Shacks decorate the barren landscape. Clothes, strung from trees, shelter tied up with string and sheet metal. A poignant stench fills the air as tho to knock someone out within a first encounter. Poverty. The brown dark streets lay miles ahead in an endless sea of concrete. Asuncion, a city filled with poverty. A city that attempts to hide the shame behind bars. A city that places the main government buildings next to the poorerst barrio en Paraguay. A city like no other.
Within all the poverty live some of the happiest people i’ve ever met on the planet. A rich culture dominates the landscape and fills every heart with something each of us are missing, a true honest community. The power of a smile,one brow, a shape of a lip can do incredible things. It can transform a village of shacks into a paradise and it can inspire the people to live life to its fullest. The power of community and love can overpower the stench of the dirty stricken streets, the power of laughter can overcome the pain of a hungry stomach, and the power of friendship can turn the hardship of life into something that they will fight to overcome together. One family, Paraguay.
I came to Paraguay with no expectations, preconcived notions, or thoughts. Only questions had filled my mind before my departure. What, where, who, when, and why is Paraguay the way it is. Throughout my journey I’ve been able to answer these questions. What? Paraguay is a nation that works hard to support it’s family.
Whether moving to America and leaving the kids behind in order to support the family, or whether it be the young kids who give up half their eating portion at the soup kitchen in order to bring the food back to their parents. In front of mansions, shacks, and small homes lie the same trash, dirt and cobblestone. Their is no divide and boundary of poverty like we have in the US. Poverty is in front of your mansion and behind your walls and barbed wire fence, there is no escaping from the reality. Paraguay is filled with loving, welcoming, humble people. I have never felt in my life, so welcomed and loved by people I had only spent time with for a week. I was literally famous across Paraguay. People in Isla Pucu wanted pictures with us, autographs, and even our telephone numbers. I cannot explain how great if felt to be loved after coming from such a drasticly different culture. Never in my life have I seen a country as proud and nationalistic as America until I arrived in Paraguay. Bicentenario signs decorated each street, hosue, corner, shop, drink, commercial. I have never seen so many flags strung and so many people proud of their country. When Paraguay scored against Brazil, my brothers jumped up and screamed their love for their country, a memory I will never forget. A people, proud and loving, a nationalistic pride for 200 years of independence. The teenagers are a mirror of who we are and the way we live. Privileges, finally shined in on us so that we can realize what we truly have to be thankful for. Our school, family, loved ones, and friends should never be taken for granted after this experience. After the warmth and hospitality shown by every house family. After every present, every kiss, every warm embrace filled with love. We must appreciate after seeing bathrooms with no toilet paper, without soap, houses without heat and air conditioning, streets filled with small lakes because of a lack of drainage, people who cannot receive services from the government because they are considered to be “off the map.” Come home and put your phones away, show your love and appreciation, play with your dog or cat, hold your brother and sister like there is no tommorow, cherish each time to take a trip in the bathroom that you can put toilet paper in the bowl. Be thankful for your hot water (without turning on a switch) and your soft beds.
Think about what you have and come to the realization that we live lives that would be considered to be perfect for millions of people.
Appreciate what you have and cherish each moment dearly.
With much love,
Yoni Kalin
One thought on “Day 16 – el 10 de julio”
Yoni, congratulations. I am compassionately moved by just reading this blog from you. What a wonderful man you are becoming. Sounds as if you learned one of life’s most important lessons in Paraguay, and that is gratitude. To me there is no greater lesson in life than to learn to be thankful for all the things in life that we take for granted. Toilet paper, hot water, each other, and on and on it goes. In the words of Eckhardt Tolle, “if the only prayer we ever pray is thank you, that would be enough.” I am so very proud and I know your parents are too. Keep up the good work. Monica Porter, Malique’s mom!