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Family and Home

My Family and Home Here in Paraguay

Picture a road of red dirt, with evidence of ox carts and motorcycle tires. Walking along pass a harvested sugar cane field, which is across a wooden hut with lots of cows in front. Make a left on a small road that leads to a house and the despensa - a small store on side of my Peace Corps friend Rosa house. Walk down now a foot path that passes yet another house, pass the giant four ox eating leftover sugar cane, chickens and chicks whom hide under the mom when you walk by.

You have arrived at my host families house. Instead of going into my front door, you always go in the back door where the patio - outdoor kitchen /hang out and do landry area. There are five small dogs, my host mom cooking over a fire with a big black pot and five puppies on a blanket near the back outdoor hall that leads to a storage area. You then take off your shoes, walk in and look into the indoor kitchen on your right to make sure your plate and mug and thermas of cochido is waiting for you as always, it is .. cochido is hot mate with sugar made with coals. you make a left unlock your door throw your bag down on your blue blanket in your stuffy white walled room with neon light. Then you drink, although it is hot outside, your hot cochido. I love it! Maybe i have some dulce de leche, some miel de cana or miel de abeja ( or cava in guarani or bee in english) and put it on the dry white tasteless wonder bread or hard palets of bread in retangular forms. then you go to the bathroom, turn on the electricity to the shower and enjoy a hot shower. oh ya music is blasting as always the same popular paraguain music for teenagers, courtesy of Yesil my sister. then you interact with host brother watching simpsons, or music videos with your host sister and sing and dance along.. she is 17 and waycoooool. brother is 31 and works in a printing shop. Dinner is around 730, sometimes 8 and is werid meat and carbohydrates and water unless you want the wayyy sugary juice drink that is basically koolaid. I usually eat with my host brother or sister ( currently on diet for her confirmation) , the kids eat together while my host mom and dad eat outside. bed.. read if have energy, hear dogs and roasters bark all night but with my ear plugs i fall asleep easily before ten. I usually wake up at 6, sometimes earlier... leave house by 730...

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