"Ours is a planet of polarity: the poor and the rich; the hungry and the well fed; the healthy and the terminally ill. Within these apparent contradictions we struggle for meaning. For dignity. For equality. The human story is built into this struggle...Yes, humanity's song is the absurd, the tragic, the comic; the profane and the beautiful; the fallen and the redeemed. Our society is fraught with inconsistencies and absurdities...The highs and lows, the dark and the light. This is the absurdity of our bipolar existence. Stretched thin between the dichotomy of death and breath, ashes and cash, pain and beauty. The scope of it all is enough to drive a man crazy. " -- Jon Foreman, in the article "Vice Verses: Making Art Out of Tension."
Today was a harder day in el campo, visiting the neighborhood of Paraiso. Paraiso means "paradise" but in this neighborhood, things are not what most of us consider to be paradise. I've often heard people say, after seeing someone living in poverty, "I learned to be happy without material things because these people just radiate joy and happiness." I think I've said this myself. And we're content with that because we've put a band-aid on the gaping wound of poverty, calling it "happiness despite."
But what do you do when the people aren't happy? When they are tired and defeated. When their baby is sick and the last cow just died. When they don't want to invite you into their homes because they're ashamed because they know you're at the other end of the dichotomy. The FAR end. And the truth is, you're ashamed too because "the scope of it all is enough to drive a man crazy."
I don't doubt God's plan but I don't claim to understand it either. Why was I given what I was? My family, my house, my car, my education? If you have an easy answer, I honestly don't want to hear it because this answer isn't easy. It can't be easy when the lives of some people are so hard.
I think we have to be ok with not knowing what God was planning when it looks like He divided the pie unequally, unjustly. I think where Christians run into trouble is when we try to answer these questions too quickly. I think we undermine peoples' suffering when we do that. We need to take the time to wrestle those answers out, to struggle with why people struggle.
Yikes, sorry folks. That may have been a downer. I'm just trying to do Bolivia justice.
Deep breath...publish.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Weekend Thoughts
I apologize ahead of time for the choppiness of this post! Some days, I feel like I've got the writing groove going on but today that groove has alluded me. But the weekend has come and gone so here we go!
Mirna invited me to go with her and her family to a concert in Santa Cruz on Saturday night. The first group to perform was pretty much the Bolivian version of the Backstreet Boys -only with matching orange and blue outfits. Their dance moves made me giggle, they were so sappy! But the sappiness was missed by every teenage girl there so I kept my giggling to a minimum. Not that I was heard over the screeching/screaming that was going on anyway.
The next group was a traditional Bolivian band and the crowd really went wild for them! They may be the equivalent of U2 in the States. They were pretty neat and I enjoyed them! But honestly, what I enjoyed most about the concert was this coconut milk popsicle thing I had. I'm telling you, these people know how to make ice cream, yogurt, and juice. Which, ironically are things that I cannot easily take back to the States with me. Rats.
After the concert, we headed further into the city of Santa Cruz. The last time I was in Santa Cruz was when my plane landed and I remembered not being super impressed by how nice it was. My coworkers kept saying, "Isn't this pretty? Look at that! How impressive, no?" And of course I would smile and nod but inside, I'm thinking "Yeah, it's nice but it's not amazing." Well, after a week in rustic Montero, my eyes were sure opened! Almost every store and street had me captivated by how beautiful and shiny everything was. There was even a shopping mall! Whoah, right? Country girl meets the city :)
We were able to go to a fair in Santa Cruz and it was there that I risked my life on a ferris wheel. It wasn't until I got on the ride that it occurred to me that I was trusting rusty arms of steel to plummet me to earth just short of suicide. "IS THAT BOLT LOOSE?" There were way too many creaks and groans for my liking but it made what could have been a boring ride, anything but! I have to say though that the view from the top was incredible!
By this time, we were all hungry so we ate at a street side BBQ. And by BBQ I mean, there's a woman, with a decrepit grill, slices of meat, and a big pot of soggy rice. You sit yourself in the patio furniture and she serves you up. It's pretty crazy. It was here that I had my first taste of some sort of intestines. Folks, I cannot recommend them. Whatever the gray paste inside of them was, it was really, really...yucky. Not even Mirna's daughters ate them. I pulled the whole spit-it-out-in-your-napkin-while-acting-like-you're-wiping-your-mouth trick. Love that one.
Mirna's family was very, very hospitable and super nice to me. I cannot express in either of the languages that I know, what it means to be invited into a family for a night when you have barely known them for a week. It is definitely making me wish that I would have reached out to international students more when I was at WWU.
On Sunday, I was able to attend church here! The service was definitely different than what I am used to but it was great and I was able to understand the pastor without any problems. I also met two sisters and they've already invited me to go to a celebration with them next weekend. I'd like you to take a minute to appreciate whatever community/friends/family that YOU got to hang out with this weekend. Fellowship is something that I definitely don't take for granted here!
Ok, last thing and then I'll end this mammoth post: I had completely forgotten the custom of greeting a newcomer during church services in Latin America and so when the announcement guy started talking about "our newcomer, David" I was completely clueless -until one of the sisters told me to stand up. It was then that I caught on that I was David. The whole church then recited a greeting to me, while I turned a deep shade of scarlet. Luckily, I didn't have to say anything.
Phew, ok. Believe it or not that was my weekend in a nutshell. Good job if you got through all of that! I'll try to make the next one shorter :) Thanks for reading!
