Danger -- Contents May Overheat!

These days, I often joke that my head is going to explode. But I´m only half joking.

I am learning SO MUCH STUFF.

First of all, of course, I am still working on my Spanish. On top of that, it seems that everyone I meet -- especially the older generation -- is keen to teach me Guaraní. This is OK with me, because I am eager to learn.

However, now that I am in Ciudad del Este, these languages are no longer enough. It is a given that I will pick up some Portuguese, as the majority of the merchants downtown are from Brazil and conduct business in Portuguese. If I want to go shopping, ever, some Portuguese would be a good idea. It´s not so much that it is necessary, as that it is considered rude not to make an effort.

There is also a lot of Arabic spoken in businesses downtown. Gulp. My host dad keeps saying phrases to me in Arabic at random times. It´s a game for me now, to guess at what he might be saying. I understand absolutely nothing, except for Allah and Isa. (If only his favourite expression were Insh´Allah.) As it is, I can´t imagine a language with a more beautiful sound, but I am making absolutely no effort to learn Arabic. My poor brain is doing all it reasonably can.

But don´t think for a moment that I am learning nothing but languages. No, no.

My students are eager to reciprocate by teaching me things, in exchange for English. Thus it happens that I had my first violin lesson this morning. I am pretty excited about the possibilities of this new endeavour.

Furthermore, one of my host dad´s nieces (so my cousin, I guess) is going to teach me to dance. Not the traditional Paraguayan style -- the contemporary stuff. That way I can dance along to the incessant Reggaeton beat that pumps through every neighbourhood. Those who know me well, know that I love to dance. It´s part of my embodied way of experiencing music, and joy.

Of course, I am learning to make traditional Paraguay foods and drinks. I love to cook, and my year would hardly be complete without some new favourite dishes. If I can serve a vegetarian, African-inspired dish in Paraguay, I better come home able to cook something Paraguayan!

Who knows what else I will pick up while I am here? I love to learn, so I am soaking it all up. That´s my plan for the whole year...

Unless my head explodes first.