Learning to adapt in Paraguay

Some of you may have noticed that my blog has been stagnant for the past few years. Here's a little taste of what I have been up to. More to come...hopefully sooner rather than later!

When in Paraguay, you must try their traditional tea - tereré - an infusion of yerba mate and herbs.

Upon starting Miami University’s Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP), I anxiously awaited the opportunity to study abroad on an Earth Expedition (EE). As a global traveler, I looked forward to exploring and learning about a new part of the world. When it came time to apply, deciding which locations to include on my preference list was very difficult. I viewed this opportunity as my only chance to participate in an EE, so I felt added pressure to make the right selections.

I ended up picking Paraguay as my first choice for several reasons. First, I had very little knowledge of Paraguay and couldn’t envision that I would ever travel there on my own. Second, the primary focus of this EE was “eco-leadership,” which was a term that was new to me and seemed to speak to me, for some indescribable reason. Lastly, I have been longing to travel back to South America as well as improve my rusty Spanish-speaking skills.

I was excited when I learned that I was placed on the Paraguay EE. Yet, a small part of me dwelled on what I would be missing out on by not participating in one of the other EEs. Since the trip to Paraguay did not take place until mid-summer, these thoughts became harder to ignore as some of my schoolmates traveled on EEs early in the summer. Strangely, my excitement waned as the stress and busyness of coursework and everyday life took priority. Plus, figuring out how to pack everything I needed into two carry-on bags caused me a lot of frustration. Leading up to the final days before the trip, I wondered if it was really going to happen and, if so, was I going to enjoy it? (Though, honestly, I have these thoughts before almost every trip I go on!)

On the road to the unknown. Before my trip, many people asked me what I would be doing in Paraguay. I wondered the same thing!

Thankfully, the trip did take place and it was a rewarding experience. So my pre-travel skepticism was unfounded, as usual. As I look back on it now and my reasons for selecting Paraguay, I realize that every moment of the trip was special. If not for this EE, I otherwise would never have visited the places we went to, tasted the flavors of Paraguayan food and tea, been surprised by sightings of wild guinea pigs and capuchin monkeys, received a glimpse into everyday life in Paraguay, shared educational experiences with local children, or learned from Peace Corps volunteers, residents of Pilar, and staff members of Para la Tierra and ProCosara. In light of all of these factors, I've stopped wondering if I would have been better served by traveling to a different EE destination.

My favorite experience during this EE - seeing a wild guinea pig!

I didn't even notice until after returning home and editing my photos that this parrot has a heart on its chest! :)

Like all places, you can only truly experience Paraguay by being there in person plus having a willingness to try new things and go outside of your comfort zone. For me, this meant dealing with the unknown. As one of our course facilitators, Joe Sarvary, stated, “Don’t anticipate, participate.” Following that mentality was a struggle for me because I am a planner and overthinker; I like to know what to expect so I can prepare. However, during our EE, we were told very little (if anything) about the day’s schedule and activities, let alone upcoming days. Even when we were told, changes often occurred. Almost every aspect of the EE itinerary was out of my control except for how I chose to react to each circumstance. Don’t anticipate, participate. Over time, I realized I was better off going with the flow, giving my attention to the moment at hand instead of wondering what was coming next, and trusting in my ability to handle challenges and unexpected situations.

Note in my field journal from my first day in-country, based on guidance given by one of our EE facilitators, Joe Sarvary.

As I had hoped, I learned about eco-leadership, visited some interesting sites, and spoke Spanish while in Paraguay. Of everything though, I am most grateful that this EE enabled me (unexpectedly) to improve the skill of adaptability. I realize now that this was probably an unspoken goal of this EE course. The entire experience, and especially stories that Para la Tierra staff shared, made it clear that while there are some advantages to planning and knowing what to expect, we must be adaptable because even when we think we know what to expect there is no guarantee that things will go accordingly. Life is full of surprises!

My adaptability was tested on day #2, as we were asked to lead groups of local children in Eco-Club activities with little to no training on how to do so. We learned that the children had been anticipating our arrival for weeks, while we were only told about it minutes beforehand! Amazingly, it went well and was so much fun!!

On day #5, we were again given short notice of a task to lead schoolchildren in an a fun and educational activity of our choice. Plus, I needed to be speaker of my group of three since I knew Spanish. Yikes! The short timeline led to quick and easy decisions, and the activity from day #2 boosted my confidence in being able to handle this new challenge. And just as before, the experience was awesome for the kids as well as us!

A few weeks after returning from Paraguay and shifting my focus to graduation, I already had to harness this newfound awareness of adaptability due to the sudden death of a family member. Whether it’s our personal life or professional life, we never quite know what to expect. While planning and scheduling things can help organize our life, that’s all it is – a plan. Reality is much different, forcing us to continually face the unexpected. Adaptability is what enables us to continue to survive and thrive despite these changes. It's certainly a skill that I will work to continue to improve and will no longer take for granted.

Another unexpected activity on the trip was learning how to use a blowgun. I discovered that my blow-darting skills are very poor! I continued practicing though, modifying and adapting my technique each time, and my ability did improve...slightly. (Note: No animals were involved in this activity, just a cardboard box.)