After we returned on Sunday, my mother brought my brothers and I to her family’s house. We had a delicious pasta pre-game meal. Everyone in this country was preparing to watch the finals of Copa America. After the meal, I went to the house of an Afs volunteer and watched it with some volunteers and Afs participants. Paraguay had made it to the finals without actually wining a game. However, this country still figured that they would win. They lost 2-0. For the next few days, you could see the change in attitude of everyone. Very depressing city.
Thursday I went to conmebol another time with my team, coach, and Freddy, an Afs volunteer who often comes to our practices. After the tour we took the collectivo (public bus system) to our coach’s house. Everyone calls coach "profe." After eating, we played a game against a club called River. (the one from Paraguay)
Friday we had normal practice/scrimmages and I watched soccer in the evening with my brother.
Saturday there was suppose to be an Afs activity that we tour us around Lake Ypacarai. I made my dad stop half way to the Afs office to get out and puke. I felt fine after that. When I got to the Afs office it was closed and only 8 kids were there. The driver of a van showed up and we went by ourselves (8 US kids and the driver) to San Bernardino, which is located at the corner of the Lake. There was nothing to do there. It is a mostly summer city. We still had a great time though and saw more than just the capital city.
After being warm for the past weeks it suddenly became very cold and rainy for the next few days. Sunday I went to Shopping del Sol with my brother and watched a soccer game. I bought a really cool t-shirt from nike. Monday morning was too rainy and cold to have practice so I spent time doing homework. I later went to Mercado Quatro with my mother to buy various items to bring back. This market looked like something out of slumdog millionaire. The huts were made out of tarps and mud or cheap building materials. The stuff being sold was all stolen, extremely fake, or just cheap. The perfect place to get gifts or get robbed. That afternoon we had a very difficult practice in 40-degree weather with rain.
Tuesday I went with my dad after practice to see the public and private hospitals, and also to photograph the sport club that my family belongs to. The public hospital was not like anything I have seen before. Americans built the building in 1947 so it was quite out dated and worn. There were anywhere from 6 to 9 people in one room that should have fit just one. The patients were separate by what they had. As we walked through my dad would tell me which rooms I should breathe less in, to prevent catching anything. The operation rooms were slightly nicer; they had heat. Overall it was a lot less clean, new, and dark feeling than any hospital I have ever seen.
The private hospital was by far one of the nicest hospitals I had ever seen. The 5-story building had incredible views and amazing architecture. The rooms were like suites and everything was completely new. I guess that’s the difference between the people that do have money, and the people that don’t.
I have 2 maids named Julia and Maria. Maria is at home during the week and is my best friend. Julia only comes on Mondays and Fridays to clean.
Next Tuesday I will be home at this time, and the next in school. Time flows by quickly. I have finished Jane Eyre, and am almost done with all my other summer reading. I look forward to coming home to the heat again. I miss everything American and home. I know that as soon as I leave here I will miss this country just as much.
