ECHO 2002 Daily Diary

In each hotel the ECHOers visit luggage gathers in the lobby. Here, in the Panorama Hotel in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil, Elfrieda serves on guard duty while ECHOers pay last minute bills and prepare for the impending bus trip.

From Foz do Iguacu, the ECHO group crossed the Friendship Bridge into Ciudad del Este where they spent a couple of hours shopping in local markets. The group was surprised and amazed by the unlikely groupings of products ranging from Nike shoes, to detergent, to handguns, to electronic equipment, to leather jackets in a six foot radius. The infamous border town lived up to its rough and tumble reputation as ECHOers later learned that while they were shopping there was a major arms bust just blocks from the square.

As the bus traveled from city to city, Ruban Alverenga, an official from the Paraguayan Foreign Ministry, spent about a week on the road with the ECHO 2002 group. During this time, he provided information to ECHOers about the history and culture of the various regions of the country. Ruban also often served as a translator, negotiator, and guide for members
of the ECHO group.

	Upon arrival Villarrica, the ECHOers were treated to a traditional gala at La Tranquera Restaurant. On the left, teenagers from Escuela de Danza perform the Danza de la Botlla.
On the right, Jim Harper, ECHO delegate, and Antonio Zoreilla, Villarrica Councilman, at dinner. The local officials and ECHOers enjoyed traditional Paraguayan food including Sopa Paraguaya, a variety of salads, and grilled meats.

Ramon Cristaldo, an 11-year-old harpist, dazzled the audience with his renditions of traditional Paraguayan music. Ramon has played the harp since he was five years old and he is somewhat of a local celebrity.

On the left, Dr. Ralph Nelsen, Director of the Columbia Education Center, chats with Angel Benitez and Rossana Sachelaridi, of the Museo Maestro Fermin Lopez in Villarrica. Dr. Nelsen enjoyed his last evening with the group in Paraguay prior to his return to the United States on the next day. Debbie Nyman of the Columbia Education Center and Dr. Jim Connett, the in-country coordinator, will travel with the ECHO group for the remainder of their stay in Paraguay. On the right, Lidia Sarubbi de Hoege of the Colegio Tecnico Y Centro de Entrenamiento Vocacional, Francesca Rojas, the Presidenta del Consejo Department de Education del Guaira, and Carrie Boden and Linda Nolevanko, of the ECHO delegation discussed future bi-national exchange opportunities for students and teachers before posing for a photo during the traditional gala.