Brazil

My visit to Brazil was AMAZING. I met a lot of Claudia's and Marcus's families in Nova Andradina, saw an anteater in the wild on their farm, and ate freshly-cut sugar cane.

On Monday afternoon, we went to Bonito (click for a link to the city's website--in English). In Portuguese (and Spanish) "bonito" means pretty, and the place was definitely that! We went hiked into the Grutas do Lago Azul (Blue Lake Caverns), visited the Balneario Municipal (Municipal Spa) where I went snorkeling with the fish, and saw the animals at the Aquario Natural (direct translation is "aquarium" but it would be considered a zoo in the U.S.). I needed a lot more time to see everything in Mato Grosso do Sul! I guess Shawn and I will have to go back. :)

The last two pictures are of the kids during the drive to Campo Grande, then one of us at the airport.

Last Rotary Meeting, Leaving Paraguay

Since I didn't have a cord to upload my pictures, I am now posting the last few days of my trip. Below are pictures of the last CDE Rotary Club meeting that I attended, and a picture of Graciela and me before I left Paraguay.

Nova Andradina, Brazil

I made it! I am at Mateus and Carol´s house. I don´t have a cord to upload pictures, but I´m taking a lot! For those that don´t know, I had Carol and Mateus in my classes last year. They have an older brother named Neto, and their parents are Claudia and Marcus.

After I got in, we went to Claudia´s parent´s house and ate some lunch, then came back to their house to clean up. We then went to Marcus´s mom´s house...they had told her that I liked chocolate, so she made a Brazilian chocolate cake. It´s name in Portuguese means ´crazy Black woman.´ Then we went to one of Claudia´s sibling´s house (I think) for a churrascaria (Brazilian barbecue). Later we went to the downtown area of town because there was a festival going on. (To the Archer County folks, it reminded me of Mayfest, only bigger.) There I met several members of the Rotary Club...they were serving dinner.

Today, we slept late, then went to eat at a fish place. You can go fishing in the tank and they cook what you catch, or you can order from a menu. We ordered from the menu. You don´t really see me fishing, do you? We had sashimi, fried tilapia (one plain, and another wrapped in bacon), and another fish that is popular in Brazil (I can´t remember it´s name, though) in a red sauce. Carol had said that the bacon-wrapped tilapia is her favorite, and I have to agree! Then we went to their farm...it´s about 6,000 acres! They raise cattle for milk, beef, and breeding, sheep for the meat, emus, sugar cane, and eucalyptus trees. They may have more than that, but that´s all that I can remember! We just got back from there.

I will try to update again tomorrow before we leave to go to Bonito!

Leaving Paraguay

Tomorrow morning, I will be leaving Paraguay to spend a few days with Mateus and Carol's family (who were in my classes last spring) in Brazil. I don't know if I will be able to post anything while I am with them, so if not, it will be a week from today when I return to Texas before I can update (so don't freak out if you don't see something, Mama and Les!). If I'm not able to before then, I will have pictures of my last Rotary meeting in CDE, as well as pitures of what I do with Mateus and Carol's family. I will still be in contact with my husband, so if something urgent arises, you can contact him.

I cannot believe that my month here is over. I have experienced so many things in my time here, and I'm anxious to return home to share it all. I am so appreciative of my hometown Rotary Club and the Ciudad del Este Rotary Club. In particular, Nicole (TX) and Graciela (PY) have looked after me and have been invaluable throughout this experience. My husband Shawn has been more supportive and encouraging than I could have ever asked for. He definitely has won the #1 Son-in-Law title for this one!

I'll have more reflection (the teacher within must come out!) and pictures when it's not 3 o'clock in the morning. :)

Asuncion

As I mentioned last night, I went to Asuncion on Tuesday/Wednesday. It was a really quick trip, but I was able to see the president's house (the one where he works and another where he lives) and several monuments. We stayed with Graciela's dad and his partner, Ovidia (I think I've got her name right!). Unfortunately, I wasn't able to meet Tally, who is in Paraguay teaching...her grandkids attend school in our district!

