Train to nowhere

They call it the train to nowhere, although I’m not sure I’d agree. It actually goes from Asuncion to the lake town of Aregua. It is a bit odd to think that this is the national railroad of Paraguay, and that this is the only route it runs. Did I mention it only goes twice a month? If you choose to take this trip you will be riding on the only wood fed steam train still in operation today (if their claim is true). You’ll also get to ride in the original cars (thankfully with cushions added on to the wood seats)…or perhaps I should say mostly original. I know for sure that some of the windows have been replaced as a branch broke about 10 of them during our ride on Sunday. (Things never go quite as expected here.)

When we boarded the train on Sunday for our trip up to Aregua about all I knew was that we’d be going on a steam train, would get about 2 hours in the town and then would be headed back. There was so much that I just didn’t expect to be part of the experience, beyond even the window breaking and subsequent pause in the journey. It started out with some laughter as we noticed a “guard” dressed up complete with a painted on mustache. Continued with some small theater pieces given in the aisles of the cars. Confused by the appearance of joker, penguin and batman (I’m still not sure what they were doing on the train besides providing more entertainment). Surprised by the scene of people all along the tracks stopping outside to watch the train go by, wave and take photos (I’m convinced there were as many pictures taken by people watching the train pass as by those riding the train). Amused by the shock of seeing pigs in yards, my first pig sightings in three years (oh yes, that’s right, I have been in a Muslim country). Unclear as to the difference between a strawberry and frutilla when the frutilla looks just like what I’d call a strawberry (they say a strawberry is more purple…I’ll have to see for myself once the season comes). Entertained by some of the staff playing music on the way back down. Needless to say it was more that I had bargained for but a completely memorable and entertaining experience. It makes me wonder what else Paraguay has in store for me.

First impressions

It is hard to believe that I’ve already been in Paraguay for five days. It doesn’t seem as if Asuncion is all that different from things that I have experienced before. I’m not sure if this is a result of having now moved around more than the last time I picked up and changed countries, if it is because I didn’t actually make it back to the US this time before leaving again, or because I really knew so little before arriving. While there have been instances when I’ve had to pause and think to myself “oh yes, you are living in a new country” such as when we passed a man juggling fire in the middle of a street one evening, I also feel as if things are a bit more familiar. Although in the past few days it has really hit home to me that I need to learn yet another new language. Until I get a handle on Spanish I will not feel self sufficient here. Most of what I have been exposed to is my new school. The American School of Asuncion has a nice campus just off of one of the busier roads in the affluent part of the city. What I do like is that it is a campus set up around green space. Students will be walking outside to get from class to class, and they are free to make use of the grassy areas as they wish (or so I’ve been told). It is clear that the school is smaller than the one I just left…there are probably fewer classrooms for K-12 here than there were for the high school in Istanbul. This just gives me hope that I really will know all of the students better, even if I don’t teach them. Sadly I’m still in a hotel, but there is hope that we might get to move into our house tomorrow (more on that later). I’m excited to see what this country holds in store for me, I have no doubt it will be another great adventure which I’ll be happy to share with you.