Greetings All! I´ve seen some pics of the Arctic Blast 2008 and I have to say it is 8pm and still sweaty hot . The morning terere break turned into an all day terere session because there wasn´t much else we could manage to do. It´s that hot! But I couldn´t not write some more so here I am, around the corner at a different, not so air conditioned cybercafe (pronounced see-bear much to my delight)!
I have to apologize for any spelling errors. I can´t seem to get the spell check to work and I am only a good speller when I can use spell check. Sorry for the annoyance.
To my querido PCV pals and anyone else who might care, Timo and I met up in Asuncion sometime in mid-December. We brought back to life our favorite "forma de ser": ASUNCION STUPID! We had plans to meet at the Chaco Hotel (chuchi, I know but he insisted) and when I walked in the front door the Señora asked, "Are you Gina Campana?" "Pues, si," I said. "Timoteo left you a note. Es simpatico el Timoteo, no?" she informed me. Yes, yes. Timo es muy simpatico and annoyingly famous all over Paraguay. His note informed me that he was on the roof of the Cecilia Hotel, swimming, with some Pilsen, waiting for me. Because there was no room at the inn. Which is so tipico. No room for Jesus. No room for Timo. The chosen ones and just in time for Christmas.
Timo had made a list of things we needed to do in Asuncion before we left for our sites. He had the list, no lie, on a clipboard. Which he carries around all of the time apparently!
The list: Asuncion Casino (His idea, not mine. Supposedly the casino owes him some money...), visit Gladys, churrascaria brasilero, take terere in Plaza de los Heroes, Lido Bar, Brit Pub, Shopping Mariscal (just because), Mexican restaurant for some Petrolios, Boat Bar, bowling and a boat ride (of course)! Anyone who knows Timo can imagine how many times we got lost in the 28 hours we spent in Asucion.
We didn´t complete everything on the list but we got close before reaching our "Asuncion limit". We discussed the tolerance for Asucion that each volunteer has and in my time away mine has grown shorter.
We dined with Timo´s trainees that have just COS´ed. I am a little jealous of them becuase of their youth and their energy as they head out into the wilds of South America and El Norte and I pity them a bit because they have no idea the world they are leaving and how much they have changed because of it. We hit up the Boat Bar (the G4 one, not the Boat Bar Boat Bar). We had terere in the Plaza the next morning and headed to the Lido Bar for rico milanesa (seriously the sun is frying my brain if I am using the word "rico" to describe milanesa)! We got to experience a serious Asuncion downpour and I truly believe if we had been anywhere near Mcal. Lopez Timo would have somehow made a makeshift raft to float down that road. We went to Shopping Mariscal and then to the Casino. We had a chill dinner at the Churrascaria and ended the night at the Brit Pub. Where Ken still hangs out!
We both had reached our Asuncion limit and planned to head to our sites the next morning. Which is exactly where I have been until today.
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brillant imagery, excellent use of iambic pentameter, extensive and seemingly effortless self expression through several languages. a true work of art. I only lament that the boat ride down Mcal Lpz still awaits its opportunity to be put into words, nay poetry, by your hand. :D
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