So, when I googled Paraguayans and Guaraní in Vienna, I immediately came across Asopara, the Paraguay-Austrian Cultural Association. I made contact and on my arrival in Vienna was invited to the director Roberto's house, which was full of extended family members and friends, to meet them and watch some of the women rehearsing folk dances for a performance at a festival in Greece. A visiting Paraguayan music ensemble also accompanied them there.
Following their tour, the Association put on a cultural evening in Vienna this Friday. This consisted of a pianist who played jazz adaptations of Paraguayan songs, the Paraguay Ensamble and the dance group Jeroky Paraguay ("Dance Paraguay" in Guaraní), rounded off with Paraguayan food.
The people I met on both occasions were unbelievably warm, friendly and welcoming. I came home from the cultural evening with a list of telephone numbers - Lorenita who would help me with learning Guaraní, Dulce who invited me to drink tereré with her, Isabel who offered me a place to stay if I ever needed one and the details of her relations in Asunción so that I could go there on holiday, .... I was also very happy to see Susi and Leandro (the smiliest toddler I have ever met) again. The infectious joy that characterised the folk music seemed to overflow in generosity and warmth from everyone I met.
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| Dulce and Isabel |
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