The day my parents arrived, I went to meet them at the airport. It's hard for me to explain what I was feeling. It was almost like I was nervous, I don't know. The second they walked out from baggage claim it was that bizarre feeling of worlds colliding. I'd been in Paraguay for nearly a year at that point, and I very specifically remember the last time I saw my parents in person as I rode up the escalator to my gate in Lansing when I flew out to go to Staging in Miami.
It was great to see them though! They made it, which was a huge relief. I was worried they would somehow end up stranded in Sao Paulo and not be able to contact me. All that Portuguese... so many opportunities to get lost and confused!
"Hola! Nosotros necesitamos ir al centro. Cien mil no mas, si?" I tried to impress my parents with my Spanish right off the bat, but we had kind of a tough time locating a cab that would take three people with luggage. So, I guess that was Paraguay experience #1 for my parents--cramming into the back of a taxi with their bags piled on top of them. Welcome to my life, eh?
We stayed at the Palace for three nights initially. I wanted to give my parents some time to adjust before we hit the campo. That night we went to my favorite Asuncion hotspot for dinner-- Bolsi! Ugh... just thinking about a plate of cheese fries is making me drool. I want to go to there. NOW.
On the roof terrace of the Palace Hotel in Asuncion |
Sipping tereré in the Peace Corps Office |
That evening we went to Manzana for pizza and enjoyed the nighttime view of the Presidential Palace. There was also a Paraguayan national futbol game, so it was fun to walk around and have my parents experience some of that national pride. All the bars had the games on, and even the taxi drivers were huddled around the TVs at their pick-up stations, terere in hand, cheering loudly for Paraguay. Those are my favorite nights in Asuncion. It reminds me of football Saturdays in Ann Arbor.
Dad and I outside the Presidential Palace |
The Paraguay Nacional game being projected onto the wall at Manzana |
The next morning, we took a city bus to the airport (another fun real-Paraguay experiences for my parents) to get the rental car. And from there, the REAL adventure begins...
More to come!