Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Paraguay: Day 5 & 6








We traveled to the school and started interviewing alumni. I am very impressed with the curriculum, organization, and overall mission of the school. With the use of environmentally sound sustainable organic farming practices, this Organic Farm School program aims to eradicate poverty by "promoting the spirit of entrepreneurship" in young Paraguayan small rural farmers. If you are interested in learning more, check out the following link: Escuela Agricula

Paraguay: Day 4


We walked about 40 minutes to the nearest church building which happened to be right next to the temple.

The cemetery covers about six blocks. Families purchase a plot, which is above ground, and use it for all their relatives. Once the family member's remains have turned to ashes it becomes available for the next member in the family.

Paraguay: Day 3


We spent most of the day getting organized. We toured the city, unlocked our cell phones for use around town, and ate pizza at an Italian restaurant.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Paraguay: Day 2

We were checked for Swine Flu upon entering Buenos Aires. Jennifer was a little nervous that her slight cough and running nose would lead to a quarantine. Fortunately, the guards hurried her through the line with the rest of the passengers. We scurried through several security check points and frantically tried to claim our baggage prior to leaving for our next flight. Every ticket agent that we talked to gave different directions. Somehow, with our broken Spanish, we were able to navigate our way through and catch our flight to Asunsion, Paraguay.















Sarah from the school picked us up from the airport and drove us to our apartment in the city. There aren't any real traffic laws except avoid hitting another car. So, its not uncommon to find motorcyclists weaving through traffic dodging cars and pedestrians, cars stopping in the middle of the road, and pedestrians walking everywhere but the sidewalks -- (only a slight exaggeration). We were greeted by kids and teenagers at every street corner ready to wash our windshield -- some didn't hesitate to pound on the windows and stay there until we pulled away.


















(Above) Our apartment (the house in the middle) is a mansion for Paraguay. We share it with all the interns at Fundacion Paraguaya. Right now, there are nine of us. Private security guards are on nearly every street corner of our neighborhood, so we feel pretty safe.
(Below) Our bedroom --- married life 50's style. =) Actually, we feel pretty lucky to have a room together.

Paraguay: Day 1

We drove to the airport and learned that our flight was delayed for several hours -- drove back to Orem -- So much for day one.

Next day: we started over. During our four hour layover in Dallas, we ate at TGI Fridays and read. Ryan finally finished the book Alaska by James Michener and Jennifer read A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (which she highly reccommends). We boarded the 10 hour flight to Buenos Aires, watched movies a few movies, tried to sleep a little, and ate really terrible food -- except for the croissants served for breakfast which was the highlight for day one!