Home » Paraguay » The Exploitation and Contradiction of South America: Para Why?

Last time, you might recall that I was a little bitter about Argentinean Independence Day. But we all learn from traveling and Justin Timberlake might have to sing, "Cry me a river." Andy would probably tell me to call the waaambulance. It's true and evident that I have been on a whine tour recently. I've also been to a Chilean heavy metal show, so excuse my political anger in this volume, please.

The Exploitation and Contradiction of South America: Para Why?

Tysonv
2005-11-05 08:03:11

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Isla Tobatí is a one-hour walk on dirt roads from San Juan. No buses connect the farming community with the small town. It's quite a lovely stroll across the palm-ridden chaco for three lions with endless amounts of free time. The locals say "Baishapa" to mean 'how are you?', followed by a courteous thumbs-up to let you know they are doing just fine. Walking past the school and church and the only street light in town to the village center, we could see Toren's manor. It is a small, three-room, white concrete structure with dual water tanks above. He has a green, neatly trimmed lawn, a fence with a gate, an outhouse, and a well. His several acre property includes a well cared-for garden of green onions, tomatoes, and spicy peppers. The rest of the estate is filled with various palms and an immense, 106 tree citrus grove within which we passed many an hour tasting the countless varieties of sweet fruit. In fact, that's all we did besides listen to and play music and toss the frisbee.

This was Toren's first day in his new home and we decided to break it in proper. After visiting his former host family and feeding cow's milk to their chanchitos (piglets), we borrowed the necessary equipment from the community in order to cook a healthy, large meal. We had procured pasta and some vegetables in San Juan that morning, so, after collecting kindling and wood from his property, we lit a fire and heated our stew over an open fire. It was outstanding and simple. Eat, sleep, drink, talk. We used green onions and peppers from his garden. Incidentally, the peppers made for a very emotional meal; we were all in tears by the end of his housewarming dinner. The sun went down and the moon came up. And it gets cold in the chaco. So we bundled up in all our warm clothes, hats, and gloves, and took a night's rest on the donated mattresses over the concrete floor in Toren's small home in Isla Tobatí, south-central Paraguay.

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