Back from Argentina

I safely returned to Paraguay while my family is in Peru doing the trecking to Machu Pichu! It was an amazing time, and a blog is in the works. It was such long, and fun filled vacation its taking a little while to write. I just wanted to let you all know what pics and stories are to come shortly!!

Liz

My Parents Made it to Paraguay

Hey all. The Tippy Family is finally together again, but this time south of the boarder. We are having a great time. I made a facebook album with lots of pictures. Check out the Link.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2015120&id=187300103&l=cc8351ff0e

The adventures have only just begun. But we have been lucky to have the San Juan Festivals in Paraguay, so they have tried lots of traditional food and see lots of kids play with fire.

When I have more time. I'll tell more stories!!!

See ya!

Is South Africa in South America?

The questions that I have been asked since I've been in Paraguay have been very interesting. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Today's question knocked me out of my socks. "Is South Africa in South America?" After answering the question, "No", it was hard for me to hold back and not give an entire geography lesson. I thought I would leave that to their geography teacher. After telling my host mother about this incident she was taken back also, because "everyone should learn geography in 7th grade" she said. Then she continued to tell me about her cousin who lives in the United States, when I asked what state she said Canada. Again I was shocked. She is a very proud woman therefore I did not feel it was the place to be giving her a geography lesson. This prompted me to go to the school and talk to the Nun's in the afternoon. The Nun's are in charge of the private catholic school in town. I told them that I was very interested in doing a world map project. Peace Corps has all of the information on how to do the project, only money is needed, and this is something that the school does have. The problem is finding a place where we can put the map, where ALL of the kids can see it and study every day!

In my house I have a world map, a map of paraguay, and a map of the united states. I literally find myself staring at my wall. I can't get enough! Also whenever someone comes and visits me they look at my maps and ask me questions like "how many continents are there" or "which state are you from." In situations like those I am very happy to talk about what I about geography.

With the world cup coming up, only days away!!! I've been watching the commercials and hearing the same world cup songs for about 4 months now. Therefore I am looking forward for the games to begin! When the people here found out what countries Paraguay would be playing, a few young girls came over and asked me where slovakia and italy are on the map. They had looked in their encyclopedia but couldn't find Slovakia. Another great time for a geography lesson. I explained that before Slovakia it was Czechoslovakia and now it is two different countries.

One day in my class of Informadores Turistico our activity was to draw a map of Paraguay, with its rivers, departments, and capitals. The students in the class really had no idea where to start. They couldn't even start by drawing the shape of their country. The professor was very mad, and instead of assisting the students, started to yell and draw the outline. Then one of the students found a magazine in that had a drawing of Paraguay and everyone continued to copy the drawing.

I am not sure where I am trying to go with this, but it has been a constant theme in living in Paraguay. And my host mom was wrong when she said that everyone knows their geography because they do not learn it in 7th grade. In the schools the students arn't the most important. A lot of teachers are only there for the pay check, teachers are some of the highest paid and one of the most secure jobs in Paraguay. You really have to screw up to get fired, yeah it is ok to date students. Therefore a lot of the teachers don't care about the education of their students and if they are understanding what they are teaching. Also it is ok to cheat on tests here, everyone does it, college students pay for test answers to get accepted into the program they want.

Again not sure where I am going with this, but the kids are missing a lot of relevent information that I hope I can help with just being their friend.

My first quinceañera

Since my mom didn't give me a big birthday when I turned 15, I've been looking forward to going to a quinceañera the whole time I've been in Paraguay. Well I've been here a year, and girls have turned 15 but the ones I am close with don't have the 5 thousand dollars or so that it takes to throw a good party, therefore I hadn't been to one, until last weekend!!! The birthday girl Lumi is from my training community therefore I got to visit and stay with my host family. I really didn't bring appropriate clothes for this type of party, so I went paraguayan jeans shopping. Oh did I score big time...they are technically jeans, but look more like spandex, would NEVER buy anything like this in the states but... when in Paraguay do what the Paraguayans do.





The party was supposed to start at eight but David's sisters, who started getting ready at 6, weren't ready until 9:30. When we got there Lumi was waiting in her beautiful white dress next to a box, we entered she greeted us all then took the gift we brought and put it in the box, and we were escorted to our table.





While we were sitting at the table waiting for the rest of the guests to arrive they brought one soda and one beer to the table. After most of the guests were seated the birthday girl went around passing out red roses to all of the guys. I was mad that I didn't get a rose, but the rose is what you offer the girl to ask her to dance.

David and his brother Juan, with the red rose.

Then the waltz starts and the birthday girl starts out dancing with her dad, then one by one the guys ask her to dance, only long enough for the photographer to take a picture then the next boy comes in.

