Hello,
Today i am writing my blog from wonderful Cuidad del Este, Paraguay instead of the usual Encarnacion! The past week has been very eventful and the funnest I've had. I got a much needed spirtual reboost and felt a little more at home! Well like i told you guys we went to Asuncion last saturday for a meeting. On the drive there was cool cause i actually was awake this time and got to see that there is a little bit of civilization in the rest of paraguay. We almost hit a heard of cows on the way there! There is a Big youth gathering this weekend and were helping planning it. So we spent the whole day planning and talking. It was pretty eventful! Once again i stayed in Asuncion an extra day and in the total of the three days i was there i ate Burger King and McDonalds a total of 5x. I couldnt get enough because it was the first time in months haha more like 3 weeks. We went running all over Asuncion, and i finally got to go to the Malls and do some shopping for some clothes. All the clothes that i have right now are too big for me so i had to buy some new ones. I also went to the movie teathers and watched two movies since we had nothing better to do. Everytime i go to Asuncion i learn more and more about the culture and the city itself. And slowly i realize that there is civilation here in Paraguay. while i was there i got some of the way people make money. When i went to the Market to buy clothes, the venders attack you as soon as you walk past thier shop! Its actually funny cause they things like "Que buscas" "Informame" which means "what are you looking for" "inform me" Its very funny cause they say it fast and sounds like they have a asian accent. I would laugh everytime they would ask me that. And the kids in the streets will do anything for money. It was so cute/sad/funny because there was on kid about 6 or 7 years old and he was in the middle of a busy intersection near the shopping mall. and every time there was a red light he would run out to the street and start doing kartwheels. But the thing was he couldnt do a kartwheel. I felt so bad for him cause he was trying so hard! I had to give him so money cause ive honestly never seen a kid do kartwheels in the middle of the street for money.
The next day i went back to Encarnacion because i wanted to rest a little bit on my vacation. But i had a really bad stomach virus or something cause i was throwing up and everything the whole day. I didnt eat anything for about three days straight. I was worried because i was suppose to be going to Ciudad Del Este the next day and i didnt want to be sick on my vacation. Thursday night i caught a bus to Ciudad del Este and there is an interesting story about the bus ride there.
So the road to CDE is curvy and hilly and at night its pretty creepy. So about an hour and half in the trip the bus driver was driving like normal and all of sudden something came out of the woods and ran past the bus. The bus driver slammed on the breaks. Everyone on the bus is wondering what happened. And the next thing were in the middle of this dark road in the bondoocks and this lady on the bus starts screaming hysterically. Saying its the Devil, its the devil (No Lie). I look out the window and there is this thing i have no clue what it is. Its standing up like a human but more crouched and is just staring at the bus. Now i start freaking out and saying a prayer and the bus driver is like its just a deer or something. I never seen a deer stand like that in my life so i dont believe him. So the rest of the trip i couldnt sleep i was pretty freaked out.
I stayed with the amazing Diaz family in CDE. I met Cecy and her brothers in January and keep in contact. They are amazing! There so nice and loving and i felt like i was there own son! Cecy was an amazing tour guide of her city lol and Mrs. Diaz is an amzing cook too! She loves to cook and makes the best orange cake ever! I really appreciate everything!
If you never heard of Ciudad Del este you need to look it up! I was scared because i heard alot of bad things about it! I imagined people of the streets with guns, and gangs, and drugs everywhere. But once again i was wrong! I think i feel in love with Ciudad del Este! Its beautiful there. There life in the city and Diversity! Something i dont see much of in Encarnacion. I had so much fun there and did so many things! I got to go to Mcdonlads (again) haha i swear im not addicted, went to Itaphu Dam which is this huge water dam and its like the most powerful in the world! Got to go shopping in downtown!
-------- Now i have to stop and explain about downtown! Ok apparently Paraguay has lower importing taxes and whatnot so downtown is like a huge China Town. There are people selling stuff everywhere! And they have shopping malls with like 6 stories with nothing but dirt cheap electronics!!! I was so overwhelmed cause i love electronics!! They have computers that would cost about $1500 for only $600! Apple computers that cost $2000 for only $900! I was so shocked! There are people for all over the world there who come to buy electronics cause its dirt cheap! EVerything in dollars there too. Because its use as medium between all the countries and also when you exchange it to Paraguayan currency its alot! I also found some Nori which i love and brought alot of!! -------
Ok back to the story! I also got to go see Aventura in concert! I love Aventura but never got to see them when they were in Atlanta. The concert here a different then the one in the states! First off the concert didnt start till Midnight!! It was at a huge soccer stadium downtown. I got Vip section which was right in front for only $35! I had alot of fun! As the concert was ending it started to pour down. I got soaked and all the equipment was going shooting sparks and everything. Their were even fireworks. We didnt get back to the house till like 4 in morning. Which sucked cause we had to be up by 7:30am.
Mr. Diaz listens to a talk show on the radio every morning of this Doctor. Some how the doctor on the radio started talking about the Baha'i Faith and asking all these questions on the radio! So Mr. Diaz called and talked with the doctor for like 2 or 3 hours. He invited him to a BBQ at thier house to talk more. It was amazing. i was impressed because alot of times were going to people talking to them and teaching but this time he came to them. So that why i had to be up so early.
funny little story #859834895 ...The doctor that came to the house knew a little bit of english so he was talking to me and asking me questions. He then askes me if its true that im related to Dr. Martin Luther King. I was confused cause i was trying to think back if i said that or if i had said something wrong to Mr. Diaz to make him think i was because the day before he was asking me about Obama and Dr.MLK. So me being very nervous and didn't know what to say was like YA!. I said he was my Great-Great Grandfathers Brother's Son.
Well luckly i got to stay a few more days and i had alot of fun and met alot of new people. I feel in love with the diversity of the city, something i havent seen a whole lot of in Paraguay. Im am seriously think of Pioneering there. I dont know for school or after school. Everyone keeps telling me that everybody who comes Paraguay for service ends up staying! They are also looking for a Pioneer, so if anyone is intrested i highly recommend it!!
I returned to Encarnacion to leave again for Asuncion for a National Youth Retreat. I didn't really wanna go because i was tired of traveling and wanted to do nothing and i remembered back in January and the Youth Training for Month of Service and i had to hardest time and didnt really know anyone and just didnt want to go. But i am so thankful that i did because i had the time of my life! Since my spanish is better i got to get to know people more and made alot of new friends!
The youth here in Paraguay are amazing!! The Baha'i Community here is practically ran by he youth. There was about 65 people who came and people from Argentina and Bolivia also came. It was amazing! I cant even explain how much fun i had. Me and Nidia were also i charge of a lesson to do. I was nervous but it worked out real well and lasted about 3 hours!
All in All i had an amazing time and Finally feel like i'm where i'm suppose to be!
I leave you with a song im obsessed with.
