Fuerza Albirroja!!!

Here in South America, winter has been entered upon. Although most must assume that winter is not “real” here in Paraguay since it is one of the tropical countries, let me assure you Paraguay is a subtropical country, and it has been ever so hard to leave my bolsa de dormir (sleeping bag) since the start of July due to the coldness.

July started with a trip to Asuncion, the Capital and into the Chaco to a self sufficient agricultural high school is located for a 4 day training. This school was amazing because they produced their own food and created their own income through selling the goods created at the school. This was during the World Cup, so needless to say, training had to be stopped mid-training to watch Paraguay play.

Being in Paraguay during the World Cup was really amazing. Paraguay was one of only 6 Peace Corps countries that qualified, and as they made it into the Semi-quarter finals besides Ghana. So, basically Paraguay was going crazy. School was basically cancelled on the days that Paraguay was playing, and most businesses shut down to watch the game. As goals were scored, I could hear fireworks, horns, and screams of joy erupting all over the town. As soon as the game was over and Paraguay had either won, or tied but was to advance, many rushed out of their homes into their cars covered in Paraguay flags, wearing their soccer jerseys, to parade up and down the streets blasting music, yelling for joy, and many, celebrating by drinking beer while doing all the other things. Things were exciting needless to say, and you really felt left out if you weren’t wearing some article of clothing related to Paraguayan soccer.

The main plaza in Asuncion on game day.

Needless to say, it was exciting time here as there was Paraguayan pride to be found everywhere throughout the country. It was an exciting time as Paraguay is usually an unknown country in the heart of South America, but the World Cup and the Paraguayan National Team really did start to put Paraguay on a map as many were surprised to see such a small country advance so far. Who knows, maybe Paraguay will win next World Cup in Brazil, 2014!

Watching the Semi-Finals in Asuncion

Beyond this, the coldness has coincided perfectly with the teacher strike and the 2-week winter vacation. The week before the vacation was to begin, teachers went on strike due to low salaries, this occurs often here, as it has been the third one this year. However, this cancelled school for that week, and is said to go for another 45 days. This was also besides the winter vacation. Now, besides the strike, the Ministry of Education and Culture gave another week of vacation off because it has been so cold.

You might think Paraguay being cold is a joke, but in the past few weeks, the temperature dropped to 30 degrees one night. I know that this temperature is weak and nothing really in comparison to the winter temps in Lake Tahoe, but imagine this…30 degrees in a country where heaters only exist in the wealthiest houses in the country, fireplaces are more rare, where the houses are built to endure the heat, so they are all cement or plywood buildings with single pane windows if there are windows, and cement or tile floors, with many holes for open air to come into your house. So basically I never left my sleeping bag, which is equipped for 25 degrees. Best and most useful present my mom and dad have ever given me. I lived in long underwear with another pair of pants over, record was up to 4 shirts with a heavy jacket on that was worn inside and outside as the temperatures are the same. Needless to say, it was also painful to take showers or even go to the bathroom. I laid in bed seeing my breath as I was breathing. Beyond this, I happened to get a horrible cold so was stranded in my sleeping bag too sick to leave, and listened to lots of music.
Besides the cold factor, washing my clothes was not really an option either. Besides the fact my hands would freeze off from leaving them under the cold running water to hand scrub all my clothes because washers and dryers are few and far inbetween, due to the humidity, clothes would never dry without the sun and would only get moldy and get that awesome musty smell I love my clothes to smell of. Laundry just makes my life so much more difficult sometimes, but hey, it is relaxing to wash my clothes outside on a nice day.

I talk about the weather often because this country for sure has some extremes, which are even more prevalent as every building you walk into is not equipped with air conditioning or heat. I becoming better, harder, faster, stronger….or maybe just more comfortable with whatever happens, happens. It shows me what I, or humans in general can endure and how much of that is lost back home, or maybe how much I wish Lake Tahoe was here in the summer and my fireplace in my room these past few weeks.