巴拉圭週末家庭樂

巴拉圭人平日作息定時，七點、七點半起床返工返學，黃昏吃飯前聚在庭前飲冰凍的Terere（熱版為Mate，亦即南美茶，一桶水、一支飲筒、一隻杯，便會傳來一家人或一圈朋友一起飯）、或吃口煙，然後一家會一起吃晩飯，再在門前乘涼，吃口煙，明日又要早起。


但到了週五、週末，他們習慣聚在親友家開party！看哪親友家庭院大，便聚在哪裡。大人們九點、十點才吃飯，飲飲汽水、啤酒，談談天、說說地，一直hea到三更夜半。


以下是我們在兩個寄住家庭，想弄點中菜一起吃的兩段有趣場景：


武士之家（男主人中山律師有一半日本血統，但已是百份百巴拉圭人）
星期五
下午六時
「好嗎？我換件衫便出駕車帶你出去買餸吧！」
「不怕大晚嗎？中菜要切、要yip,亭多功夫的。」
「沒問題，我們星期五習慣很晚才吃飯。」
「那要做多少人的菜呢？」
「十五人吧，可能更多。」
「嘩！」
「太多人嗎？我還請了位樂手，特地為了歡迎你們呢！」
「利害！」
「有些親友或許是吃了飯才來的，九點、十點才吃飯也不是問題！」
（到了一家韓國超市、再到了一家台灣超市，買了一點點）
「還是到本地的超巿罷，我們有肉有菜便成。」
「那好，但先要接兩個孩子放學。」
晚上八時半，終於回家開工，邊吃邊做，二十人的菜，弄到半夜完成！菜單包括：酸棘筍、煎餃子、凍豆腐、冷麵、醬燒骨、甜酸蝦仁、沙茶煎雞翅、雜菜炒飯、炒珍肝，時間不夠，豉椒牛肉炒米只好留待明天午餐。

拉丁之家
星期六
晚上七時
「今晚由我們做飯吧！」
「真的嗎？今晚會到家姐家吃，讓我吿訴她一聲。你要什麼材料？」
「她家有什麼也行，可用中式的方法做。」
「先在庭院坐一會，飲一下Terere吧！」


晩上八時
「你家姐住得遠嗎？」
「不遠。」
「那我們走過去嗎。」
「不，我朋友會駕車接我們。」


晩上九時
「我們走了！」
「好的。」（裙拉衭挒中）


超市
「下車吧，要關門了。」


終於，十人的菜，一小時完成！（進步了，也學乖了！）菜單包括：雞絲炒麵、雜菜炒飯及家姐弄的肉醬意粉。


壓力是有一點，但也很高興與我們的巴拉圭家庭分享了一個快樂的週末！

Comfortable stay in Asuncion - II

We finally learned how to make sopa Paraguay (a cake made of maze and cheese) from another host. Silvio is a gentle and caring man who wants to make sure if we feel comfortable in his place. He even gave us his room and he went to another room of the house. He lived with his sister and her son (i.e. his cousin) Martis. We were quite impressed by the 12 yr old Martis who was a good boy. He greeted with us when meeting and we saw him have good conversation with adults. He liked naruto comic and drew pictures about his favorite comic characters and showed them to us. We compared those Hong Kong kids who play electronic games or parents’ iphone day and night and lost social and conversational skills. Silvio’s sister was also a talented woman who took care of the son, worked and did housework.

 

 

On the weekend after we arrived Silvio took his mother to a village in another province, thus brought us along. We had a good sight of the Paraguay country side. We were surprised to know that the mother has not seen her sister in the village for 15 years ! Because of poverty and mobility of family they haven’t met for such a long time. Silvlo was concerned that we may feel uncomfortable about the poor situation in village. However, we felt more honor to witness this important moment and we like to meet people no matter what they are from. After three hours of car trip we finally went to the village. His mother were greeted with enthusiasm and happiness, she was very moved about going back to another home and meeting her family. At first we were worried that we had started a bit late (noon, we saw his mother waiting eagerly in the morning) and reached there at 3pm, thus she did not have time to talk with them if we left the same day. In fact she would stay until next weekend when Silvio would go back to pick her up. We saw the family talking together; I wish that I could understand. Actually they were talking in Guarani, a language from aboriginal whom the Spanish missionaries came to "civilize", instead of Spanish. We had a hard time in learning Spanish already, and now learning a few extra on another language.            

