Muna’s Blog

Social networking in Paraguay

muna — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:02:39 +0000

Since I arrived for vacation in Paraguay 2 month ago I noticed a very big internet usage growth in Paraguay, more people are connected on the internet and for more hours everyday. People in Paraguay, specially in Asuncion, spend a lot of time on Facebook and Orkut everyday, they share their photos, lives and now they even are starting buying things thru facebook.
I made a social experiment, I created a facebook fanpage to see how would people react to it and what would I get with it, I started putting some simple information, then sent the page to my friends and asked them to suggest the page to other friends, then uploaded the things I wanted to sell and in no time I had more than 500 fans and actually now I can say that most of 90% of my sales are thanks to my fanpage on facebook.
Statistics says that Paraguay has more than 230.000 facebook users at this time and that will grow on a great scale.
People in Paraguay are willing to try new technology and now most of the businesses based in Paraguay have their own fanpage where they reach most of their customers.
Unlike websites that are static a fanpage is a interactive way to reach the customer and fullfil their needs.
Using social networking people feel in a community environment and tend to trust the company and interact with it, its a great way to make new contact, make a sale, introduce a new product or share an experience or tip about something.
What I love is that Paraguayans have an open mind about tecnology, and i find that social networking is here to stay and to reach new ways creating a new economy and perhaps and most likely new and creative jobs developing interesting stuff .
Now the new tendency in paraguay is that people dont ask about your number anymore…they just assume they will find you on facebook or orkut and find out a little bit more about yourself.
I’m leaving Paraguay shortly but I’m very glad that thanks technology (facebook, orkut, email, etc) I will be in touch with a bunch of friends and of course will be following the things and people that I like.

Muna and 1000 others like this!

Chipa Recipe Easter tradition in Paraguay, Receta de Chipa para la Semana Santa

muna — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 22:34:19 +0000

Yummy recipe sent to my by my friend Gilvi

Ingredientes: 700 grs. e almidón de madioca, 500 grs. de fecula de maiz (maizena), 500 grs. de queso paraguay, 500 grs. de manteca blanda, 6 huevos, 6 cucharadas de polvo de hornear, 3 cucharaditas de sal y 3 cucharaditas de anis (yo le puse 3 chucharadas de anis y salio espectacular)…

1. Batir la manteca en batidora mejor hasta que se convierta en crema y agregar de a uno los huevos, batiendo luego

2. Agregar al batido el queso paraguay bien desmenuzado y el anis estrujado (yo le agregue entero, que bruta, ja,ja,ja), mezclar.

3. Cernir todos los ingredientes secos (almidón, maizena, sal y polvo de hornear). Colocarlos en forma de corona sobre la mesada.

4. Colocar el batido en el centro de la corona, traer todo lo seco hacia el centro con las manos y hacer un arenado (quiere decir juntar con los dedos nomás). Luego unir la masa y agregar 2 o 3 cucharadas de leche si hace falta (yo le agregué). Tapar la masa y dejar descansar por 20 a 30 minutos.

5. Retirar un poco de masa, estirarla en forma de cordón de 4 a 5 cm de diametro, aplanarla ligeramente con la mano y cortar con cuchillo en forma de rombos.

6. Colocar en una placa enmantecada y llevar al horno precalentado a 200 o. durante 20 a 30 minutos hasta que los chipás estén ligeramente doradas.

Pd: no se endurece al día sgte.

Receta de Rocío Pangrazio, rociopangrazio@hotmail.com, publicado en la Revista Gastronomia.com, el 27 de marzo de 2010.

