Amanda's Year In Paraguay

     This is my wrap up post of April. On the week after Semana Santa (the 2ⁿᵈ to the 8ᵗʰ), on Friday, we celebrated the 35ᵗʰ anniversary of my school. The day before all the classes decorated their wings with balloons and streamers. On Friday, we didn't have classes. Instead, we ate pizza, had cake, and spent the morning playing and socializing. At 9, we all made our way to the gymnasium. It was packed with all the students of the school and parents. Until 11, we had our celebration act where the school director and pastors gave speeches; we sang the national anthem; and students performed skits, dances, and songs. Afterwards, we spent the last hour enjoying our free time and went home early at 12.     Friday through Sunday on the 14ᵗʰ-16ᵗʰ and the 21ˢᵗ-23ʳᵈ was Intercolegio: a sports tournament where various schools compete in volleyball, basketball, soccer, futsal, and handball. It was held at Colegio San Ignacio de Loloya; which had a huge campus w...

     On the week of April 2 to April 8, we celebrated Semana Santa. Holy Week is a christian holiday celebrated the week before Easter and people celebrate by traveling and visiting family. In Paraguay, it's tradition to make chipa on Wednesday and eat asado on Thursday before Good Friday. On Wednesday April 5, my parents, our dog Kiwi, and I drove from Lambaré to Primer de Marzo. On our way we picked up one of my mom's sisters. Kiwi was very excited and curious throughout the trip; walking around peoples' laps and doing routine checks on every part of the car. A bit later, we stopped to get some chipa and cocido. Chipa is a traditional Paraguayan baked good made of flour, corn flour, Paraguayan cheese, eggs, butter, milk, and anise. Cocido is a hot drink of yerba and milk.      We arrived at my grandmother's house late at night and quickly went to bed. The house is old fashioned; made of brick and clay, and one story with 4 rooms and a separate kitchen. Th...