swimming pools

Every day is rather unusual just because I’m in Paraguay, but today you would be laughing at my situation for entirely new reasons.
On Saturday, I was told by my host Mom and two sisters that I would be going to visit the fat aunt “tia gorda” in Asuncion and that tomorrow I would be swimming. Like every time, I’m never quite sure if what I understand from all the loud talking from everyone is actually going to happen. I usually, have a least parts correct, but other times, I’m way off and the event doesn’t pertain to me. This time for instance I thought my host mom and host dad were going with me. Turns out my host mom and little sister were just dropping me off.
After getting dropped off at some other random ladies house (she might be related to my host family, but I couldn’t tell), I spent the better part of the early evening sitting with an older woman wearing torquise-blue crocs and her 92-year-old mother . I sat there on the patio in nice white metal chairs talking about the states, food, music, and Muslims (her daughter’s bf is Muslim). They spoke Spanish mostly, but when they really wanted to be clear they’d witch to guarani. I can understand both languages with about equal clariy—I have to guess plenty and other times I just smile and nod and hope they don’t ask a question which will reveal that I don’t understand. It was enjoyable in spite of being so tired from lack of sleep the past few days. I’ve gotten better at being patient and making conversation. I can’t wait until I can really understand. She also fed me some delicious empandas and sweet potato with Coca-cola to wash it town. At one point we had a conversation about diet and I thought she was saying something about not eating much sugar because she needed insulin shots. I have no idea now. While eating, the 92-year-old lady was funny because she would just throw any part of the empanada on the ground that she didn’t want to eat.
After while, Elisabeth (the fat-aunts daughter) showed up to take me back to their house.
November 29: 5:24 am
My Spanish/guarani is worse in the morning. Of course it doesn’t help when you’re woken up to a large lady toweling herself off in the same room as you. My poor muddled brain was trying to determine what they wanted of me. I quickly changed and shortly after found myself jammed in a van next to giant speakers and bags of hot dog buns.
After about a half hour drive we reached the gates of Nazareth Country Club. It was really early and it took forever for them to get someone to open the gate even with the consistent honking.
This place has 3 beautiful pools. I probably spent a good 6 hours in the water that day. I wore myself out with all the laps I swam back and forth. The water was crystal clear and the people I came with work there so after laminating my temporary pass I was basically free to do as I pleased. I spend plenty of time reading and played a lot of foosball too. It was a long day, but it was a great day.
Unfortunately, the evening wasn’t so cool. And by not cool, I mean sauna like. I thought I would be going back to my host family that night since it wasn’t very far from home, but alas I had to spend another night on the bed that folds up at the corners. We had a strong fan, but it was merely circulating the hot, stagnant air. Needless to say, I barely slept. In the morning, ominous storm clouds were rolling in. If I were Paraguayan this would me that I don’t have to go to school and maybe work. Peace corps training doesn’t run by PY norms. I couldn’t convince my relative of this so in exhaustion I laid back down. My host mom knows this and I figured she’d take care of it, besides the storm was cooling this off and making it possible to sleep. My host mom called me at 7. I simply handed it to my relative and within a half hour I was handed bus fair and led to the road to catch the bus back home. I arrived to training just in time to catch the first break and some fresh brewed coffee.