New Year

Happy New Year! It was definitely a wonderful one here in Cerrito de Tebicuary-mi; there was plenty of company, plenty of food, and the heat topped it off with plenty of reason to do nothing but sit around and enjoy it.

The gang started arriving the evening of the 30^th, and each family averaged 10 kilos of meat in tow, in addition to the 22 kilos that had come out of the pig that Mario and Enrique had butchered that afternoon. The 31^st, meat seasoning and preparation, sopa (that´s the Paraguayan hyped-up cornbread) production, and clerico (the classic holiday drink, finely cut fruits of all types in a wine-Sprite blend) cutting commenced early. Given the presence of 3 host sisters plus Erin, the American sister-in-law, the in the kitchen, I restricted myself to making a apple pie with crumble raisin-nut top, making sure to get plenty of rest in anticipation of the nocturnal celebrations. Another volunteer and friend of my host brother Mario came that afternoon to accompany him during the festivities, rounding out numbers out to 18 (that´s one bathroom, for the record, bring your own water).

At nine pm it was finally cool enough that I was able to grab a nap on my mattress out on the front porch, and woke up at 11, just in time to pull on the beautiful dress Erin gifted me and head up to the house for some delicious New Years Fun! It´s a good thing Paraguayans aren´t much on dessert; they forgot that wonderful American treat I´d made in the oven, and I hunted it down to enjoy the first (two) slices. Yum…

And as the radio announced midnight, we had a major photo shoot session; with three Americans around, you know there were plenty of cameras to record the happy events of the evening!

Around 1am we young’uns made our rounds to the neighbors to wish everyone Felicidades, and then went home to get ready to walk to town for the big FIESTA. It was Latin Music Night, so my wonderful evening became complete when I didn´t have to dance the Paraguayan Polka. Woot!

Enrique and I were walking home when my 5.15 get-up-and-jog alarm went off. I kind of slept (it was pretty warm already) until 11 and got up and bathed just in time to jump in the car with Teresa, Marcelo, their son Dani, Mirna, and Enrique to head to “the Beach” (that is, a sandy river bed). There were tons of people there, including many of our neighbors from Cerrito. It´s pretty hilarious how afraid of water Paraguayans are; if you say you can swim, the awe is visible on their faces.

We got home thoroughly exhausted around 6pm, but the fun wasn´t done yet! The next day was Mario´s 24^th birthday, and those Paraguayans didn´t fail to eat MORE sopa and meat. And the 3rd, the Mayor invited me to make the long bike ride to his house for more food and music. Tough celebrating, man.

So then it was calmer. And cooler…it rained! Finally! And then finally on Tuesday, the 6^th, Ramon and Enya left, putting a seemingly abrupt end to our party-till-its-2009 fun. We all headed down to Toni´s house on the alsphalt road and waited for the bus to take them away to Asuncion…though not without a few final photos. Now, with only 7 people wanting to use that 1 bathroom, the house seems a little too quiet. And all I have left to take pictures of is the sunset. Well, for now, anyway…

What will 2009 bring? Only TIME will tell…

Felices Fiestas!! My photos uploaded in reverse chronological order. Poo!From bottom up:

My host dad Sebastian, Mario, and Ramon sitting out the heat with terere

Mario, Enrique, and Ramon getting the well ready for the guests to come

My personal Christmas decor, courtesy of the Amazing Annalese!

Teresa, Esther, Mirna, and Erin (host sisters...) in the kitchen with the meat

Enrique and I ready to go to the fiesta

Rachel and Mario, plus Dani (Teresa´s son) and Ramon in the background

My host mom Pabla with her grandson, Nelson´s son Sebastian

Toni with his son Santiago

Esther with her daughter, Ana Paula...also practically my daughter, jeje

The 8 siblings (missing the oldesta, Tomasa) Nelson (number 2), Mirna (3), Esther(7), Enrique(9), Mario(8), Teresa(4), Ramon(6), and Toni(5)

Ramon and Erin

Teresa with terere

"The beach"

Friends at the beach: Alfredo, Ito, Enrique, Dani, and Gloria (Alfredo´s sister, my neighbor)

Enrique and I at the beach

Mario´s party

Mayor´s New´s Year party continued until the 3rd..I was invited!

the whole gang at Toni´s house, including his wife Doli and elder son Lucas

the bus

the walk home

the sunset