Direccion

Here is how youse guys can reach me down there:

Jaimee De Pompeo, PCT

Cuerpo de Paz

162 Chaco Boreal c/Mcal. Lopez

Asuncion 1580, Paraguay

South America

jaimeedepompeo@gmail.com

skype: jaimeedepompeo

sooo last day: still doing some shopping of course, attempting to cry as little as possible, eating some good american comida and having a blue points or five with some of my favorite humans.

talk to you all from SA!

The Final Countdown

This time next week i will be settling into my south american life! Currently, its 99 degress in Paraguay which may or may not be more appealing then the foot of snow thats on the ground here. I've been packing my face off all day and I'm making fairly decent progress and am still way under weight which was my main concern at the start of the this process. I never in my life the decision of how many t shirts to bring or not bring would give me this much agita. My birks came in the mail today! Now i really feel ready to tackle the third world terrain. Sal is still in the process of making me some skirts and pairs of pants for the journey, and I think those are the last things i have to squeeze in there!

I'm sitting in my living room watching Keeping Up With The Kardashians-man what a difference a week is going to make. The anxiety has officially reached citical mass so I think its safe to say I'm ready to get on that plane. I've gotten various emails from various trainers and coordinators and safety advisors (awsome job 20/20-i owe ya one) but there is still so much mystery! I guess really how much can they tell you. You're going to south america, its gonna be hot as cajones and you're going to have to learn a shit load of things in 11 weeks-and then you get released into the wild to go do some good. I guess at the end of the day, the rest is just details.

The week has been full of goodbyes-and consequently crying, but I above all I am excited. I've been neurotic about collecting every last address and went on a card shopping spree yesterday so dont worry everyone, a letter/card is coming your way.

Until next time amigos!

KIVA

Firstly, I want to thank all my wonderful, compassionate, and civic minded friends who helped Trev and Katie get me this great KIVA gift card! I am going to be sure to update all of you here as KIVA updates me so you can all see the great thing you did!

I made my first three loans today:

Sop Serigne Saliou Group

Louga, Senegal

Fatima Majeed Ahmed

Pakpattan, Pakistan

Dora Glicet Guzman Chavez

Villa Nueva, Guatemala

Thank you all so much! I will keep you posted.

Adios America

So this is the beginning of my much promised blog. I have fourteen remaining days left in the US before my departure for Paraguay-and about1229374 things to do. What to pack, what not to pack, shopping, crying, saying good byes, eating my favorite things/watching my favorite shows, freaking out and crying some more, reading everything i can about the peace corps and paraguay, and finally some more crying are all things on my mind/to-do list these last couple days. I am trying to process the huge step I am about to make but I am well aware it is basically impossible to really understand or predict the adventure that I am about to embark on.

This weekend was my going away party. There was a keg, good food, a great band, and everyone I loved in one place-needless to say it was a perfect way to say the good byes and i love yous that I needed to say.

ruggers came to play!

grandma had a bunch of fun

so excited to see everyone!

Ali and I and our favorite midshippersons