Soy Paraguaya

So... here I am.
I feel the overwhelming need to share every crazy detail, but I shall settle for a quick update:

My family is incredible, friendly and welcoming... luckily they've hosted before, so they are familiar with the exchange student drill.

The Spanish part is really fun, though thought consuming... and I am speaking/listening in Spanish practically 24/7 - except when I'm hanging out with Kai and Sarah, the other AFSers here in Villa Hayes. I'm learning really quickly and am at the point where I understand practically everything... though responding is still a little rough. Give me a couple months, though, and I'll get the hang of it! =]

I have not yet begun working at the Farm School yet, but I start tomorrow and I am BEYOND excited. I had a chance to visit it last week and ohmygoodness. It's positively amazing, and far more amazing than anything I could have dreamed/hoped for!! =]
As you walk down the dirt road leading to the gates its deliciously green and beautiful... then there's the soccer field on one side, the vegetable garden (and chicken house behind it) on the other side. There are bee hives, a large animal barn, and the yellow-orange buildings of the school dot the landscape. It's simply breathtaking, and hopefully I'll be able to post some pictures soon.

Otherwise things have been really relaxed... hanging out and getting to know mi familia. Mi Mama showed Sara, Kai and me how to make "dulces" (fruit jams) out of guava and banana/orange... they are mmmmmm rico! =] I shall post the recipe at a later date - I think it's an important thing for one to have on hand... you never know when you may need to dulce-up your life!

My room is very big, and I feel almost guilty about it... I have the biggest single bedroom in the house. My familia are spoiling me! They put a TV in my room!! I don't even know what to do with it. =]
But the favorite part of my house is the outdoor shower... mmmm it's wonderful. I shower every morning as the sun rises in these "dark winter months" (it's consistently in the 70s and 80s except when we had that crazy electric storm... mmm mi mama and I just sat out and watched it pour... =] it's nice to have a person who loves rain as much as I do)... it's so beautiful here.

Hmm... are those all the answers to the questions?

I am doing okay missing-wise... I haven't had too much time to miss, thankfully - though sometimes the nights do get a little lonely.
Letters are about $2 a pop, but worth it, so please write - I will respond.
My mailing address is:

Zan McKenna
La Familia Romas
Mcal. Lopez 106 c/ Costanera
Barrio Cerro
Villa Hayes
Paraguay - South America

I love you all, and will update again soon - hopefully with pictures!!

x0ox0ox0xo0xoxo "Sam" (I don't know how to say my name anymore... now I can sympathize with Ekin =] )