It has been a victory in Jesus today, hanging out with the people of Jesus. I think most people are attracted to the town called Jesus cause of the old Jesuit ruins. I'll admit the ruins are pretty cool. We got a lot of really good pictures.
As we were leaving the town, we heard people singing about Jesus. On closer inspection it was not a town theme song but a church service so we wandered in. It was highly noticeable that people were not able to concentrate at all so they finally stopped for a sec and got us up to the front. They made me speak in whatever broken Spanish possible who we were and where we were from etc… quite embarrassing. After the service everyone wanted to say hi and some old lady was passing around cake – we felt right at home. Kevin got a chance to pick up a guitar for the first time this trip.
We have only been in Paraguay for a short time but this place has so much culture that we have already compiled the "you know you are in Paraguay when…" list. Forgive me if most of these are you had to be there jokes.
You know you are in Paraguay when…
…the cashier at the supermarkado can't make change so she throws a couple candies in your bag.
…you get on a bus that requires you to squeeze through bars to get to the back.
…you date on Monday, Wednesday, on Friday and the other days are open for others.
…the fruit lady waves down a bus to make change.
…all you can find for breakfast is greasy empanadas and deserts.
…95% of the sound coming out of any audible device is "cachaka" music.
…you are trying to decipher the church hymnbook and mouth some words when it is your turn for the mate cup.
-steve