Many people ask me what it is I actually do day to day while serving in Peace Corps as a Community Economic Development volunteer, and now that I am settled into my site, I have a pretty regular schedule. Here is a breakdown of a normal day for me in Chacas:

Sunday

8:30 AM – Mass in the Sanctuary of Mama Ashu

12:30 PM – Lunch with my Host Family

3:00 PM – Working with students on their business plans or English tutoring

7:00 PM – Dinner with Jorge at Pizzeria San Francisco, my town’s best restaurant that is only open on Sundays!

Monday

9:30 AM – Alternating Financial Education/English classes in the Preschool (aka giving a lot of hugs and peeling a lot of kids’ fruits)

1:30 PM – Lunch with Host Family

3:00 PM – English Conversation Workshop with 9 English Teachers in the Province of Asunción

6:00 PM – Afternoon Tea with Jorge

8:00 PM – Dinner with Host Family

Tuesday

7:40 AM – English Class with High School Seniors

9:15 AM – Work at the Municipality

11:15 AM – English Class with High School Seniors

11:55 AM – English Class with High School Freshman

1:30 PM – Lunch with Host Family

3:30 PM – Work with Tourism Guide Students in the Institute of Technology of Tazpampa (30 minutes away from Chacas)

6:00 PM – Afternoon Tea with Jorge

8:00 PM – Dinner with Host Family

Wednesday

8:30 AM – Work in the Municipality

11:15 AM – Work on Business Plan Writing with High School Seniors

11:55 AM – Work on Business Plan Writing with High School Seniors

12:30 PM – Community Bank Meeting with Banco Asunción (1x a month)

1:30 PM – Lunch with Host Family

4:00 PM – Business Consulting with Small Business in Chacas

6:00 PM – Financial Education class in the Municipality for the general public

8:00 PM – Dinner with Host Family

Thursday

7:40 AM – English Class with High School Freshman

9:15 AM – English Class with High School Sophomores

11:30 AM – Work in the Municipality

1:30 PM – Lunch with Host Family

6:00 PM – English/Tourism with Don Bosco Artesans

8:00 PM – Dinner with Host Family

Friday

9:30 AM – Alternating English/Financial Education classes with 1st and 2nd Graders

11:30 AM – Work in Municipality

1:30 PM – Lunch with Host Family

6:00 PM – Afternoon Tea with Jorge

8:00 PM – Dinner with Host Family

Saturday

Usually a hike or activity around town.

Sometimes I help some students with English in the afternoons

Of course, there are always surprises and unexpected events that pop up, but in general this is the work and a typical day in my town in Chacas. The day starts early and ends early. I usually end every day by reading or watching movies or TV shows on my computer. I am learning to enjoy the simplicity of life and how to value my personal time to the maximum, because otherwise, living in a tiny town can get lonely or boring compared to living in a city in the United States.