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World Wise Schools Program

A Brownie troop from Southern California is learning about my experience here in Paraguay and about Paraguians. I have been cooresponding with their Leader who is preparing for an event with other troops in which each troop picks a different country to represent. I signed up for World Wise Schools, a program through Peace Corps that places volunteers in contact with teachers, leaders, as a pen pal cultural exchange program. I love this idea!

My response to the wonderful package I got, filled of pictures and letters from the girls is bellow.

I just recieved your wonderful package. how happy was i when i opened
it to see the many drawings and letters for me!!.........................
as for your letter, i would be so pleased if your girls picked
paraguay for your project. as you may know one of the goals of peace
corps is cultural exchange. this would be wonderful if a group of
girls and their families in california knew about this wonderful
country and how far it has come from the oppression of it´s dictator
and the wars that distroyed this country and see why paraguay is
called the corazon de sur de america ( heart of south america). right
now the community is making my house ready for me to move in: a new
fence, freshly painted and a modern bathroom.
to mention briefly about my community, we are an agricultural
community mainly growing staple crops of mandioca ( similar to a
potato ) and poroto ( beans) and a cash crop of sugar cane. their are
many cows, horses, ox, chickens, sheep, ducks, dogs, cats, etc..
living with my community as well. the women´s commitee i work with
specializes in dulces ( sweets) this includes jellies and dulce de
leche ( sugary milky spread). also each member has their own garden,
which includes various mellons and squashes, eggplants, tomotoes, pigeon peas,
onions, corn, mandioca. they also sell sweet breads that they make to
various store owners as well as milk and cheese.

I am very happy. Some how this feels like i am doing my part for world peace and understanding.

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