Celebrations #1

In the last few weeks I have experienced quite a variety of Paraguayan parties.

First was the quinceañera - this is a large-scale party to celebrate a girl's 15th birthday. The 15-year-old floats around in a posh white dress (debutant-esque) and dances a "waltz" with her father and male relations to a recorded medley featuring (you guessed it) the Blue Danube among other Viennese classics, before it morphs into the Paraguayan polka. The numerous guests all have a sit-down meal (asado, naturally) and there is usually live music. Needless to say, not everyone can afford to have one, but it's significant enough that people make a big effort to do it.

Waltzing...a long way from Vienna.

Grotto of Pink

Santa Maria has one secondary school, so almost everyone who lives in the village attended it. Its 50th anniversary was therefore cause for a reunion party for ALL the students who had ever been there. It was a lovely event, and particularly novel because this kind of thing just wouldn't (/couldn't) happen in Britain, with its more mobile population. A thunderstorm hit during the party but didn't damp the mood.

On Teacher's Day, my Class 2 students and I had a picnic instead of a lesson in the garden of the Institute. You can see the quincho (outdoor, roofed-over classroom) in the background.

There was also a more official Teacher's Day event organised by the Food Technology students, with draped decorations and a cake and a Powerpoint presentation detailing the biography and all qualifications and jobs (ever) of all the teachers, followed by food and dancing.