´ll do better about updating you all more often...I´ve been very negligent I know. Just know that I´m thinking of you all and sending lots of love!

L :)

Photos :)

The amazing Iguazu Falls...

Uh huh...I was there...and it was CHILLY that day!

Me n Hector...my now 8 year old love and buddy

He's a creative one...and he LOVES the hooked on phonics book Mary sent!!

Birthday wine and cheese at Josh's place for Lara n Lauren (my VAC members)

The Jesuit ruins near Encarnacion...I'd live there - it was nice :)

Museum of myths...there are a TON in PY. That headless dog you see...if you see him it means there is gold/treasure wherever you saw him, but you can't tell anyone else about it because if you do, the treasure will disappear.

My girls are learning that they can play hard AND be good sports :)

That's it for now...everything is still great and I'm still happy :) Hope all is well in your corner of the world.

En Paz,

Lor