the paraguayan reverie

alrighty, back for another update after a slight period of inactivity on the web, and a rather confusing stint of action on this side of the globe. My mentioning of teachers not really wanting to get back into gear this year seems to have certainly come full circle to bite me a bit, as now i feel pulled in way more directions (both in site and out) than i previously considered possible. This is a bit vague, let me try to explain a bit.

Ive begun to work primarily at the colegio with the teachers, who coincidentally want to start actually planning something to implement at the school. Im not used to this. Im used to people just wanting to talk a bit, and then gradually drop off leaving one maybe two interested people who will actually want to do work with me. This year its started out with maybe one or two interested for real, and then about half of the rest of them jumping on board, expecting me to integrate their classes and material into the general projects for the colegio. phew. So whats making my head feel a little bit like its going to explode is trying to figure out how to integrate seventh through ninth graders as well as seniors into an institutional project focused around nutrition and gardens, with the end goal of implementing it in the houses of the community. Im being looked to as somewhat of a leader in this, which is fine, but i feel a little like im being a bit thrown out to see how far ill go with the work before i cant string myself out anymore.

Second project involves the all the highschool classes, and must integrate every subject into the completion of one project, in this case being a school vivero (tree nursery) with the end goal of selling the trees and thus making the project able to continue into the next year without outside funding. This is the one thats making my head spin a bit, as ive been trying to conceptualize how to make a tree nursery fit in with a completly unrelated topic, like spanish composition. I mean, sure, i can make the kids write an essay about the utility of trees or something, yeah. But i have a sneaking suspicion that the teachers are going to treat me how they normal do and expect me to take over and instruct their classes while they go outside and talk on their cell phones. This i cant do in this case, and am mentally preparing myself to explain to them (when this happenes) that i cant help them unless they help me.

Third project revolves around the seniors and preparing them for their adult futures which are rapidly aproaching. This work mostly revolves around goal and objective setting, in addition to exploration of their communities to really understand where they are coming from before they decide what kind of changes they have to make for the final two month senior project, WHICH is also brand new and ive recenly realized that i may end up planning with the teachers. Id kinda like this, actually. Senior projects are fun times for ding what you really want to do, which is the whole point of the method of teaching ive been trying to employ with the seniors.

Fourth project revolves around helping the teachers to actually acheive what they write down in their project plans, making and keeping to calenders and schedules in addition to holding their students acountable. Very american, but they are very profesional people and are interested enough to actually listen to me as a group, which at least says that i have their attention to a certain extent.

Fifth project is the colegio design.. im sitting on four very competent preliminary site programs created in the workshop waiting for the opertune moment for my brain to swing into action. Its coming.

Sith, the oratorio design taller which is tomorrow. Im nearly ready with my ideas for the material, but i may be facing another all nighter to swing it through. Nothing like putting it all on myself at the last minute to get it done...

Seventh, the library pedido and planning, which is now done after five hours of work with my buddy hugo.

There are other things too, like students challenging me in class or profesores telling me that i lie about where im going to be, that make things hard right now. But as i typically tell myself, this isnt any different from the pressure i might be feeling were i back in the states. Its just that here, no one is telling us really that we are doing good work, and when we talk about project with other volunteers it typically, with the exception of good friends, turns into a spitting contest. So i guess that leaves me here, on the blog.

I dont mean to sound overly worked up, things are great in other areas of my life, actually, and im feelin really happy. You know, smiling and such. So yep, its still hard like usual, but nothing that i cant handle when the doses are small and the breakdown is clear. Now.. time for taxes.