Here is a list of Frequently Asked Questions:
FAQ's
1. How often do you go grocery shopping?
My friend, Marliese, and I go every Tuesday morning to get the bulk of the grocery shopping done. We hit the farmers market first where we can get most of the fruit and veggies, eggs, flour, cured meats....and other special items. Then on to Super Seis (Super 6) where we get cleaning supplies, other basic foods like pasta, sugar, butter and other such items. Then to Casa Rica where we can buy high quality breads and meats. They home make all their bread which you can smell as you enter the store. They also sell quality meat, which is hard to come by around here because Paraguay exports their finest cuts of beef, pork and lamb to Argentina. Then our last stop is Dona Angelo where we purchase all of our milk, yogurt and other dairy items (not cheese though). They have a good price on milk, which can come in a 2 pint bag or box. I buy about 20 pints a week and freeze 15 for use as the week wares on. There are 4 baby cows in my family so that allots everyone 5 bags of milk. It's great because the bags look like IV fluid bags, so theoretically, I could just inject the milk into their veins.
This process of grocery shopping takes 3 hours. We arrive home and begin cleaning all the fruit and vegetables. 10 minutes in bleach water and 10 minutes in rinse water. I can usually have everything put away by 12:30.
2. What is the most common food eaten here?
Since lunch is the biggest meal of the day, they go all out. It always includes a meat of some sort (eggs count as meat here and they eat them often) over rice, a salad, a fruit and a piece of bread. They don't like drinking with their meals since they are drinking Terere all day long. Another VERY common food is corn and Mandioca (Yucca Root). They put corn in EVERYTHING. It's on their pizza, hot dogs, potato salad, and they make a dish called Sopa Paraguaya which is like a chicken pot pie, filled with ground meat, potatoes and corn.
3. What is the exchange rate for the money? What do things cost?
The exchange rate is $4.11 guarani for $1.00. They have bills of G 2 thousand Guarani, G5, G10, G20, G50, G 100. They also have some coins. Almost everything is a cash basis and often they will lower the price if you are willing to cash.
A loaf of bread costs about $2.00, a gallon of milk $2.00, Bananas .20 cents a pound, Horse riding lessons for a family of 6 $50 hour ;)
You can calculate the cost of living on most things here if you feel so inclined.
4. Do most people own cars or do they walk?
There is an obvious cast system when it comes transportation. The poorest walk, less poor have a horse and wagon, less poor can ride the bus, then there are motorcycles, and taxis. Those with money drive cars because Gas is expensive ($1.51 a liter).
5. Do the kids like school?
The school is WONDERFUL here. I love the program. Sofia has a class of 22 kids with only 4 Americans. All the youth speak English and most of the staff, and ALL of the teachers speak English. We really want the kids to focus on learning Spanish here. They are instructed for 90 minutes a day in Spanish. Seth loves his class and has made a name for himself by being outgoing and silly. Class Clown? Maybe.
A bus comes to pick them up everyday at 7:40 am and drops them off at their classroom. We only live 4 blocks from the school, but on the hot days, and rainy days, we aren't willing to walk, so most days they ride the bus. I have walked over to the school and picked them up many afternoons, but having the bus is a nice convenience.
6. What do I do ALL day, since I have a maid and a gardener who does all my yard and housework?
Cute.
Okay, the real answer: It's been amazing to sit down with my kids and read books, play freeze dance, paint, color, go to the park and spend a little time for myself reading and preparing for further educational pursuits (more on that later). I can actually do things without feeling like I SHOULD be doing something else. It has been precious to have this time with Kate and Joey, especially since in August they will both be in school (Kate in pre, Joey in K). I have loved being involved with them daily, playing on the ground and in the trenches with them!
It has been fun to learn how to cook the local cuisine. I have more time to make quality foods and spend time with my family around the dinner table.
I'm SO thankful for the help I have. I really feel like life is good.
If there are any further questions, please let me know. I'm happy to pass along any info you're curious about.
