I Love My Maid!

So I have recently discovered the beauty of taking my maid to the grocery store.  As you know my Spanish sucks, but I know enough to communicate with someone who is patient and willing to sometimes play a guessing game with me, as my maid is.  So while at the store yesterday we went to get veggies, bread and meat.  All of these places require you to communicate with the staff because it has to be weighed and tagged before check out.  At each place I talk as much as I can and then when I get lost I will tell her what I want/need and she will translate my crappy Spanish into good Spanish.

 I have gotten so comfortable with her that when I was a the back of the line and the check out girl was yelling to me to do something I turned to Rocio (my wonderful chica) and said, "Does she want us to move?"  And it took me a minute to realize it was not my crappy Spanish that was the reason for her confused look, it was because I was talking to her in English. 

I pray by the time I leave here, conversation IN SPANISH will come easily, but for now I'm so grateful I have Rocio. 

Gotta Love School in South America!

School is a different animal here.  Please see the following email from the school.  Note that in bullet point number 2 we are asked to make sure our kids get "a good night sleep," yet in bullet point number 1 we are invited to an event that will keep our kids up until 9:30 if you are quick to get home.

Tuesday, May 24          Elementary School Art Fair 7:30-8:30 p.m. in the MPR.  Please join us in celebrating the art work created by our students.

·        May 23-26               MAP Testing continues for grades 3-6.  Please make sure your child has a good breakfast, gets a good night?s rest and gets to school on time.

·        Friday, May 27       May Break?No School    

·        Monday, May 30   Fifth Grade Parent Meeting at 8:00 a.m. in the MPR regarding  Tierra Nuestra.

·        June 1-2                    Elementary School Musical, Mulan 7:00p.m. at the Alianza Francesa Theater on Mcal. Estigarribia 1039.  Tickets are on sale now at the PTA office for G.15, 000.

·        Friday, June 3         Field Day Students should wear comfortable clothes and tennis shoes.  Dismissal will be at 12:00 p.m.

How Do You Say Scorpion in Spanish???

So I am only blogging this because I was telling my sister what dorks my husband and I are she insisted I share it with you all.

The other day my hubby went out to shut off the pool filter and saw a scorpion.  He came in the house and promptly tried to tell our maid to make sure the kids wear shoes outside and to keep their eyes open for.....  how do you say this in spanish??? 

SIDENOTE:  We have tried really hard not to be those people that think if you say something sssslllllooooowwwwwllllllyyyyy in English with that look like you should know what I'm saying that the person will understand us.

So please imagine my husband walking around with his hands pretending to be pinchers, trying to do a funny scorpion walk.  And right behind him I am walking around with a finger pretending to be a stinger saying, "buzzt, buzzt."  And then it hits her she understands!!!!

Es un escorpión.  

Next time I'll try slow english first. 

Happy 200th Birthday Paraguay!

This last Saturday Paraguay celebrated its 200 birthday.  They had a big (this term is being used loosely) parade downtown where many countries came to celebrate the day with Paraguay.  After seeing all of these groups we wished we had just gone and watched because it looked so amazing (and I would really have rathered my kids not see some of the costumes so up close and personl.) 

But participate we did and although it was a long day it was one for the memory books. What was funny is once the parade actually started we walked for about a block and a half and then it was over. So although there were many participants and many countries were represented, the crowd all fit in that tiny block and a half.

 The kids with Uncle Sam.  (I think that is who it is.)  Isaac was super excited to participate. 











 

                 He did eventually cheer up.  Maybe that is because they gave him a balloon and cookies. 

                                                                An attempt at a group shot. 

                                                              The three 5th graders walking.

             Right before we started walking I was yelled at because I was not walking between the lines.  So this is me staying between the yellow lines. 

                           This is the kids' spanish teacher with someone from the Taiwan group. 

                                                          And here we are all done. 

So far one of my favorite things about being here has been seeing the patriotic spirit of the citizens as they have prepared for this day.  The city is covered in red, white and blue.  Stores have put up balloons and banners, and mannequins are dressed in red, white and blue.  I am so glad we didn't miss this.