Semana Santa
Trip Start
Feb 06, 2007
1
11
22
Trip End
Apr 24, 2009
Guarambare,
Paraguay
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Wednesday:
We made Chipa! Three of us and one of our professors went to my house to make Chipa. My host dad told me today that Paraguay is known for Chipa. The main ingredients for Chipa are flour, eggs, and oil. We made this most of the morning and then the three Americanas tried to cook part of lunch.
Ummmm...I was really craving rice and veggies. So everything was going great, we were steaming the veggies and the rice was cooked. When my host mom goes into the kitchen and realized we burned her pot! It was smoking and smelled horrible. We had forgotten to add more water to the boiling water under our veggies....the water we had had evaporated. Oops!
Cooking the Chipa
Thursday:This is the day of the last supper. Families cook huge lunches together. It was my Paraguayan teacherīs birthday, so a couple of us took the bus to her house for lunch. She lives in a neighboring town about 25 minutes by bus. She had a large feast for us. We ate meat from the barbeque, she made noodles (especially for us), a potato salad, and she chopped up tons of veggies for salad (they never eat veggies raw... always chopped up really small and cooked). It was fun to talk with her and see her house.
It turns out she taught with a program similar to Peace Corps, but it was with Koreans. So there were 3 Koreans there. It was very interesting to be at my teacherīs house in Paraguay while there were 4 languages present (English, Spanish, Guarani, and Korean).
After arriving home, my family and I went to church. It started around 6:30 and lasted until 8:15 or so. However we didnīt get home until 10pm. They have a very large church and during this week they pack many people in. A lot of people have to stand through the whole service. The major religion here is Catholicism, so although I donīt always understand the words, Iīve been to enough Catholic masses that I have an idea of what is going on.
Friday:
Early this morning I woke up and went to Pascua Joven with my sisters and another trainee
Making chipa
. Pascua Joven is like a bible camp for youth...to describe it briefly. It was really neat, we saw a reinactment of Jesusī journey with the cross. It was great to see that it was all done by youth. Typically Paraguayans donīt eat this day...they only eat Chipa. Luckily for me, I have a young sibling, so I got to have lunch! At 3pm, my family again went to church. At the end of this mass, the whole congregation walked around the plaza singing. It was really interesting, I wish I had brought my camera. The mass ende4 around 5:30.
Saturday:
It rained off and on most of the day. Today continued Pascua Joven. Pascua nino took place durning the morning..This is for smaller kids. I decided to stay at home and read.
Mass on Saturday started at 9pm and lasted utnil 12am. It began as a candlelit service. Around 10pm, my younger brother who is only 6, but a chubby kid, fell asleep. He layed on his mom and myself until 12. It was hard to sit still in a pew with a 6yr. old on my lap. At the end of the service, everyone went outside again. One group of 6 was carrying a statue of the virgin Mary and another group of 6 was holding a statue of Jesus. They stood about a half a block apart and all the people who were in the church gathered around them
My Chipaman
. Then the Virgin Mary statue (the people carrying her) started running toward Jesus. This signified that they are now together. Once she reached him, everyone cheered and started saying Feliz Pascua!It was really interesting and Iīm glad I got to experience it. Now it Sunday and not much takes place today.
Tomorrow I will find out my site for the next two years and then Tuesday morning I will leave to visit the site for a week. During this time I need to find a place to stay, become familiar with the town, and draw up a plan with what I am going to do my first few months in site. Iīll let you all know where I am going as soon as I can...
Comments
Feliz Pascua!
Happy Easter! It sounds amazing! I bet it's incredible to see people who are so devout and their traditions. Semana Santa was no joke in Spain, so I can only imagine! Last weekend was Birthday Extravaganza (which happened to be the same day as Brefest). Amber has painted all of the rooms in her house now, and it looks so cute! Once everyone gets their pictures online, I'll send you the links. Happy holiday, and I can't wait to hear about all of the latest! Lots of love, Casey
Happy Easter
Hey Sam!! What a cool week for you. As I was reading your week I was thinking of where I was at those times. I spent some of the same time in church...I wish my experience had been as 'spiritual'. Maybe the people of Paraguay feel the same way about their Holy Week and my week would feel 'spiritual' to them. hmmmmmm
anyway...I'm glad you got to be there. I bet you are excited and a little nervous to find out about your next couple of years. Tyler finds out where her internship is next Monday...and she's nervous too. She is seriously thinking of applying to the Peace Corps this summer (to go the year after her internship year).
Things are the same as usual here in LF...especially at the liquor store. We're waxing the floors this week and I just finished cleaning the vodka shelves!!!Val made me go to the most ridiculous movie this week. Something with Will Farrell and ice skating...do not waste any precious time you have going to that movie.
It is FREEZING cold here. Still snow on the ground....so please enjoy the heat!!
Thanks for keeping me informed on everything you're doing...it is so good to hear from you. Marge
Hey Sam
Sounds like you have been busy. Hope you are enjoying the weather down there. In MN it is hovering around 30 degrees. Brrrr. Sick of cold weather now. Talk at ya again soon. (been busy with the new job)!
those people are crazy! come home now!
THATS FUNNY!
jsut playing with you sam. sounds like you are having a great time and actually getting to experience what the natives really feel. so what did you say to the 16 year old girl with all the questions? did you have your countries back or what? HEE HAW you are what they will think of this country. the most pwoerful and wonderful country in the world. but whatever comes out of your mouth is what they will believe. what awesome powers you posses without knowing it. woohoo.l have a gret day! love ya.