An interesting Christmas

Rain.

At home rain means run to the car, throw on a jacket, or take off your shoes and enjoy. In Paraguay rain means do nothing, and the world may or may not run that day. During training while we remained on the American mindset, we had to walk to class in the turrential downpours, while our brothers and sisters slept in. When it rains in Paraguay, there is no school. Unfortunately when it rains in several parts of Paraguay, there are also no busses.

I did my best to get back to site for Christmas. I awoke at 5am, got to the terminal quickly, purchased a ticket and waited for the bus to come at 7:30. Only upon trying to enter, when the bus driver laughed at my ticket, did I find out that due to rain there would be no busses passing my site. I was stuck.

So, no Christmas in site. But a campo Christmas was a must. Conveniently, my friend Kendall was placed in a site only 4 hours from Asuncion and with constant bus service, so a few days later I headed out to see her.

I arrived not knowing what to expect, beneficial as the night to come never could have been imagined in my mind. After greetings, a terere session, and quick bucket bath, the three americans in town headed to church. Finding a seat under a fan we struggled through an odd service, and Kendall and I headed to the house of one of her favorite families in town. We arrived at 8:30 and sat in a circle, talking, drinking Niko soda.... until 11:30, when, due to impending doom as demonstrated by a technicolor lightning show approaching, they decided to serve up the sheep they had killed that afternoon and grilled, with sweet potatoes and chipa guasu (a fresh corn bread).

I new it was delicious, and it felt like a celebration, and then it felt rainy. Two minutes into the meal the clouds broke and we sprinted inside, balancing plates of sheep ribs in our hand, and finished eating inside. At midnight we stopped eating, and all walked around in a circle and kissed everyone´s cheek to wish each person Merry Christmas. A traditionally awkward Paraguayan dance circle soon started, and right as we were getting into it the electricity went out.

Sitting in the dark, surrounded by pouring rain and dim candles it was impossible to not appreciate the moment. While it was not a Christmas I could have ever planned for myself, it was definitely a Christmas to remember. A last minute change of plans seemed to work out OK, and at the very least, got me excited for my future return to my own slice of campo heaven.


Medical Note: First blood test negative! This means that I might still be able to work with bees. Now I wait in the city until Tuesday for the skin allergy test. Lets hope they find something definitive and perhaps I can be back in site, or in a new site, by this weekend!