wow, I actually constructed something!

We had the most awesome project this weekend. We traveled about an hour away to a town called Nueva Italia and went to a little campo school to build a fogon in the back. For those of you who aren't familiar with fogones, they are a type of cook stove that have a stove top and an oven option. They are made out of brick, mezcla (a mixture of dirt and cement, essentially) and sweat. Fogones are a much better option for people who would otherwise use a fire to cook and can't afford modern kitchens, because they has a lot of health benefits. One of the benefits being that it keeps smoke out of the kitchen, using a chimney mechanism.
We went on Friday and Saturday and it was awesome to finally get our hands dirty, literally. We learned how to lay the bricks, mix the mezcla, level each layer and essentially be construction masters. We got about half way done on Friday and even though it was hot (when is it not hot here?!) and there were these horribly annoying horseflies, I was eager to return bright and early Saturday to finish our masterpiece. Once we finished, the directora came out to check out our completed product and she was so thankful. It was completely heartwarming. If that was a glimpse into the gratitude my future site might have, then I have to say I'm totally stocked.

In other news, I changed my phone settings to be in all Spanish. It's totally weird, but oddly enough I think it will help me stay in a Spanish mindset. It's actually difficult to keep switching my brain from English to Spanish. Blerg.

I went to my first yoga class ever and used my new yoga mat for the first time (Thanks Holly and Morgy!). So, we have to do a project in a pairs called Aspirantes en Accion, and basically we have to come up with something to do with the community... more integration! (I'll fill you in on my project later) One of the groups decided to teach a yoga class and invited all the PCTs and their siblings. I took my host sister and it was so awesome to see them get excited about it. They can't wait to go next Sunday!

Uh..that's all I've got for now.
jajotopata! (bye in Guarani)



look at me doing hard labor!

supplies!



Sawing some metals rods

half way there!








QUE LINDO!





We're so proud! that's one good lookin' fogon!