Teaching, Singing, Living life!

Hola from Paraguay!

I've been a terrible travel blogger. I have been here for almost seven weeks, and I haven't written a single post.

Things have been so exciting here ! The students are amazing. They are so fun, and accepting. I decided to stay here longer than I originally intended. I feel so free here; away from "real life". Of course, I have 11 hour days, but it's just so amazing that I am teaching English and working on English content. I believe that the best way to learn is from experience. I am so lucky to have this opportunity to teach English and gain experience while I am still a sophomore in college.

I love being here, because I am living my dream. I am teaching a valuable skill that will help others have a better life, and I am living in a foreign country. I get to experience and discover another part of the world. I want to continue traveling for the rest of my life. I love people, and coming in contact with many different cultures.

I have been on so many adventures since coming here. On my very first weekend, I went to the President's house! It was pink. I've tried terrere and chipa; adventures in themselves.

Going outside at all during the day is an adventure for me here. The streets of San Lorenzo are a kaleidoscope of shops, all set up in the fronts of people's houses. It's like a giant maze of a flea market. This is terrifying at night time, when every street looks exactly the same. Keira and I have some interesting stories to tell about the streets at night time.


Things are very. very. different in Paraguay. We don't have hulu. But we do have netflix.

But in all seriousness, I've seen some new things. The sidewalks are a patchwork of different stones and patterns, and my eyes are constantly on the ground to avoid tripping. The sidewalks have no rhyme or reason, and there are gaping holes and jutting stones to constantly look out for. The streets here ruin your shoes.

I've seen a man on a motorcycle balancing HUNDREDS of eggs in all of the space around him.

 Amazing.

By the way, it is very scary to drive here. People just weave in and out of each other. There is no such thing as a lane. There are those little lights that blink when you turn them on, but I'm pretty sure most people don't ever use them. And the busses drive faster than the cars. I had a moment of extreme panic when I was at the front of the bus, and I saw a dip in the road, and at the speed we were going at I was sure I was going to die.

Something that is very different here is the fact that people sell things on the bus. I found this hilarious when I first got here, just because it seemed so out of place. They jump on, shouting about their wares, and then jump off while the bus is still moving. To native Paraguayans who might be reading this: that isn't something that happens where I come from.

Also, horses come around to pick up the garbage.

Now for something really exciting: in the first few weeks of coming here, my manager asked me if I sing. I said a little, and he said excellent, would I like to be in his band, Los Llankiz? I said of course! I love singing! And two weeks later we had our first performance in TGI Fridays.

Can I just say: Who goes to Paraguay and sings in a restaurant there?? This is living!!!

Here's a number from our performance. It's not the best quality, but I'm pretty proud of that night. Check it out :) I hope you like it.

A few weeks later, we sang on a the UNA university radio station. Don't know how many people were listening, but I loved it regardless. I thought it was just the greatest thing. My first time on the radio! And in Paraguay!

I've been listening to a lot of music during work, and for band practice. It seems like each week, I'm obsessed with a different artist. This week The Civil Wars are starring on my playlist. I can't get enough of them! They're music is so soulful and raw. I've decided that I need to move to Virginia, learn to play the mandolin, and become a folk singer. Now, who would have thought that going to Paraguay would give me the urge to be a folk singer? I will be on the look out for a ukulele, or a small guitar, so that I can start writing more music.

This is one of my favorite songs. Actually, all the songs by the Civil Wars are my favorite songs.

Well, if you've made it through this long post, I congratulate you, and I thank you for sharing in my excitement! whew that was a long post. chau chau!