Humaitá, El Restaurante, AFS - 50 años

On Monday, I went to Humaitá with my sister and family of her papa's. It is less than an hour away through the campo. The town itself was very beautiful and I got to walk around for about an hour. My grandmother's house was also one of the more interesting houses I've seen in Paraguay because so much of it was outside. It's basically in an "L" shape and to get to some of the rooms you have to walk outside. I like the idea of using outside as living space.

Unfortunately, I was really sick to my stomach and spent most of the day in bed drinking tea. I really liked what I did get to see and I am certain before the year is over I will be there again.

Neembucu is the region I live in. I went from Pilar to Humaita, very close to the border to Argentina. Basically where I was, if I were to cross the river I would have been over the border.

Pictures from Humaita:

Ruins of Old Church  - significant place for refugees during the Triple Alliance War 

 

 

Casa de Abuela

  

Paraguay River

 

Redwhiteblue PY

More Ruins, Yo

Replica of the old church located in front of the ruins

and just to remind you that there are always, always, cows

The rest of the week I have been spending a lot of time at my sister's house in the Restaurant that my family has opened. It's come such a long way since I've arrived. I've even helped a little by sweeping and folding napkins. And of couuurse, I've eaten some of the food and it is always delicious. We typically eat lunch there as a family in back. My mother told me that we will eat pasta EVERY Sunday. :D

Some Pictures from the Restaurant and my sister's house:

Pauli the bird is my cousin's (neighbor to my sister's) and he says hola pauli

Mateo the dog, he's okay to look at but really he's usually bothering me

and.i.love.dogs.

 

I love the color of some of the houses here

 

Back - it already has improved since this pic

Also, I am getting accustomed to drinking soda. I never drank it at home, only with rare exception.. but it has become my guilty pleasure and I look forward to it with lunch and dinner.

 Here's a photo of a moto because it's how I get anywhere and everywhere with my mother/sister. ^^^^^^^^

 

Cobblestone Roads

La Princesa 

the boys playing games, typical!

On Saturday, I went to celebrate the 50th anniversary of AFS in Paraguay with a parade in Asuncion. Since Asuncion is about five hours away from Pilar, I woke up at 4 AM and rode in a minibus with the others. When I arrived there were already a lot of people lined up and visiting. People were painting their faces and I chatted with some of my AFS friends from the arrival camp. Eventually, we proceeded down the streets with plenty of cheering and noise. :)

Friends from the USA

Iowa, Minnesota, Iowa

Inside view of the Parade, of course. ;)

 

 

 

We paraded down to the Paraguay river. There we took little ferries to cross to Club Mbiguá where we had lunch and live music. It was really interesting to talk to the other students about the experiences they have been having. Honestly, I am very jealous because many are going to school and making friends. I haven't had this opportunity yet, but I'm sure that it will come soon enough.

 

 

 

 Asuncion, so pretty from this view

After the festivities, we took the ferry across the river again. Unfortunately this is when the trip went downhill. At this time, we found out that our vehicle had a problem and was at the mechanics. After waiting for so long on the curb, it got cold.. and uncomfortable. Eventually we took a taxi to get some of our things out of the vehicle and then took another taxi to the shopping mall (Whoa, some taxi drivers in cities are wild). We hung out there for quite some time to wait. There we ate dinner and I bought myself some ice cream to save my spirits. We found out about 8:00 PM that we weren't going to be able to come home in the minibus and that we needed to take a bus from Asuncion to Pilar. We took a taxi to the bus station and purchased tickets for 10:30 PM. I arrived home at close to 5:00 AM, rather 5:00 PM as planned. :(

Overall, I've been doing quite well here. It's already my 3rd Sunday in Paraguay! The differences are eye opening, as I had assumed they would be. However, what I didn't know is that the similarities would be just as startling. Hope all is well wherever you may be.

Chau Chau. :*

<3