years-experience access-alumni-network airfare airport-pick-up assistance-with-application-process community-service-placement continuous-support cultural-trips domestic-transport emergency-support field-trips global-competence-certificate grade-transcripts host-family-placement housing individual-contact-person internship-placement language-instruction meals medical-insurance orientations-during-your-time-abroad other pre-departure-orientation product-materials re-entry-orientation school-dipolma school-materials school-placement school-transport school-uniform stipend teaching-materials vaccinations visa-and-passport-fees visa-application-assistance world-wide-presence

AFS aims to provide 30% of our students with scholarships or grants

Find out about our range of scholarships, grants and fundraising

Eligibility Requirements

  • You must be between 15 years and 18 years 6 months
  • Enrolled in an NZ school
  • Basic Spanish Recommended
  • Vegetarians are hard to place

Visa is a residence permit and is issued in Paraguay

What's included in your experience

  • Airfare
  • Airport Pick-up
  • Host Family Placement
  • Housing
  • Meals
  • School Placement
  • Individual Contact Person
  • Medical Insurance
  • 24/7 Emergency Support
  • School Transport
  • Assistance with Application Process
  • Visa Application Assistance
  • Pre-Departure Orientation
  • Orientations during your time abroad
  • Continuous Support
  • Worldwide Presence
  • 70 Years Experience

What you are responsible for

  • Vaccinations
  • Cultural Tours
  • Visa and Passport Fees
  • Stipend
  • School Uniform

Host Family & Community

Most people in Paraguay are mestizos, people of mixed European and Indian descent, and most are bilingual in Spanish and Guaraní. Paraguayans are very hospitable and enjoy in a peaceful, leisurely pace life. Paraguayan traditions proudly keep its native arts, crafts, music, instruments and dance. Families are the center of Paraguayan society. You will probably live in a small town with easy access to larger cities in Paraguay. Families tend to be very traditional and protective of their children, especially daughters. Most social activities, vacations, and weekends are family events.

School

You will probably attend a private high school with a focus on business, accounting and administration; social sciences; or biological sciences. On most days, classes run until 3pm. In public schools, classes run in two shifts, from 7 am until noon and 1.30 to 6.30 pm. Students in Paraguay wear uniforms.

Language

There are two official languages in Paraguay: Spanish and Guaraní, and most Paraguayans understand them both. AFS Paraguay will provide an online language course with Rosetta Stone to help you learn the language and prepare for your time in Paraguay.

Food

Chipa in Paraguay

The staple of Paraguayan nutrition is meet, which is locally produced in large amounts. Corn, rice, potatoes and wheat are important staples, as are in-season fruits. The most traditional dish is Sopa Paraguaya, a corn flour cake made with eggs, milk, cheese and onions. Meals are a time for family and socializing, especially on Sundays.

This site uses cookies, including third-party cookies, to optimize your browsing experience as detailed in our cookie policy. By closing this banner, scrolling this page, or continuing to browse otherwise, you agree to the use of cookies.

More Settings

This tool helps you to select and deactivate various tags / trackers / analytic tools used on this website.

Essentials

  • List Item
  • List Item
  • List Item