Paraguay: Nueva Germania

David Woodard is visiting Nueva Germania in Paraguay, the site of the German colony which we mentioned in our discussions about Nietzsche and Wagner. David writes: I am e-mailing you from the governor's office in San Pedro--nearest internet access to Nueva Germania, where i've been now for over two weeks.  I met and visited Gerda Harder's parents the day after my arrival--relatively sophisticated yerba mate farmers of the colony. That is all for now; I will send an actual report shortly after my return. Six non-English-speaking government natives are hovering over my shoulder, as a type into some important official's old laptap, online via modem. No decorum when it comes to 'netiquette'..." 

RH: We look forward to David's report. San Pedro is the capital of San Pedro Department, on the east bank of the Paraguay River, facing Paraguay.  Nueva Germania is to the northeast, about 40 miles away,  Nueva Germania is small--less than 1,000 people.  Is the common language guaraní? Do the families of the German settlers still speak German?  Years ago I traveled through Paraguay with a government official.  All the people we met spoke Spanish, but that was probably because they were speaking to a government official.

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