Happiness Land

muna — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:07:27 +0000

A few years ago during Christmas time a friend came up with the idea of collecting gifts for kids that live in the country side, we collected a lot of stuff, specially Pan Dulce (Pannettone) and other small stuff.
We drove there, I had no idea where that place was, it was a little town in the middle of now where, there were no asphalted routes to arrive there, and we had to go drive thru a very long dirt road most of the way. I’m glad we didnt had a flat tire or an emergency, there was absolutely no other soul around for many miles.
After driving a good 4 hours we arrived to a place forgotten in time, it was a picture perfect landscape with many tall trees and long wild grass.
Kids were running everywhere, they approached the car, as they never saw one, smiling, laughing and speaking Guarani.
The were playing soccer barefoot, most of them were wearing old clothes full of holes, moms were not worried to leave their kids to play in that big open area, they knew they were safe and all were looking for each other like a big family…
We took the goodies to the Majors house, he was the wealthiest person in the whole town but barely had running water in his house, he offer us to great lunch and thanked us so much for all the stuff…and I thanked him…
The people in Happiness land had so little, just perhaps the basics…but they had a great connection with nature, they could see bright stars at night and play barefoot, they didnt know what internet is or even understood the concept of a video game and they didnt care because they were already happy, they didnt need that what some people call “Evolution”, or a bunch of stuff to fill the emptiness…
The kids in Happiness Land ran freely and hopeful…they enjoyed the moment, the instant
I, myself learned that one can be happy with so little and that happiness is not attached to wealth, that most things are just to fill the emptiness of the soul…nevertheless I still can not imagine my live without a microwave.
I’m glad that I visited the land of the Happy…the Happiness land like I like to call it.

Silver Paths, the art of filigree jewelry, Documentary filmed in Luque - Paraguay

muna — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 03:19:44 +0000

Beautiful Documentary we filmed with my friend Dario Lugo when I was in Paraguay, this is a short version, I had to cut 3 minutes to meet youtube’s requirements. It is also totally subtiteled, I hope you enjoy it!

This video was also approved by Senatur as National Touristic interest

http://www.youtube.com/v/FcVhkq4nxo4&hl=en_US&fs=1&”> name=”allowFullScreen” value=”true”>http://www.youtube.com/v/FcVhkq4nxo4&hl=en_US&fs=1&” type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” allowscriptaccess=”always” allowfullscreen=”true” width=”425″ height=”344″>

Los Nivacle - Native Community from Paraguay

muna — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:11:16 +0000

The Gran Chaco is Paraguay’s frontier country, with 60% of the landmass but only 4% of the country’s population. It is a subtle landscape: the land is predominantly flat, rising gently from the Paraguay river in the South East to the border with Bolivia in the North. The vegetation graduates from a rich and lush savanna near Asuncion, through to dry and often impenetrable thorn brush in the north. It may not be sensational, but in its quiet way the region is a nature-lover’s paradise: trees, plants, birds and wild animals in abundance, clean air, hot sun, and wide horizons.A very different form of settlement took place when the Christian Mennonites were offered refuge in Paraguay at the beginning of the twentieth century. The government granted them political autonomy under a Privilegium. A strict, hard-working and God-fearing sect, they came as religious refugees, originally from Holland and Switzerland, latterly from the Former Soviet Union, Canada and Mexico. Like the Indians they lived off the land, but as settled farmers. Against the odds they developed successful agricultural communities, even where conditions were at their most hostile. There are now eighteen Mennonite settlements and over 30,000 inhabitants across the country overall.

In the early days of their settlement there was some resentment of the newcomers amongst the local Nivaclé Indians, because of their settled agricultural system and their proselytizing manner. But in recent years relationships have improved, and both cultures realize that cooperation is necessary for their joint survival and prosperity. One Mennonite settlement is Fernheim, a commune of 4,000 people. Founded in 1930, it originally consisted of German-speaking refugees who had fled religious oppression in Russia and the Ukraine. Filadelfia, 450km from Asuncion, and about 20km north of the Ruta Trans-Chaco, is the administrative capital of Fernheim: a pleasant, well-ordered town of well- kept houses & gardens.

The inhabitants still speak Plattdeutsch amongst themselves, but also Hochdeutsch, Spanish-Guarani and, increasingly, English. The streets, museum, hotels, shops and even the cemetery are well-ordered and cared-for, the traffic is light, the children polite. It’s like stepping back in time.

The Nivaclé live in a community of 280 families on the Southern edge of Filadelfia town, and are learning to work on the farms and in the local Cooperative Milk Factory and supermarket. The Mennonites have also provided the Indians with educational and health services, and are increasingly trying to help them retain their traditional culture, just as they have guarded their own. Handicrafts, based on local materials, are one expression of traditional values for the Nivacle, as with other Indians in Paraguay. A Mennonite-owned store, the Mensajero, just next door to the Florida Hotel, is currently the only outlet. This little shop, in addition to Christian literature and music, sells handicrafts produced by the Indians. These consist mostly of textiles and bags made from fibers of the caraguat plant, dyed brown, red, yellow, gray or violet by vegetable bark, roots, pods or resin.

