Articles by mgedwards

Lugo wins presidency

This is already old news, but I should document for posterity that Fernando Lugo of the Patriotic Alliance for Change (APC) won the presidency April 20, defeating Colorado presidential candidate Blanca Ovelar and National Union of Ethical Citizens candidate Lino Oviedo.
 
 
The Colorado Party, which had occupied the presidency for the past 61 years — a world record — lost for a variety of reasons.  Lugo had been the leading presidential candidate for over a year since I before I heard him speak at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and was favored to win.  However, Lugo had to overcome the weight of 61 years of one-party dominance capped by 35-years of rule by former dictator Alfredo Stroessner.  Over 2.8 million Paraguayans voted in the election, and Lugo won over 40 percent of the vote, tapping both opposition voters as well as dissatisfied Colorado voters.  The mood in Asuncion on Monday — helped by a nice dose of good weather — was one of elation for many people (but not all–most of all the Colorados who lost).  One Paraguayan told me in astronishment, "This is the first time in my life that the Colorados haven’t been in power."  That’s a true statement for most Paraguayans.  In the United States, we talk of the Republicans or Democrats being in power for too long, but we measure this in years.  In Paraguay, party rule is measured in decades, where the Colorados ruled for 61 years, and before that, the Liberals ruled for 40 years.  It remains to be seen whether Lugo will have a successful presidency and set up the APC and Liberals for long-term rule or whether the Colorados will regroup in time for the next election in 2013.
 
I’m just happy to have been in the front row watching history happen.

It’s about time I posted an entry

Well, Dear Reader, what could I ever write to explain what’s happened down here in Paraguay over the past five months?  I wish I could write many happy adjectives like "nice, fun, and adventurous," but no, life here has not been all that.  I have pretty much been down and out since I arrived here and haven’t been in much of a mood to correspond; hence, I haven’t posted any new entries on my blog since November.  As they say, if you cannot say something nice, don’t say anything at all.
 
Much has happened over the past few months, both good and bad.  I have turned a corner and will try to focus on the positive.  I am hoping that this will not be yet another failed attempt to start writing again.  I would prefer that I take the time to break from that which does not matter so much in the long run and focus more on what will give me peace of mind.  Writing is like that.  Writing can be cathartic.  Writing is a way to disgorge what is rattling upstairs in your brain and dispensing it to whomever takes the time and has the interest to read it.
 
As a peace offering to help make up for my long absence, I’ll refer you to something I wrote over several months earlier this year.  It’s an article in State Magazine’s May edition featuring Asuncion, Paraguay.  My personal sentiments of this place do not match the tenor of the article, but you can read it for yourself.  If it inspires you to try and work or visit here, by all means seek my counsel first.  I will give you my unvarnished opinion of life on the Island Surrounded by Dirt.
 

Google in Guarani

Dear Reader, I’m still alive.  It’s not much, but I have to post at least something this month before it’s over.  As always, I will try to post more often.  OK, so here it is:
 
Google just launched its Guarani language web page.  It’s pretty cool and an easy way to pick up some Guarani, one of Paraguay’s two official languages.
I’ve learned some Guarani, but not enough to carry on a full conversation.  The most I can say is:
M’ba eixapa nde asaje
Xe xe Miguel
Iporante hande?
Aewa heke
Aewa pyge
Jajue chapevay
I just had a dialog with myself, saying hello, introducing myself and inviting myself in and to have a seat.  Absolutely practical stuff, eh?  ha ha  Actually, it brings laughs and giggles from the Paraguayans, who are always ecstatic when the foreigners attempt to speak any Guarani at all.
 
Note to Tortmaster:  How have you been?  Yes, it’s been that busy.  I like to joke that I work in the most stressed out place in Paraguay (except perhaps President Duarte’s residence).  Lately I haven’t had time for much of anything.  I spent 12 hours in the office on Sunday finishing up a report.  We literally downsized from a six-person to a three-person shop, and our workload has been going up.  The other day we were told that we do an amazing amount of work despite our small size.  That is true.  I can’t vouch for the quality, but we certainly crank it out in quantity.