Mirna invited me to go with her and her family to a concert in Santa Cruz on Saturday night. The first group to perform was pretty much the Bolivian version of the Backstreet Boys -only with matching orange and blue outfits. Their dance moves made me giggle, they were so sappy! But the sappiness was missed by every teenage girl there so I kept my giggling to a minimum. Not that I was heard over the screeching/screaming that was going on anyway.
The next group was a traditional Bolivian band and the crowd really went wild for them! They may be the equivalent of U2 in the States. They were pretty neat and I enjoyed them! But honestly, what I enjoyed most about the concert was this coconut milk popsicle thing I had. I'm telling you, these people know how to make ice cream, yogurt, and juice. Which, ironically are things that I cannot easily take back to the States with me. Rats.
After the concert, we headed further into the city of Santa Cruz. The last time I was in Santa Cruz was when my plane landed and I remembered not being super impressed by how nice it was. My coworkers kept saying, "Isn't this pretty? Look at that! How impressive, no?" And of course I would smile and nod but inside, I'm thinking "Yeah, it's nice but it's not amazing." Well, after a week in rustic Montero, my eyes were sure opened! Almost every store and street had me captivated by how beautiful and shiny everything was. There was even a shopping mall! Whoah, right? Country girl meets the city :)
We were able to go to a fair in Santa Cruz and it was there that I risked my life on a ferris wheel. It wasn't until I got on the ride that it occurred to me that I was trusting rusty arms of steel to plummet me to earth just short of suicide. "IS THAT BOLT LOOSE?" There were way too many creaks and groans for my liking but it made what could have been a boring ride, anything but! I have to say though that the view from the top was incredible!
By this time, we were all hungry so we ate at a street side BBQ. And by BBQ I mean, there's a woman, with a decrepit grill, slices of meat, and a big pot of soggy rice. You sit yourself in the patio furniture and she serves you up. It's pretty crazy. It was here that I had my first taste of some sort of intestines. Folks, I cannot recommend them. Whatever the gray paste inside of them was, it was really, really...yucky. Not even Mirna's daughters ate them. I pulled the whole spit-it-out-in-your-napkin-while-acting-like-you're-wiping-your-mouth trick. Love that one.
Mirna's family was very, very hospitable and super nice to me. I cannot express in either of the languages that I know, what it means to be invited into a family for a night when you have barely known them for a week. It is definitely making me wish that I would have reached out to international students more when I was at WWU.
On Sunday, I was able to attend church here! The service was definitely different than what I am used to but it was great and I was able to understand the pastor without any problems. I also met two sisters and they've already invited me to go to a celebration with them next weekend. I'd like you to take a minute to appreciate whatever community/friends/family that YOU got to hang out with this weekend. Fellowship is something that I definitely don't take for granted here!
Ok, last thing and then I'll end this mammoth post: I had completely forgotten the custom of greeting a newcomer during church services in Latin America and so when the announcement guy started talking about "our newcomer, David" I was completely clueless -until one of the sisters told me to stand up. It was then that I caught on that I was David. The whole church then recited a greeting to me, while I turned a deep shade of scarlet. Luckily, I didn't have to say anything.
Phew, ok. Believe it or not that was my weekend in a nutshell. Good job if you got through all of that! I'll try to make the next one shorter :) Thanks for reading!
Friday, September 23, 2011
Frequently Asked Questions (and Injections!)
There are a lot of different questions that I get asked by friends and family, so I thought I'd cover a few of them here!
1) What's the food like?
A typical meal so far here is a slab of beef, some potatoes, and rice. Variations of this have been: a fried slice of meat, meat with a fried egg on top, fried chicken, and yuca. Yuca is like a potato, only drier and with a completely different flavor that I'm not going to try to explain. It's all been really good! OH! And Coca-Cola! SO MUCH Coke! We drink that more than Washingtonians drink coffee!
2) And the weather?
Goodness gracious, the weather here is the weirdest! It's almost always really, really, really hot. But every once in awhile, the wind will pick up and you need a light jacket. Or it will pour rain for five mins. Today I heard thunder too! To describe the weather in one word: Unpredictable. And hot :)
3) How is your Spanish?
Honestly, I am a little frustrated with it. It is hard to sound dumb all the time! But I know that it will improve and Helen just told me today that I'm doing better than she was when she first got here. I just need patience! I'm pretty happy with my comprehension, most of the time.
4) Why are you there again?
I'm completing an internship with Etta Projects so I can graduate with a Bachelors of Science in Community Health in December! (PS My BA in Spanish is already complete, just in case you were confused!)
5) How long are you going to be there?
I'll be here until December 10th! Three months.
6) Do you miss people?
Um, YES! But technology has made being so far away pretty easy! And I haven't cried yet, so that's always good.
7) Are you safe?
Yes, mostly. I get stared at pretty often but I haven't felt threatened, except for once, when Helen and I went out after dark by ourselves (that lasted one block and then we turned around, back to the house!). Katie, my director, has been robbed at gunpoint twice but she is much more adventurous than I am. I don't carry a purse with me, ever. Honestly, I'm not that worried about it but I am trying to be wise! You are always safest where God wants you anyway!
8) What are your housemates like?
