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Life in Paraguay

Mba’eichapa (hello in Guarani).

Today marks a week since Jon and I left the United States.  It already feels like a decade ago.

We now reside in the picturesque country of Paraguay.  Paraguay is the land of red dirt roads, cows, orange trees, and terere.  Sometimes you must be weary of the cows, particularly at night.  They are everywhere. Including your neighbor’s front lawn in town.  And unlike the U.S. of A here they have horns.  Also, don’t confuse them with dogs.

I would like to introduce you to our host family and home for the next three months.  Our mom is Gladis, our father is Oscar, and we have two teenage sisters, Paz and Anahi.  They are simply great.  And hilarious.  Really hilarious. Do you know when you laugh so much that your cheeks hurt?  That’s what it’s like being around them.  Life is funny and it feels darn good to laugh.

Other volunteers describe our home as the “chuchi” one.    “Chuchi” is the Paraguayan word for fancy/upscale/uppity.  We have a flat screen TV with satellite, wi-fi internet, a washing machine, and a bathroom that looks like it belongs in a hotel with a great big hot water tank.   And my sisters, like any other teenager in the US, are addicted to Facebook and their phones. Um, yes, we are in the Peace Corps.

  

Of course, not everything is what it seems to be on the outside.  Some Paraguayans struggle with principles of personal finance and living beyond their means.  They take loans, lots of loans, for even small appliances like a blender.   Giving classes on personal finance is one of many possibilities for what Jon and I might be working on during our time here.

And since we can’t go without mentioning foods, the food has been delicious thus far.  I snapped photos of my host dad preparing a light dinner of pizza. Paraguayans love pizza, and they are pretty darn good at making it.  Peppers, onions, olives; all wonderful things to go inside of oneself.  And cheese, we all love cheese.

For some parting words, Paraguay’s people are genuine and hospitable, and unspoiled by tourism.  It’s a hidden gem that lies in the heart of South America and I am certainly looking forward to sharing more with you.

Also, I need to get a chef’s hat to be a true cook in the kitchen.

7 replies on “Life in Paraguay”

I’m so happy you can keep your blog up while you’re there! Very much looking forward to your posts and pictures!

nice to se you with chef,you can be good chef
regards from chef de cuisine,i have plan to go to work as a chef de cuisine in paraguay,let me know more about paraguay cuisine,please thank you regards from new zealand

Que hermosa familia! Exigile mucho amor a tu madre que lo tiene a patada! Que buena onda que transmitas un chiqui de nuestra riquísima y peculiar cultura, ah! Me encanto que hallas mencionado al TERERE que para nosotros es toda una filosofía de vida que encierra muchísimas historias e incluso REGLAS que por cierto lo debes aprender a rajatabla como por ejemplo que los extranjeros por ser los mas nuevos en la ronda deben “cebar” jajajaj es bromaa!

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