After the waltz the dinner was served. Chicken, with rice salad, and sopa paraguaya. It was delicious. After dinner we sat at the table a while longer waiting for things to get started.

Lucy with her cousin who was in the cutest little tux!

While waiting for things to get started, it starting to sprinkle, then started to rain, A Lot. Everyone went under the mango trees to wait it out, then it didn't stop, the birthday girl was crying so we all started to dance in the rain. After 10 minutes of dancing, soaking wet, the lights went out. We went over to lucy's house under her porch, because there wasn't enough room for everyone at the house where the party was. About 45 min later the lights came one, the out again, still raining. The birthday girl was inside her house with tons of people and wanted to cut the cake but the photographer had left, so called me over to ask if I would take pictures.

The tradition is the girls stand by the cake first for the picture, and they all have a string that is attached to something in the cake, one string has a ring and the girl that pulls it out will get married first. David's sister Sonia pulled out the ring!!

Then all the guys get around the cake for their picture.

Remember that all of this is going on in the smallest house every while the lights were out and everyone was soaking wet. Then the birthday girl ( she's in the pink now) wanted her picture with EVERY person at the party.

After we ate the cake we were forced to go outside, the house is tiny and the mom didn't really like all the dirty and wet people inside her bedroom. We went back over to Lucy's house for a bit and hung out. At about midnight I went home, because I couldn't feel my feet any more.

Unfortunately the next two days were beautiful and sunny the only night of rain was the night of the party.

Now I can say that I've been to a quinceañera!!!

Adventures in May

My new house.

The side view of my house.

About 2 months ago I met a girl named Elizabeth. I was waiting for a bus and she came by in her car and picked me up. We've stayed in contact, she's giving me a few rides to Villarrica but we've never hung out. Well David and I went to Iturbe, where she lives and owns a gas station infront of the organic sugar cane factory, and hung out with her. She invited us to go to an Asado at her boyfriend Estancia. So that night after a meeting I had she picked us up and we went to his estancia. I was picturing nice houses, and what not. We get there and its a one bedroom mud hut with a bed on the floor, a fire outside with three men in bullet proof vests standing around watching the meat. There was a building being constructed behind, and lots of work equipment. Her boyfriend is in the business of fatting up cows, and sheep to sell and is just starting to build his estancia. We sat down and the men in the bullet proof vests were stairing at me. I had a really funny feeling and was sure I would be kiddnapped or murdered! While thinking that I was living my last night the boyfriend of Elizabeth invites us to go look around at his estancia, in the pitch black. At this time I was sure that it was the end. We walked around, looked at the electric fenses, his pond with alligators, oh thats where I thought he'd throw us, then talked about the building that was being constructed. We get back to the fire, luckly without dying, and ate lots of meat and chorizo. Well they didn't kidnapp or murder me, the night was kind of fun, but the guys in the vests were creepy. So I asked if they were body guards, no. They are other estancia owners that are very rich and are scared someone wants them. So I think the conclusion is, Elizabeth is nice I would like to hang out with her, but the boyfriend and his other rich estancia owner friends, no I would not like te hang out with.

Yataity. The captial of Aopo'i the traditional craft. I wanted to go to get new ideas for my own things that I am making. Get up at 5:45. Pooring rain. Wait for a bus. 3 busses pass becuase they are completly packed and won't let anyone else on. Finally the 4th stops and get to Villarrica. Now i have to get on another bus to Yataity. The driver tells me yes, the bus will pull into the town. While in rute the bus breaks down, get out and wait for another. Yes still raining. The next bus comes, but won't pull into the town, so I get off at the enterance and walk 2km in, still raining. Get to where I am going there are 5 other volunteers also doing the same thing I am or ordering special things for their parents. We have a good time eat good food, make cinamin rolls and gossip. When it's time to leave there are no buses, and walk 2km back to where the busses would be. Its pooring rain. Get to the road, and wait, no busses. Finally we wave down a car, get in and get to Villarrica just in time for the last bus into San Salvador. I get home and am completly wet, muddy, and smell a little.

Its starting to get cold, really cold. It's been raining for a week, and the road almost flooded, again. Everyone is getting really excited for the world cup. All of the media and propiganda is about futbol and how many days till the first Paraguay game. Well June 14th Paraguay plays Italy, then 20th they play Solvakia and the 24th they play New Zeland. GOOO Paraguay!!

My kitties being cute!

Playing soccer. Yeah pretty sure i almost died!

