My Birthday Celebrations

I wasn't looking forward to my birthday this year, for a number of reasons. I hadn't seen my family in months and I was broke. Last year, I had only been back in the UK a few weeks by the time my birthday came round and I was all for celebrating being back and having a great birthday.

I didn't make a fuss of it this year and at it didn't seem anyone else was either. My friend Ali arranged a party at his apartment on Saturday night and if I am honest I wasn't much looking forward to it. However, with everyone on board, I gave it as much as I could. Although my birthday wasn't until the Monday. My best friends Paul and Ben had also celebrated their birthday's this month and Ben had gotten us all a rather unusual present. A photo shoot.

When I heard about the photo shoot, I was nervous. It's not really my scene. To put myself out there to be judged about how I look or to appear to be arrogant or conceited about it. In order to combat that nervousness, Paul and I thought it best to be as drunk as possible. When they arrived the in the morning to pick me up, I had a bottle of wine and some drinks in a cafe/bar near the photo studio.

For the shoot itself, we brought several outfit's to change into and pick from, we bought some beers and it turned out to be a lot of fun. We took shots together as a group and obviously some solo shots. I had some taken of my tattoo's and Paul had some topless shots taken. I was pleasantly surprised at how much fun we were having.

Later that night, once Paul, Ben and I parted ways. My friend Ali came round so we could drink whilst I got ready. He was late and I was worried about all the guests, waiting and getting impatient at his house whilst we got ready. Before we were set to leave, my landlord called to ask me to pop over to his house so we could talk. My landlord lives just across the street from my house with a few of my friends. When I got the call, I was a little peeved. I assumed he wanted to speak about the overdue rent and I couldn't believe he picked today, of all days. Ali and I walked over, knocked on the door and waited.

He answered the door, greeting us with a friendly smile, this was nothing out of the ordinary here, he was usually pleasant. Until he had money to ask for. I walked into the hall and turned into the living room and BAM!. Everyone was there! All my friends, for little impromptu surprise birthday party.

We stayed there for a few hours, drinking, playing games etc, before going out to the Village. The night out was fucking amazing! I stayed out till the Sunday afternoon. Hitting one of the after hours clubs and then back to the location of the party for more drinks.

All in all, a pleasant birthday with a few surprises.

Marcia’s First Communion

October 24th, 2009

Marcia, Peke’s 12 year-old, sister invited me to go to her First Communion and party afterwards.



Every year all the boys and girls in the town who turn 12 during that year attend a ceremony in the Catholic Church known as Primera Comunión. This is the first time they partake of the flesh and blood of Christ. A few days before they confess all their sins in preparation of the ceremony.

During the ceremony they sing, say prayers, read passages, repeat certain phrases, partake of the wine and bread, light candles and wave them around, and receive their first rosemary (the little string of beads used to help keep track of their Hail Mary’s and such).



After this they undergo 3 years of Catholic training before being confirmed at 15.

It was a nice ceremony. Marcia’s Mom wanted me to capture every moment of the ceremony on film, so I stood along the wall towards the front filming every move Marcia made.



She was so cute. The girls dress in white dresses and adorn their hair with white beads and other accessories. Every so often she would look back towards me, smile and wave. I could tell she felt really special to have someone filming her.



The most beautiful part of the ceremony was when they helped each other to light their little candles and waved them around while singing. Unfortunately this is precisely the portion of the service I failed to capture because I accidentally pressed the button to stop recording without realizing it until that part of the ceremony was ending.

People were packed in there pretty tight; many people were left outside to peer in through the windows. I roughly estimated that there had to be at least 600 or so in attendance. I couldn’t help wonder why they don’t have 3 sessions (morning, afternoon, and evening) to more comfortably accommodate all the attendees. I’m sure there is a perfectly logical reason for not having multiple sessions, though I haven’t been able to think of it yet.



After the ceremony we went back to Marcia’s house, where we had dinner. Marcia had a great time taking pictures with my camera.











As it was her Primera Comunión and also birthday, I brought her a gift.

Earlier that day I had gone to a little boutique store owned by one of my friend’s Mom in search of a gift. Nothing jumped out at me, so I decided to let her pick out what she wanted. In America, the gift card is a cop out, an uncreative and lazy alternate to buying a gift, but in Paraguay it’s a new, exciting concept.

I explained the gift card concept to the shop owner. She caught on, and wrote the details on the back of a business card, and then enclosed it in a small, white envelope.

Marcia loved it! I had not only given her a gift, but I had given her something she had never received before. I gave her the opportunity to go shopping and pick out her own gift. She couldn’t wait to go pick out her presents, and she went around the party showing everyone what she had received.



This is one situation where growing up within America’s consumer culture came in handy!

Oscar B-day Party

September 18th, 2009

Oscar is the son of the Kurupí millionaires, and it was time to celebrate his birthday. His birthday party paled in comparison to the overly extravagant Quinceañera thrown for their daughter just a few months ago, but still was a really good time. I know how extravagant it was because they showed me the pictures from the party. It was literally something like the Sweet 16s on MTVs My Sweet 16 TV show.

If I get a chance, I’ll go by and try to take a few pictures of the pictures they have to show you how amazing this party was. I’m really beginning to see why Latin America has the highest gap between the rich and the poor of anywhere in the world.

Anyway, it’s Oscar’s day, so on to his party. We started things off the Paraguayan way. All the guys stood outside in a circle drinking and cracking jokes on each other while the girls sat inside, most probably gossiping about the guys outside.

The adults sat around a large table, and were served appetizers and expensive whiskey and wine.



Once the food was ready, all the boys sat around on table on the outside and the girls sat around a table on the inside. I swear...I don’t know what it is exactly that creates this cultural phenomenon, but it’s like half grown males and females act like children at a dance in the States. They even treat relationships like we did in Elementary. If a girl is interested in a guy for example, they will send a friend to tell him she likes him and ask if he likes her back. It’s going to take me some time to adjust to this part of the culture.

We ate some rather good, yet tough grilled meat, various salads, and of course mandioca.



After dinner, we went back outside for more standing around and drinking before heading inside for the disco party that ensued. They had hired an incredible DJ who brought a powerful sound system and lights. We danced and partied into the night, and when I was all partied out, I headed home.






For future travelers coming to Paraguay....BEWARE! Most Paraguayans can easily drink you under the table and they are accustomed to partying until at least 5 in the morning before even considering calling it a night.

I was told they stayed for a while after I left, and a big group ended up jumping into the pool despite how cold it was that night.