Rivers are roads which move, and which carry us whither we desire to go. - Pascal

Even though it´s only been one week since we set foot on Paraguayan soil there is so much to share. What an amazing place! I´ll try to give you some highlights of our experiences so far... Here we go:

 1. Living Situation- we´re living together! Yeay! (Peace Corps originally told us we would have to live separatly for training). We live with a woman and her two sons in a little house in the campo on a dirt road. The family has been so kind and welcoming. They are very patient with our stuttering Spanish, and teach us new words in Guarani every day. We also share our house with ducks, chickens, and cows.  We do have electricity and running water- very chuchi! We have our own room with an earth floor and even a fan. Our outdoor bathroom has a flush toilet and a cold water shower. We wash our clothes with buckets of water in a cement scrub sink. We use the same bucket for washing our faces and brushing our teeth, while waving to the ox cart man every morning!
2. Surroundings- The landscape is lush and green with lots of trees and wildflowers. The main crops grown in the area are mandioca, (cassava root), and sugar cane.
3. Food- Lots of meat and mandioca. Because it is Spring here, there are not many fruits or vegetables yet. Antolina always gives us huge amounts of food- I think she´s trying to fatten us up!
4. New Learning- Cooking over an open fire in the kitchen; making cheese with milk and cow intestines; washing clothes on a scrub sink; flagging down the collectivo, (bus); identifying herbs in the area used as natural remedies; and working hard to learn Guarani, the indiginous language of Paraguay.
5. Training sessions- We have about four hours of language class in Guarani 6 days a week with homework every night. The other half of the day is spent learning about self-care in remote locations and getting shots- Rabies and Yellow Fever). We´ve been learning about Paraguayan culture and how to navagate and get around in this area.The other trainees are great, most of whom are in their 20´s with one other couple older than us! :) We are all working hard together and forming some close bonds, already. Our teachers and PC staff are fantastic, too! We will complete our training in 9 more weeks , ( then will be assigned our permanent site). 
6. Awesome extras- There are fireflies ; toads as big as softballs; lots of red dirt roads; amazing electrical storms with torrential downpours; lots of warm and friendly people; and two marraige proposals for Tyler based on our family photo, (muy guapo hijo!).
  The direction in which the river carries us is a good one, we can´t wait to see what´s beyond the bend!