PARAGUAY - my Parents’ Birthplace

No idea how I missed posting Paraguay, but here it is - late… this post got a little mixed up with the photos and all.. oh well.. most information is here..

FRI, OCT 31 – ASUNCION & PARATODO, PARAGUAY

I arrived in Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay at 2am.  Veronica – a girl I knew growing up in Manitoba owns a hotel here with her husband – picked me up.  Jorg was sleeping but I was able to squeeze her and fall asleep next to her. 

We got up, my cousin Gus and his wife Dorothy (we call her Elkae) – drove us to Paratodo today, where a lot of my Krahn cousins live.  We explored Asuncion and had a great 4 ½ hour drive together.  He showed us his ranch, we said hello to his son Patrick who we knew since he was a little boy since he spent a lot of time at my parents cottage. 

We went to Alf & Wilma’s for dinner.. My cousin Alf lived with my family when we were teenagers, Wilma was a great friend of mine and I set them up!  And they are still married today, over 30 years later.  Their 2 sons Bryan and Trevor with their families were there as well, their son Steve lives in Canada.  We had a most excellent time together, reconnecting and talking all night over an amazing ASADO. 

SAT, NOV 1 – PARATODO, PARAGUAY

We stayed at my cousin Frank and his wife Doris home, which was really unbelievable.  We each got our own massive bedroom – pool in the back yard.  We have arrived. 

This day was slated to explore my dad’s upbringing.  We went to say hello to his 2 brothers and 1 sister living all in the same complex in Paratodo – Abe, Martin, and Helen.  When I was 12 years old is the only time I was in this country, we came because my Grandpa Krahn was out here on a holiday, and was not well.  He ended up dying while we were here and I have vivid memories of the funeral and all of our time here.  Today we visited the cemetary where he as buried.  I could have spent 2 hours there alone if I had time. 

We came back for some pool time.  We went to my cousin Levani and her husband Hildor for terrare.  Then back to Frank and Doris for dinner with their kids Cody and Carrissa.  Cody played guitar and we all sang together all night.  We made cheepa outside, a fried bread and had a great ASADO all together. 

SUNDAY, NOV 2 – PARATODO, PARAGUAY

We went to church at 9am, it was packed – and in high German, I caught most of it. 

We went to Rudy and Alma’s for lunch – great friends of ours from Canada who moved out here 4 years ago.  So good to reconnect.

We had a KRAHN family gathering at 5pm in a local stadium.  We had about 70 family members there, many could not make it as we also have a lot living in Loma Plata, a larger city an hour away.  It was such a great night – we ate, played volleyball, and connected. 

MONDAY, NOV 3 – LOLITA, PARAGUAY

Today was slated to explore my mother’s upbringing.  She grew up in Lolita, another town close by.  On our way, we stopped in at the house where my Grandpa died.  I remember everything and saying goodbye.  My dad knew the woman who lives there, she let us go see the room where my Grandpa had passed away.  The flooring has not been changed.  What an emotional trip for me, and the memories flooding back for me were unbelievable. We visited the house my mother grew up in.  So tiny, 2 bedrooms – with 17 children – just incredible.  Loma Plata is much more advanced – we visited my mom’s only family left here.  She had only one brother here who died a few years back.  He has 3 daughters living in Paraguay – we went to see Sally, my age, who has a beautiful property outside of Loma Plata.  Amanda is here also from Canada, another sister.. we picked her up and she joined as well. 

We got a flat tire along the way.  My cousin Wilf lives close by, he came out to help us find a shop – we got the tire fixed and carried on.  Wilf took us to see his ranch, let Jorg drive his massive John Deere tractor, stopped the car at the ranch and asked Jorg if she has ever shot a hand gun, safe area, no people around taught her and let her shoot.  We went to Wilf and Adeline’s for dinner.  Another incredible property – their sons Travis and Randy joined with their families, what an amazing night we all had together too. 

TUES, NOV 4 – LOMA PLATA, PARAGUAY

Today, we started by going to see Ziggy and Sara’s brand new house.  Their daughter Gracie and her husband Andre live next door – she gave us a tour. 

We went to a beef slaughter house, where Wilf’s son Travis is head of International Sales.  What an operation wow.  They slaughter 800-1000 cattle per day.  From the time a cow walks down the fatal galley, to the time that cow is packaged in a box for sale is 15 minutes.  There are many employees and the system is clean and efficient.  To sign in, there are 3 guards at the entrance, you cannot get near the compound without a passport, long pants, and closed toed shoes.  Travis travels the globe and sells the incredible beef all over the world.  He was in Germany last week, and next month he is traveling to Dubai.  So grateful to witness this incredible industry up close. 

We visited 2 museums.  We stopped to see Erwin Klassen, someone I grew up with in Manitoba.  What a trip to see his life here with his 3 grown boys.  He ranches and farms, and has his own large private airplane which he flies internationally.. quite a life.

We came back to Frank and Doris’ for dinner – Rudy and Alma joined.  We had a deep conversation over dinner and excellent red wine.  Jorg looks to her Grandpa for a lot in her life – we all cried and laughed together discussing life.  We didn’t get to sleep until past midnight. 

