First Impressions (or second)

It seems funny to think about first impressions 6 months after first arriving but I felt as if that was exactly what I was getting when I flew into Asuncion in January. Perhaps a bit of time back at home and in Buenos Aires was enough to open my eyes. Flying in all I could think was green. There sure are a lot of trees in Asuncion. It really is quite a green city. My taxi driver was complaining about the traffic at 1:30 in the afternoon and while I have to admit there was some it still only took 30 minutes to get me home. I know its worse around 5:00 but you have to realize that nowhere in the city has more than two lanes in one direction. So the amount of traffic can’t begin to compare with the eight lanes of congestion you get in other cities. Asuncion really is a sleepy sort of capital city.

Houses are set close to the road; the idea of a front yard is not very practices. Houses jut up just past the sidewalk and the space is left for green in the more private backyards. I’m not sure if I would say there are individual lots, space is well used here and it seems that one building grows out of the walls of its neighbors – only wall color giving an indication as to where one ends and the next begins. What other differences will I notice as I continue to look around the city with my eyes actually opened now, instead of just focusing on my survival?

[Traveling Tale] A Texas Daytrip

[I've got a lot of traveling stories to share, it may take me a while but I'll get them posted eventually...]

We decided it was time for a girls day out in my family and so my sister, my mom and I piled into the van and started to drive. About 2 ½ hours northeast of Austin, after a drive past scenery that exemplifies what I think of when I think Central Texas (large pastures, barbed wire fences, gently rolling hills, a herd of cattle, a few stock ponds and a windmill or two thrown in for good measure)you arrive in the town of Calvert. You might wonder what is so special about Calvert, a town many Texans have never heard of, that we would make it our destination for the day. My sister had done her research and learned that amidst the antique stores on the main street of town there is a place called Cocoamoda. It is a producer of fine truffles and just happens to also have a cafe that is open for lunch and dinner. Thanks to our cold midweek choice we happened to be the only three in the restaurant. After ordering from our waiter (who used to be a server for Carnival Cruise lines) we were given three sample of truffles (a seriously yummy appetizer). I can highly recommend the double chocolate truffle. Lunch itself was also enjoyable – my quiche was fluffy, moist and hot (although perhaps a bit too hot as it cracked the Wedgewood plate it was set on) and my mom and sister seemed to enjoy their choices. Of course, though, the best part of the meal was dessert. We got a sampler of truffles – and when they’re so rich you can definitely share one among three people, seven new choices were more than enough. While sampling our treats we got to meet the owner and confectioner (?? What do you call someone who makes truffles?) and received a nice short lesson on what was necessary to truly appreciate a good truffle, a bit of his history and that of the café, as well as a glimpse of his future plans (all I can say is that it involves gold coating). All in all a delicious experience and one I can recommend.

Ordering a Terere Thermos

After consulting with several teachers at school and then asking some others for directions I, along with a friend, ventured out on a mission to order my own custom made terere thermos. What is that, you may wonder? It’s the one thing you will always see any group of Paraguayans carrying. In reality it consists of a thermos of cold water, a cup with terere leaves and other herbs in it and a bombillo – half straw half strainer – that you drink through. Terere has to be the national drink of Paraguay.

Back to the adventure…we walk into the store and notice shelves covered with different types and patterns of leather and wander around for a while. I never dreamed there would be so many choices, or that I’d have so many different decisions to make. On a low table was a collection of leather swatches and flipping through it became we’d need to decide on a color (dark brown) and a finish (suede, smooth leather or bumpy like alligator skin – I went with smooth in the hopes of it staying a bit cleaner). Then there was a question of sewing pattern. Crisscross? Diamonds? Smooth cover? I decided I might need to think of accents before I made a choice about that. So I started paging through giant books of embroidery designs, flipping quickly until I came to several pages of butterflies I found a simple design that would please me. Of course she then had to ask one or two? (two) What color? Out came a tri-fold of stitched thread, but beware – we actually can only use the ones with a highlighted number (okay with me, that means a few less choices). I finally settle on a turquoise and a purple. In the meantime the woman who owns the shop has begun to sketch out my requests on a simple form she has. Stitching on the jug and handle? Oh, sure, make that a mix of the two colors. What about the cup? Do you want a design on it? What color? What about the stitching? I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed by this point but know that there can’t be too many other decisions to make. I no longer think I’m going to end up with as simple of a thermos as I originally anticipated but it will definitely be uniquely mine. I can’t wait to see how it turns out!