"When you see the Southern Cross for the first time/"

Hmmm hmmm.
I have begun my work as a farmer in South America.

Physically it is the most rewarding thing to do. I love the hard, dirt-y, work... hoe-ing (which, being the only English speaker for miles, I find quite funny), pulling up love-carrots intertwined together in their gloriously orange bodies, shaking the dirt off the lechuga, and picking the blossoms of the chamomile flowers for seeds... the list goes on.
I spend six hours a day in the bright, heavy, Paraguayan sunshine gathering vegetables for the cocina or their little store stationed at the bus stop along the Trans Chaco Highway, or taking care of the gardens/fields as needed. I have also begun practicing what I refer to as "Garden Yoga". =] Isolating my muscles as I work in the garden... it helps the back and legs and arms, and I'm not sore, like I was in the first week of physical labor.

Linguistically I am understanding 99.7% of the Spanish, and coming up with some lovely phrases in return - though the local vocabulary isn't very broad... I think this is a result of not many literary resources as well as a fluency in both Spanish and Guarani, leading to a sort of Sparani - "spar"ce being the key sound. They say "que te gusta mas" instead of "tu favorito", for example.. but this makes my job easier, since I don't have to know as many words. I am still, however, developing a bigger vocabulary through my Spanish books/dictionary (I am in love with words), and hopefully soon I will be reading novels in Spanish!! This is my goal, anyways.

Emotionally I have realized some things:
I was at a party another AFSer living in Asuncion had this weekend... and after talking to the other kids here I noticed "this one is not like the other" - as the song goes. I thought something was wrong with me mainly for two reasons: I have been experiencing some serious loneliness and I have not had any "culture shock".
What I've realized is that most people are not as blessed as I am in their friends/families. This is their opportunity to branch out and become/be who they are. I do that already, so now the question is: What is this experience for me? I am still pondering this and have yet to come to a decision. I have decided, however, that I am going to make the most of this. I am one month down, ten more to go!

I am still enjoying my family immensely, and I loved getting those letters from everyone back home! Please continue to send me mail - I will write back I promise!! =]

todo de mi amor
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