Nde rasore hakueterei!

In case you were wondering, it’s still blazing hot here. I envy those in America who got to experience the record breaking cold a few weeks ago. Here is a list of things I’ve done in Paraguay and literally broken a sweat doing. Anything that requires physical exertion above this level guarantees a sweat.

-Typing this blog post

-Sleeping

-Playing candy crush saga

-Eating hot soup for lunch (happens on a regular basis)

-Shelling peanuts

-Sitting under a shade tree thinking about snow

Okay, gotta quit talking about the heat. Resort to part two to learn a great way to beat the heat: drinking terere!

My first whole month as a volunteer at site has been… weird, to say the least. I was having some major struggles trying to introduce myself and meet different people in community because of some prior happenings that I don’t really want to discuss in detail. However, I received some help from Peace Corps staff and members from another community to make the transition easier with the members of Capitán Leguizamón. Next week my community is organizing a meeting to formally introduce me so that everyone knows about my work and what the heck I’m doing here. Previously, much of the community had no idea I was here, nor did they understand exactly what Peace Corps volunteers do for their service. Hence, it was particularly tricky for me to introduce myself to community members by walking up to their house and trying to explain to them that, no, I’m not an Argentinian, nor am I a Cuban, nor a German, nor a spy. And yes, I have had all those questions asked about me.

One thing that has been a major help to my community integration is Paraguayan curiosity. They ask me anything, and everything. They are so interested to know what it’s like to live in America. The foods we eat, the work we do, how cold it is, who is your girlfriend, do they eat mandioca there, do you have terere there, etc. etc. That is one of the great things I like about Peace Corps. We are a culture-sharing machine. Clearly there are things I do that Paraguayans think I’m crazy and gawk at me. However, these are the little things that keep me sane and realize I’m making a tiny bit of impact so little time into my service.

I don’t really have too much exciting stuff to share so far, so I’ll leave you with some photos.

My host cousin Alexi and I enjoying some funny moments on my laptop

Isn't this just about the ugliest chicken you've ever seen?

One of the many impassable sand pits in my community

It's gonna rain! Haha just kidding!

Okay, I finally have the low-down on my mailing address. If you send me something, please please please make sure it is written exactly as I have put down.

Letters/cards/envelope items:

Orry Pratt
Correo Paraguayo No. 6700
San Pedro del Parana
Calle Parana y Capitan Niconor
Capitan Leguizamon
0984656118
Itapua, Paraguay, South America

Packages:

Orry Pratt
Correo Central Encarnacion 6000
Tel: 0984656118
Paraguay
South America

Jajapo terere! Let's make terere!

Paraguay isn’t known for much. People only know the country exists and that’s about it, right? Well, if there is one thing I teach you through this blog, then it will be about the most important thing in Paraguay. Terere. It isn’t just a drink. It is an addiction. It is flavored water. It is cheap. It is the drink of choice for everyone in Paraguay, and they spend endless hours each day sharing this tradition. It’s pretty simple to make, so jaha!

To make terere, you’ll need:

A bombilla (metal straw with little holes in the bottom to act as a filter)

A guampa (wooden, metal, or horn cup)

A pitcher or thermos full of ice cold water. Yeah, that's the color of the water at my site. Haven't gotten sick from it, yet...

*Ain’t no ice cubes in Paraguay down here. They put it in bags and freeze it in log form.

Some yerba! No, not the cooking hierba or the Cheech & Chong hierba. Yerba mate. It’s a ground up plant that offers an acquired taste when mixed with water. Kurupi is one of the more expensive brands of yerba mate. It sells for $1.75 USD a box. The cheap yerba is non-flavored and runs for about $1.25.

Put your desired type of yerba in the guampa until half or three-fourths full. Then insert the bombilla into the guampa. Pour yourself some water into that guampa and you’ve got yourself some terere! The first “ha” (drink/sip/take) is called Santo Tomas and is undesirable and extremely strong. Lucky you if you have the first ha! 

Guampa filled with yerba and bombilla. Ready for some agua!

I don't normally take selfies drinking terere, but when I do, I make sure the thermometer reads at least 35 Celsius.

Instructions for drinking terere: Gather a group of your buddies and sit down in a circle like fashion. The designated server pours a participant their ha. Participant drinks ha, passes back to server. Server pours another ha for next participant. Next participant drinks ha and passes back to server. Repeat in same fashion in circle-like manner until you have had enough. After you finish your last ha of terere, you say gracias and leave the terere group.

FAQ:
“So you all share that same darn cup and drink out of that weird metal straw??”

            -Yes, yes we do.

“Why doesn’t each person just make their own terere and drink from that?”

            -Because that’s not how they do it in Paraguay. Sharing is caring.

“What if someone in the group is sick? Won’t that spread germs?”

-Sure.  But that’s the least of worries down here. Tranquilopa! Besides, the bombilla has little holes to filter all that stuff out!

“Well what happens if someone doesn’t want to drink….”

            -How rude of you!

“What happens if you drink terere and then eat watermelon?”

-According to Paraguayan thought process, you’ll die. But don’t worry! Peace Corps volunteers do it all the time and we’re still here!

“How much terere does one normally drink in a day?”

-Depends on how hot it is. Two liters at minimum. Some days can be 6,7, or 10 liters of water with terere. Keep that bathroom handy! Oh wait, I pee in the trees.