Amanda's Year In Paraguay

     I know this is pretty sudden, but I am getting a family change. I actually requested the change back in the beginning of the month, and on Thursday my liaison told me that they found a family that is willing to take me in. I won't go into detail of why I changed, but we just didn't work out and I feel that this change is best for me.      Still, the Pavón-Muñoz family will always be my family and that won't ever change. You guys are my first host family and I am so thankful for all that you have done for me. You welcomed me to Paraguay and have supported me through so much. I still expect you to visit me in the US some day.      My new family lives about 5 minutes away from where I am now, so I will still be attending the same school. I don't know much about them, but it is a mother and father, with a son my age and a daughter who's 3 years older.     I change Saturday afternoon. I did most of my packing on Frida...

    Last Friday (the 17th) was my first day of school, or as we all called it, ultimo primer dí a. I ' m in the senior class at my school and this was their last first day. When I arrived at school and went to our classroom , it was filled with students and teachers greeting each other, and parent volunteers passing out shirts, filling balloons, and setting up the food. Once everyone showed up, all the senior classes got into line for our grand entrance. We were given balloons, smoke flares, and noise makers. One by one, the classes walked onto the soccer field.      Once we were all there, the principal and school pastor began giving speeches. I didn ' t understand them or really listen, but I got the gist: be good students, have a good year, and be upstanding Christians. We sang the Paraguayan national anthem, had more speeches, and then dispersed to talk to family and take photos.     Eventually, we all returned to our classroom, where our...

    My exchange is about halfway done, and t oday is my last day of summer vacation. I ate out with my host sister and got ready for my first day of school. So no Dad, I didn't waste my last day. While my summer vacation was in general slow, I was able to go out with friends and family and enjoy the calmness. Yesterday, I went shopping for school supplies with my friend. I got notebooks, a binder, post-its, etc. Of course, we had to stop by and get food too.      Since I am in the senior class here, it is our ¨last first day of school¨, so we are going to have a celebration. I'm excited to see my teachers and my friends that I didn't meet with during break. I don´t know what the classes are going to look like and how much I will be able to participate, but I will figure that out with my teachers and I will do my best.      One event was that last week, I went with a friend of mine and her host family on a day trip to the towns Capiatá an...