They are fun-loving group of people, for sure! Fabi has grown up in Montero her whole life and is a real jokester! Guillermo is originally from Peru - he is a fantastic cook and serenades us every night with his guitara. Helen is the other intern from Michigan. Her and I have bedrooms right across from each other and share a bathroom. She's great and plays the violin like nobody's buisness!
9) What's your address? And can you post pictures?
The mail here is really unpredictable so I'm not giving out my address. Sometimes it takes up to four months for something to get here, in which case -you can just give it to me when I come back! Pictures are on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150296639897747.333906.562022746&l=ad1b7d9dfe&type=1
10) Are you sick?
NO! I'm not! Que bueno, no? I do get some sharp pains in my stomach daily, so my stomach has noticed that something is different but other than that, I've been totally fine! I'd like to thank close family friend, Jen Penrose for suggesting that I take pro-biotics. I think that they are working! And God for answering my prayers for a stomach of steel!
11) How was practicing injections yesterday?
Ok, so no one asked this, I just wanted to share :) It was great! We went to a village about two hours away with first aid kits for the neighboring seven communities. Each community has two health promoters that met us there to learn basic first aid -which here includes giving injections! I got to learn that too and practiced on my friend Mirna! It was awesome! Although that needle was seriously looooooong. And don't worry, I was fair and let her practice on me too! It was another great day!
1) What's the food like?
A typical meal so far here is a slab of beef, some potatoes, and rice. Variations of this have been: a fried slice of meat, meat with a fried egg on top, fried chicken, and yuca. Yuca is like a potato, only drier and with a completely different flavor that I'm not going to try to explain. It's all been really good! OH! And Coca-Cola! SO MUCH Coke! We drink that more than Washingtonians drink coffee!
2) And the weather?
Goodness gracious, the weather here is the weirdest! It's almost always really, really, really hot. But every once in awhile, the wind will pick up and you need a light jacket. Or it will pour rain for five mins. Today I heard thunder too! To describe the weather in one word: Unpredictable. And hot :)
3) How is your Spanish?
Honestly, I am a little frustrated with it. It is hard to sound dumb all the time! But I know that it will improve and Helen just told me today that I'm doing better than she was when she first got here. I just need patience! I'm pretty happy with my comprehension, most of the time.
4) Why are you there again?
I'm completing an internship with Etta Projects so I can graduate with a Bachelors of Science in Community Health in December! (PS My BA in Spanish is already complete, just in case you were confused!)
5) How long are you going to be there?
I'll be here until December 10th! Three months.
6) Do you miss people?
Um, YES! But technology has made being so far away pretty easy! And I haven't cried yet, so that's always good.
7) Are you safe?
Yes, mostly. I get stared at pretty often but I haven't felt threatened, except for once, when Helen and I went out after dark by ourselves (that lasted one block and then we turned around, back to the house!). Katie, my director, has been robbed at gunpoint twice but she is much more adventurous than I am. I don't carry a purse with me, ever. Honestly, I'm not that worried about it but I am trying to be wise! You are always safest where God wants you anyway!
8) What are your housemates like?
They are fun-loving group of people, for sure! Fabi has grown up in Montero her whole life and is a real jokester! Guillermo is originally from Peru - he is a fantastic cook and serenades us every night with his guitara. Helen is the other intern from Michigan. Her and I have bedrooms right across from each other and share a bathroom. She's great and plays the violin like nobody's buisness!
9) What's your address? And can you post pictures?
The mail here is really unpredictable so I'm not giving out my address. Sometimes it takes up to four months for something to get here, in which case -you can just give it to me when I come back! Pictures are on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150296639897747.333906.562022746&l=ad1b7d9dfe&type=1
10) Are you sick?
NO! I'm not! Que bueno, no? I do get some sharp pains in my stomach daily, so my stomach has noticed that something is different but other than that, I've been totally fine! I'd like to thank close family friend, Jen Penrose for suggesting that I take pro-biotics. I think that they are working! And God for answering my prayers for a stomach of steel!
11) How was practicing injections yesterday?
Ok, so no one asked this, I just wanted to share :) It was great! We went to a village about two hours away with first aid kits for the neighboring seven communities. Each community has two health promoters that met us there to learn basic first aid -which here includes giving injections! I got to learn that too and practiced on my friend Mirna! It was awesome! Although that needle was seriously looooooong. And don't worry, I was fair and let her practice on me too! It was another great day!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Los Filtros de Agua
One thing (among many) that I love about Etta Projects is that we are a Bolivian organization, almost completely run by Bolivians. My Bolivian coworkers really take a lot of pride in this and are quick to correct anyone who says otherwise. It is so important to me to work for an organization that incorporates the input and opinions of local people. It makes no sense to come into a country as knight is shining armor, pretending to know what these people need and want, when you have never experienced what their daily life is like.
Anyway, I said all that to say that whenever I go out to survey people, I try to have a local health promoter go with me. This helps with many aspects of the work that I do here, but also leaves the people someone in the community with a connection to Etta once I go home. Plus, I honestly need the help!
My promoter for the water filter project was Dona Victoria and our goal was to visit at least five families in the town, El Rodeo. I was disappointed that the first few families were not using their water filters at all because the handle on the faucets were broken or the bucket portion of the filter was cracked.
To be completely honest, sometimes I have a hard time not judging some of these families. I know that life in el campo is hard but some families take better care of their belongings and children than others. Mirna (the secretary here and my Bolivian mother) says "es un problema de caracter" -a problem of character.
