Our first four days in Isla Pucu, Paraguay have given me new insights into Paraguay. I first came here in 1997 as a Peace Corps volunteer, and I learned up front many of the realities and successes of this South American nation. I learned how peasant families had to stretch resources as far as possible, how they relied heavily on their agricultural harvest, and how sometimes there just was not enough. Despite these challenges, they united in the best interest of the family, and many saw the next day as a new opportunity.
Coming back, I knew this was not a chance for me to renew my experiences. Instead, I wanted to learn about Paraguay through the eyes of the students. I could not be more thrilled with how they have responded. After the challenges of the first day of getting to know the people of Isla Pucu, our students have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the Paraguayan people. I have seen students glowing with happiness as they feel they have connected immediately with host families. Students have enjoyed teaching games to their Paraguayan counterparts, and some have jumped into the daily soccer games. Most importantly, these students are learning the values of patience and understanding. With a variety of language abilities, all students have felt welcomed by their host families. Even those who doubted their language communication skills, have marveled at how well they feel they have connected.
On the flip side, the students are also observing various aspects of poverty in this region. While the host families are somewhat more well off than families in the surrounding countryside, there are still many issues facing Isla Pucu. The residents are quite resourceful, but this is perhaps more of a result of necessity. Cell phones are quite common because land lines are unreliabe. There is only one paved road in town, making transportation tricky. This may partly explain why motorcycles are so common. Motorcycles are also much more affordable than cars. As far as those who do have cars, quite a few are in bad condition with either missing parts or mismatched parts. Finally, while the families appear to have modern accessories such as appliances or electronics, many such cases have come as a result of at least one family member leaving home for an extended period to work.
In the end, the Learn Serve students are learning first hand the resourcefulness and pride of the Paraguayan people. They are learning how this community is moving forward with or without outside help.
-Brian Whitford