Seven months of spanish learning has led to this list...
1. guapa(o)- (usually meaning handsome) here in Paraguay it means well rounded or skilled. example- Que guapa que sos!
2. de repente- suddenly or next
3. alegeria- joy, happiness
4. poder- control, power, authority, strength (great discription of God)
5. ya- already, now
6. todavia- still, yet, even
7. ¡Por supuesto!- Of course!
8. ¡Asi no!- This no! (first phrase I leared at the Guarderia)
9. verguenza- embarrassment (I like how the word sounds like its deffinition!)
10. ¡No puede ser!- It can´t be! (great phrase when talking to kids. Keeps the excited energy going :)
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
Semana Santa
Holy Week- a holiday I have been looking forward to since I arrived.
Some basic Paraguayan traditions that I have discovered include...
The making of chipa (a very traditional cheesy bread). Some households make chipa at the beginning of the week and both eat and exchange chipa until the end of Semana Santa. This tradition is more strictly followed by devout catholics in Paraguay.
Over Semana Santa my neighborhood was unusually quiet. None of the usual polka style music was being played and most people spent time inside instead of out in their usual seats with terere by the road. It was as if the whole barrio was showing reverence to this holy week.
But out of all of my experiences I enjoyed most seeing how my church celebrated Semana Santa. Thursday, Friday and Saturday night the church held outdoor services for the community. The program consisted of praise music, skits put on by the youth, and a short sermon with an alter call at the end. A beautiful part for me during this service was actually the alter call. It was so moving for me to see persons from my church living out their faith and praying with other brothers and sisters who have decided to follow Christ. Being a part of these services reminded me how important it is that as Christians we continue to share Christ with others. Not only that, but I was also reminded how great a God we worship. God is worshiped and viewed in a unique way depending on the surrounding culture. Even within cultural boundaries, we all have a variety of ways to connect with God. This only goes to show how big and grand of a God we worship.
Some basic Paraguayan traditions that I have discovered include...
The making of chipa (a very traditional cheesy bread). Some households make chipa at the beginning of the week and both eat and exchange chipa until the end of Semana Santa. This tradition is more strictly followed by devout catholics in Paraguay.
Over Semana Santa my neighborhood was unusually quiet. None of the usual polka style music was being played and most people spent time inside instead of out in their usual seats with terere by the road. It was as if the whole barrio was showing reverence to this holy week.
But out of all of my experiences I enjoyed most seeing how my church celebrated Semana Santa. Thursday, Friday and Saturday night the church held outdoor services for the community. The program consisted of praise music, skits put on by the youth, and a short sermon with an alter call at the end. A beautiful part for me during this service was actually the alter call. It was so moving for me to see persons from my church living out their faith and praying with other brothers and sisters who have decided to follow Christ. Being a part of these services reminded me how important it is that as Christians we continue to share Christ with others. Not only that, but I was also reminded how great a God we worship. God is worshiped and viewed in a unique way depending on the surrounding culture. Even within cultural boundaries, we all have a variety of ways to connect with God. This only goes to show how big and grand of a God we worship.
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