Why hello there, tanto tiempo as they say in these parts of the world. Yes indeed it’s been a while. If you’re a follower of this blog, then I offer my sincere apologies but technology here in Paraguay failed me on the last few update attempts. So it goes…

So, given that my most recent attempt to update this thing failed so miserably after I wrote a long boring update, I won’t go into great detail on what’s been happening in my world. Instead I will just give a few updates

Water miraculously appeared in my well again 3 weeks ago after being dry since February. If’ you’ve been reading this regularly you’re aware of my many climbs/digs in my well to try to clean my well and keep water in it. I gave up after February, and then it just filled up again on it’s own after a couple of rains a few weeks ago.

I haven’t seen a rat in my house for at least 3 weeks.

The school garden is looking great with the total participation and support of the professors and the studentsschool garden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve made three maps in the school; a world map with the 6th graders, south america map with the 5th graders, and a map of Paraguay with the 4th graders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The majority of the last few months have been spent working on my thesis and research stuff. I’ve measured about 300o yerba mate plants in about 30 different farm fields. Thanks to many different kids who helped me out as research assistants

For my research I’m looking at the different planting styles of the various campesinos within my community to try to determine the best planting method of the yerba mate plants. I’m also looking at this as a means to reforestation through agroforestry by looking at how many people planted the native trees that were also provided through my project. So far it looks like a lot of people heard what was said during the trainings and planted the trees around or in the yerba mate plantations. Time will tell, or so I hope…

In other news the guitar continues to be a good friend and I got to play again in a show in early August with two different groups. The first one I just played harmonica and the second act was me and my good friend Matt playing guitar and the mouth harp while singing. Good times.

 

So the fun must come to an end… Or perhaps not. I find myself with 3 months left of service here and wondering what comes next. I’m currently looking at a few different options for a year extension here. I’m meeting with a few different organizations this week to discuss further opportunities. To this point I can claim responsibility for the distribution of 54,000 yerba mate plants and about 15,000 native trees. I’m pretty happy with that, but there is the opportunity to do more and I feel the need to act on it. I’ll be 33 next week, and looking at another year of a job that pays about $4,000 per year but I’ve never been all that interested in money. You have to follow your heart sometimes and do what you feel is right regardless of the immediate economic benefits that may follow. There’s a world of  adventure out there in the every day no matter where you are, and sometimes the greatest benefit comes from within – or at least so says an underpaid/under appreciated volunteer.

Them’s the key points from the last few months in my life, heading for a much needed vacation wandering around Argentina next week with a good friend from the states and will hopefully have more to say as a result. For now, I need to get back to work on the data entry and thesis work…  As always, I hope all is well with you wherever you may be reading this. Lovin from Paraguay