Loved it!

When I graduated college I knew I wanted to volunteer abroad in a Spanish speaking country and when I found SMEF I knew it would be a perfect fit for me! I stayed for 14 months and wish I could've stayed longer; I'm actually planning to go back and do fieldwork for my graduate thesis in Santa Maria because I miss it so much!!
Everything is lovely- the people, the town, the work. It's a small town so most everyone knows each other, which means my neighbors greet me as I walk to the Institute, the church, the grocery shop, or anywhere else, and I'd often stop to chat. Additionally, you live with a host family, which is a great way to practice your Spanish, learn some Guarani, and get to form meaningful relationships. You also get really close with your students; all of the volunteers teach a wide range of classes from beginners to advanced and will have one children's class too. I loved all of my classes for different reaaons- the kids are fun, energeti, and learn quickly and the adults are a joy to teach because they become your friends as well. They're also incredibly patient when you first begin and help you to feel comfortable in front of the class.
Since we teach in the morning and in the evening, there's lots of free time to go to the plaza and see the monkeys, spend time with friends, go for a swim in the river, or any number of other things. On the weekends I took harp lessons (and in the end bought a harp to bring home) and sang in the church choir (even though I'm not really a singer). You can also take weekend trips to amazing places like Iguazu falls,, or any number of natural wonders in Paraguay that aren't super touristy, which is nice; there are tons of rivers, little waterfalls, forests, etc. to explore if you're an outdoorsy person!
If you're religious, (or even if you're not) you can also take advantage of the different activities that the church has to offer. And if you're around in September for the fiesta patronal celebrating the virgin Mary or in the spring for Holy Week, there are all kinds of local festivities and events that draw in people from all around the region.
I could go on all day about the amazing time I had in Santa Maria- feel free to get in touch if you have questions.
You can also read an interview here that I did about my experience: https://www.lassosdsu.wordpress.com/2017/10/16/student-volunteer-spotlight-jen-beckner/amp/

If you do go, a couple quick tips: Pack layers!! In the winter it's warm but at night is super chilly, so you'll want a coat and some slippers. Also bring little things to share- my kids classes loved when I would put stickers on their assignments and my adults liked trying American snacks and baked goods.