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As a shout out to Paraguayans everywhere! Mi corazon esta con ustedes.
It is the eve of the biggest futbol game Paraguay has ever played. World Cup - Quarter finals. I am thrilled and quite nervous. Should Paraguay advance it will create a flurry of excitement in Paraguay that I can't even begin to imagine!
Here are a few facts:
Paraguay is the only country in the world with a flag that is different on each side.
Albiroja: The name of the Paraguayan soccer jersey-see photoAs one of the underdogs in the World Cups - some have wonder what powers the Pyan team. Here is an explanation of Terere.
Three very excited Returned PCVs from Paraguay after the PY victory over Japan on Tuesday.
While in Paraguay one of my favorite foods was Chipa-Guazu: a corn, corn-meal, cheesy delight. Since returning to the U.S. I have made an Amiercanized version of chipa-guazu. Here is the recipe - try it, you'll like it!
JIFFY-GUAZU
1 box of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
1/3 cup milk (the wholer-the better)
2 eggs (maybe 3)
3 tbs butter
3 tbs olive oil (because I didn't have pig fat)
1 chopped onion
1/2 can of sweet corn
bunches of graded cheese - I used cheddar but anything will work!
Follow the baking instructions on the box. I made muffins but I would imagine it would be just as delicious in loaf-form.
Enjoy! Its delicious!
These are the delightful ladies I have been spending so much of my time with! I couldn't ask for better company!
I have tried throughout my experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer and since my return home to the United States, to show and tell people what Paraguay is and was like for me. I wrote about the people I have met and the relationships that formed. I posted pictures of my house, my community, my friends and even my wash bucket. I posted a few YouTube videos of what my house and neighborhood looked like. But even though all of these things can help people gain a better understanding of Paraguay and the effects it had on my life, I am sure there are still millions of things to be shown and explained.
This YouTube video was produced by a small group of Peace Corps Volunteers in Paraguay. It was for incoming volunteers to give them a better idea of what they can expect if they decide to go to Paraguay. It is another way to learn more about PY. I hope you watch it and enjoy it. I still get a little teary eyed when I watch it.
The song that is played in the background was written and performed by PCV Nick Bayard and his community contact Senor Bogado on their album El Duo de Oro (The Golden Du0). The song is titled, "Cuerpo de Paz Paraguay" (Peace Corps Paraguay) and speaks to the spectrum of activities that Peace Corps Volunteers do with and within their communities.
And you thought all of my travel adventures were over. Oh, no. Not even close! Here I am in the "mighty" small town of Nemaha, IA. Home of the tractor promenade - where tractors know how to square dance!
It is my conclusion that: the people who cover the world, are exactly the same. There are still many corners of the earth I still have great desire to see and know. Recently, my through my homecoming and reconnection to people, many things have made me chuckle to myself in the last month that I feel can only be expressed to a point – which is a great pitfall because of the richness that I feel about the “sameness” and universal-ness of people. It is only now that I have seen it first hand in a foreign land and come home with a new kind of vision (even though my eyesight has worsened). I can try to tell you a few of the things that have made me giggle-and only hope to convey the feelings they make me feel.
• Stealing water
While in Paraguay, I tried to convince Paraguayans that I was not spending two years in their country to figure out a way to steal their water. What a crazy assumption I thought, Americans would never think that. Well today at the public library, as I filled my water bottle up at the drinking fountain (an amazing novelty in the US), said to me, “Stealing our water, are you?” I almost fell over and spilled my water. I wanted to tell her how Paraguayan she sounded to me, but I knew I would not able to explain myself completely with out taking a good 10 minutes, and I didn’t think she would find it nearly as amusing as I did.
• So they say, storms come when something happens for the first time. Really?
I had never heard this term. Danielle explained that it was a phrase that campo-people use when someone does something very out of the ordinary (or out of their norm). That today it will for sure rain, or there will be a storm. It seemed like a strange old wives tale to me. Until yesterday, when Wanda of Wanda’s Beauty Salon (located next to my grandmother shop) said, “there is going to be a storm today, Francis was late for her appointment this morning – and you know that never happens!” Shocked I asked her to repeat what she said and asked if that was a common “american” phrase to use? She said, “Well, yeah. You are just a city folk. That’s why you haven’t ever heard it.” But I guess campo-paraguayans are very similar to campo-iowans!
• Who is he? Oh you know, he was in Philips class.
