Well the last few weeks I’ve been adjusting to my new life here in Asuncion. I’ve been going in the cooperativa everyday in the mornings to chat with people in the office. I’ve also started attending a training class at the cooperativa with a new employee that will be working in microfinance (giving loans of about $200 to small business owners). I have been learning about how they determine whether a person is credit worthy, and what interest rates they will charge. Very interesting!
Last weekend, I spent a lot of time with fellow Peace Corps Paraguay Volunteers. A few of us got together on Saturday to see the Paraguayan movie 7 Cajas (7 boxes). It was really good and mostly filmed about 15 minutes from where I live! On Sunday, I got together with other Peace Corps Volunteers that live around Asuncion. We met up in Aregua, about a 1.5 hour bus ride away. Speaking of busses… what a bunch of confusion! The busses here all have numbers and destinations, but some numbers go different places. Also, there are no official bus stops, so you just put your arm out on any street when you want to get on and ring the bell when you want to jump off! There are no bus maps, so you have to ask people which busses to take where. Needless to say, I am having a lot of trouble with the bus system! Anyways, Aregua was fun. About 8 of us met up for lunch and then we went to a strawberry festival. There were about 15 vendors selling different types of strawberry items.
Yesterday was officially my 3 month mark in Paraguay. Everything was going fine. I printed out some flyers to advertise my upcoming business plan class to the women in the flip flop decorating class. Then I got to the cooperativa and fell down the stairs! It wasn’t that bad… the last step was uneven and I happened to step on that part of it. So I celebrated my 3 months with a Peace Corps Doctor getting my ankle x-rayed. No broken bones, but my ankle is still very swollen and I can’t walk! I am using crutches to get around, not fun. The good news is I am not having any more ear or stomach issues right now! I’m pretty disappointed because I had plans this weekend to visit my host family from Ypane, and go to a meeting for the Young Entrepreneurs of Paraguay program.
That’s all for now!
Yours Truly, Julie G
YoursTrulyJulieG 
I hope u r not n to much pain! It has been great talking with u . I didn’t get to concentrate on our conversation the other night with everyone over! Lisa sent an email saying that she loved talking to u. Do u stay in the house all day with u r injury or u getting to go to the office? We will talk again soon so that I can see for myself. Love u & take care Honey
Hey Honey,
I tried to call you this morning. My ankle is mostly better, but I still have some pain. I can walk around okay, but not ready for any sports yet. I will try to call you a little later. Love you!