Back from Asuncion

I'm being scolded by my mom and sister for not updating...so here's an update: I'm back from Asuncion, but really tired from being in a car for 9 hours during the past two days! We got back about 15 minutes ago, and I'm eating and typing (you know nothing comes between me and my food, Les!). I will post details and pictures tomorrow afternoon...tomorrow morning is my last trip to the centro!

Change of Authority Dinner - Pto. Iguazu

Last night, Graciela and I (along with a few other CDE Rotary members) attended Puerto Iguazu, Argentina's Change of Authority dinner. The lines at the borders were horrible, but we made it just in time. In addition to the transfer of authority ceremony, we enjoyed a buffet dinner (my favorite was the mushroom pasta and chocolate cake!) and then traditional "Tres Fronteras" music by a band.

Rotary Plaza in Foz

On our way back from Puerto Iguazu, Argentina, we stopped at a hotel where there is a Rotary International Plaza.

Reflection on the U.S.

Okay...so a few words of reflection (remember, I'm a teacher and as my husband says, a person that will never stop taking classes!).

What do I miss the most about home?

1. ceiling fans--I miss the noise and just being able to turn them on when I'm hot!
2. an abundant supply of Coke--Most people here might drink one Coke a week...I do good to go one DAY without one!
3. high-speed internet and computers in classrooms--Yes, I'm spoiled...it's the district's fault for having us use technology so much in our classes! j/k :) Almost everything here is done on paper...they don't enter info into the computer and print out a receipt; they write out the receipt by hand! How long has it been since we had that at home?
   
4. paved roads and traffic lights--I forgot how nice it is to have almost all of the roads that you drive on paved. And oh how I miss everyone stopping at the light, only going on their turn! It's so chaotic without it!
5. mashed potatoes with gravy--I am a Texan, born and raised. But don't make any mistakes here - I only miss the HOMEMADE gravy, not the stuff from a packet! At least they still have potatoes here.
6. chocolate--I never realized how much chocolate we use in our desserts until coming here. It's rare to find a menu without at least one chocolate dessert, but here it is rare to find a menu with at least one chocolate dessert!
7. refills on drinks--You people in other areas of the States might not have it, but pretty much everywhere you go in Texas, if you order water, tea, or a soft drink in a restaurant, you have free refills. And my family knows how traumatized I was as a child in not being able to drink my juice at preschool!

What do I not miss about home?

1. 100+ temperatures--Even though it is rainy here, the temperatures are just right...I can wear short sleeves or three-quarter sleeves and be just fine without a jacket! Perfect!
2. "rush-rush" mentality--As Latin Americans are famous for, it's not a big deal if you are 10 minutes late to something. It's not uncommon for the teacher to be late to class!
3. pavement everywhere--Once you get outside of the big cities, everything is pretty much in a natural state. Even when they have buildings going up or new stores being built, a lot of natural elements are incorporated into the design.
   
4. pumping gas--They still have full-service only here in Paraguay (and most of South America I believe.) I know, Mama...how is that different from home? You have a really wonderful husband that does it for you. :)
   
5. closed windows--Here, they try to use as many natural things as possible, so instead of using a/c, they open a window or door. Instead of a paved pathway, they use rock or dirt. (It also saves money!)

I hope you learned something!

CCPA & Miss Debbie Cake

This afternoon I observed some English classes at the Paraguayan-American Cultural Center. No pictures today, but I got to hear a lot of English! Their classes were run a lot more like what I'm used to (other than the technology aspect). I will be going again tomorrow morning to talk to the teachers again, this time with some ideas for activities.

Tonight I have the CDE Rotary Club meeting. I'm attempting to make a Miss Debbie Cake (as it is known in my family)--chocolate cake drizzled with caramel and sweetened condensed milk, topped with Cool Whip. I did great until I got to the Cool Whip part...there is nothing like it to be found here, so I'm trying to remember watching Grandmother make it at holidays. It's not going so good right now, so I'm going to scour Allrecipes to see if I can find some pointers. (Ooops...I forgot the part about not getting the stove lit [gas stove...haven't had one of those] and trying to suffocate myself. [Don't worry, Mama...Graciela came in about 3 minutes later and set me straight.] And then when the stove was lit, the top of the cake got scorched. So maybe "great" is an overstatement.) Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Cataratas Iguazu

On Sunday, I went to Cataratas Iguazu in Argentina. It is one of the largest falls in the world, and it is nominated for the New 7 Wonders contest. I definitely saw why...it is GORGEOUS. You can click here to see the Wikipedia entry about the falls. These pictures are from the largest area, called la Garganta del Diablo, or the Devil's Throat. It was very easy to access; there are pathways built from the train area to the falls.

