Fresh Fruit

I simply can´t get over how wonderful it is to have fresh fruit available at such affordable prices. For an example, yesterday I stopped by the market on the way home from school and picked up the following for only 40,000 Guarani (8 US Dollars):
3 Apples
6 Plums
4 Pears
1 dozen Bananas
2 Cucumbers
7 Tomatoes
1 Head of Cauliflower
2 Red Peppers

On top of the great pricing, the fruit came ripe. It wasn´t like back home where you buy underripe fruit and then wait 2 weeks so that it becomes somewhat edible, it comes ready-to-eat right from the market. Sitka simply can´t compare....

Taiwan Update

So I got an email from my host mom in Taiwan today and I thought it might be fun if I translated it for all of you. I´ll give you the Spanish too for those of you who are interested (or wanna check how well I can translate ;)

Cute! You make me cry! I already miss all of you. What luck that you are doing well. I am doing okay, but I´m getting a cold and I think it´s because of missing everyone so much. The town here is gorgeous and the city is too. It´s just a little complicated because of the language barrier (it would have been easier if I spoke or at the very least understood English, but it´s okay, I understand anyway). We´re staying in a military institute and they treat us like soldiers! The food is horrible, but I have to eat...I´m going to come back half-transparent. Hahahah! Kisses! I love you a lot!

Chuli!! me haces llarar, ya les extraño a todos. Que suerte que estes bien, yo estoy bien pero con mi gripe hoy creo que es de añoranza!!! El pueblo es lindisimo, la ciudad tambien, solo que es complicado, por el idioma, hubiera sido mas facil si hablaba o almenos entendia el ingles, pero bueno, ygual entiendo. Estamos hospedados en un cuartel, una academia militar!!, y nos tratan como a los soldados. La comida horrorosa, pero tengo que comer, voy a volver medio transparente jajajaj. Besos, tqm!!

Holding Down the Fort

Last Friday my host mom spent 30 hours on airplanes and spent a few hours in 5 different countries (Paraguay, Brasil, USA, Japan, Taiwan) on her way to a 3 week conference in Taiwan for her work. Since my host family consists of my mom and I, the logical question is ¨Where does that leave Allison?¨ And the answer is that I am holding down the fort at home, living more or less on my own. Since our cozy house sits beside that of my aunt, all inside one large protective metal fence, I can easily go and ask her for anything should any situation arise. Originally when my mom told me that she would be traveling for nearly a month, I was a little worried about being all alone for so long, not to mention pretty bummed about not seeing her for so long. Over the last couple months we´ve gotten pretty close, spending lots of time in deep discussion and laughing our heads off. I´ve gotten used to having her around and now she´s....not. :(
However I must admit that I had a surprise waiting for me when I thought I would be spending a lot of alone time. Our body guard (due to the dangerous nature of my mom´s work prosecuting drug dealers) was put in charge of taking me to and from school as well as to social gatherings that may come up. Between him and my aunts, I´ve barely found a single alone moment since my mom left. Everyone is always asking me what I´m doing, what I´m going to do, and what I´m going to eat. All the attention makes me feel loved, but what they don´t realize is that even when my host mom is here, she is working quite a bit and I do, after all, know how to fend for myself. I´m also surprised how quickly my days here fill up with things to do. Maybe it´s inevitable, busyness hunts me down no matter what continent or language I´m in.

Back To School

I have to apologize for not updating this sooner. The new school year has started up and I am a high school senior, yet again. I was admittedly anxious to go back to class after the long, hot summer vacation and be able to see all my friends again. There are two new girls in my class, but two of my old classmates switched schools so we remain our small group of only 15. We are so few, in fact, that we got moved into the art classroom that is about the size of my bedroom and is complete with a chalkboard. My classmates did not respond well to the move, taking at as an insult that in their last year someone would dare to rain on their parade. However despite all the huff and puff they make, the administration really has nowhere else to put us and it seems as if were are gonna have to suck it up and make it through the year as is. More than anything else, I find the situation humorous because even when we did have a regular sized classroom last year, they didn´t use a third of it, choosing instead to move all their desks as close together as possible. It does shine a light on the inflated ¨we are seniors and therefore rule¨mentality. I suppose it exists in all countries.

In relation to academics, this year I am taking it upon myself to do all the work in (and what little work there is assigned out of) class. Starting from the beginning of all the units makes it a lot easier to follow what they´re doing. Plus, now that my Spanish has significantly improved, I can keep up with the taking the notes dictated to us all day. You´d be surprised how much easier note taking is when you understand what it is you´re hearing.

Yesterday was Kate´s birthday and I helped her host family throw her a surprise birthday party. Her family really went all out in the set-up. There was everything from an enormous Paraguayan flag to her name spelled out in small candies. Although I have a feeling she knew something was being planned, Kate seemed to really enjoy herself (and even played along with the surprise).