Mary C.

1. What got you interested in the Peace Corps?

I wanted the opportunity to serve a community in need while learning and living with that community. Peace Corps is different from other volunteer organizations because Volunteers are sent as trained professionals ready to fill a need. The host countries invite Peace Corps Volunteers for the purpose of friendship and service.

2. What projects are you working on?

I am currently working with a local health post in the community to implement a structured curriculum in the high school and elementary school focused on nutrition, road safety, infectious diseases, mental health, drug and substance abuse, and sexual health.

I am involved in a few fitness projects. I’m working with my elementary school to design a physical education program that emphasizes the enjoyment of exercise. I am also implementing an adolescent female-only introduction to weightlifting class in the community gym that provides students with a weekly opportunity to explore their physical strength in a safe environment with a trained coach. Finally, I am organizing an annual summer sports camp that introduces students ages 6-19 to sports such as soccer, football, gymnastics, volleyball, and basketball.

I also teach English and dance classes as extracurricular activities.

3. What strategies have you used to integrate into your community?

The strategy I have found most success with has been informal interviews with leaders in my community to uncover strengths, weaknesses, and potential projects. I interviewed members of the local health post: the head doctor, the pharmacist, the receptionist, multiple nurses, the dentist, the community agent, interns, and medical students. I have also interviewed faculty at the educational institutes: directors, teachers, the counselor, the librarian, and cooks. Finally, I’ve interviewed the mayor and his wife, the community dance instructor, parents of school children, and university students living in the community.

4. What is a highlight of your time in service so far?

The coolest event I attended was a mud festival held the week of Christmas. Ten thousand attendees come to the community for a festival that features live music, food trucks, and a bed of mud as a dance floor.

A highlight of my service has been working as a co-teacher with the Paraguayan dance school in my community. I was able to teach the students how to perform gymnastics skills in their dance routines. I was also able to teach cheerleading dance counts with stunts and pyramids. The students can perform the dance routines without me leading them now.

5. What have you enjoyed most about the community where you are serving?

I love the plaza in my community. In the center of the community, there is a plaza that includes various species of trees and yards of open grass in a fenced-in space. I hold English classes and occasional exercise classes here. Friends and family spend evenings and weekends in this plaza playing soccer or drinking tea on park benches. Whenever I go to this plaza, I end up playing games with my elementary school students who are there.

6. What are some of the most important things you’ve learned from your community?

I have learned so much about Paraguayan culture from interacting with community members. I have learned the importance of the Catholic faith and the impact the church has on the school system. I have learned that the church is not separate from the public school system. However, students who grow up in the church may not always stay in the church.

One of the most important things that I’ve learned from my community is the importance of family. In general, Paraguayan children stay very close to their parents. Not only do they usually stay in the house until marriage, after they leave, they return daily to share meals and take care of their elder family members if needed. I have learned that being present shows care. By showing up at my host mom’s mother’s house even just for a 30-minute visit to bring her dessert, I show that I care about her well-being.

7. How do you spend time when you are not working on a project?

All my free time is spent with either my family or Paraguayan friends. Choosing to live with my host family for an extended time past the required 3 months was an amazing decision. Whenever I am not at the school or health post, I am drinking tea with my host parents, playing Uno with my nephew, or listening to music with my brother. I also spend a lot of time with friends. We enjoy playing paddle ball, going on walks, and swimming in the community pool.

To pass time alone, I love to lay my yoga mat out in my room and stretch. I try to journal every day. I also do easy art projects such as creating a monthly calendar or decorating a photo wall.

8. What are you looking forward to in your remaining time as a Volunteer?

I am very excited to continue my activities in-site such as English class, presentations with the health post in the schools, gym class, physical education class, and Zumba class. However, I think I am most excited to plan more camps for the summer. Last summer's sports camp was a huge hit. I would love to continue the camp this summer with an introduction to baseball and tennis. I would also like to add another opportunity for an arts and crafts camp.

9. Once you finish your service, what will you do differently when you return to the U.S.?

When I finish my service, I plan on applying for physical therapy school. I plan on spending more time with my family in the States. I plan on continuing my language skills by attending cultural festivals and events. I will also purposefully slow down in order to enjoy everyday moments with people I love.

Learn more about serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay.