Update: June-July, 2021

Zubers in Paraguay

The kids are all very happily enjoying a few weeks off from school for the winter break. Paraguay is behind many other countries in recovering from the pandemic (vaccines are still limited to ages 50+), so school will still be hybrid when they go back at the end of July. Unfortunately, we have all also been dealing with colds/sinus infections that we have been passing around to each other during the past month. We are all mended or on the mend now. Simmy turns 11 on July 2! His health has been good lately, with some ups and downs. We are still working on identifying exactly what he can and can't eat here.

We are very excited to have a new puppy in our home, named Pippin. Based on his (alleged?) breed, he should be a very allergy-friendly dog. He is definitely a very quiet, cheerful and cuddly dog. He belongs to Anna Belle, who is doing a great job taking care of him. Eager for her own pet, Gracie adopted a red beetle we found in the yard, and named him Paul. We also found an interesting caecilian in the front yard (actually a legless amphibian, not a snake). They're not venomous, but still best not to go up against one when death is on the line.

Currently in our language study, we are at the point where we have gained enough skill to (usually) be able to communicate what we want to communicate, but not enough skill to do so without making mistakes. The best way to continue to grow is to practice using our Spanish as much as we can. This is a little harder to do than usual because of the pandemic, and a little embarrassing to speak up confidently knowing that you are saying things wrong, but we are pushing forward.