Moving to Paraguay advices!
Photo Taken By my dear friend Javier Medina (thanks Javi)
Yesterday I met Mike, Jin and Alex, it was a short but very interesting meeting, they are moving to Paraguay in July and had many questions that were very interesting. Actually I was expecting most of them, unfortunately we didn’t have much time to talk and I had and still have many things and point of views to explain to them.
Obviously my mayor advice to someone that is moving there would be learning Spanish otherwise the whole country can get boring and you will be miserable, not if you go as a tourist though because you see what you have to see and fly away, but if you have to live there things change.
To get friends you need to know their language, very very few people know English and you can’t rely on that to make friends.
I would recommend to hire a private teacher or go back to school or to study something fun and interesting, or get a new hobby, so you can meet great people and improve your Spanish being in contact with Spanish speakers.
Mike told me that he heard that Paraguay is boring or could be boring, and for a second I thought and I agree that it could get boring, that means, there are not zillions of events, but there are nice places to visit in Asuncion and in the inside country, but boredom is not about a place, is about the people that feel that way, you can get bored in NY if you are so, and you can enjoy Paraguay if you go with the right state of mind and see beauty in the simple things, and that always amazes me, still now, when I arrive there I still can see the beauty and my time is never enought to do all what I want to do while there. I NEVER EVER GET BORED THERE, AND NEVER HAS, EVEN AS I WAS LIVING THERE.
As a local person there I have tons of friends so I don’t have the problem people that are moving there who don’t know other people have, I think getting adjusted is the biggest part of the problem, meaning you have to set up a new life, a new living style, a new point of view and obviously new or different expectations (things are different than in the US or Europe)…as my dear friend Kent use to say, what ever floats your boat, do what you have to do and you will find tons to do.
Once you set up the primary things you can go with the flow, you will be able to have tons activities that just pop up (most of the with no notice), tons of art and photography exhibits, cultural events, coffee shops, you name it, if you have kids you will be invited to tons of birthday parties, asados on Sundays, friends coming unannounced, tours and cruises, other town visits, night life, people go out there very much even during weekdays… And once you start having dinner at 9 then you are on fire!! (very well adjusted by then). =)
Another thing, If you move there don’t forget that they greet with 2 kisses one of each side of the cheek and is not polite not to do so, people expect you to do and they will come and turn their cheeks for kiss. (that rules for men/women and women/women) and men to men always, always a hand shake.
I will write more about Mike and Jim’s questions and advice some really fun activities, and places to go.
Boredom is in the mind of the bored not related to a place, and as I always say Paraguay is not about seeing stuff, its all about the experience.
Life is Good!
Enjoy!
