Trip to Asuncion

Our bus stop in Cerrito that takes us to Asuncion.

Local vendors sell candy, bread, and other things on the bus.

They get on at one stop and off at the next.

This man and his daughters sell things such as sunglasses, hair clips, and porn videos outside one of the supermarkets.

Asuncion is a very unique city that is not used to tourists snapping their photos.

Cutting up cows

Toba Pueblo

I took a walk today to the indigenous village that is literally next door to the farm school. These people used to be hunter-gatherers, but like many indigenous people, have been restricted to a small area with poor soil and almost no wild game. I have never seen such extreme poverty. 

Everyone is a little shy of outsiders. Most of these people speak three languages, Toba, Guarani, and Spanish, in that order.

This boy and his sisters had no idea who I was or what I was saying, But they seemed to want to share their meal of rice, onions, and beef with me.

In the village, there is a store where they sell crafts. This man was coming by to show us new necklaces and bows that he made.

While taking photos, I caught myself feeling uneasy about it. Am I exploiting these people? What's the right thing to do in this situation?

Farming

This morning I went out with some of the agriculture students.

The sky was amazing today.

Trust me, these boys are really strong.

A quick tour of the farm school

The students here are very friendly.

We started to have our meals with the students and its really fun to practice my Spanish skills. I carried on quite a long conversation with one student last night.

More pictures from this morning to come later.

Estoy en Paraguay

After a long 10 hour flight from Chicago to Buenos Aires, and an even longer bus ride from B.A. to Asuncion, Students of the World Texas Team is finally at the farm school in Paraguay. 

Today we met with the founder of Fundacion Paraguaya, Martin Burt. He gave us a lesson on social entrepreneurship and how FP's program is truly unique. I got to snap a few photos. Its my job while we're here, and that is really exciting.

We're staying in a wonderful place with plenty of accommodations, which we weren't expecting. Paraguay is really a beautiful and welcoming country.

See Change Now is our website for SOW that will soon have our daily updates. Right now you can take a look at what team from UNC, Duke, and Michigan are doing.

Caswell BBQ

Summer fun.

Only 2 days until Paraguay.

Memories...

Bad '90s hair. 

I had some pretty cool T-shirts.

My brother scanned some old family photos. 

This will do as an update until I am done with school tomorrow.

I haven't even shot on my new 40D, but the lens is in the mail :)

I WON A CANON 40D

Welcome to the next generation of digital SLR photography-the Canon EOS 40D. The EOS 40D combines Canon's tremendous know-how in both the digital and photographic worlds, creating a camera that not only does everything one would expect of a traditional digital SLR, but one that incorporates staggering leaps forward in technological innovation. With new features like Canon's EOS Integrated Cleaning System, Live View Function, a more powerful DIGIC III Image Processor, plus a 10.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, a 3.0-inch LCD monitor and more, the EOS 40D elevates digital photography to new heights, enhancing the shooting experience, and delivering images one could only expect from a Canon. 

I think this is karma's way of telling me that I need to take more photos.

Something like that...

Austin Earth Day Living Green Festival

Jody Slagle holds up a bag of Dillo Dirt, natural compost made from yard trimmings from Austin neighborhoods along with treated sewage sludge. Slagle, a City of Austin employee who has worked with the program for over 20 years, said, “a lot of people are hesitant to use [Dillo Dirt], but its safe enough to put on your vegetable garden.” 

The Frontier Brothers

Rocking your world like a space punk should.

Check them out, full length album out in September and I do believe it will be the shit.

I do kid's birthday parties

So, if you have kids and want adorable pictures, let me know.

Spring Break... finally

Mom's wedding.

brothers on the beach in Santa Cruz, CA.

I want to move to California every time I visit.

Eeyore's Birthday

It really bothers me when blogger takes forever to upload my images. I change the image size and everything, yet my patience is tested every time I try to upload something. Maybe that's why I never blog.