Silvio taught us some Guarani to say “Ro-ei-hu” (I love you), “Ba-da-ko" (how are you), “Ser-ra-ra-hah-le" (my name is ....) The country did a good job of maintaining this aboriginal language, from a culture conquered by colonist, while other countries like Brazil and Argentina which let the colonial Spanish become their only language and the aboriginals lost their identity because of the loss of their language. In Paraguay, Guarani and Spanish are two official languages. People learn Guarani in school; if their mother tongue is Spanish; or learn Spanish for vice versa. There are still many local folk songs sang from Guarani. We heard some from the singer we met in Asuncion.

We stayed at Silvio’s place for three more days before we bought a bus ticket to go to Encarnacion (later I was a bit regretful to stay such short as we could have gone to other suburban area). We had a good time in his place where we learnt some Paraguay cooking from his sister. His dog was also very friendly. We also watched some films at his home as he had a collection of local and foreign films, including one Argentine independent film Chinese tale” about an only-spanish speaking metalware shop owner who Was a loner, taking care of an only-Chinese speaking man, who is an ophan coming to Buenos Aires finding his uncle but got robbed. It was a pity that we left in his work time and we couldn’t say goodbye face-to-face with him. haler we thought that we should stay in Asuncion longer for her beauty and having this comfortable place to stay. Thank you, Silvio I wish to see you later.

Becoming part of a local family as Couch Surfers

Before our trip, we sought advise from our respected elderly, Father Giovanni, how we find the presence of God during our two years trip around the world, his left us some wise words after a few second of silence, 'if I were you, I won't take any photos, see the world with your eyes and meet people.


It's a visual oriented world, we can't help taking photos but we try to spend some extra time enjoying the moment.


When we face the stunning Iguazu Fall, after taking some pictures, we spend time sitting there quietly to look and listen. We could have sit there all day, if we could. It's paradise before our eyes...if there weren't hundreds of tourists with cameras, video cameras, cameramen doing business, fences for protection...okay let's focus on the stunning view...it's amazing.


In Buenos Aires, we are glad to join friends and family gatherings of our local friends, chatting and eating.


Argentinians love chatting, people we met on a bus, in a lift, in the street, in a milonga had so much to say, it's a pity that we don't quite understand Spanish.


We heard about couch surfing (CS) back in Hong Kong, with news that a single girl staying in some strangers house being raped... But we are a pair of couple and have nothing to fear, and do found the idea of home staying very interesting.


Frankly, this helps save cost for our two years travel but then we found the CS site have ways to protect their members and its not just about free stays. The main point of CS is not for saving cost but for people in different parts of the world connecting each other. Tourists know nothing about the locals, but travellers connect with them and know each other, a way is to CS.


Every member need to input their comprehensive profile and will have a list of reference. By being a host or a couch surfer, you actually know a lot about the people before you meet! (of course this may be fake, even so, you still need to write a long story!) It's such a great chance to experience life of a local, to share thoughts, food and culture.


For cost saving, we have thought of hitch-hiking along our way as well, there are some bloggers writing their hitch-hiking experience but we still feel at risk and may take very long time to get to our next destination. We'll save it for later until we become more desperate!


We gone crazy when we got our first host! (after sending almost a hundred requests daily, until the list exhausted). It's a family in Medianeira, a small town, one hour bus ride from Foz do Iguazu, in Brazil. It is a bit far away but we are glad having a chance to meet locals.


It's a 30 years old guy, Juracy, who lived with his parent and a dog. He speaks good English and just came back from Rome after staying a few years. His parent only speak Spanish, Portuguese and some English words. His extremely friendly mum, Catalina was from Venezuela and his father, also named Juracy, had spent some time in Russia - all very open minded people, who love to discuss matters including politics, history, culture, cooking and everything. They spare 2 rooms and receiving CS non-stop! It's simply amazing.

our Chinese fried noodles, they love it

We enjoy sumptuous meal made by mummy on the first night and we also shared some Chinese cooking, including sweet and sour rib, dumplings, Hong Kong egg cake... that they loved so much.

Chinese 3 color fried rice

The next night, they were joined by a German and Finland. We went to nearby lake for a swim, meeting Juracy and some family friends and it's like a fiesta every day.


