Observations from the Field

I have an incredibly cute little nephew here...not the one that has no discipline but one who has a big crush on me and is 8 years old. My host family, hosts many a grandchild for periods of time, obviously during the summer when there is no school. Most frequently, Ivan and Diego stay at my house and maybe Ill see Ivan´s mom, Olga but I have never seen Blanca who is the eldest of Julia´s children and has the Brazillian husband that refused to learn Guarani.... Ivan, the four year old, acts like he is two and I truly hope that I was never like him as a child but I dont recall those years of my life. Diego is generally very affectionate towards me as well as helpful because he can understand my grasp of spanish mixed with guarani.

Now to my story - While I was washing my clothes one day, Diego comes up to me and asks...´Marcy, have you had any boyfriends¿´Certainly an interesting question for an 8 year old to a 22 year old...he then says, ´I have had four,´ while laughing I try to explain that what i think of as a boyfriend might be quite different then his thoughts...he doesnt under stand. He then stands and stutters for a while and then comes out with, ´I want to ask another question but I think you will get mad....have your boyfriends ever kissed you....right here...´point to his lips. I nearly died laughing at which he proceeded to sulk for the rest of the day.

I went to Asuncion for the second time, with a big slate of activities along with a date for Hooters for the SuperBowl...and interesting experience to say the least...being around 40 other Americans is an overwhelming thing when your contact might be by phone or seeing another volunteer once a week but I did have a lot of fun and thankfully the game was not a blow out...though by the sound of the PC group we probably scared any of the families which had come for a nice quiet meal on a sunday night...at Hooters. I happily recieved those thoughtful packages, Xmas!!, and am under the assumption nothing was missing from them because they looked quite intact...THANK YOU A LOT!! They made my day and with the goodies that I was able to disburse made several other volunteers days as well.

Miss you all heaps,
Marcy