Paraguay: Ex-Pat Bloggers Share New Experiences · Global Voices
Muna Annahas

Photo by Muna Annahas
The way foreigners see Paraguay, what, and how they feel when they first arrive to Paraguay can be quite an interesting subject.  Some stay for a short time as a tourist, while others stay for a couple of years for a mission or project, and even some choose to live there permanently, maybe even to retire there. For many the experience is novel, when they come across something new. For example, the first time someone drinks Terere can be a wonderful experience. In most cases this experience takes place in the company of a Paraguayan, and where new bonds can be made.
For many, these experiences are shared with family members back home or with others within the ex-pat community in Paraguay and abroad through their blogs. Here are few examples of blogs written by ex-patriates in Paraguay.  Many are involved with church-related activities, and all write about adjusting to a new culture, food, and people.
Brenda is a missionary living in Paraguay and writes Brenda's Blog about Paraguay, she tells about her daily experiences and the people she has met and their stories.  In addition, the blog is written with a great sense of humor and is written in a catchy style. One of her favorite subjects is all of the great food that Paraguay has to offer.  Here she amazes of the delicious mangoes that can readily be found:
Its mango season here in Paraguay and I am eating as many as I can get my hands on. There are two varieties in Paraguay, the yellow ones and the red ones pictured. The yellow ones are smaller and mostly good for juice. These red ones are great for eating.
Another interesting blog called Faithful in the Few Things is written by Jackie McCobb, also a Missionary,  she grew up in Venezuela but lives in Paraguay with her family writing about her daily experiences. It is a personal blog with a lot of interesting stories.  In addition, Jackie is trying hard to learn Guaraní, the country's indigenous language. She writes:
I've recently taken up a new project…I've decided to study the Guarani language. The pronunciation of this language is very similar to that of Yekwana and I can't help but think that perhaps God was preparing me with Yekwana, to learn Guarani. So, every Tuesday during the siesta hour, my friend, Graciela, comes over and gives me a Guarani lesson. If you've never studied a language before (this is my first time) it's kind of funny. You find yourself feeling very proud about being able to say the simplest (and weirdest) sentences.
Another blog I really like is The Jungle Hut, it is written by a Rita Vernoy, a missionary that is about to move to Paraguay. She is also the mother of the author of the previous blog, Faithful in the Few Things.  She writes about her frequent trips to visit her daughter:
One of my first impressions is that the Paraguayan people are very friendly! Even while waiting for our flight from Brazil to Asuncion, we had already made friends with many of the Paraguayan people on the flight.