 

Actually CS requests takes time, many prefer full profiles (which means you need to fill up a hundred page of info!!), the fact that you are an experienced CS with a lot of reference from previous CS and hosts, and they expect you to stay for only 2-3 days, so don't expect a week or more! And even if a room 'perhaps' available, it takes time to chat with the host and see if you like each other. They don't expect free stay as your only purpose, so generic request message won't work, do spend time to read the profile and get to know the person. In peak time like Brazil Carnival, Rio locals either host their friends, got CS request half a year ahead or plan to escape and leave some place else for a vacation!! It might be helpful sometimes to look for small towns nearby the big cities.

the couple on the left (Juracy and Catalina) are the host father and mother, a neigbour (Ana) who is the only chinese in the town, raised in Cuba, came and visited us

the white t-shirt guy in front is Juracy, thanks to him we have such a good time at Medianeira

Our stay in Medianeira is absolutely wonderful, I feel like children of the family and it's so quiet and enjoyable. Though our itinerary might not have much excitement, but chatting with the family, supermarkets tour, driving around town, trying out local pastries, cooking at home, a short trip to the river nearby, visiting family friends and have a chat and visiting their house are nice for us.


We are lucky to have two hosts in Rio real soon, which makes up a week there. We are still looking for someone to host us in San Paulo and other cities in Brazil. Keep faith and we are well taken care of to whatever plan He wanna take us.


Now is time to make some Chinese dumplings!

巴西家庭之旅 - 上集

經過個半小時的車程, 兩旁的田地在落日下閃耀?  車廂在冷氣下舒服極了, 好為之前在烈日的街上給龜殼壓累了的身體充電. 終於來到 Medianeira, 幸好車站的公共電話可以打地線, 就聯絡上Juracy. 他駕車來接我們, 一個稚氣未泯的大個子, 他的英文不錯, 和我們溝通不難. 他和父母住在車站附近兩三條街的屋裏. 我所指的屋, 真的是屋, 單層, 有花園有車房, 一進屋, 熱情的媽媽給我們大大的擁抱, Juracy的爸爸也叫Juracy, 走出來不容易在興高采烈的媽媽身後找個身位和我們握手。Juracy的父母只懂少許英文, 他便幫忙翻譯。 為了方便分辨兩父子, Juracy在爸爸前被媽媽叫Juracito (the little Juracy). 母親Catalina是委內瑞拉人, 她在我們來之前已經預備晚餐, 我們當日沒有去看Iguazu瀑布, 早些出發來Medianeira, 不要一家人等我們吃飯. 和我們打招呼的還有一隻chou chou有十二歲, 也不年輕了.


開心地飲過冰凍的啤酒 (全家人都喜觀飲啤酒) 當天晚餐是咖哩肉醫意粉, 煮小扁豆,及沙津, 小扁豆像切開一半的小青豆, 用豬肉, 洋蔥, 薯仔煮, 很易飽, 是Juracy 特別叫Catalina看食譜學來煮的, 他說這是巴西的傳統食物,我們定要試, 她還特地調一種有薑及薄荷的檸檬涷飲, 薄荷是她在花園自己種的. 之後他們想帶我們去跳舞, 但我們經過一天勞碌, 又想上網 (Juracy特地買了一個wifi router, 我幫他安裝好, 大家happy, 阿爸唔駛同個仔爭電腦上網, 可以一齊用自己電腦上網, 而我們也可坐收漁人之利,開行兩部電腦勁上)把瀑布之旅放上網, 便捥拒了. 原來他約了自己朋友蒲吧, 那麼高消費的事就免了,


原本我們睡Juracy的睡/書房 (裏面的床只是一張梳化床), 他在父母的套房打地舖, 我們表示不好意思, 但他說較喜歡有冷氣的套房. 其實當晚也有另一對couchsurfers (Juracy都幾好客) 來但行程延誤了, 所以我們就睡了另一間原本安排給她們的雙人房一晚, 當晚也悶熱, 幸好有風扇, Catalina 建議把大風扇向窗,把蚊吹出,其實我一早就燒蚊香...


