October: Olympics + Elections = NOISY Paraguay

October in Paraguay means Olympics in many schools, at least in my part of the country. The children get so-o excited about their school-wide “Olimpiadas.” Here in Troche both my school (public) and Beta’s school (private) hold Olympics. In my school each grade is a different country (chosen at random, out of a hat), and at Beta’s they don’t organize by country, choosing to use colors instead. Countries in this year’s Olympics for my school, San Pascual, included Argentina, Brazil, Cameroon, Denmark, France, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Slovakia, and Spain. Each grade decks out in sportswear displaying its country’s colors, carries a banner conveying the grade’s chosen message (this year’s theme was caring for our environment) and the opening ceremony is complete with the parade of countries, flags, and even torchbearers. This year the teachers paraded too, wearing our matching polo shirts. It’s quite a production and is a major fundraiser for the school—the opening ceremony is held in the evening and admission is charged. (If you want to sit down on something other than the ground you must rent a chair, a common practice here.) The 8pm event started at 9pm, and it was already 10:15pm when just the opening procession finished. I took Beta and Nico along, and they loved seeing all the pageantry, standing up on our sole rented chair. The pre-schoolers were especially fun to watch. Their country was Spain, and their parade included a little bullfighter, and accompanying bull. Once all the countries entered and took their places, all the “athletes” moved together to some popular tunes. In this World Cup year Shakira’s “Waka Waka” is omnipresent, and it was a hoot to see kids of all ages groove in time to the catchy tune. We departed when the parade portion ended, and I could hear the event wrap up about midnight, and yes, this was on a school night! (We live right across the street from the empty lot where many local activities take place, and so I can usually hear events, thanks to the loud PA system!) The next two school days were dedicated to various athletic contests.


Yes, October has been a very NOISY month. I’m pretty sure I’m experiencing some hearing loss while living here. One October Sunday we were exposed to 14 hours of nonstop LOUD noise masquerading as music, provided as background ambiance for a car show. It was the first day in Paraguay that I came very close to pulling out my hair! Imagine stereos blasting on a college campus on a Friday afternoon, or on the day of a home football game, and then multiply that sound, and its duration, many times over. Music forms a big part of political campaigns, and the whole country is filled with extra doses of music thanks to the upcoming municipal elections. Sunday, November 7, is the day on which Paraguayans in communities large and small will elect their respective mayors and city councils, who will serve for five years, through 2015. Many candidates, at least in my neck of the woods, have campaign songs which are blared through all the neighborhoods via campaign vehicles equipped with sound systems on steroids. I wonder how many different versions of Shakira’s lyrics to “Waka Waka” are circulating around Paraguay this election season? At least it will all come to a halt Friday, November 5, when all campaigning must cease, leaving a brief time for “reflection” before everyone heads to the polls on Sunday, Nov. 7. Winners will take office in mid-December, before the end-of-the-year holidays.