I want to share a few things that intrigue me about Paraguay, things that are a bit different than the states. Let’s start with the grocery store. For example, yogurt is half different. It tastes exactly the same, but here you’re more likely to drink it than eat it with a spoon. It’s got the consistency of a melted milkshake. Most of the breads are freshly baked and get dumped in large tubs, like the kind you could bathe in if you wanted to. You pick out what you want, and you probably end up eating bread that 25 people touched before you bagged it. But when it’s fresh, it is so tasty, and a grocery bag full of it is about $1. The meat is beautiful here (if meat can be considered beautiful), and not cut in so many ways as in the States. I *think* you can get cut chicken breast, but the most common way to buy it is two halves of chickens, frozen. So you end up getting four good sized breasts for about $3. Three of us can eat three meals each from it (editor’s note – Andy, the first chicken I bought was made into butter chicken).
I take the bus to get basically anywhere I can’t walk. School and church are literally a block and a half away, some friends live just a few blocks, and the closest grocery store is *probably* around a mile or less. Anywhere else I would take the bus, and it’s around $.50 to get anywhere I need to, unless I need to change buses, which isn’t a common incident.
To use the internet, most days I have to go to this place called the cyber (see-bur) and pay about $.75 an hour to use very slow high speed access. It’s fast enough that I can watch a youtube video in a reasonable amount of time, but it’s slow enough that the video has to stop several times to catch up with itself. Hardly anyone has internet in their house. Of the people I know so far, I only know one house with internet, but that is beginning to change. Mobile WiFi is very popular here these days. I don’t think too many people have a land phone line either, but *everyone* has a cell phone. And I can text the states for as cheaply as I can text a Paraguayan. At $10 a month, it’s a really handy thing to have.
There are a couple things I don’t understand yet. It’s super super hot here, but homes are built without central air conditioning. I’m sure it’s got to do with insulation. So everyone always has windows and doors open to the elements, including bugs. You’d think they’d have realized a screen on the window will help considerably with the unwanted critters in their homes, but unfortunately it hasn’t really picked up that much steam. I almost brought some down, and may have some sent yet. Also one thing that still boggles my mind is their shower system. One thing super great about it is you never run out of hot water as long as you have water. What creeps me out though is that it’s an electrical unit – with bare electrical wires – that rains electricity-conducting water down upon your body. I mean I touched the pipe that feeds the water into it and got shocked. I need to see if my cousin can rig something up that’s just as efficient but less dangerous. He’ll be a millionaire here in no time.
My favorite part about this country: everyone always has time for you, and when someone new comes into your group, everyone gets a “hello” and a handshake. Sort of relatedly, everyone always takes time to sit down in the afternoon and drink terere. For those of you who have seen me with my “marijuana tea” (I’m looking at you, Royall employees), I finally am in a place where it’s socially acceptable. It’s sort of a production, so you do actually have to set aside time for it. It’s a great way to take a break from the heat with some good friends to drink some good, refreshing tea together and talk about what’s new. It’s very social, and very Paraguayan.
Update: I wrote this in October or early November and was waiting for more stuff to add. I think I will do a part 2 later.
I'm Jason, and I like to write.
Good synopsis. Will be waiting for part 2. Love you!
i miss it…
Ditto to Melissa.