I am sure this is a phrase you have heard tossed around at family gatherings. When families are talking about a, somewhat known person in the community, informing the others about the latest gossip on him/her a phrase like, “Oh you know, he went to kindergarden with Paul. Usually the other family members need a frame of reference to identify this individual. Paraguayan and Americans alike use this technique to jog memories. it makes sense, it is highly effective form of “clueing” someone in. It has made me chuckle lately because this simple phrase can become a conversation of its own in any language.
• Mis-understandings happen in all languages – no matter your native tongue.
I knew that living in two foreign languages made me prone to misunderstandings. and I guess in the back of my mind I had hoped that upon my return, all confusion would subside and that clarity would come thanks to my native tongue. There would be no more random mix-ups about what kind of meat or how many kilos of onions I wanted to buy. That I would make perfect sense to everyone, and them to me! I was wrong. No such luck.
I was thrilled to be home for fall. I was planning on spending Halloween with my grandmother and great-aunt. I have always loved carving pumpkins and want to take full advantage of the “normalness” of Halloween, even if I was the youngest kid at our house that would enjoy it. The trick with carving a pumpkin is that you have to have one before you can carve it. Tricky, right? On the road to town, there was a farm that had lots of pumpkins and squash for sale on a wagon by the road. I pulled in, knocked on the front door, asked if it was true that the pumpkins were for sale and was told I could have my pick, pumpkins cost 3$ each. I found a cute one that looked like it would be well-suited to have a face. I also found a cool gord that looked potentially carve-able if I could convince it to dry right. As I walked back to the house to pay the woman she said, “oh that squash, its only a dollar.” “Great,” I said, “I love when I have cheap taste.” So I walked up to the house and handed her a 5$ bill. She took it and disappeared into the house. I waited a second, assuming she would return with my $1. She didn’t come at first so I decided to load my pumpkins into the car. I waited a bit longer by my car. Walked around the yard a bit. Still no change. I was confused to say the least, in my mind three dollars for one pumpkin plus one dollar for a squash/gord should equal four dollars. After a good 10 minutes, I threw-in the towel and called it even. No change, but I wasn’t charged 3$ for each pumpkin at least.
Mom and Mick in Grand Marais - Lake Superior behind them
My blog hasn't swam in some time. It has not been due to lack of activity to report - but by a lack of knowing where and how to start to tell of my adventures.
Since my last post -
I went to Colombia, met up with two fabulous friends, tour, ate, danced, swam, laid on the beach, took pictures, picked up sea shells, drank tropical drinks on the sand, met phenomenal Colombians and enjoyed myself thoroughly.
I then continued my adventure - and made the big return to the United States of America. Welcomed into Atlanta, GA by the "balloon boy" CNN coverage, blackberries and paper-thin laptops! Slightly overwhelmed, I continued my journey to Chicago, Midway Airport. Where I was greeted by the most amazing of welcome-wagons!
I spent a week in Chicago, enjoying fall, spending time with wonderful people and soaking in Chi-town. My mom was under the impression that I was still in Colombia on a jungle trek. My plan was to surprise her and my "jungle" turned out to be more of an "urban jungle".
My brother and I made our way to Minneapolis by Megabus - through snow and sleet. We hoped the LightRail - to a stop close to home and Mick picked us up. Still on the down-low. Willie was sitting in the living room when mom got home. She walked in and here is how it went:
M: "Oh willie, you arent supposed to be home."
W: "Yeah, I know, I just thought I would come home and surprise you and see how you are doing. Is it ok that Im home?"
M: "Oh yeah, I was feeling tired and worn out at the end of the week, and now that you are here I feel way better."
and then I walked in...
r: "Is it ok that Im home?"
she just stood there and sank into the floor a bit.
M: "Oh, Oh rachel, you arent supposed to be home yet. Its a mess here, I haven't cleaned anything yet."
She was surprised, delighted at first, until she found out that everyone knew before she did. And then the only thing she could do was call all of us, naughty. Naughty, naughty, naughty. Which lasted about an hour.
We headed north to Grand Marais to spend a weekend at Lake Superior! It was fantastic. We talked the whole way, saw (but did not hit) 12 deer and got to ride in the fancy new van!
I have been home about a month now. It is still strange that everyone speaks English (especially in public), I am still very excited about the fully-equipped (free) bathrooms and even more so about spending time with the people I have missed.
I have been spending time with my grandmother and great-aunt. Being together and doing whatever it is they ask. Tonight is my turn to make dinner.
Until soon.
Back together again!
The first time I saw snow in three years!
Three very excited Returned PCVs from Paraguay after the PY victory over Japan on Tuesday.
