Dia del Accion de Gracias

After all night (7+ hours) in el colectivo I finally arrived home after our three day viaje to Ciudad Del Este. It was above and beyond what I ever expected it to be:

Our first day we hopped off the bus and practically right into el Super to buy all our Thanksgiving ingredients. Our dinner (complete with 4 chickens (pavo - AKA turkey - is not a hot commodity around here), sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, "cooked carrots" (yes, that is what they are called), green salads, and bread rolls - not to mention postre of three homemade-from-scratch pumpkin pies (!!) and a pear cobbler with vanilla ice cream) came to a whopping 23,000 Guaranis each (~ $5.75!). If that isn't incredible enough, you should have tasted that feast!

The pre-dinner rituals were absolutely perfect: before we ate we all gathered around the table (in la casa de la familia de una Americana, Linny): 10 yankees and 5 Balbuenas (Linny's loving and amazing familia). Elizabeth, una otra Americana, gave a toast. After, we held hands and Andrea, Linny's hermanita, said a prayer; then we sang a rowdy rendition of "Johnny Appleseed" which was followed by silence and a passing of the squeeze. And, of course, Thanksgiving Dinner would not be complete without going around the table and sharing something we were thankful for. Needless to say, that was a bit of a tear-jerker. It was one of the most special Thanksgivings I have ever had the pleasure to be a part of, and it was so wonderful to be able to share it with the Balbuenas, who opened their home and kitchen to us so unhesitatingly.

The second day was spent gallivanting around el centro popping into shops and I possibly have acquired intestinal worms from ensalada de fruta de la calle - but that's just me being paranoid (knock on wood!). I bought some super flashy Christmas lights in the shapes of tiny oranges which thrilled me! We also took a stroll through "Country" - the gated community hidden among the tent-towns of CDE. It is all exclusive, all inclusive (they have everything down to their own Universidad and a GAP outlet!). It was very bizarre to walk around in the dark, safe, and completely paved streets and sidewalks lined with grass. It was utterly Stepford. It was too American. It made me realize what a culture shock it will be to return home again when this year is up. It never occurred to me before, but it is going to be a very strange sensation.

The third and final day was begun in an attempt to see the Foz de Iguazu. We made it far enough to land on Brazilian soil, but were forced back for our lack of paperwork. It was rather exciting/slightly disappointing. So to make up for that, we had another feast: this time to celebrate the cumpleaños of a German AFSer, Teresa. We followed up our thoroughly American meal with a thoroughly Paraguayan one. We made asado (Paraguayan BBQ). It was a hit - and we even made some more pumpkin pies!

It was a really fantastic bonding experience for all of us; getting to know Linny's familia, and spending time with each other. Us Americanos are a special crowd... I used to be concerned our spending so much time together was a result of ethnocentrism, but I've come to realize, and appreciate deeply, that we're just a very close-knit group and have been since our orientation in Miami almost four months ago. Only four months, and I feel as if we have all been part of each others' lives since the beginning. Que suerte.

I was afraid to come home, and go back to the fields, working alone and my "non-AFS AFS experience", having had a taste of what AFS is "supposed" to be... but having just spent the afternoon lazily watering la crotolaria y maiz so tall and glorious I got lost in it, standing on the path letting it wave around me like a crowd of people giving me hugs, and spending some time in a mango tree pretending to be Mr. Spingle Spangle, Esq. with his goolibas, I am happy. I am such a lucky person to be having this experience. I am truly thankful.