RECAP OF PARAGUAY

I have no idea how I missed blogging about Paraguay - so this is out of order. Paraguay was a month back, but I must post this 10/10 experience.

How can I begin to recap this country and our experience here? It felt like a life changing week for us.

Asuncion has a population of just over 3.6M people, with 4111 persons per square km. The entire country has just over 7M people. 80% of Paraguay is comprised of mixed European and Amerindian descent – namely the Spanish and Guarani. 20% are whites – most of this country is Catholic or Guarani – my ancestors came from Europe and make up a Mennonite population in this country.

My parents both born here - my dad immigrated to Canada at 15, my mom at 18 They met and married and never moved back

Life is so different here, yet exactly how I was raised so this trip helped me to understand myself, my parents, and helped Jorg truly understand herself and her family as well.

I think every one of my cousins kids is married with kids and huge ranches. It is absolutely normal to marry here by the age of 20, start having kids, and create businesses. All of my cousin’s kids at the age of 22 have families and huge businesses.. some already set for life with passive income and don’t ever need to work again if they don’t want to. They all have properties, houses, equipment, horses, cows, kids, and businesses. It is astounding and shocking to witness. When I see in Canada all the kids going to University for many years, then struggling to find a job that is often unrelated to their studies – and a lot of debt – the system here seems primitive and yet so advanced. They are happy here. They don’t work hard. They check on their cattle, they have terrare with their friends and families, they have a feast every night… it seems they live a great life here with not a ton of work.

Everyone drives a dirt bike. Everyone has a handgun in their glovebox. It’s just the way of life here.

There are still classes of people here, which is also shocking to see.

Some of my cousins study in Asuncion University – Gus’ daughter is becoming an Obstetrician / Gynecologist – Jorg’s age – they hit it off. She is studying in Asuncion now and will come back to the Chaco area to practice medicine.

I feel like many of my cousin’s kids were fortunate with the economy and timing of their ages. It is wonderful to see them all thriving out here.

I knew before I left home that this leg in my journey would be special. Maybe I didn’t quite understand the depth of how we would feel here. We felt a connection with our family here. I knew most of them before, for Jorg many of them were new. She embraced every one of them, and they embraced us. It was an instant family type love. We feel loved and welcome here. I do not believe this is our last time here. We will see our family here again, and in Canada.

We stayed with my cousin Frank and wife Doris - best hosts we could wish for in a gorgeous home One night at my cousin Wilf and wife Adeline where it was just as amazing.

I rate Paraguay 10/10. We loved the people, the food was the best I have had on this trip, the weather was perfect. It felt luxurious on every level. I leave this country my heart bursting… so grateful. For my experience, and for Jorg’s experience. I feel loved.

I feel I understand my parents better, myself better, Jorg understands me better, it was a full education on who we are and how we were raised.

This next week will be special as well as this week will be for just me and my kids, the 3 of us doing Brazil. I am looking forward to the next gift of this week.

Pics of Asuncion - the capital - our friend owns a hotel there .. far left of 2nd picture.. 3rd pic is people who moved to Paraguay from Seoul South Korea and run a market there

My cousin Gus w his family, Jorg w her cousin Patrick

My cousin Levana and her husband Hildor, so fun

My cousin Alf and wife Wilma - I set them up 100 years ago and here they are still together and thriving .. love it!!!

My dad with his brothers and me haha..

Ran into my cousin Rodany in the grocery store

We went to see Alma at her work place - she runs a huge store

Visiting my dad’s dad’s gravesite

My dad at the post, behind him by the tree was his school house where he has a grade 3 education from - incredible!!

My dad and Jorg at the home he grew up

Poolside at Frank and Doris home

Horses and cows with Levana

Dinner, singing and making chipa at Frank and Doris home

Sunday morning church, the church my grandpa’s service was at, I fully remember it from when I was 12, the only time I have been to Paraguay

A great lunch with Rudy and Alma

I was able to visit the room where my Grandpa passed away and I said goodbye to him in this room the night before he passed.. I loved him so much, what an emotional moment for me - the flooring has not been changed and I remember it

My huge Paraguayan family

Photos of my mom’s upbringing - her bedroom - her barn - her church - amazing!!

We hit a nail and punctured a tire and got a flat.. Wilf came to the rescue

Seeing my cousin sisters Amanda and Sally. Sally is the only cousin I have out there from my mom’s side

So fun to see Gracie again!! Jorg and Gracie hit it off!

Jorg learning how to shoot a hand gun, and learning all about ranching in South America - what an education

Spending time with Wilf’s family was very special.. love his family and his home! His son runs a massive slaughter house - no pics allowed but WOW it was unbelievable. From the time a cow walks down the galley to his death to the time he is packaged and sealed for sale to Costco, etc is 15 minutes. It was something to see! He took us through the entire plant.

Last few pics are tears - great conversations - cleaning my shoes at Doris home - Wilf and Jorg being crazy - signs of names I have heard my whole life - and a regular Paraguayan sunset - just like Manitoba!

 Pictures are a bit mixed up, the green truck is in a museum, the one that tragically killed my mom’s brother as a young boy