Unfortunately, these traditions are in great danger of extinction and there has been a need to re-teach some of the weaving techniques. The few older women who have retained or re-acquired the skills admit that they are finding it difficult to generate any enthusiasm amongst the young. Moreover, they are unable to develop an inventory of their goods because they do not have the funds to invest either in equipment or in materials. This means that as each piece is completed, it is sold to the Mensajero in return for money that is then immediately used for the demands of daily village or family life.

The Nivaclé have been through dark days. However, a new cultural community center, funded in part by the European Community, seems to be renewing some pride and hope for the future. On Indigenes Day - April 19, 2001 - the center hosted a festival of dance and music for some of the 17,000 Indians of other tribes, who traveled there from outlying areas of the central Chaco. The Chaco is beautiful, and Filadelfia is an attractive and comfortable stop for the inquiring traveler. Both Mennonite and Nivaclé communities have singular cultures that are well worth exploring. The Mennonites are readily contacted via the Museo Unger (on Hindenburg) and the library. And the Hotel Florida shows an hour-long professional video on Mennonite history.

Text written by Maria Gallitelli

Paraguay Fashion and Fashionistas

muna — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:49:39 +0000

One of the industries with the biggest growth lately is the fashion industry, it is not unusual to see young people get very creative and become a fashion designer with some simple ideas from handmade fabric flower brooch to the more daring ideas to modernize the old traditional aho poi and Naduti fabrics and give them a more contemporary and fashionable look.

A couple of times a year we have the Asuncion Fashion Week held in Asuncion, all brands presented there are high quality Paraguayan brands, from bags, to shoes, accessories, jewelry and all kind of clothing, shows are performed by really beautiful models…it is a really big fashion show where you can see the talent and the creativity of young Paraguayan, sadly that the lack of money is the biggest problem for the young talents to create a selling line.

A Fashionistas site i really love is www.fashionistas.com.py unfortunatelly they dont have a cart in this site, however you can contact the designers directly to order something you like.

The fashion week has also his website here: http://www.afw.com.py/

Fashion Week on facebook: www.facebook.com/asuncionfashionweek

A Paraguayan Brand I really like is: http://www.facebook.com/asuncionfashionweek#/uptitude?ref=mf

My website for Paraguayan handmade filigree jewelry: www.larimoon.com

Become a fan o my website on facebook page with beautiful Paraguayan and American models, coupon, information about artisans, etc: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bellevue-WA/Larimoon/125470202364

If you want to hire a paraguayan model for a product of so please contact me, since I’m in the fashion industry thru the years I got to know really nice and professional fashion models.

Paraguay travel agencies directory

muna — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:36:59 +0000

Sometimes it is fun to travel around Paraguay or perhaps take a trip to Buenos Aires or another interesting destination while in Paraguay. I defenitely recommend that while you are in Paraguay to travel around South America a bit, it is so beautiful.

There are a few agencies on this list that organize trips to Encarnacion, Iguazu Falls and Ciudad del este, called the golden triangle. There are also many options to travel inside Paraguay, you can even book a trip by boat.

Here is a complete list of all Travel Agencies available in Asuncion

Enjoy your next trip…wherever it might be to =)

http://www.vipstour.com.py/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=11&Itemid=237&limit=10&limitstart=0&lang=

It has been a long time…

muna — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:13:51 +0000

I’m back! It has been a long time since my last post, I’m so sorry about that, many things came along but I’m finally back to blogging again =)

I have been to Prague recently…while waking on the streets of one of the most beautiful cities in the world and looking at the Vlatava river, Charles Bridge and Prague Castle, I said to myself there is no more beautiful place in the world than Paraguay, sounds crazy, no?…love is so subjective but at that moment I realized that wherever in the world Iam, there will never be a more beautiful place than my own, no matter where I go, no matter how far I go to find the perfect place…there is none but one, just one.

I found myself suddently thinking about the present Xmas time in Paraguay, that I will be missing again this year, I imagined myself buying Flor de coco from that street vendor at street a light…the smell of flor de coco is so unique, that is the Xmas smell. I cant never relate Xmas to the cold weather…Xmas for me is in summer with warm weather…hard to imagine no? well, that is the way I grew up.