One family in particular was living in horrible conditions. There were dogs, and garbage all over -even chickens in the beds! The children were half naked with snotty noses and the baby's eyes were caked with dirt and flies. This family's water filter was completely disassembled and the mother of the family didn't seem like she cared about anything. It's not my place to judge -I don't know what her life is like or how she grew up but I do pity her children. And really, I pity her as well because you must have been through hell to be that defeated. Sometimes I think what people need is hope, and that doesn't come out of a water filter. Although I could say a few things about the Living Water.
It was at this house that one of the family's dogs jumped out and bit Mirna (who went with me).
I was ready to hit the dog over the head but Mirna just shrugged and said, "It's a good thing I'm wearing jeans!" And everyone else acted like nothing happened! I. Was. In. Shock. But I'm always trying to be culturally aware so I tried to hide my horror over what happened. And I think I failed.
Despite families like this one, there were some families that were still using their filters, which is pretty good considering that they received them over a year and a half ago. One family in particular was just the cutest. The young mother was so proud of her water filter, even pouring us a glass so we could try the water. She raved and raved about both her filter and her new bathroom. It was really encouraging! Hopefully, her little boy will grow up healthy and with better opportunities! With the right tools -and enough hope- I know that all the families in el campo could have these results!
Anyway, I said all that to say that whenever I go out to survey people, I try to have a local health promoter go with me. This helps with many aspects of the work that I do here, but also leaves the people someone in the community with a connection to Etta once I go home. Plus, I honestly need the help!
My promoter for the water filter project was Dona Victoria and our goal was to visit at least five families in the town, El Rodeo. I was disappointed that the first few families were not using their water filters at all because the handle on the faucets were broken or the bucket portion of the filter was cracked.
To be completely honest, sometimes I have a hard time not judging some of these families. I know that life in el campo is hard but some families take better care of their belongings and children than others. Mirna (the secretary here and my Bolivian mother) says "es un problema de caracter" -a problem of character.
One family in particular was living in horrible conditions. There were dogs, and garbage all over -even chickens in the beds! The children were half naked with snotty noses and the baby's eyes were caked with dirt and flies. This family's water filter was completely disassembled and the mother of the family didn't seem like she cared about anything. It's not my place to judge -I don't know what her life is like or how she grew up but I do pity her children. And really, I pity her as well because you must have been through hell to be that defeated. Sometimes I think what people need is hope, and that doesn't come out of a water filter. Although I could say a few things about the Living Water.
It was at this house that one of the family's dogs jumped out and bit Mirna (who went with me).
I was ready to hit the dog over the head but Mirna just shrugged and said, "It's a good thing I'm wearing jeans!" And everyone else acted like nothing happened! I. Was. In. Shock. But I'm always trying to be culturally aware so I tried to hide my horror over what happened. And I think I failed.
Despite families like this one, there were some families that were still using their filters, which is pretty good considering that they received them over a year and a half ago. One family in particular was just the cutest. The young mother was so proud of her water filter, even pouring us a glass so we could try the water. She raved and raved about both her filter and her new bathroom. It was really encouraging! Hopefully, her little boy will grow up healthy and with better opportunities! With the right tools -and enough hope- I know that all the families in el campo could have these results!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
El Campo and the F-Bomb
Yesterday, Fabi, Guillermo, Marco, Helen and I headed off to el campo (the country) for a community wide sports day. At first, I wasn't sure I should count this as hours for my internship but after the day was over, I came to the conclusion that my view of Community Health work is too narrow. At first, it doesn't make sense that a sports day could be part of Community Health but yesterday I saw six villages come together to compete, cheer, and afterward give each other rides home on their motorcycles. This was, without a doubt, community building and you can't have Community Health without a community. Fabi said that these communities used to have a "fend for yourself" attitude but through the work of Etta Projects, they are coming together to create something stronger and better.
I love el campo. It may not make sense, because honestly, it is really dirty, really hot, and really dusty (not to mention that there are dogs all over -ugh) but I wish I could go out there everyday! The kids there are just the best. I was able to bring a frisbee all the way from the states and the kids had never seen one before! I hope you all get the chance to introduce someone to one of your favorite things in the world because it is the best feeling ever! I had to teach them how to throw it and even how to catch it! I think they thought it was a plastic plate when I first brought it out. You should have seen their faces when I threw it across the field! I felt like the Michael Jordan of frisbee with the way they were cheering :) When I left, all of them asked me when I was coming back and would I POR FAVOR (please) bring "el fisbe" with me?
Other memorable parts of the day would be riding un moto (motorcycle). I have wanted to do that since I've been here and yesterday was my first opportunity. A nice young man named Roberto took me on a little tour of the village and it was exhilarating. I made all the kids laugh when I put my arms out and waved them like I was flying. Sometimes, you just have to make a fool of yourself to experience something to the fullest, you know?
In other more embarrassing news, yesterday I managed to drop the f-word and also said that I was sexually aroused -all within in the same hour. It was a language thing, and I realized what I had done as soon as I said it but the damage was done and I left all my coworkers howling with laughter. In the future, I will remember to use a different verb for "catch" and to say that I feel hot, not that I am hot. Lessons learned, folks!
To end the day, we got invited to eat with the patriarch of a village called La Patria. It is a very humbling experience to know that this man, whose house most Americans wouldn't even camp in, is sharing his food with you. His granddaughter served us coffee and cheese, while I fervently prayed that I wouldn't do something stupid, the memories of the f-bomb experience still fresh in my mind!
