On Sundays, Paraguayans turn their attention towards their families. The empty streets this July morning were testament to that statement – instead if seeing people hurrying to and from work, the streets of Asunción stood completely empty, with the exception of the occasional passing bus.
But as visitors, we decided to take advantage of our last full day here by heading out on a morning walk to see the sights of a city we’ve come to love. We started out at a church dating back to the 1840’s and rounded out our walk by seeing the presidential palace, and El Cabildo, the national cultural center.
This was my second tour of Asunción as I participated in LearnServe Paraguay in 2011 as a rising high school junior. Three years later, I see myself, and this city with different eyes. 2011 was the bicentennial of Paraguayan independence, and the streets were filled to the brim with patriotic flags and banners. Today, remnants of the celebration can still be found, but the flags are fewer and recent flooding has displaced thousands of families.
On my first trip, I struggled to speak and understand my Paraguayan friends. This go-round I’ve greatly improved my Spanish but I struggle with daily pain as a result of a long-standing concussion. Yet my passion for this country, and it’s kind and generous people, remains unchanged. The dedicated community members of Santa Ana remind me of how Paraguayans have come together during this time of need to help each other find housing on dry ground.
Our LearnServe group has bonded greatly as well, and has become a second family to me over these two weeks of adventure. Eighteen high school students, three teachers, and I have worked together, played cards together, and even struggled together over the past seventeen days. Through this experience, we’ve formed an unusually large and diverse family. I’ve come to rely on everyone at some point on this trip, and many have relied on me to crank up a joke or game on our many rainy days.
As much as we learned from our host families and friends in Paraguay, we’ve also learned from each other. We’ve learned that the things that divide us, be it age, race, or neighborhood, pale in comparison to the values that unite us – love of learning, service, and a good game of “Honey Do You Love Me?” to name a few. I’m thankful that LearnServe not only broadens our view of the world, but also connects the many parts of the DC metro area. I hope that our strange and wonderful family of 22 stays in touch after coming home; that we don’t forget the kindness of the Paraguayan people or the beauty of quiet streets on a Sunday morning.
Marnie Klein, LearnServe Summer Intern supported by the Allianz Foundation for North America, LearnServe Paraguay 2011, Georgetown University
One thought on “Paraguay 2014, Day 13 – Our strange and wonderful family”
very thoughtful