Paraguay 2014, Day 14 – Positivity, Patience & Compassion

As this South American escapade comes to a closing, I’ve learned and gained a lot from this experience. Some of these things consist of positivity, patience and compassion. Even when there was a leak in the tin roof of my home or a cancellation of plans because of the torrential downpour, the locals still carried themselves as if nothing was wrong and life was good.

While in country, I’ve realized the families live off the bare necessities, and push through the situations that occur in their lives. It made me realize the complaints I make about chores or the small things in the states are unnecessary. For example, next time my parents ask me to do laundry, I will think back to Paraguay because here when I stayed in the campo with my home stay mother and sister, Maria and Carolina had to wash clothes in a bucket and scrub the clothes. It looked extremely tedious and straining. Also when I have to eat leftovers, I will still enjoy the meal and think back on how they have smaller portions and how a few of my nights consisted of bread for dinner.

This trip also encourages me to focus more in school because I have a variety of opportunities as to what I do with my life compared those I’ve met here. For example when it rains, snows, or hails I still have to go to school, but in the campo they don’t have school because the roads aren’t accessible. The school systems in rural Paraguay aren’t as good as our school system because when Paraguayan schools miss days, they don’t make them up. This trip also taught me to work on my fluency and practice my Spanish.

Today I learned something from our adventure at the mall. The mall included a movie theatre, food court and a few stores we knew like Gap, Adidas, Aldo’s, and Nike. There were others stores, too. It had a lot of variation and reminded me of Annapolis Mall. Overall nice, but it was expensive. I expected the clothes to be cheaper, but they weren’t. Being at their mall made me realize Paraguay consists of quite different economic statuses.  Seeing the poorer side of Paraguay and then the more affluent side made me think about their roles and perspectives of the flood and the displacement that has happened as a result.

The poorer side of Paraguay is stuck because the government doesn’t support them and they are losing everything they have. The affluent neighbors of the slums are upset because the crime has increased and they have to pay taxes unlike the poor. The government feels bad for having to put the poor in this situation but they also feel like the locals have put themselves in this situation. I personally think the solution to this problem is for the poor to pay taxes and the governments to start supporting them. I feel for all sides because they all have valid points and being here I feel I have contributed something purposeful to the groups that needed help most by completing the activities in this program. I’m extremely grateful for what I have and for the opportunity to have this adventure.

Leah, 15, Edmund Burke School