Long Field Practice 2

I was asked to host Long Field Practice again this year. LFP, for those that don't remember, is when a group of trainees go out to visit and work with a volunteer for about 5 days. This happens towards the end of their training and is a good way for them to really see how volunteers live/work as well as see what it's like to live in the campo since they all stay with families. This year I had two guys and two girls: Lauren, Sybil, Jonathan, and Jimmy. A language teacher also comes out and gives Guarani classes during the 5 days.
The one thing about LFP, which has to be emphasized to the trainees, is that in most cases a volunteer doesn't do this much "stuff" in a week. We really try to cram in activities and work just so they can get a good taste of what they might do in their service. In reality, a volunteer might do one or two of the activities in a week instead of 4 or 5. This LFP I had the trainees work bees with my neighbors, help me with a nutrition/cooking class for all the women's committees and schoolchildren, go into school and give a little mini-lesson on trash/the environment through song and dance, and plant the green manure Mucuna in between rows of corn. That's a lot of work for one week.
To be honest, finding the work was a bit of a stretch. My service is rapidly winding down and I'm not really trying to start new projects. Right now I'm mainly interested in being with my community members and enjoying my last two weeks just being with them. However, my community being the amazing community that it is, finding the work was not quite as hard as I thought it would be.

It's very hard to believe that my service is almost done; time flys. I'm feeling a lot of mixed emotions all at the same time. Obviously I am excited to be home and see family and friends, but at the same time I'm very scared and nervous. While sitting around the fire laughing and joking with my neighbors the other night I realized that this is my life. Not only am I used to living here and being a member of my community, I feel that this is who I am. Leaving my community will be much harder than it was when leaving home for the Peace Corps. I have no idea when I will come back here. I tell people I will return, and I plan on it..but when? I have to leave people I dearly care for and love and may never see them again.


The trainees after planting a quarter-hectare of mucuna with corn. From left to right- Jimmy, Lauren, Jonathan, Sybil.


Singing and dancing with the kids. The garden Hokie Pokie.



The boys all suited up for bee work.


Presenting the trainees to the women's groups and children.


Guys giving a charla on an ag. calendar.


Girls giving a charla on protein.


A shy helper for the cooking class.