Finally Leg of the Matney Family Journey: Asuncion..

It’s a Christmas miracle! I am finally finishing the last blog post on my family’s visit to Paraguay … back in August. Oops. Better later than never.

To wrap things up we spent a couple of days in Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay. Doing touristy things. I honestly really like Asuncion, it is definitely not a city that is on the top of every one’s must see list; but, it is growing, just like Paraguay, and I think that there are some pretty cool things to see.

First stop was the Peace Corps office. (Surprisingly, there are no photos) Got to show the family where I spend a decent amount of time. I gave them a tour and they got to meet a lot of the PC staff, including the country director.

Then later that night we took a walk on the newly finished Asuncion Costanera, very similar to the one in Encarnacion, the big difference being you can’t swim in this river. (Pollution, yuck.) But, it is a great place to take a walk, you can rent bikes, fly kites and eat popcorn and churros. What more could you want?! To get to the Costanera you pass the “Palacio Mariscal Lopez” (the former ‘White House’ … but the president no longer lives there.) Our visit to Asuncion was only days before the Presidental Inuaguration of the current President Horacio Cartes, because of this there was an insanely long line to get in to take a tour, like insanely long.

The next day we ate lunch with another volunteer friend of mine, Alex, and then we went to visit a barrio called San Jeronimo.  The people of this neighborhood have worked together  to make this a fun and inviting tourist destination in Asuncion. It is bright and colorful with an abundance of great recycled art. There are lots of places to eat and on Saturday and Sundays (the best days to go) lots of vendors set up tables with a myriad of crafts to sell.

Overall, the visit with my family was great, and I am glad they got to see what my life here in Paraguay is like. 

Another Year Older ...

So I have been MIA on the blog front and for that I am sorry. There is no excuse but my general un-creativeness on the blog ideas. But I promise to be better in the future.

I recently celebrated my 2nd and final birthday in Paraguay. It was also a bit of a milestone as I turned 25. It was a two part celebration. The first part took place on my actual birthday and it was in my community in the campo. My lovely friend Alex came to celebrate with me. We had a dinner at my neighbors house, I also made a chocolate cake to share with everyone ... and they loved it! We also did quite a bit of dancing it was a blast and it was great that so many people in my community came and supported me on my birthday.

Me with Alex and my host mom

Excited for dinner!

Dancing!

The second part of the celebration took part in Asuncion the weekend after my birthday. It was also the birthday of another guy in my group so it was a joint celebration. We did a cookout at our hostel and went out for a night in the city. Overall it was a great birthday in Paraguay and I'm glad I got to spend it with some of my best friends.

Birthday Buddies :)

Halloween PC Style.

Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE Halloween. All the great movies (i.e. Hocus Pocus, Halloweentown, etc.) all the Candy, and getting to wear awesome costumes what is not to love.  Paraguay does not celebrate Halloween, most of them know what it is, Dia de las Brujas (Witches Day), but that is as far as it goes. So I didn't think I would be getting the chance to celebrate Halloween for the next two years, but luckily I was wrong. This past weekend I went into the capital with some friends to celebrate a couple of volunteers birthday's and we did so by having a Halloween party!

Pebbles, 80's, Hippie and a Cat

On the left a box of Zumuva, which is a popular boxed wine in Paraguay

Chris is dressed as his local bus!

One of the funniest parts of the night was that when we went out to a local bar we were the only ones wearing costumes. We already get extra attention being Americans in Paraguay, now add ridiculous costumes to the night makes for a fun night.


On another note, I hope everyone back home in MD made it through Sandy safe and sound, especially those in Ocean City who seemed to get hit pretty hard. You all are in my thoughts. 

Catching up.

I haven't written in a while for 2 reasons.

First off in the first week of August I had Reconnect. All of G-38 came together in our training communities to have a week-long language and technical training. It was great to see all my G-mates again! I had missed them. It was also good to see my original host family again.  I had missed them too.

The second reason is that the day after Reconnect training ended my sister Rachel came to visit! It was my first visitor in Paraguay (hopefully not my last) She was only here for 8 days, which for future visitors is not enough time! It seemed like a very short trip. The night she got in we stayed in Asuncion because she had been traveling for over 24 hours. The next morning we left for a few days in my site. She got to meet my host family, spend time with my neighbors and see my new house. Then we went back to Asuncion for a few days to see the sights. It was a blast. Here are a few pictures from her visit.

My next door neighbors

The crossroads of my site

The Presidential Palace

Yet Another New Beginning!

Its official ... I am now a real deal Peace Corps Volunteer. I am no longer a trainee. I have stood up in front of the American Ambassador to Paraguay and Sworn/Affirmed to protect and defend the constitution of the United States of America and all that jazz. I took the same oath that the President of the United States takes.

The past few days we all have been staying in Asuncion (the capital) to celebrate being volunteers and spending our last few moments together before we go off to site on our own.

The Presidential Palace

But today is that day my friends. The day I go off to my site, by myself, where I will be living for the next 24 months! The first 3 or so months I won't really be doing any work. Just hanging out and getting to know my community. So let the adventure begin.