For Kat to accurately learn about my life as a 6 year old, she had to go all the way to Paraguay. One of the main goals of our trip from the beginning was to return to where I had grown up, and meet old friends and family along the way. From mid-February to the end of March we traveled around Paraguay staying with various family members. My family roots were established in Paraguay when my grandparents (for their honeymoon) spent 3 years in Paraguay as a doctor and nurse. (see! 7 months is not such a long honeymoon after all). To finish our time in South America, my parents and Hannah, my sister joined us in Paraguay to relive memories of our childhood. We toured Yalve Sanga, the small indigenous town where we lived for 4 years, and had a barbecue with many people that were part of our lives. Our family told many stories and drank lots of terere with lots of people over the last week ouf our visit. it is also special that now I have several cousins that are working in the Chaco- Oliver as a doctor in Yalve Sanga, and Eric as a Vet in Filadelfia. It was great to see how the legacy that was started by my grandparents many years ago in Paraguay is being continued by family members today.
Hannah and I in our old classroom
To complete the trip, we flew to New York City to spend time with our friend Jon Roberts, and received a surprise visit from my cousin Rachel. From there we took the Amtrak to Kansas, stopping in Chicago for a visit with Kat's cousin Stacy and her family, and my sister Hannah. From there we went to Newton, Kansas, where I grew up. This now completes Kat's understanding of my growing up, and has completely filled her head with names. We have had a wonderful time with many old friends and relatives who have been so graciously hosting us. Today we attend Liz and Michael Wiebe's wedding, and then we are off to Minneapolis, Kalispell, Spokane, Seattle and drum roll...Portland!
Barbecue at Yalve Sanga
the famous Paraguay bottle tree that stores water in its trunk
Touring Yalve Sanga with Eric, Sumhya and Oliver
Outside KM 81, the hospital that my grandparents helped start to fight leprosy
Pizza in New York with Jon
a true Kansas potluck
