This morning I went to the bank in order to withdraw money because I had none left. I went to the bank at 7:50am, 10 minutes before it officially opened. I was the 25th person in line, and I know that because the military guard started handing us numbered raffle tickets. A little after 8am, the bank opened and the first 20 people were let into the bank. They told us that after 10 had been served, 10 more would be let in. Then we stood in the line for 45 minutes without moving. Eventually we found out it was because the computer system was down. Then it started working again. We waited another half hour. People were exiting the bank, but we were not being let in. Why? Because there were just as many people still inside the bank. The military guard was letting people in who didn´t have tickets. People in my line started getting upset, but after one lady talked to the guard and got nowhere, they just said, ¨We´re in Paraguay.¨That´s the reason, apparently, that the numbered tickets mean nothing, and the guard´s not doing his job, and we´re standing in this line for absolutely no reason.
Usually when I go to town, I try to stay as inconspicuous as possible. It´s not a concious decision really, just that I feel like so many people are already staring at me and watching me, I don´t want to draw more attention to myself. I try to blend in. But in this moment, I could not just wait longer and do nothing, hearing all of this defeatist talk around me. So I went inside, and asked the guard why other people were allowed into the bank. He told me the problem is just that there´s only one cashier. I told him, no, the problem is not that there`s only one cashier, the problem is that if you keep letting people into this line inside of the bank, all of us who are waiting patiently outside will never get in. Do the numbers he handed out mean nothing? Then he told me that when he waits to get his money in Asuncion, he waits in lines 5 and 6 blocks long. Sure, I said, but we´re not in Asuncion, and your line moves, doesn´t it? There´s only one cashier, he said, I don´t think you´re understanding me. I think that you´re the one not understanding me, I said. There´s only one cashier he said. I know, I replied. I too can see that.
Then I went back outside, told the people what the guard had told me, and waited another 20 minutes. Finally we were let in, mostly through pushing and shoving. After a few more minutes of waiting, now inside the bank, I noticed a guy that had definitely gotten to the bank at least an hour after I did, standing up ahead of me, sort of in the line. (Lines are more figments of your imagination in Paraguay anyway. Rarely do they mean anything to anyone except you.) Continuing with my perturbed attitude, I call him out on it. He didn´t say anything but then the man who was legitimately ahead of me in line took it up with this red shirted dude. We formed a tighter line, but this dude would not give up. He stood right over my shoulder (not that personal space really exists here anyway, but still) and would not look anyone in the eye, just ignored me and the gentleman infront. A uniformed policeman comes up to this dude and they started chatting amiably. Later the guy gives up on me but tries to cut in on a girl a bit behind me. She calls him out on it loud and clear, but he doesn´t react, just stands there stupidly. I make a comment that the
police and
military are here for no purpose. (They don´t control the lines, much less stop this guy from trying to cut or being disrespectful.) The man in front of me says sarcastically, oh, didn´t you know? That guy
is police. Yeah, the ones who are supposed to keep the public peace. At this point, all we can do is laugh. The situation is just too... too much.
After 2 and a half hours of waiting in line, after I was technically the ¨25th¨person at the bank first thing in the morning, I finally got to make my withdrawal. I hope not to have to go back there for a while. This is just one small example of why I am fed up with this country as of late, but I hope it can help you to understand a little bit of my frustration.
¨We are in Paraguay¨is absolutely, positively the worst excuse for this kind of situation. And as long as people think this way, as long as people continue to act poorly
on purpose, not because they don´t understand, but because they
don´t want to understand, because they
don´t want to do their jobs, nothing will change. Really.
Teresa and I with the masked kiddies.
Singing ¨Mami Loro¨ or Mama Parrot. At this point we are jumping, flapping, and singing with our tongues out. As you can see.
What is a carnivore?
We took a bike ride (just for fun, and man was it fun!) along the Río Paraguay in the city of Pilar, which is about 2 hours by sandy road from Teresa´s site.
The Río Paraguay. On the other side, it´s Argentina!
Landscape of Ñeembucu. It is wetlands like this for hours and hours. Incredible.
All you need is corn, salt, anis, fat (lard or margarine), mandioca starch, some kneading skills and great company. Now that´s what I call a chipa date!
Here´s what´s up with me lately. I now have three laying hens, although they have decided to not lay any eggs for me since last week. I guess it´s a work stop, but I have no idea what they are protesting. They get lots of food, clean water, and generous shade from my flower bed. Can you spot the chicken in this picture?
José (JoonWoo), Gabi, and I are showing off what´s what in the Paraguayan campo. José (the Korean Overseas Volunteer that lives in Ybycui) and I have been working together a lot lately to try to work out this onion project so that it is better organized and more inclusive of small farmers in every step of the process, so as to further self-responsibility and knowledge transfer instead of perpetuating the paternalism that is still so ingrained in the people of this country. Anyway, this was a lighthearted moment right after Gabi and José both jammed for me on Marissa´s guitar. Ombopupukuaa ha'ekuera... They both really know how to play!
We´ve had a lot of rain recently. Great for the plants.... also for the weeds and mosquitos. This is a garden bed in front of my house. I made one border with recycled wine bottles.
