The Top 10 Obstacles to Training for a Marathon in Paraguay and Why I am Doing it Anyway

After months of debating with myself I have decided to train for the Buenos Aires Marathon to be held October 12^th. I had actually begun to train without actually committing myself to the race and at this point I am in week 11 of 18. This morning as I ran my 8 miler in the rain I thought to myself, why am I doing this? Most people wouldn’t attempt to train for a marathon in the states let alone a third world country. While running I came up with a list of the things that make it difficult to run in Paraguay.

10. Lack of any real area for running. There are dirt roads with huge potholes, cobblestone roads, which are hard to run on, or the asphalt ruta which has too much traffic.

9. Rain… it turns the best option, dirt roads and paths, into mud rivers.

8. Paraguayan attitude. They think that I am super strange because I go out of my way to exercise. I am constantly getting strange looks and stares.

7. Herds of Cows

6. The presents the herds of cows left behind.

5. The fact that its “dangerous” to go down this street or that and to be out when its dark or getting dark.

4. More laundry.

3. Dogs barking and nipping at my feet.

2. Dirty Air, burning garbage is a health hazard on its own, try inhaling the stuff when you are already short of breath!

1. Piropos, otherwise known as cat calls. The men here are so macho that they think every time a girl passes they have to hoot and holler at her. It is multiplied exponentially because I am doing such a strange thing as exercising. Especially if I wear shorts.

Why am I doing it anyway?
I enjoy the challenge, it forces me to exercise and stay in shape, I like having a goal to work towards, this way I have something planned for at least four days out of every week, and I hope that one day at least one of the Paraguayans will stop thinking of me as that weird American out running again and be inspired to do it too!

I have become increasing thankful for my I-pod. My personal soundtrack to the weird world around me! It definitely gets me through my runs.

Yet Another Holiday or Three

Paraguayans definitely like their holidays. This week we are celebrating three. On August 14th is Flag Day, August 15th the Founding of Asuncion and August 16th is Dia del Niño (Kid´s Day). For Dia del Niño all the schools and the community centers had cake, hot chocolate and music for the kids. For Flag Day there doesn´t seem to be much celebrating. They have been talking a little bit about the origin of the Paraguayan Flag, but it seems to have been kind of forgotten about. For the Foundation of Asuncion all the businesses are closed and everyone has the day off. In addition to being a major holiday the government will also change tomorrow. For the first time in 60 years the Liberal Party will take charge. The new president will be sworn in. In my Department we will also have a new governor. We hope to see positive change.

Dia de Amistad

Last Wednesday here in Paraguay we celebrated Friendship Day. Paraguayans take this holiday very seriously. They arrange parties and exchange gifts, it kinda felt like Christmas, only the gifts are super cheezy. At the Church my host family attends there was a white elephant party the weekend before Dia de Amistad. The weekend after my host family had their own gift exchange. I received a small diary that says ¨Wishing you Best Wishes¨in English on the front... kinda funny. I also received lots of little key chains and little card sized pieces of wood that describe me as a great friend. Everyone asked how we celebrate the day in the States... the unfortunate truth is that I don´t think I´d ever even heard of Friendship Day in the States. Does that make us unfriendly? Maybe we should pick up on this trend. At least make us look more friendly!

Last week also marked 3 months in site. I attended a three day training on language called the 3 month reconnect. All of the volunteers from my training group returned to our training community to learn a little bit more Guarani and Spanish and to hang out and compare experiences. Our sites are so different so it was good to hear about what everyone else is doing. I think it´s actually the last training that we´ll have all together as a training group.

In site I am continuously trying to become more involved. One of my friends is starting a theater group at one of the high schools so I plan on helping out with that. Our garden is starting to grow and this weekend my youth group is having a soccer tournament.