Post Stroessner Paraguay and the New Peace Corps

We´re now in Foz do Iguaçu, Brasil getting ready to head to Puerto Iguazu for the Argentinian experience of the Falls.  We arrived here Monday evening after a 12 hour bus ride through Paraguay.  You knew it was a long ride when Jen started asking for more chipa...

It´s been a bit of a time warp feeling for me, filled with all kinds of mixed emotions.  It was so great to see some of the people I worked closely with, see some of my former students, the town of Pilar and to fall into that welcoming hospitality of the Paraguayans.  Then I started to feel guilty, que verguenza, at not spending more time with some of the Pilarenses, how to divide the short time I had with them and not totally alienate Jen in this strange place.  I probably could have spent at least a couiple of more days in Pilar to feel as I had visited with everyone respectfully, but I~m not sure if Jen could have handled one more morning of grilled ham and cheese sandwich with weak coffee, & sugar water juice for breakfast to be followed by a full day of visits and conversations in Spanish or Guarani.

The physical changes are the most notable, the majority of the roads, that were once all dirt, are now paved or empedrado (paved with stones).  There are now 6000 motos in Pilar according to those in the know, buzzing through the streets that were once filled with bicycles, people walking or riding horses.  All these newly improved streets, have new shops, and one wonders how many clothing shops, little kiosks and cell phone shops can the town support, but apparently the number is large.  And then there´s the dogs.  There are stray dogs, very docile, hanging out on all the streets.  They are very well suited to their town, muy tranquilo, seemingly well fed if not well groomed.  Of course they may all have worms as Jen mentioned which would contribute to their tranquiloness.  Yet as tranquilo as they are, the teachers that I went around town with are afraid of these dogs, that barely stir as you approach them, curled up in the dirt or in a shady spot on the sidewalk.  Asi es.

The other changes are sadly not that impresionante.  Yes, there´s a new President, a new political party in power, hopes for a new future, but it seems more hopeful than realistic for any big changes after talking with the people, particularly those in the intellectual Liberal crowds that I spoke with. 

Wow, I have to go, the bus is leaving.  More later.