第二天我們起床, 已經見Catalina煲咖啡, 桌面放了面包和芝士. 吃過早餐, 我們開始了在Medianeira的超市觀光, 買些我們煮中餐的材料. 去了三間超市,各有平貴,阿媽同個仔都無帶錢(我估唔會老馮掛), 我哋去第一間較貴的超市買咗大部份嘢: 青紅黃椒、白蘿蔔(之後M先發現唔夠粘米粉)、洋葱、牛骨、茄子, 之後去另一間買芽菜,成港幣廿蚊斤,好貴...但呀仔鐘意食,又可以用嚟炒麵, 買。去最後一間,阿媽有account, 唔駛我哋俾錢, 買咗排骨, salami. 番屋企成一點，快快炒咗個面，大家吃得很開心。

食完午飯個鎮唯一一個中國人Anna嚟探我哋,佢喺廣東五十年代去咗古巴(當時係唯一出國方法),做餐館工人至退休,跟做醫生嘅仔去到巴西定居,而家已經七十多歲。佢帶咗自己種嘅苦瓜，可以整苦瓜炒排骨(但係無豆豉,到時improvise啦). 跟住陪佢行去佢個女屋企，見到佢孫女,就嚟讀大學,都幾靚架.有兩隻好大隻嘅狗, 我哋睇下佢種苦瓜嘅花園,同時發現有一棵喺樹幹生出似提子狀嘅莓子. Anna 同我哋傾到唔捨得我哋走,但係我要炆排骨要多啲時間煮飯. 之後我哋走路回家,經過Juracy朋友一家人坐在屋外談天, 原來?家人老婆婆過世, Juracy 感到震驚,我們又喺度坐嚟傾, 有個後生仔讀英文同我哋練習. 就嚟天黑我哋先走到, 成七點半先開始煮飯.


我得番個半小時煮飯,又要煲牛骨湯又要炆排骨,點煮呀?

An enjoyable Sunday with two adorable princesses

Pable and Noelia, our tango teachers, invited our Hong Kong friends to their vacation house outside the Buenos Aires city, and we followed.


It's a pity that it rains in the morning and as told, the house have more outdoor area than indoors, we are hesitated if we should still go. Our friend, Gaby, our tango teacher and his partner, Eve arrived to pick us up. Another friend of Pablo, who could have drive us decided not to go, with the 7 of us, we called an extra taxi.


Finally, with some delay, off we go.


After a month in the city, the closest to nature place we had been was Tigre, which was still a town and residential area. It was refreshing to see rows and rows of trees and green grass field.


After an hour drive, we arrived. There is a garden, a pool and 2 cute little twins waiting for us and of course, their lovely parent.




So glad to see the princesses Lucía and Ornella who can melt Pablo the father. They got his eyes (I think). There has been saying that daughters are the wife/girlfriend of the father's previous life. Pablo might be lucky enough to have two wives in previous life.

 

 As for Noelia, she is so fit after bearing the girls, even getting stronger on both arms for taking one on each. She said she was happy if we could take one of the girl back to Hong Kong as souvenir. Wow, then the lucky one will be the queen in Hong Kong.
 
 
We had parillas all afternoon, with wine, beer, good chat and three occasionally straying dogs.


 
We had some real mate for the first time, I mean we never did that in a party. The host, Noeila prepared some 90 degree Celsius hot water, drink first round, then offer to the first guest, who have to finish it and then return to the host, who prepare the next one and offer to the second guest! Everyone drink from the same cup and straw until you say thank you to the host. It's interesting and cozy!


We swim, dance and act as paparazzi with the little princesses, until they are unable to leave us without crying.

It was a wonderful Sunday, thanks to Pable and Noeila.


The weather was amazingly well when we got there and lucky we didn't stayed in the rainy Buenos Aires.

Hi, family, can't you learn to say something better ?

Just had a good great dinner with my family tonight, great in terms of food and a time of family gathering. I should not ask for more. However, out of the parent's worries about our world trip, they kept telling scaring stories about people being robbed, organ being stolen etc. I know their intention of raising my awareness. In their view the world is a dangerous place. My younger brother tried to persuade my mom that it is pointless to raise such awareness, but his reason was weird. It was because I am going anyway and I am not going to listen.


There is no choice for family members. I spent so much effort to escape this pessimistic and anxiety-prone family. I expect them being proud of me doing this journey, which is out of their reality. Can't they do something better by encouraging me, showing their faith of my belief, trusting in me and supporting my decision ? Also the freaky brother says nothing about my plan, subjectively I sensed his jealousy of me. Freaky in a sense that how on earth a son does not let grandparents see their grandson ? At the end of the day, while I am still in the worry of all unpredictable possibilities in the trip, this visit to my family adds nothing positive to my trip.


As God gives me a wife to unite with, I am leaving my parent and have my family. I shouldn't take them so serious, but it is frustrating somehow that I feel negative energy passed to me from them. I lost the mood for tango that evening.