Saturday, March 19, 2011

B.W.E. (Best Weekend Ever)

3-12-2011

So far this has been the best weekend I´ve had here in Paraguay. Friday got off to a rocky start because I was a grouch (super hot + hungry + and lack of sleep= IRRITABLE). I´ll admit I was ready to go home not to mention I felt like my time was being wasted at this particular training session just playing "dynamicas" aka games for prizes which I may also mention mine was the ONLY re-gifted gift, a pamphlet about PY...normally I´m no complainer but with a day already going mediocre, this was just another irritant if you know what I mean lol. I did attempt to shake it off and I went home, had my usual after class snack "pororo" (popcorn), chilled in my hammock and read my book. `PERFECT. Later, Rose (my best friend here) swung by and we planned our shopping list for our Saturday shindig. I got to sleep late on Saturday til about 11:30am (really people it doesnt take much to make me happy lol) and when I woke up I decided to organize my music for later. Rose came over around 3ish and I was still in my PJ´s lol but I got ready quickly and we went with my host mom on a bus to this local supermarket called "BoniMar" -it´s kinda chuchi because it has a bigger selction and A.C. :) and we bought the goods for our "reunion" (small get together). We left and went back to my house to beginning prepping everything. Rose made this AMAZING salsa that tasted just like it was from a Mexican restaraunt in the States and I made apple empanadas. (We both would like to open a restaraunt one day). My host mom helped us make "chips" for the salsa (basically empanada dough cut up and fried) and Rose´s mom (aka the Cheese Lady) gave us some free cheese and some Sopa Paraguaya (tastes a lot like cornbread). AWESOME! Everything was delicious and we also made wine spritzers with Sprite Zero and had one a pìece (my host mom finished the bottle but thats another story lol). The only 2 boys in our group couldnt make it because one got sick and the other sprained his ankle pretty badly, so it ended up being a girls game night with 4 of us total. The other girl left around 9ish (one forgot to tell her family she didnt need dinner and had to leave early, but next time she knows because we ALL got full with just snacks). Rose ended up staying longer and we played Spoons (fail, I need to brush up on the rules again lol something was off but we couldnt figure out what) and the LONGEST game of Uno ever known to man lol literally an hour and a half with my host mom and brother. It was SUPER (they use this word a lot here too and its comical) fun and everyone had a great time. I was especially glad my host brother got to hang out because he works and goes to classes everyday and hardly has a day off or energy for fun, kinda sad. Sunday the weather was cool and overcast all day and  it was perfect lazy weather. I pretty much chilled all day and Rose stopped by during lunch to say "Hi" and afterwards I showed my host mom some pics on my computer. Rose and Sherita both came by later and we all listened to music while planning our schedules for the following week. Then, we all went to Sherita´s house to use the internet (her family has WIFI!) and I updated my Blog. Rose met up with another volunteer to run and we met back up again afterwards. Sherita´s mom gave us all some hot tortillas (my fav) and on the way walking home there were LITERALLY fireworks...real ones like US style which is rare here because they are kinda expensive but it was the PERFECT way to end and already amazing weekend!
Rose's homemade Salsa &chips

Garlic goat cheese & crackers (courtesy of the fabrica)

My homemade Apple Empanadas :)

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Once, Twice, Amor

If you plan to visit me here in Paraguay, all I'm gonna say is at least ONE of us needs to either a.) know without a doubt where we are going or b.) have an amazing sense of direction lol. I say this because it's typical for Paraguayans not to be direct especially when it comes to locations. Nobody really knows how many blocks, names of streets, or addresses. If you're on a bus (and you're lucky) you'll be told to "get off here" by a friendly native who knows what they're talking about. If you're not so lucky, you'll be told the same thing by another native who has NO idea but just HAS to tell you something. It's true. "Excuse me sir, do you know where this street is?"...."Ok so this is the right direction just keep walking straight and it'll be on my left?"...."Great, thanks so much"...and you'll end up doing a full 360. It's  just something about Paraguayans hardly any of them will tell you the truth, "I'm sorry, I really don't know" this is a rare gem of a phrase if I've ever heard one lol. And you can't pull out a map because that's equal to wearing a target on your back and that's assuming you don't stand out already being an "American" aka White or "Brazilian" aka Black or "Chinese" aka Asian. Pretty much, know your stuff here in Paraguay if you want to have fun/survive. Slight subject change: We have the cutest little magnets here on the fridge in my host family home. I was curious and decided to point to a grasshopper magnet I didn't know the name of in Spanish and ask my host mom what it was. My host mom's response "Oh I don't know, a big ant." Really? No it's NOT an ant, not even close and thankfully I understood the word for ant and was able to argue. Another Paraguayan thing is they make wild excuses/comments like it's no big deal. "Ok why is there a crazy man driving really fast on a moto with a machete strapped to his back?".....don't panic he is just a gardener. "Sometimes this creepy older man drives by our house multiple times and stares into my bedroom window".....don't worry he's just curious. Lol these are encounters that will take me a VERY long time to get used to, if I ever accept them at all. One last thing before I go, sneezing here is also a common sport. If you sneeze once it means you're probably sick lol, if you sneeze twice it means money is coming your way and if you sneeze three times it means love is in the air- and don't be shocked if you're encouraged to sneeze 3 times, it happens to me all the time and it's strange but hey, it's Paraguay.

Gestos

Just like all other countries, Paraguayans have their own special "gestos" or gestures. Minus the ones that my host mom uses with me to communicate....despite my complete understanding of her words, there are quite a few special to only Paraguay. For example, you know how we use filler words while listening, such as: "yeah", "uh-huh", or "right"? Well instead of using words, Paraguayans usually grunt at you. When I received my first PY grunt I was confused, I thought: "Was that her stomach or mine?" Then I was taken aback and thought: "I may have offended you with my poor Spanish but hey that's no reason to get loud and rude." Now I know better, note to self: PARAGUAYANS GRUNT ON PURPOSE! Lol. Now most of the gestures I've seen are pretty universal: thumbs up, thumbs down, middle finger (yep, lol), money rub BUT the Top 10 most unique and entertaining Paraguayan gestos I've seen are as follows:

-"I dream of Genie" Double Blink translation "I'm broke, friend"
-Simple wink translation "We're dating" (NOT that we share a secret or understand one another lol)
-Nose Wrinkle translation "Something is up"
-Chin Chop translation "I've had it"
-Bull horns translation "You're spouse gets around"
-Engine Rev translation "Time for some action" (usually NOT referring to the actual riding of a moto here lol)
-Hand Rake translation "Come on over"
-Hand Slice translation "You're in trouble" (literally or jokingly)
-Shoulder Salute translation "Step off, sir"
-Palm/Elbow Smack Down translation "You're a cheapskate"