My favorite word since arriving in
Paraguay is guapa. Yes, it can apply to men as well (guapo),
but perhaps my feminist ear is more attuned to hear the feminine
version of the word. My mother is the best example of what it means
to be guapa. She wakes up before everyone else, makes multiple meals
throughout the day to accommodate the various schedules of the
family, takes care of her young grandchildren, cleans, washes clothes
by hand, irons, runs the store inside her house, and ALWAYS has a
smile on her face, despite how tired or how much pain she is in. She
is muy guapa, or very
hardworking.
Another thought about Paraguay is that
the people here are amazing. Paraguyans are a lovely people, who
accept me no matter how poor my Spanish or absent my Guarani (the
local indigenous language – both Spanish and Guarani are often
spoken by residents). Second, I've immediately noticed dogs are of a
different status here than in the States. They are not loved the same
way, they are sometimes not fed well, and overall their care is
just...different. In the small city where I live you will rarely find
one that is leashed or fenced. They are free to wander in and off the
property. Here in Gurambare they trot into and down the street, and
return back immediately after their brief stroll. Third, it is taking
me a long time to realize that I am not in the States. Perhaps it's
because I moved from apartment to apartment while in Chicago, or back
and forth between South Carolina and Illinois, but I am indeed
finding that I am arriving in layers; my body has arrived and my mind
has yet to follow. Today, I found myself saying here when in
fact I was referring to the US, or there. I'm
clearly discombobulated. Fourth, the diet here is FULL of
carbohydrates and many dishes are fried. So far I've found my meals
to lack fiber and nutritional value, aside from those nutrients found
in meat. I've been told that diabetes is problem here and
working to improve diets is often a secondary project of volunteers.
One PCV (Peace Corps Volunteer) told me that in her community the
people are aware of the problem and are seeking ways to improve their diet.
Lastly,
we were warned before we came that Paraguayans are very particular
about personal appearance. I'm finding that to be true within my
household. Our mother has already commented on our dirty feet, dirty
bookbags, and wrinkled shirts. At the very least I'm glad that she
feels comfortable enough to bluntly tell us to address these items,
as opposed to working them politely into conversation as I'm told
many Paraguayans do. Overall, Jason thinks that we have picked up
better habits, although I think that this is especially true for him.
Cough. I always ironed my shirts if they were wrinkled or
washed something if it was dirty. My
evening tasks? To iron the pile of clothes that I have been washed
over the last couple of days and prepare for tomorrow's excursion to
the capital city of Paraguay, Asuncion.
P.S. Sorry for the
grammatical mistakes in past blog entries – I imagine my English
teachers to paint these posts with red pen and write “EDIT!” in
large letters at the top. Well from now on I'll ***try*** to have my editor
(Jason) check my work. :)
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