Other good memories include: Holding my first Bolivian baby, driving the truck by myself through el campo, and translating the Fight Club into English for my coworkers. And just in case you haven't noticed yet, I still like it here! I got to start interviewing families about their water filters today, which I will describe in detail tomorrow (are you getting tired of me pulling these Ryan Seacrest moments?). I'll leave you with the teaser that someone gets bit by a dog.
Ugh. Dogs.
I love el campo. It may not make sense, because honestly, it is really dirty, really hot, and really dusty (not to mention that there are dogs all over -ugh) but I wish I could go out there everyday! The kids there are just the best. I was able to bring a frisbee all the way from the states and the kids had never seen one before! I hope you all get the chance to introduce someone to one of your favorite things in the world because it is the best feeling ever! I had to teach them how to throw it and even how to catch it! I think they thought it was a plastic plate when I first brought it out. You should have seen their faces when I threw it across the field! I felt like the Michael Jordan of frisbee with the way they were cheering :) When I left, all of them asked me when I was coming back and would I POR FAVOR (please) bring "el fisbe" with me?
Other memorable parts of the day would be riding un moto (motorcycle). I have wanted to do that since I've been here and yesterday was my first opportunity. A nice young man named Roberto took me on a little tour of the village and it was exhilarating. I made all the kids laugh when I put my arms out and waved them like I was flying. Sometimes, you just have to make a fool of yourself to experience something to the fullest, you know?
In other more embarrassing news, yesterday I managed to drop the f-word and also said that I was sexually aroused -all within in the same hour. It was a language thing, and I realized what I had done as soon as I said it but the damage was done and I left all my coworkers howling with laughter. In the future, I will remember to use a different verb for "catch" and to say that I feel hot, not that I am hot. Lessons learned, folks!
To end the day, we got invited to eat with the patriarch of a village called La Patria. It is a very humbling experience to know that this man, whose house most Americans wouldn't even camp in, is sharing his food with you. His granddaughter served us coffee and cheese, while I fervently prayed that I wouldn't do something stupid, the memories of the f-bomb experience still fresh in my mind!
Other good memories include: Holding my first Bolivian baby, driving the truck by myself through el campo, and translating the Fight Club into English for my coworkers. And just in case you haven't noticed yet, I still like it here! I got to start interviewing families about their water filters today, which I will describe in detail tomorrow (are you getting tired of me pulling these Ryan Seacrest moments?). I'll leave you with the teaser that someone gets bit by a dog.
Ugh. Dogs.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Independiente
Yesterday was quite the day! I was expecting to spend most of the day around the house because Katie was unable to take me places. But pretty much as soon as I appeared downstairs, she handed me her house keys, a map, and her cellphone and told me to hit the town. So, I did!
I set out thinking I would just walk to the supermercado (super market) because I had already been there with Katie and so I knew what to look for and what to expect. My walk there was very eye-opening and the time alone gave me lots of time to process and absorb the sights of the town. Only calling this place a town is somewhat inaccurate, I feel like it is more city-like than I expected. There is quite the diversity of people, for one thing. There's a large Mennonite community here, so we have the white, blue-eyed blondies and then there's also the indigenous Quechua people as well, whose women always wear brightly colored skirts and have two long, dark braids down their back. And then there's me, who despite the variety of the streets still manages to stick out.
So there I was, out on my own in a foreign country, INDEPENDENT for the first time. It was really neat. There are a lot of contrasts here. Some houses are beautiful, with courtyards and fancy cars, while others have burros and countless dogs and garbage all over. But the diversity made the walk interesting. I'm trying really hard not to look like a tourist but sometimes I just couldn't help but pull out my camera while trying to close my wide open jaw.
One of the best parts of the walk was finding an evangelical church. I had just been praying that morning that God would provide a church community for me here and hadn't found anything by using "the google." And then, not even three hours later on the main street of Montero, is a white iglesia with the words "evangelico" in big blue letters. I am excited to try it out next Sunday! Praise God that He provides so completely.
Once I arrived at the supermercado, I wandered around and looked at all of the different products. One of my favorite things is seeing American things translated into Spanish. Like Herbal Essence shampoo with the titles "adicta al color." Eventually, I decided that buying some bread, jam, and peanut butter would be a great thing -easy to pack for lunches! Only I could not for the life of me remember how to say peanut butter in Spanish, nor could I find it. I knew how to say butter though and eventually the store manager figured out what I was trying to say ("brown, salty, butter -hahaha). But they were all out. So next time I will have to go back and ask for "crema de mani."
After my shopping trip, I headed to the plaza, where I drank my newly acquired pineapple juice in a bag. You partake in the sweet goodness by ripping a corner off the bag with your teeth and sucking out the juice. It's real, real good. Right up there with drinkable yogurt.
I arrived back at the house, feeling pretty proud of my new found independence! Once my groceries were put away, drunk on my new freedom, I decided to walk all the way to the open air market, which is close to ten blocks away. This was WAY too far on 100 degrees day but I was determined to go. I had to ask for directions once but I finally made it.
