Machucando "Staging" ::: Crushing "Staging"

Forty-six individuals entered my life today. I've been told that these new people and I will share a indescribable bond that is often unmatched. We will be each other's shoulders and ears, we will share each other's hearts, and we will bolster each other high when we yearn for the ground. I met these talented men and women today at our "staging" event.  We've spent seven hours learning about our travel plans, playing ice breakers, and sharing knowledge about our new host country. I am now huddled around a power station at our gate with six volunteers. Some are talking on their phones and the rest of us are clacking away on our laptops. In less than 12-hours we will find ourselves in Paraguay. My new chapter has already begun and I can't wait for the next page. 

Vincent, the US Paraguay Desk Officer, giving us the 411 on our evening travel. 

Meet the 47-members of Peace Corps Paraguay G43

My luggage marked by Peace Corps Paraguayan tradition. Blue represents my sector (Agriculture) and red that I am married. 

We're almost there! (Can you find Jason in this photo?)

Machucando el Final del Verano ::: Smashing the End of Summer

Plump squirrels, cooling temperatures, and children frolicking  in play-yards; the fall season has arrived in the midwest -- and we'll only get a taste. We leave for Paraguay in two days and when we arrive we will be greeted by spring, but not the Chicago kind. Paraguay has sub-tropical and tropical climates, and south of the equator the shorter and milder winter has closed. The passing winter is much like that of Charleston. In fact, at the beginning of September Asuncion had highs in the high 90's. Back in Chicago I could not have asked for a more fulfilling summer. Over the last few weeks my heart has been bursting with so much excitement and love, and my time has been gladly dominated by family gatherings. I'm so lucky to be a part of the Machuca-Sonnefeldt-Berson-Gagliano-Gines family.

Here are some photos from the last few days:

Congrats Mrs. Koprivica! 

It was a blast spending time with the Sonnefeldt-Gagliano-Koprivica gang. 

My aunts and I enjoying our last lunch together before I leave. Bersons represent!

Last supper with the Machuca-Gines crew.

Machucando una Vida Estancada ::: Crushing a Stagnant Life

Many of you might not know, but my last name is not just any name; it means a lot to a lot of different people. My mother, with the maiden name of Brown, was first excited to take the name of her betrothed. She has since kept it twenty plus years after she and my father divorced. My papa tells me that the name is very old and comes from the Castile region of Spain, with its own family crest. To me it is simply my name, a name I'm so deeply attached to I could not let it go when I married -- not completely anyway. But the part that many of you may REALLY not know is that in Spanish "machucar" means "to crush" or "to smash."

The titles of this blog and this entry are both different conjugations of the verb machucar. *Machuca en Paraguay* can be simply translated to "Machuca in Paraguay" or "[She] Smashes in Paraguay." What on earth is she smashing? Well you'll find that out as you read my posts. This one in particular not only serves as an introduction to my Peace Corps experience, but also seeks to explain how this journey all began. Briefly I'll say that the idea started with Netflix and a quarter-life crisis. In a chaotic summary: life-long Chicagoan, dissatisfaction with teaching high school, Anthony Bourdain, long-term relationship, 180º South. Basically, at the time that my husband and I began to throw around the idea of applying to Peace Corps I felt as though life was stale and I wasn't ready to sit in the role of a married Chicago teacher indefinitely...at least at that point in my life. We agreed to sell all of our furniture and unnecessary household items, and moved to South Carolina where I began as a Peace Corps Master's International (PCMI) student in the Master's of Environmental Studies (MES) program at the College of Charleston (CofC). Below is more in depth timeline, which for many of you this timeline may be useless, but I found similar posts helpful when applying to Peace Corps. 

Here's how it went down:
    December 2009 - Discussed Peace Corps and graduate school (PCMI) with the hubby
    January 2010 - Went to an info session & applied to CofC
    December 2011 - Moved to Charleston and started as a PCMI student
    April 2012 - Completed PC application
    Early June 2012 - Interviewed in Atlanta
    Late June 2012 - Nominated to serve July-Sept 2013
    March 2013 - Invited to serve in Paraguay, September 2013
    May 2013 - Acquired most required vaccinations, and completed dental and eye exams
    July 2013 - Completed all remaining medical forms and required bloodwork
    August 2013 - Completed pre-departure materials

So here I am, with nearly three weeks in between this moment and the time that my partner and I close this chapter and open the next. I cannot say that I am in the best state of mind right now. Life transitions and I have not always fared well, but very very soon these feelings will be forgotten and a new flutter of butterflies will begin bustling around in my belly.  With all of my paperwork completed, the remaining time in the states will be doing last minute shopping, packing, and spending time with my family.