Long time, no see.
I don't think I've blogged since the United States froze over this winter.
To be frank, there has become a point in my exchange year where I am doing nothing else but living. I have a routine and at this time, a busy life similar to mine in the States, leaving me with little time. In all respects, I do apologize to my readers and those who follow my adventure for not updating sooner. I'll try to make it up to you by making this a super duper update.
Between celebrating my birthday on the 13th of January and now, I have been going to a lot of birthday parties. Having a lot of close family members, means getting invited to a lot of birthday parties. And a lot of birthday parties means a lot of barbecues and a lot of dancing. In this respect, I am not complaining. ;)
Since I arrived here, my mom had been telling me that she has a house in the countryside. Always, always, always my mom talked about her house in the countryside.
Well, in February I was finally able to go to it for myself. All of my brothers and sisters went, and my niece and nephews too. We woke up early at 6 AM and went to the countryside in a car. We packed food, mate, terere, and we grabbed our hammocks. We spent the day together there.
I can't even begin to explain how delicious that food was. There is something magical that happens inside a Paraguayan oven, I swear it to you. Because including all of the pastas and all of the pizzas I have cherished in my entire 19 years of life... The food that cooked in this oven was the best food I have ever eaten.
The house in the country is a beautiful place. It's peaceful. Life is simple. And the wind blows there. It's a momentary release from the suffocating heat of Pilar's city. My mom says we will stay overnight in the house in the countryside during Semana Santa in April. I am looking forward...and so are my taste buds.
Additonally, in February, I assisted my first ever family reunion. Since three years ago my mom 's side of the family has been organizing their family reunion.
That February evening, we all got together in the backyard of one of my Aunts here in Pilar. It's a fairly spacious backyard and pretty too. And I know, I know, after reading my blog all of these months you're going to be surprised.. but we started this grand party with a barbecue! After everyone finished eating, many of the relatives showed their talents by playing traditional Paraguayan music. They took up their guitars, their accordions, and their vocal chords and made magic right there in my Aunt's backyard. I love traditional Paraguayan music. There's something about it that comforts me and intrigues me all at the same time.
The family reunion was a great place for me to meet the majority of my extended host family. Family came from the other end of the city, and others came from Buenos Aires, Argentina. And I got the opportunity to spend the night with all of them.
Oh yeah, and summer in Paraguay? It's hot. It's really hot. Like, I'm sure when I say really hot.. you're imagining that worst humid day of the summer in Iowa, when it reaches 99 and you want to hide and take of all your clothes. Yeah, well. It's like that. But about three times worse.
It's so humid. It's so hot. And the world is not air conditioned like over there in the States. This Summer on average I showered 4 times daily. When you sleep, you wake up covered in sweat. The mosquitoes bite you. And you're left with a thirst that you just can't quench. Oh yeah, and if you're like me, white, white, white.. you get burnt, burnt, burnt, within minutes... if you're not careful.
Now I want to make something clear. I'm putting this into perspective for you because I have never felt so much heat in my whole entire life. But I'm not complaining. Sure, the first week of heat I basically wanted to die. But after that, I got used to it. I got used to looking forward to the days of going to the beach with my brother and sisters, to the days looking for a breeze outside our house to drink terere. I got used to looking forward to the cool nights playing volleyball in the plaza near home. I got used to it and I survived it.
I had a wonderful summer. And an even better summer vacation. Since December, I have been able to get to know my family even more. And I have to say that I have the best host family.
Now, when I tell you my family is perfect here, it doesn't mean we don't go through bumps in the road. Because, we do. All families do. But I am thankful to say I have been with them through both good and not so good times. And we continue going forward. It's super cliche but, I wouldn't change them for the world.
In mid February, I started my classes again. Last year, as you may know, I went to the high school here - the same one as my sister goes to. But this year, I wanted to do something a little more challenging. And AFS permitted me to do so. Since February, I have been going to a workshop for those who want to become English teacher. At the end of the workshop, I have a series of tests I have to pass to have the right to enter into the program.
Right now I'm in the middle of the process. I have had class up until now but next week I have to take closing tests over Mathematics, Castellano and Guarani, Professional Orientation and a communications class. If I pass all of those tests with a 60 percent of higher I have the right to take the test given by the Ministery of Education, which requires another 60 percent or higher to enter into the program.
Anyway, I've never studied so much before.
On the 8th of March, I got to go on a free trip with AFS Pilar.
I had the opprotunity to travel with my sister and my nephew to Iguazu Falls in Brazil. In Guarani "I" means water and "guazu" means big. In case you're not getting the picture, it's the third biggest waterfall in the world.
I also found out that I can understand a lot of Portuguese. Thank you, roman languages.
Argentina - Brazil
I love life.
The famous terere I'm always talking about.
Beachin' in Brazil:
Brazil - where the sand is red... and stains you. :P
Hydroelectric Plant:
Beachin' in Encarnacion, Paraguay:
Paraguay has changed my life. It has change how I see things, how I see and treat people, how I talk, how I love and how I persevere. These past 7 months I have felt a huge change inside myself. It may not be noticeable to those outside of my head and heart, but each day I feel different than I did when I arrived on this ground on August 2nd. The people, the barbecues, the terere, the laughs, the guarani, the mate, the music, the heat, the motos, the horses, the dances, the birds, the hugs, the foods, the school... it's Paraguay.
You have to feel it.
xoxo