Folks, the open air market is just the Coolest. Thing. Ever. There's EVERYTHING there and it's all over the place. There's whole butchered chickens, shoes, school supplies, veggies, and an entire tienda (shop) of pink Valentine bears. Yup, the entire store is just pink bears. I bought a tomato from a woman and her daughters. I'm going to try to be one of their regular customers because I like them :)
The walk home was really long and hot. I had to stop at the supermercado to buy a soda because I was going to pass out. The employee that had helped me with the peanut butter recognized me and waved, probably thinking what a crazy gringa :)
I was exhausted once I got back to the house. By this time I think I had been gone somewhere between 3-4 hrs. And I hadn't eaten lunch and it was four. So I started to make some beans and tortillas but Guillermo (or Yermo as we call him) made ceviche, which is raw fish, soaked in lemon juice and onions. It sounds gross but it was so good. I ate two plates. We''ll see how the tummy does with that! I keep praying for a stomach of steel. But so far so good! So far so good, where everything is concerned here, in my opinion :)
I set out thinking I would just walk to the supermercado (super market) because I had already been there with Katie and so I knew what to look for and what to expect. My walk there was very eye-opening and the time alone gave me lots of time to process and absorb the sights of the town. Only calling this place a town is somewhat inaccurate, I feel like it is more city-like than I expected. There is quite the diversity of people, for one thing. There's a large Mennonite community here, so we have the white, blue-eyed blondies and then there's also the indigenous Quechua people as well, whose women always wear brightly colored skirts and have two long, dark braids down their back. And then there's me, who despite the variety of the streets still manages to stick out.
So there I was, out on my own in a foreign country, INDEPENDENT for the first time. It was really neat. There are a lot of contrasts here. Some houses are beautiful, with courtyards and fancy cars, while others have burros and countless dogs and garbage all over. But the diversity made the walk interesting. I'm trying really hard not to look like a tourist but sometimes I just couldn't help but pull out my camera while trying to close my wide open jaw.
One of the best parts of the walk was finding an evangelical church. I had just been praying that morning that God would provide a church community for me here and hadn't found anything by using "the google." And then, not even three hours later on the main street of Montero, is a white iglesia with the words "evangelico" in big blue letters. I am excited to try it out next Sunday! Praise God that He provides so completely.
Once I arrived at the supermercado, I wandered around and looked at all of the different products. One of my favorite things is seeing American things translated into Spanish. Like Herbal Essence shampoo with the titles "adicta al color." Eventually, I decided that buying some bread, jam, and peanut butter would be a great thing -easy to pack for lunches! Only I could not for the life of me remember how to say peanut butter in Spanish, nor could I find it. I knew how to say butter though and eventually the store manager figured out what I was trying to say ("brown, salty, butter -hahaha). But they were all out. So next time I will have to go back and ask for "crema de mani."
After my shopping trip, I headed to the plaza, where I drank my newly acquired pineapple juice in a bag. You partake in the sweet goodness by ripping a corner off the bag with your teeth and sucking out the juice. It's real, real good. Right up there with drinkable yogurt.
I arrived back at the house, feeling pretty proud of my new found independence! Once my groceries were put away, drunk on my new freedom, I decided to walk all the way to the open air market, which is close to ten blocks away. This was WAY too far on 100 degrees day but I was determined to go. I had to ask for directions once but I finally made it.
Folks, the open air market is just the Coolest. Thing. Ever. There's EVERYTHING there and it's all over the place. There's whole butchered chickens, shoes, school supplies, veggies, and an entire tienda (shop) of pink Valentine bears. Yup, the entire store is just pink bears. I bought a tomato from a woman and her daughters. I'm going to try to be one of their regular customers because I like them :)
The walk home was really long and hot. I had to stop at the supermercado to buy a soda because I was going to pass out. The employee that had helped me with the peanut butter recognized me and waved, probably thinking what a crazy gringa :)
I was exhausted once I got back to the house. By this time I think I had been gone somewhere between 3-4 hrs. And I hadn't eaten lunch and it was four. So I started to make some beans and tortillas but Guillermo (or Yermo as we call him) made ceviche, which is raw fish, soaked in lemon juice and onions. It sounds gross but it was so good. I ate two plates. We''ll see how the tummy does with that! I keep praying for a stomach of steel. But so far so good! So far so good, where everything is concerned here, in my opinion :)
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Una fiesta!
When I was a sophomore in college, I had to write a report on a Latin American tradition. I chose the Quinceanera and wrote a two page paper on the topic, never dreaming that someday I would get to experience one for myself! (Don't know what I'm talking about? Check out this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quincea%C3%B1era). Here's my experience of a party, Latino style!
We arrived at the Quinceanera two whole hours late. Now, before you chastise me for being rude, it's important to understand how time works here in Bolivia. For example, if someone tells you that a party starts at eight, that means you should start getting ready at eight, maybe run some errands, call your mom, and only then think about calling a taxi for the 20 min ride over to the party. As it was, we were the first people there. How very American of us :)
The party was held in a discoteca (or a club), called Ronny's. Imagine a middle school dance, only make everything a little more crazy -louder music, brighter lights, and better food! I couldn't stop smiling at the whole thing, it was so very Latino! The birthday girl was wearing her crown and a gorgeous dress, looking like a princess. I felt a little under dressed in my cotton dress! Beer, vodka with juice, and soda were served. I tried a little of all three but declined the rum when it appeared!
