ABC's (Part 1)

As we get ready to leave Paraguay, I thought it would be appropriate to share some of the highlights of our time here so far. So, in true elementary school teacher fashion, I'm going to list one item or event for each letter of the alphabet. This week, I'll do A-M, next week, N-Z. Enjoy!

A is for apartment life. There are 11 of us living in the 6 apartments on campus and have enjoyed meals together, weekly grocery outings, movie nights, grading parties, volleyball and BBQ's.

B is for begbugs, which we've battled three times in the apartments.

C is for Cerro, the Paraguayan futbol team Brandon has chosen to root for.

D is for downtown where we go to work on our residency paperwork and where we have also done some shopping.

E is for empanadas - flaky pastry-type shell filled with ham and cheese or egg or chicken or ground beef or . . .

F is for Family Adventure Day. A fun-filled night at school with carnival type games to raise money for the much needed playground equipment.

G is for guards that stand watch outside our school and at many houses in the neighborhood and at local businesses, keeping trouble at bay.

H is for horses that share the road with cars, motorcycles and buses.

I is for ice cream at Dona Angela! They sell it by the kilogram for you to take home, too!

J is for jogging at Parque de Salud.

K is for kilogram, used to weigh our fruit, bread, cheese, meat, and Bailey!

L is for Lomito Arabe. You start with a bread that's half-way between a tortilla and pita bread (called arabe), brush it with mayonayse (sometimes garlic mayo), add some tomato and lettuce, and your choice of chicken or beef (or mixto). Wrap it up like a burrito and enjoy!

M is for meal share! It's a tradition we've started with friends in the apartments where we each cook our own dinners, but eat together and share what we've made; we've had some interesting combinations (chicken salad sandwiches and tacos, anyone?!).

(M is also for Mi Esperanza, the church that we are attending in Asuncion.)