Now friends are telling me that Xmas is becoming also very commercial, that is the part that doesnt make any sense for me…but well, thats the “evolution” of times I guess.

It is so funny when you go to the malls in Asuncion where they put the airconditioning on and on their Christmas trees the lay cotton simulating snow, I always observed that, they want to recreate a cold inviroment for Christmas but the true is that people even die of heat during the summer.

I hope that Asuncion is not become that fast and crazy kind of city…it’s been 8 years since I left, I guess that many things have changed but I hope that some things will always be the same…at least in my imagination.

Cheers…to the most beautiful city in the world!

Here a little xmas gift for you!

Chipa Guazu Recipe, to prepare for Xmas!, very traditional on Xmas table and one of my favorite Paraguayan Dishes!

Origin of the name

The “chipa guasu” owes its name to the conjunction of two words. The first, “chipa” refers generically to a diverse group of cakes that has corn as a base for its preparation and that is part of the “Tyra”, a Guarani term that names every food consumed to accompany the “mate cocido”, milk or coffee, or prepared just to be an addition to other dishes. The second word that intervenes in the composition of the name, “guasu”, means “big” by which it can be inferred that “chipa guasu”, is the biggest of all “chipas”.

Ingredients

In the preparation of “chipa guasu” are used: medium size onions, water, salt, pork fat, eggs, Paraguay cheese (a very fresh cheese), milk and corn grains.

Preparation

* I use butter instead of pork fat and canned corn, just modify this recipe, i wont taste as the originally but it still will taste great with some practice.

Chopped onions, water and salt, are boiled in a pot for about 10 minutes, and then let cool down. The pork fat is whipped until it turns creamy and a much lighter color, then the eggs are added one by one along pieces of fresh cheese, all without stop whipping. The boiled onions are added to this creamy preparation, and also the grains of corn (that have been previously mollified) and the milk.

Mix all together and the result is a paste that is put in a buttered or floured oven tray.

It’s cooked in the oven, at low heat (around 200°C) for about an hour and a half.

A variant of “chipa guasu” may not contain eggs, in which case it requires more milk.

Discovering Paraguay’s “wild” side

muna — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:54:01 +0000

I just found a really nice website of a German Gentelman that has been living in Paraguay for the last 19 years, he has a farm 16 km from Concepcion, that is is a traditional fully functional farm which also doubles as the perfect place for interested travellers, bird watchers and students to stay and explore some of the best and wildest wildlife available in South America.
El Roble (the name of his farm) has very comfortable accommodation and excellent traditional Paraguayan and German cuisine. Almost all ingredients are sourced from the farm. If you would prefer to source your own, there are excellent fishing opportunities nearby, and if you would like to strike out from the farm we provide some adventure activities.
I’ve never been in a eco farm in Paraguay but will love to.
Peter has his own website now:

http://www.paraguay.ch/ check it out, you will find awesome photos and information about what to do and discover the “wild and adventurous” side of Paraguay.
he also has a blog: http://www.free-blog.in/elroble
If you happened to go please send your photos and I will upload them here =)

Living on a Budget (tips)

muna — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:47:56 +0000

When I was in Paraguay in june I went out with my friend for groceries shopping and I was really surprised to discover a place like Costo or Sam’s club where you actually can buy things in bulk at very affordable prices, it is not far from Asuncion, it is in Luque, the name of the place is San Cayetano, also known as Sancaye, it is close to Luisito and to Luques’s cemetery.

Prices are much more convenient than regular stores and they also have a wholesale section where you can give them the list and if you buy more than 4 articles of the same item they give you a wholesale price on the item, there you will find from wines to beef and everything in between, they also sell shampoo and diapers at very convenient prices, and also they have a good fresh produce selection.

The cons of buying there is that is always too full of people, we stood in line for at least 45 minutes but it was worthy because my friend told me she just goes there 1 a months and fills her freezer and storage of stuff and she saves a lot of money.

Also very close to there you can find some bakeries where you can buy any kind of pastries and bread and also “galleta” in a 5 kilos bag, my friends always buys the big bag and gives galletas to her friends in smaller bags and the rest she just freezes.

Galleta is a kind of bread that is harder than usual and it is very popular in Paraguay.

I would definitely check it out if i live in Asuncion, because regular groceries stores can get very expensive this days.