Saturday, September 29, 2007

I´m in friggin´ Paraguay

I´m at an internet cafe and it is harder than hell to type. I just went to a soccer game in a town next to my village. Seem like an odd post? Well, I´m in friggin´Paraguay!

I don´t have any photos yet, cause I plan on buying a camera next week - but what a whirlwind in getting here!!! What should I have brought? Sheets, Swimsuit and sanity. I am speaking purely spanish with my new host family - and I realize how terrible I am. They don´t speak English AT ALL and my spanish sounds like a 4 year old. not to mention I´m learning the native language, Guarani first - which barely sounds like spanish. Sounds more like Alien crackly language. Tomorrow I spend all Sunday with my host family which consists of my mom (42) dad (47) sister (25) brother in law (28) and their son (2). I live in a "rustico" house with an outhouse and a mosquito net. it´s crazy.

I don´t have much time, but I´m okay, learning to drink the local tea, and dying of heat since i can only wear long sleeves.

I miss you all and I´m okay!

Chow!

Thursday, September 20, 2007

4 More Days

Well it is now crunch time. Apart from painting my mom's new house, I haven't been doing much in the way of pre-trip pondering. I'm pretty much packed with a few things still to purchase. I'm taking a myriad of things:

sleeping bag
yoga mat
accordian
knitting needles
cd player and cds (no ipod for me!)
new coat
hat/gloves
multiple pants/shirts/shoes
12 month supply of tampons and lunapads
books
hat/bandanas
swiss army knife from dad
Leatherman A-Ron bought me
(only) 4 pairs of shoes
my loverly stained red hooded sweatshirt


I have decided against my little pillow and have decided to purchase a nice compact travel pillow instead. No use destroying a family favorite.

I'm at the point of return - which means that I could still back out if I wanted to. But really since I got my tooth pulled and a new one installed (thanks to my dad) I figured I past the point of NO return back in July.

Ways to contact Cassie:

1. You can send me letters at

Cassie Doolittle PCT (for trainee - the first 3 months) or PCV (volunteer after I am placed)
Cuerpo de Paz
162 Chaco Boreal c/Mcal. López
Asunción 1580, Paraguay
South America

An estimated 80% of letters arrive which takes 2-3 weeks by airmail.

Please number your letters in case any of them get lost. If I recieve a letter that says #2 and I never got #1, you'll know why I haven't been in contact.



Packages are often opened and items stolen. If you decide to send me something in the mail, make sure it is of little value (like Jiffy Pop). Send nothing worth over $200. A big bonus will be burned CDs. I will constantly be listening to the 10 cds I can bring and will be desiring new music all the time. Remember when we used to make mix tapes and trade them in the mail? Well I can't make you any, but maybe you'll recieve a banana leaf with a magic rock in it or something. PLEASE send me music!

2. Email Me

Most of you have my email address. I will be primarily using my blog for updates, but if you would like to send longer letters my address is

dr.teeth@bust.com

I will check my account as often as I can, but after the first 3 months, I won't be sure if I will be placed in a location with email access

3. Read my blog

I will be posting on my blog as often as I can. It will become my new travel journal. I will be sure to post whenever I get into town, but I would LOVE to see as many comments as possible, even if you just say hi!

I can't promise that I will have the time to read all your blogs. I'm not sure how the internet cafes are set up, and if time is an issue, I hope you all understand why I can't gab it up. I DO, however, appreciate all the support you have given! SEE Quine and Vivavavoom - you guys RAWK! Thank you for remembering me even though I've been MIA!

4. Visit Me

I won't be able to leave the country or recieve guests until after the first 6 months of service. Remember that as Paraguay may not be the most desired area to visit - there are plenty of places in South America that I can easily travel to! I can meet up with anyone - anywhere! I will be visiting Machu Pichu while I'm in the Peace Corps, and HOPEFULLY my mom will allow me to visit Rio de Janerio while there! haha! Not to mention all the other wonderful places like Chile (hint hint vivavavoom!). Let me know if any of you have an interest in visiting and we can set something up!

In case of emergency:

If there is a critical illness, death, or emergency where I need to be notified ASAP please contact the Peace Corps' Office of Special Services at any time.

800.424.8580 extension 1470

If it is after hours, feel free to call my mom and she will be able to pass the information along to me. Her number is 816.587.6924

Last but not least - be patient with communication, but don't forget me. I've been told repeatedly that I will experience depression, constipation, and homesickness. More often than not, alcoholism - but trust me, if I can't poop (or too MUCH poop) there will be very little drinking!


27 months of Cassie the Nun? Who knew!

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Back on the Blogroll



I apologize for my short yet necessary break from blogging in order to get my crap together before I ship off in 13 days.

I have been to Colorado to say goodbye to my urban family, and I have come back to Kansas City to say goodbye to my Croatian family.

I am currently pulling my hair out trying to figure out what to pack.

I have a large duffle and am about to embark on purchasing a framed backpack - as my other one is completely inefficient for my 27 month journey. I never knew how expensive it would be to join the Peace Corps.
These next couple of weeks I'll be packing, and unpacking, and packing again until I get it right. I'll also be painting my mom's new house which she bought a month ago. I'll put pictures up, but I think it fair to say that I don't know the first thing about painting a house. Just another first in the next couple years to come.

Yesterday, although sick, I went to see the Kansas City section of the Tour of Missouri. It was quite exciting, and made me want to someday go to the Tour de France. I think when I get back from Paraguay and my Peace Corps issued mountain bike, I will get more into my cycling and even buy a custom bike. It would be great to get one from Josh's brother, but I have a feeling I won't be able to afford a local celebrity like him!

If you get a chance, check out the tour on the Versus Channel. You might see me cheering away!