Eli's Dogs

Especially for my sister...Eli has two labs--a black one named Naomi and a white one named Donna. Here are some pictures of them after they got back from their bath today enjoying bones left over from lunch.

Rotary Presentation, Capitao, Salto Monday

On Thursday at the Ciudad del Este (CDE) Rotary Club meeting, I had the opportunity to share a little about myself, the Frisco Rotary Club, and my thoughts thus far. I will report again at the July 16 meeting to give ideas as to how the CDE club can best enhance education in the city.

On Friday morning, I went with Graciela's daughter, Arlene, to a teacher training/meeting at CCPA. It is an English institute headed by the U.S. Embassy. I spoke to them about teaching methods that are used in the U.S. I will go again next Friday to model a lesson, and possibly observe some classes there during the week. That evening, I went with Eli and her friends to a restaurant in Foz de Iguazu. They teased me because I got tired so early...remember, I'm still on teacher schedule! Luckily, though, they let me go home early. :)

Today, Eli picked me up around 9:45, and I tried to help with her English homework. It was difficult! I know when to use each form, but trying to explain when to use one over another is so hard! We had lunch with her family, then we went to Salto Monday, what they describe as a small waterfall. It wasn't so small to me! Then we went to Mita'i and had a "merienda," or snack.

Tonight I'm supposed to be going to Puerto Iguazu in Argentina to stay with the Rotary Club's president. Tomorrow she is going to take me to see the big waterfalls! :)

Elizabeth's School

Yesterday I visited Elizabeth's school. She is in a private school in the country club area. The secondary students were practicing for an upcoming handball game with another school, so I talked to some of the students that weren't participating at the moment. They looked at the scrapbook and asked me some questions. Then, I visited a 1st grade class--they all wanted to show me their notebooks. I "oooo"ed and "ahhhh"ed over them...it made them very happy. :) Next I went to a 5th grade class (shown below). I spoke to them quite a bit about the differences in schools in Paraguay and the U.S. The students asked a lot of questions. After classes were over, Elizabeth, her brother, and some friends took me to eat at a churriscaria (Brazilian-style restaurant). It was good, but I was STUFFED!

Graciela's Farm

On Tuesday afternoon, we visited Graciela's farm and water plant. Even though it is the middle of winter here, there is citrus fruit, mangoes, and bananas ready to be picked.

Guard Dogs

Guard dogs Linda and Preta...they've decided that I'm okay. :)

Monday Pictures

On Monday, I was introduced to a Paraguayan way of eating oranges. First, they take a thin layer of the peel off, then cut off the top. You then "drink" the juice; when you're finished with the juice, you cut open the remainder and pull out the guts and eat them. Monday evening, we went to Brittany's "despedida," or farewell party. The second picture shows me, Brittany, and a group of Rotarians during the party.

Teaching Methodology Workshop with English Teachers

On Monday and Tuesday of this week, I met with area English teachers to discuss teaching methodology. I would have liked to have been more informed on what I was going to do, but I think that it went well. I discussed some of the cultural and educational differences in Paraguay and the United States, and shared some ideas on how to make their classes more engaging. I also presented a lesson as though to students so that the teachers could experience an American-style class. All of the participants particularly seemed to enjoy this part.

Tres Fronteras Pictures

Last Sunday, I went to Tres Fronteras--the border between the three countries of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. In the first three pictures below, we are on the Argentina side. Behind me to the left is Paraguay, and to the right is Brazil. Next is a picture of a traffic light--I'm told that it's a Brazilian style. It has three rows--one red, one yellow, one green--and the lights at the bottom stay solid. The upper ones move down to let you know how long until the light changes colors.