So today was our last day in Asuncion and in Paraguay. Today was our big shopping day. We took the five or so block walk to the artesian market. Along the way we saw many local vendors on the sidewalks, and all of them were selling the exact same thing. Bracelets, purses, etc. But the actual market was amazing. Terere cups, hand-made magnets, wind chimes, and jewelry as far as the eye can see. I’m sorry that I don’t have anything on which to reflect, but I just noticed the repetition of goods from street to street and it struck me as kind of odd. Everyone’s getting emotional now (especially Maddy and Grace, who bawled for approximately one hour last night), and I am too. It’s a good time to go home, but I’m going to miss this place so much.
Tag Archive for 'homestay'
Today was our first full day in Asuncion, and therefore our first day visiting Santa Ana. For those of you who don’t know, Santa Ana is a small community about 10 minutes outside of Asuncion.
The living conditions are so bleak and the people are in such poverty, that the government refuses to acknowledge it (The town is not on the map of Paraguay). We were all told that the town would be bad, but I really was not in store for what Santa Ana had to offer. The roads were not well paved, the rain was not properly drained, and the buildings were not upheld properly. But the biggest shock for me was when our group stopped in a soup kitchen, or comedor. But it was not for homeless adults like I might have imagined. They were kids. Some kids were comfortable enough to say a quick “Hola” or “Ciao,” but most of the children had looks of blank desperation and hopelessness – a stare that I will never forget. Just the fact that kids could not be fully supported by their guardians really impacted me. There do not seem to be any child service laws in this country. That experience today stuck out at me, and it made me realize how fortunate I was as a child to have the basic necessities to get by.
When I first got to Paraguay, I had the feeling that I might be somewhat accepted into the families I was staying with. But, I didn’t expect anything like what I´ve experienced in my few weeks of being here. For example, the parents consider me their son and not just a guest. They give me love and care just like they do with their real kids. They constantly wonder if you’re alright and where you are.
All this love is making me feel many things: confusion, acceptance, compassion, comfortable, and much more. Everyone here is just so kind to you. When you walk by, everyone says “hi,” and asks how you are, no matter if they know you or not. It’s just amazing to me how people can let complete strangers into their houses just to get out of the rain and how protective the kids down here are of me and the group. It makes me wonder would I do that if the opportunity arose. It’s kind of weird, but at the same time it’s flattering how the people here want to know everything about you. They love to hear about your likes, your dislikes, and all of your deepest thoughts.
Since I have arrived here, I have done many things. I’ve shown how Americans truly are. Americans are not all like the stereotypes people have: unintelligent people-loving war-who only party-and don’t care about anything. I have worked, played, and danced a lot together with other Paraguayans. My Spanish has improved thanks to this trip and all of my teachers young and old.
My first impressions upon coming to Paraguay were proven totally wrong. I thought that it would be poor, poverty stricken, beggars, no electricity, cut off from society… etc. However, the families that I stayed with in San Juan and Carapegua are middle class families, with cars, and food, and electricity. They are very family-oriented and love being together.
My family even had a maid. They thought that it was so strange that as an American I was so willing to help and clean.
The kids have digital cameras and everywhere you went there were kids texting on their cell phones. I was lucky enough to go to a quinceanera party in San Juan. I felt so out of place because everything was super fancy. It felt almost rude that I looked so… grungy. The girls have an almost European fashion sense and wear tons of makeup.
It is such a difference between San Juan, Carapegua, and Asuncion. From the crazy driving everywhere in the city, to the lack of actual parental rules for children that Americans take for granted. For instance, there are little to no stop lights in any of the cities, kids drive at age 11 and 12 with no licenses, kids and adults drink together, nobody believes in seat belts… I could go on and on.
On a more serious note we visited Santa Ana today, a barrio that isn’t even 15 minutes away from the center of Asuncion. The poverty level itself wasn’t a shock but some little things did stick out. Little kids were walking around in flip-flops or barefoot in the rain, chickens were drinking dirty water from the stream, people rode in wagons drawn by donkeys, and yet in the middle of all of it there was a school with murals and computers and happy kids which just goes to prove that the LSP program really does make a difference with its donations and personal relationships. I also learned a little of Santa Ana’s history and about how it is ignored by the government so much so that it isn’t even on the map.
It’s crazy, but… I love Paraguay. I don’t want to come home… except to get some chocolate chip pancakes from IHOP!!!
So far this trip has been a complete eye opener. Everything from the language to the food to the traditions are so different. When I first arrived in Carapegua, I was nervous because I have been made very aware that my Spanish is “no bueno”. But after meeting my host family, my anxieties have subsided. As soon as I arrived, the younger sister wanted to help me. She even made me a bracelet—at this point I had only just been introduced to her ten minutes before. The mother and father of the family came in and made sure everything was okay, and that their daughters had done their homework. Then we all watched TV. At that moment I realized maybe we aren’t so different. In fact, besides a few cultural differences, we are more similar than different.
Then today when we started our first project at the school, I realized that this experience is extremely important to the people of Paraguay. As we painted the mural along the school’s outside wall, little kids, bigger kids, and teachers crowded around us and complimented the work we were doing. Everyone was so grateful for our help and everyone was so curious about The United States. Throughout the past six days I have realized that this trip is not only a huge eye opener for me but it is also extremely important for the people of Paraguay.
