FOGONS – WOOD-FIRED COOKSTOVES
I have a big project that I haven’t even mentioned yet. We are building 22 wood-fire cookstoves in my community for people that are currently cooking in the dirt. We had funding for 13, but were trying to find funding for the rest. I recently found out the office was able to secure these funds from another project. Soon we will be learning how to build the stoves and greatly improving the health of these families! Everyone is hoping by Holy Week they will be cooking with their new stoves! I hope so too… it’s been a lot of organizing, meetings, and waiting.
The other day, I walked to the poorest part of town and was able to visit house to house to tell them that we would be able to make all 22 stoves, no problem. One of the participants, a late seventy-something year-old, Na Amalia, who is tiny and is my chest height, grabbed my hands and we started dancing the traditional Paraguayan polka dance. The music was playing loud on the stereo and I could smell caña (liquor made from sugarcane) in the air. We danced for a whole song and I followed her lead to learn the dance. We smiled and laughed. The flock of small boys started dancing in partners with us, too, giggling continuously.
I have a few very special, nostalgic moments… and this beautiful memory is one of those that will always remain in my mind when I think of Apyragua.
YEAR TWO
It’s an emotional roller coaster. First of all, Year Two is much much easier than Year One. Why? I had a lovely Christmas break and came back rejuvenated, I realized I speak Guarani fairly well by now, my projects are all coming along beautifully, and I really do love many of the people here.
But it’s a roller coaster. Time goes by very fast here. I’m constantly busy and feeling guilty that I never have enough time to just sit and enjoy the people. I’m working, working, working. I buzz by on my bike, making horn noises just like the motos do (they love it 🙂 I laugh, too). I have learned to dedicate time for myself; every morning I spend time doing what I need to do: exercise, cleaning, cooking, laundry, gardening, etc. In the afternoons, I jump on my bike and make the rounds.
It’s a roller coaster because I can be on the highest high, laughing, loving, helping, smiling… and it takes just a few comments to pull me down. I still haven’t mastered the art of swallowing people’s comments about money and the feeling that I get from some people that all they want are “things” from me. It breaks my heart when all I want to do is build friendship and trust between people, and in the end, they are staring at my flip-flops, wondering if I will leave them with them. I want people to remember me for who I am and not what I have nor what funding I secured for the community. I want people to cherish my smile and energy, as I do theirs. This is the challenge… I sit and ponder crafty ways to respond, but in the end, they all sound like I’m angry and highly offended. I don’t want to offend people; I just want to build an understanding.
HAPPY PEOPLE
I’ve started trying to capture more photos of people. The first year I was uncomfortable to carry my camera around and everyone was asking if I could make photos for them. I had no interest in becoming the town photographer, so I set that boundary very early on. And now I feel more comfortable capturing folks on camera.
I also have a FRIEND in site! Fifteen months later, I have a friend whom I can share my feelings and thoughts without them judging me. My friend is Ariel, a 19 year-old, who sought me out to study English. He already knew so much that I agreed to take him on as my student. He is applying for a scholarship to study abroad in Taiwan for his four-year higher education. I know, this is AMAZING for a town of this level of poverty and poor education; to have someone with the motivation and intelligence to study abroad is fantastic.
Ariel has a great sense of humor, is smart, and honest. He tells me the latest gossip, including about me (which is all good gossip… except the town now thinks that Ariel is my boyfriend because he comes to my house to study- he is NOT just in case you were thinking the same thing- 19 for pete’s sake!). He asks lots of questions to try and understand my culture, as well as life questions in general. Paraguayans will sit and talk about the weather and the crops, but they are not open to talking about anything uncomfortable or out of the norm. I have created an open environment to help educate, offer advice, and to facilitate looking at the world through an open mind. When I leave here, for me it doesn’t matter the projects I have completed, this one friendship has surpassed all my accomplishments.
TIME FOR A VACATION
I’m working hard and I’m feeling burnt out. Visits are feeling more like work than fun. Even working on my projects is feeling more like a chore than enjoyable. I can’t seem to deflect people’s culturally insensitive comments to me. I need a vacation.
Mendoza, Argentina, to be exact! Next Thursday I will land in the foothills of the Andes, run a half-marathon, drink wine, go to hot springs, hopefully find peanut butter, hike in the national park, and perhaps even splurge and get a massage. Don’t worry, I’ll be thinking of you all freezing your butts off up there in America. 🙂
So great to hear about your life down there, the trials, accomplishments and how yo’ve been managing it all. We love you very much and think about you often. We look forward to your return and to giving you big hugs once you do get back! Kudos for goal setting on a 1/2 marathon and best wishes for that day! And it’s my firm belief that taking health breaks & vacations is 100% necessary for overall life balance & maintenance-it’s not indulgence-don’t ever think that or feel guilty for taking this time–in fact, it’s incredibly important that you do take it, for your projects, your life outlook, and your sustainability in this position. I’m so glad you’re able to recognize your needs at this time and the path to regaining your balance by taking this break from routine. You amaze me, and I’m ever great full to have a friend as wise (& as cool) as yourself! Much love!!! XOXO
Good work, Tiff! I don’t know where you find the energy. Have a great holz!
Good luck of the half, Tiffers Fo-Eva! I am so proud of you!!!! You have changed so many peoples lives & perceptions of life. Even those here, in America. Oh, and it’s in the 60’s here, you remember boulder, right? Ha! Tina just moved to Portland! Well, she’s now visiting an old college friend in Seattle & if she finds a job this week, she might just stay there. When is your time up there? I couldn’t believe you said year two already. Are all of the salty chickens still around? Love all of your pics & updates. Keep it real chica & hurry home so we can grab a beer soon! Xo