First, the brunch. The board prepared a wonderful American-style breakfast for us, complete with pancakes, SYRUP!!!, eggs, lil' smokies, fruit, juice and coffee. It was absolutely delicious and it was a nice ending to the semester. My room was all clean, grades were submitted, check-out sheet complete . . . *sigh* . . . time to relax.
Each table had been decorated in the theme of a different Christmas carol. As a table, we had to "guess" the carol and lead the rest of the staff in singing through the song. At the end, our attention was directed to the food table - with letters spelling out "we wish you a merry Christmas" running it's length - and we serenaded each other to bring the brunch to a close.
As the board scurried off to their board meeting, the male teachers ran for the hills while we quickly changed gears from Christmas party to baby shower.
One thing that I have loved about being in Paraguay is experiencing a different culture and how similar events are done somewhat differently (and sometimes "better" in my mind). The shower started off with gifts and while the OCD, I-need-to-write-thank-you-cards-to-each-of-you person inside of me cringed at not having a stenographer keeping track of the gifts and their giver, I enjoyed the Paraguayan twist on the gift giving (and receiving). Each person who had brought a gift hand-delivered the present to Sindy and me, exchanging kisses on each cheek, blessings, and (from us) thanks. It just felt more personal, having more proximity to the gift giver (as opposed to the head-nod across a crowded room and a mouthed "thank you" shot off in their general direction).
And even a Paraguayan baby shower wouldn't be complete without a few games. Three to be exact. The first found us examining and smelling diapers that had been "dirtied" by various types of chocolate candy. Then, a diaper-changing relay that even a few elementary/junior high boys (there with their moms) took part in.
Finally, a Paraguayan classic (or so I've been told). While Sindy and I had been unwrapping the gifts, Tia Vero had been untangling the various bows and ribbons, tying them one after the other to make a long "rope" of colorful ribbons. All of us married women stood in a tight circle, shoulder to shoulder and began to string the ribbon around the circle. And just like wedding shower ribbon breaking holds a prophecy of children to come, this game divines the future, too. Whoever the end of the ribbon reaches will be the next in the group to have a baby. After countless rounds with the ribbon, jokes galore, and women (with high school age children) protesting their presence in the circle, the ribbon strand finally ran out in the hands of Carolina, one of our Spanish teachers. Time will tell!
Once I made it home with my arms full of loot, Bailey was anxious to go through the gifts and check everything out. Her favorites? The handmade blanket from the art teacher, Diane, and a bowl/spoon set; we actually had our first (of many to come) conversations about "you don't grab things from Mommy and scream 'no' at her" when it was time to put the bowl away.
Amongst the variety of clothes, hooded towels, diapers, wipes, teething rings and such, I, too, found a favorite. These darling shoes that I can't wait to put on Babs (her nickname, not her "real" name . . . we're still working on that one).
I am so blessed!
No comments:
Post a Comment