My new friend Elizabeth and I

Another move, a new house, and a sick cat

So the move into my new house went well, a horse and cart came to pick up my stuff to move it to the new place, which was very helpful. I have a GREAT talent of accumulating things. Not sure how I do it, but I do it very well. The new place is very nice, actually a lot nicer than the old place. It has two bed rooms, a front room, kitchen with sink, and modern bathroom and the best part is ITS ALL INSIDE!!! I no longer have to run outside when it’s poring down rain to use the bathroom or wash a dish! The house came with; table and chairs, fridge, stove, and two beds. Another great thing is during the day when it’s hot outside its nice and cool inside and at night when its chilly outside, inside its nice and comfortable. Oh wait you haven’t heard the best….I don’t have bug bites all over my body. I still itch a little but my legs, back, and butt aren’t covered. Today I went to the owners house, it’s been about a few weeks since I’ve moved in and the first thing she noticed is that my legs looked normal! Ok so the conclusion is, new house rocks!

My English class is winding down, our graduation is April 24. The day that I was prepping to give the class a charla ( little chat) about the united states, I went into Villarrica and received the letters from my mom’s science class. She has a few students from Mexico or that can speak Spanish and they wrote letters to my English class, including pictures. My girls ( English class = all girls) were sooo excited. They loved the photos and were fighting over the letters. Their homework was to write back, using as much English as they could. I took their pictures and they should be done and ready by the graduation. For their graduation, every one of them will talk in front of their families or friends that they invited. They all wrote something about their lives in English and have been practicing for a few weeks now, so it should be very fun!

I am currently prepping for my first charla about business. In the class of Informadores Turisticos we are starting to talk about if a tourist was to come, what kind of business would there be. The homework for the week was to come up with a business for San Salvador. Then the professor asked me to give a charla for the next week. So I am pretty excited. I have materials, it’s actually a business class, that I have taken themes from and am getting everything ready! I want to start the business class for the community, but I am going on a vacation when my parents come, and am going to wait till I get back so I can be fully dedicated.

Ndikuaai was acting kind of funny, not eating much, sleeping a lot and I could tell she was sick. I took her to Villarrica in a box, which she escaped from as I was getting onto the fully packed bus. Sat in the front next to the driver, with her in my hands the entire time. I got to Villarrica before the vet opened so we had to sit on the side of the street for about a half an hour. While in with the vet, he took her temp, 40 degrees Celsius, I went to get money, not wanting to watch him give her shots. David stayed with her, and when I returned I was told she didn’t like the shots and bit the doctor. Oh yeah she doesn’t have her rabies shot yet. Oops! We left her at the vet while we went to look for something to carry her home in. At the grocery store I found a plastic picnic basket which was perfect. On the way home in the hot bus, she cried, puked, and was not happy. Its been 3 days now and she still isn’t a lot better. She has been throwing up her food, and the medicine, but has been able to jump out the window and chase bugs. So there is hope.

I have been learning the traditional craft well its like cross stitch or something like that of the Paraguayans, Ao po’i. I had become friends with a girl, Nancy, who was my age and I would go to her house every day and she would teach me, we drank terere and talked girl talk! Well after two weeks of fun, her and her boyfriend decided to move to Ciudad del Este because they found jobs there. So she left, and I am left with the search for another good girlfriend, and someone to teach me more Ao po’i! These constant changes are getting exhausting!

I have also started a garden, I’ve cut down about 1/5 of the bamboo that I need, but things are coming together! I am excited to have some fresh lettuce and other veggies.

Well its starting to rain, again, and should probably turn the computer off before the lights go out. I am thinking about everyone back home, and have been really missing everyone lately. Can’t believe its been almost a year!

Love and hugs!!!

The packing of the bags

My life story. Packing bags, and moving, from house to house, state to state, city to city, or country to country. I was excited to be in one place for 2 years! I can't remember the last time I was in the same house for a long period of time.

Today at 9 am the owner of the house came over and told me that I need to be out in 2 days because her ex husband and her are getting back together and are going to live in the house. 2 days to find a place in a pueblo where I've been for 4 months looking for other options because I wanted to pay less in rent. So I went scrambling, asking every person I saw in the street if they knew of a place that was available to rent. The thing about the house now is that it has EVERYTHING the only thing I've bought is a mattress and dishes. Therefore most likely I'll have to start ALL over and buy or borrow everything needed.

I went and looked at a few places...The first place very nice, cute, big yard, lots of trees. But..no running water or bathroom. The second place very nice, beds, sink, windows, big yard,bathroom outside, but its very far from any neighbors and next to the busy road therefore I wouldn't feel very safe all alone.

Also right now they are planning on paving the road therefore all of the construction workers are moving into town taking up all the available places.

So the hunt continues. Wish me luck!