counterclockwise

I’ve been nothing but busy as of late, working hours that make 9 to 5 look good. There’s a certain amount of business with the financial co-op I work for, but largely it’s teaching computer classes that fills my days. It’s crazy. I went for months all but begging for people to sign up, and then at the first of the year they all came, so many that I’ve had to turn prospective students away.

I’m still not sure what it was that opened the flood gates. I don’t think New Year’s Resolutions are a big tradition here. It could be that the start of the New Year makes people think of the upcoming school year - and reflect on all those things they still need to get done over summer break. Whatever it was, the difference is night and day.

I’ve also found differences here in how people approach the material. Especially with my younger students, the Spanish language literacy requirement is a real challenge. Paraguayan culture has traditionally been more oral than written, which works for me and against me, both. Against me, because the written parts of the user interface are a little less intuitive in this environment. For me, because my students seem more at ease with receiving complicated instructions just by voice than Americans would be. 

I’ve known plenty of university students who dreaded that one class where the professor had a thick accent because they couldn’t follow him easily. Far as it goes, I’ve been one of those students. And now I’m the professor with the impenetrable foreign accent and awkward diction, and I really appreciate the patience my students have shown with me.

The Guaraní word of the day is mbo’e, meaning to teach. “I teach” would translate to ambo’e. “I teach computer” would require Spanish loan words because the Guaraní Indians certainly didn’t have computers. Or forks. Or wheels. Or any of thousands of other technologies we take for granted in day to day life. They did leave us an awful lot of words for different species of grass, though.

Three times now, I’ve tried to plant acelga (or by its more cumbersome English name, Swiss chard) for my little garden. It’s one of the very few leafy greens that tolerates the heat here well, and it’s good nutrition in a diet which is otherwise heavy on starch and dairy.

But three times now, what’s come out of my little starter pots has been beets. I’ve bought seeds of 2 different brands from 3 different sources over a span of about 4 months. Beets, beets, and more beets.

I’m baffled.

Every Paraguayan I’ve asked has reassured me that no, “acelga” is not just a little-documented nickname for beets. And everyone I’ve shown the seedlings to has verified that they’re definitely not just really funny looking acelga. Sometimes what I miss most about the US the quality control for manufactured goods.

Well, we’re past the solstice now. Our days are getting shorter and, hopefully, cooler. In another few weeks the climate should be a lot more lettuce-friendly and if I’m really lucky I’ll be able to find the seeds for broccoli.

The Guaraní word of the day is poty, meaning flower or bud. The previous resident in the house that I’m renting was a little old granny who dearly loved her flower beds. She died in the first half of 2007, but her prize roses live on even if the picket fence is getting a bit shabby.