Wow! Have I been busy! I still have a lot to do, so this will be short, but my husband was getting on to me for not updating!
On Friday, Graciela took me to Itaipu Binacional. It is the hydroelectric plant that is a little north of Ciudad del Este. It is HUGE...not that I have anything to compare it to, though. It took us at least 20 minutes (probably longer) to go from the Paraguay side to the Brazil side of the dam. We took the daylight tour that stops inside the plant, and the night tour that they call the "illumination." It was really pretty at night. As part of the Itaipu project, conservation and preservation were included, so there is a zoo of animals that are native to the area. The zoo was very different from any I've ever been to. If I had wanted to, I could have touched the animals (no, Mama, I didn't). They were in cages, which was sad, but it was interesting to get to be so close to them. There is also a museum about the Guarani people. I found it interesting that they made crosses even before the appearance of the the Spanish.
On Saturday, I spent most of the day recovering from the long, hectic week. I received an email from Tally, a teacher who has family in Frisco that lives in Asuncion. She has been very gracious in sending me a ton of pictures and information about Paraguay. I've learned a lot from her emails.
On Sunday, I had a chance to talk to my husband, and he was able to see me for the first time since I've been here! We still have some kinks in the technology, but we're working on it. I also prepared for today's training with the English teachers. In the afternoon, I visited my third country on this trip--Argentina. Graciela, James (her grandson), and I went to the Argentina side of Las Tres Fronteras (The Three Frontiers/Borders). It's where a couple of rivers meet and form one, and it is also the border betweent the countries. By standing in one location, you can easily see Paraguay and Brazil while standing in Argentina. I now have stamps in my passport for Argentina as well as Paraguay. (None for Brazil--you don't have to have a visa to go into Foz de Iguazu, the city that is just across from Ciudad del Este.)
Today, I held a class for English teachers in the area. I talked a little about myself, Texas, and the United States, then discussed some of the differences in the educational systems. In the afternoon, I shared several ideas on how to make their classes more interactive. Tomorrow morning we will continue with me modeling an English lesson, then possibly later in the week, teaching an actual class of students (to film for future teachers).
Graciela and I just got back from Brittany's despedida (going away party). She leaves tomorrow to go to Asuncion, then Wednesday she starts her lengthy process of returning home...she has several stops that her flight will make before she makes it back to Pennsylvania.
And, as you've already read, I have a busy day tomorrow, so I'd better get in bed. (Remember, it's an hour later here than at home! I'm already up past my bedtime on Texas time!)
I PROMISE to get pictures up soon. I'm hoping that tomorrow I will have some time in the afternoon or evening to do so.
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