And then the dancing began! OH MAN. Can these people move! Even the men shake their hips like none other. And no, I did not shake what my momma gave me, or at least not a lot. Can't shake hips if you don't have them :) I swear these people are double jointed to move the way they do! A sweet twelve year boy asked me to dance and that was really fun. We did a little traditional dance, it's hard to describe but it's like swing dancing only with more hip movement, of course. One of my favorite parts of the dancing was when the "Tonight's gonna be a good night" song came on -only it was in Spanish!
After a while, the birthday girl (who by this time was in another dress!) had her father/daughter dance, which then turned into a dance with every male relative, then her mother, then her friends, and lastly anyone that stepped in! It was very sweet.
Oh my! I almost forgot the food! There was fried chicken, mini hamburgers, coconut balls, and chocolate marshmallows. All very, very good. And the evening wouldn't have been complete without a birthday cake! I like the cake here so much better here than in the States. Here, it seems like it is soaked in sweet cream, making for a very wet but delicious cake!
We stayed at the party until 2am! And I believe we were among the first to go. Katie said that it is common for parties like this to last until six in the morning. Ain't no party like a Bolivian party, cuz a Bolivian party (literally) don't stop! I love the tradition of it though, a girl becoming a woman, dancing with her loved ones.
In some ways, I feel like this trip is becoming somewhat of a Quinceanera for me, in that I'm growing up and learning so much, about the culture -yes, but also about myself. Speaking of which, I got to go out in the town today -solo! I'll write about that tomorrow :) Until then, amigos!
We arrived at the Quinceanera two whole hours late. Now, before you chastise me for being rude, it's important to understand how time works here in Bolivia. For example, if someone tells you that a party starts at eight, that means you should start getting ready at eight, maybe run some errands, call your mom, and only then think about calling a taxi for the 20 min ride over to the party. As it was, we were the first people there. How very American of us :)
The party was held in a discoteca (or a club), called Ronny's. Imagine a middle school dance, only make everything a little more crazy -louder music, brighter lights, and better food! I couldn't stop smiling at the whole thing, it was so very Latino! The birthday girl was wearing her crown and a gorgeous dress, looking like a princess. I felt a little under dressed in my cotton dress! Beer, vodka with juice, and soda were served. I tried a little of all three but declined the rum when it appeared!
And then the dancing began! OH MAN. Can these people move! Even the men shake their hips like none other. And no, I did not shake what my momma gave me, or at least not a lot. Can't shake hips if you don't have them :) I swear these people are double jointed to move the way they do! A sweet twelve year boy asked me to dance and that was really fun. We did a little traditional dance, it's hard to describe but it's like swing dancing only with more hip movement, of course. One of my favorite parts of the dancing was when the "Tonight's gonna be a good night" song came on -only it was in Spanish!
After a while, the birthday girl (who by this time was in another dress!) had her father/daughter dance, which then turned into a dance with every male relative, then her mother, then her friends, and lastly anyone that stepped in! It was very sweet.
Oh my! I almost forgot the food! There was fried chicken, mini hamburgers, coconut balls, and chocolate marshmallows. All very, very good. And the evening wouldn't have been complete without a birthday cake! I like the cake here so much better here than in the States. Here, it seems like it is soaked in sweet cream, making for a very wet but delicious cake!
We stayed at the party until 2am! And I believe we were among the first to go. Katie said that it is common for parties like this to last until six in the morning. Ain't no party like a Bolivian party, cuz a Bolivian party (literally) don't stop! I love the tradition of it though, a girl becoming a woman, dancing with her loved ones.
In some ways, I feel like this trip is becoming somewhat of a Quinceanera for me, in that I'm growing up and learning so much, about the culture -yes, but also about myself. Speaking of which, I got to go out in the town today -solo! I'll write about that tomorrow :) Until then, amigos!
Friday, September 16, 2011
Bolivia (and poop!)
I grew up hearing stories about this place. My Mom spent two summers here during college (yes, I am her clone) and so she has all these amazing stories about surviving a governmental take over and crazy bus rides -among others. But being here is something altogether different. I've been asked a few times what I am thinking and all I can say is that I'm not thinking, I'm just absorbing.
So what have I absorbed? Well, this town is busy. There's people all over. It's not a small town by any means but I'm enjoying all the different places. Yesterday, I saw a gym that was also a restaurant. I guess so you could eat and then work it off? But seriously, tables right next to treadmills! There's also a huge Mennonite community here, which is bizarre. This is the last place I expected to see an Amish person!
My crowning achievement so far has been going to the supermarket with Katie (my director) and going through the cashier line all by myself. Baby steps people! It was really difficult to figure out how many bolivianos (Bolivian dollars, also know as "b's") equal my American dollars. I bought some liquid yogurt though and it is just THE best. I want to drink the whole bottle right now.
I've gotten to learn a lot more about what I'll be doing here, as far as internship stuff goes. So far my favorite project is the Ecological Toilet project - all about poop! Basically, Etta Projects builds outhouses for people out in "el campo" (the country). They are like porta-potties, only a double seater. The family only uses one seat for six months. Meanwhile, all the waste in the other toilet is becoming fertilizer (and completely sterile!!) due to containment and the heat. After six months, the family cleans out the fertilizer, which they can then use or sell, and they seal off the other toilet for six months and the cycle continues. Is that not amazing? There are challenges to it though. The metal is corroding and some people literally don't know how to use a toilet because they've never used one before. Crazy. Needless to say, my Spanish potty talk vocabulary has skyrocketed! I'll also be working with some community gardens, water filters, first aid kits, and some stuff called "power flour." Power flour is also really cool, it increases appetite and nutrient absorption so Etta Projects has been giving it to kids to help with their nutrition.
