Den Andra Tiden: Getting into everything...

One of the tucanos

(The layout is quite messed up, but that's just how it is...)
So far I've spent 6 days in Paraguay. Mostly I have been in the house in San Lorenzo, doing things like study Spanish on my own, reading books and painting a little.

I'm kind of used to being able to be outside for at least 2 to 3 hours every day, or do some sort of physical activity at least an hour per day, so I've been kind of uncomfortable with that part... there are only so many hours you can spend alone and in complete stillness.

But on the whole, it's probably quite good that I'm just sitting right now, since I arrived with a really nasty cough that I caught at the flight here.

Last night was really strange aswell, like, concerning my health status. I was up talking to my sister until about 12, and then I just couldn't sleep until about 1.30 am because of the cough. It isn't that bad during the day, but at night, it's almost like I'm choking on it.. Quite unconvenient.

My mother got me tons of different things for allergies, stomach illness, ache and insects

(what a joke, the largest insects I've found so far are mosquitos. It also bit me, so I'm just hoping it wasn't one of those mosquitos carrying Dengue... and another thing concerning health. At our orientation camp, we were told that if we remember being bitten by a mosquito and a couple of days later have a headache or some other ache, it is a bad idea taking painkillers with paracetamol, which is the only kind I brought, since Dengue influences the liver so that it can't metabolise the paracetamol and then you just end up with hepatitis. Tss...)

but of course, there's nothing there as simple as something for sore throat or a cough.

Just some family members...

Also, as I have been told, the older generation here is full of supersticions, especially concerning health. Yesterday my mother explained to me that oranges are bad to eat when you have a cough, because it's a 'cold fruit'. Which sucks, because the oranges here are delicious. The oranges which are at the house are from a tree which grows at the land area the family owns.

But still, I can eat pears (Which is apparently a 'warm fruit'), so no harm done really.

An adorable cat came by two days ago. From the waterpipes, apparantly. Found her in a hole in the floor...

Talking about eating... the Paraguayan cuisine is amazing. So far I've not tried all too much, but one of the things I've had is Sopa Paraguayana, which is not a soup, but rather a kind of really dense 'cake', which consist of onion, eggs, corn flour, cheese, milk and some other things, and it is delicious.
Another thing they've got here is Dulce de Leche, which is a rich, sweet, caramellic thing with the consistency of soft butter and it is eaten on bread...

Well, it´s winter here. Only 30 degrees Celsius. What a shame...

I'm probably gonna gain quite alot of weight here, but hopefully, when my cough is better, I'll be able to run at least once a day or something. I'm not here on some kind of exercise program, I'm aware of that, but for my healths and mental stabilitys sake, I really need to be in motion... =)

Two days ago, we had a visit by one of the most adorable cats I've ever seen. It was unceremonialy thrown over the garden wall, but returned, then was thrown out again. And returned...

One of the things that are most tiring is the time difference. I didn't really get a massive jetlag and I've been quite sharp and alert, but still, Paraguay is 6 hours behind my mental clock, so it can be quite confusing. Now I've gotten into is quite well though.

Yesterday was the first day of spanish classes. I really need those... At first I was very dubious, seeing as the techer talks really, REALLY good spanish, but no other language... But upon consideration, it is good, because than you really have to learn. Do or die.

Take care, stay safe.