OK, now really superinfused with a transition mentality. The 100-day countdown that started back in February encompassed days 48-19 this April. Accomplished some good work at the CCPA as the teachers and students continue to increase their use of the library, and also spent some time at the schools in Troche, the town where I lived prior to Villarrica. The month started with an observance of the International Children's Book Day on April 2, Hans Christian Andersen's birthday.
I visited my "old school" in Troche, sharing some new books with the librarians and some of the students. I also visited Nico's kindergarten class for the first time. He selected a book from the ones I've given him and took it to school. His teacher let me read it,
Froggy Juega al Futbol as the kids sat in a circle. Afterwards they all drew pictures of their favorite part of the story. Nico is pictured here as he works on his drawing of Froggy playing soccer. Spending time with kids as they enjoy books is prime time of life's most magical moments, no?
Holy Week included a quick trip to San Ignacio, Misiones to see one of Paraguay's neatest Easter events, Tañarandy.
This boy is lighting a wick set in cowfat placed within a halved grapefruit or orange, thousands of which are lined up along this country road. Bamboo poles placed on both shoulders of the road also became torches once the sun set on Good Friday. The event also included living representations of religious art, e.g. Dali's
Last Supper.
April also included my final South American vacation while a Peace Corps Volunteer. Buenos Aires is a "mere" 18-20 hour bus ride from Asuncion, and has been beckoning ever since I arrived back in 2009. I have visited Argentina's capital before, back in 2004 for an international library conference, but I had yet to visit the tango mecca while living down this way. The last day in BA I was able to take in the International Book Fair...amazing, and chicken soup for a librarian's soul! I'm smitten with this logo BA designed for this year's fair:
Once back in Paraguay, it was more celebration of books on April 23rd, UNESCO's International Day of the Book. At the CCPA we gave out certificates, bookmarks and stickers to all the children who have checked out books from the library this year. Here are some of their happy faces:
We didn't hold a contest, we just surprised the eager readers...and now their classmates who didn't get certificates, etc. are clamoring to check out books! Vivan los libros!
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