Marianna Castiaux In Paraguay

So today is my first year mark in paraguay! Its been a year today that i arrived clueless. and i am proud to say, finally after a year i have gain the insight to know how to get through to paraguayans, and how to be a good volunteer.first year the idea of running around to everyones houses in my community to say hi, or allowing my time to be "robbed" by my neighbors, sitting in on meetings, with the womens comite, trying to form and give classes for the girls, was a painful experience. it was hard tiring and boring. honestly. and now i feel like this is all easier because, well they are all my friends and its become less like work and more like YAY i get to see my friends. my time isnt being robbed or being forced to be social or babysit, instead its a time to hear the lattest gossip, share stories, and find ways to get through the cultural barrriers. My secret, the profound secret that i just just just figured out in how i can get through to my super chicas and the comite, m...

" I killed a woodpecker today with my sling shot¨ - Romancito, 4 "That little black bird, i want it for my remedy¨ Host Mom

These last few months Ive started making: dish / floor detergent with my comite and once with the community. My hope is to get them to start selling it when they go into town on saturdays with their veges. So far its still sitting on the table in the comiteś house, prepared, bottled, etc waiting for the motivation, that painful endless annoying pushing that is needed of volunteers when they have told me ¨we should sell this. this would work to sell¨. The logisitics of making it include: buying a kit in asuncion at the whole seller (a pain), bringing it back, finding a date that is good, making it with the comite, finding old soda bottles to put it in with lids! (good to have!), place and ya! Although this isnt a project i am necessarily proud of due to its sustainable reasons, its not something fun or dealing with agroforestry, the comite has somehow come across a huge amount of debt owned to the cooperative and another comite when their dulce (jelly,jams,etc) project failed, i feel t...