Alrighty, I know that wasn't too much of an overview but I promise I'll write more tomorrow. And it should be super interesting because I get to write all about a Quinceanera! Check out this article on Quinceanera so you are educated :) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quincea%C3%B1era
So what have I absorbed? Well, this town is busy. There's people all over. It's not a small town by any means but I'm enjoying all the different places. Yesterday, I saw a gym that was also a restaurant. I guess so you could eat and then work it off? But seriously, tables right next to treadmills! There's also a huge Mennonite community here, which is bizarre. This is the last place I expected to see an Amish person!
My crowning achievement so far has been going to the supermarket with Katie (my director) and going through the cashier line all by myself. Baby steps people! It was really difficult to figure out how many bolivianos (Bolivian dollars, also know as "b's") equal my American dollars. I bought some liquid yogurt though and it is just THE best. I want to drink the whole bottle right now.
I've gotten to learn a lot more about what I'll be doing here, as far as internship stuff goes. So far my favorite project is the Ecological Toilet project - all about poop! Basically, Etta Projects builds outhouses for people out in "el campo" (the country). They are like porta-potties, only a double seater. The family only uses one seat for six months. Meanwhile, all the waste in the other toilet is becoming fertilizer (and completely sterile!!) due to containment and the heat. After six months, the family cleans out the fertilizer, which they can then use or sell, and they seal off the other toilet for six months and the cycle continues. Is that not amazing? There are challenges to it though. The metal is corroding and some people literally don't know how to use a toilet because they've never used one before. Crazy. Needless to say, my Spanish potty talk vocabulary has skyrocketed! I'll also be working with some community gardens, water filters, first aid kits, and some stuff called "power flour." Power flour is also really cool, it increases appetite and nutrient absorption so Etta Projects has been giving it to kids to help with their nutrition.
Alrighty, I know that wasn't too much of an overview but I promise I'll write more tomorrow. And it should be super interesting because I get to write all about a Quinceanera! Check out this article on Quinceanera so you are educated :) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quincea%C3%B1era
Leaving on a Jet Plane: Part Three
Another excerpt from my journal:
Flight #3 Miami ->La Paz -> Santa Cruz
Yikes, what long day! I am proud to say that I was a traveling expert by the time I hit Miami airport and even took the sky train to my next gate! I was pretty proud of myself -only asked directions once too! So there I am walking toward my gate, feeling like a pretty smart cookie when I almost go head first down a "going up" escalator! Folks, it was a close call. I literally had my hand on the railing before I realized what was about to happen. And if being unable to go to Bolivia because you have a broken neck due to falling down an escalator isn't the dumbest thing you've heard all day, I guess I owe you something. But I made it to my gate, neck unbroken (pride slightly shattered) and even had time to call the boy and Momma too.
Be right back...THEY HAVE DINNER ON THIS FLIGHT, Praise Jesus! I am so hungry!
(6 hrs later) Ok, I'm back now. Although I scarfed it down, the airplane ravioli was most likely 150% of my daily value of sodium! I am still thirsty from it!
Anyway, the flight was pretty enjoyable despite the fact that they made us wait in the plane for over an hour so they could load our luggage. I would have been more upset about it but it gave me extra time to text people at home. During this time, my mother told me that the flight was 17hrs. I about cried. But she was wrong. Thank the Lord.
Joey and I had a great texting conversation too, it made me miss him a bunch but I know where I am where I am supposed to be.
And where am I? Well, for the most of the plane ride, between two men. One showed me a picture of his sweet, beautiful girls. The other was quiet but I'm fairly certain that I was leaning on him for half the night. :/ I slept a lot better on this flight than I thought I would -although it's impossible to tell for how long. Time is so abstract on an airplane.
Looking out of the airplane as we landed, there were pretty sweet mountains and the lights of the city were glowing. I was surprised to see that La Paz was not as nice as I expected. Not that I am bad mouthing La Paz, I'm not -but I expected it to have more skyscrapers and less brick, being one of the biggest cities in Bolivia. It certainly had a rustic look to it. There were a ton of cedar block buildings and every few block there were these beautiful white churches. Absolutely gorgeous! I like Bolivia already and realized I've missed being in another country for sure.
I'm glad I got the opportunity to travel alone, to prove to myself that I could do it! But I don't really want to do it ever again -although I'll have to on my way home. It's much more fun to experience new things with someone. I know God is with me though!
Right now we are sitting on the plane in La Paz, waiting to load new passengers and take off for Santa Cruz. And that is where I suppose the real adventure will begin!
Flight #3 Miami ->La Paz -> Santa Cruz
Yikes, what long day! I am proud to say that I was a traveling expert by the time I hit Miami airport and even took the sky train to my next gate! I was pretty proud of myself -only asked directions once too! So there I am walking toward my gate, feeling like a pretty smart cookie when I almost go head first down a "going up" escalator! Folks, it was a close call. I literally had my hand on the railing before I realized what was about to happen. And if being unable to go to Bolivia because you have a broken neck due to falling down an escalator isn't the dumbest thing you've heard all day, I guess I owe you something. But I made it to my gate, neck unbroken (pride slightly shattered) and even had time to call the boy and Momma too.
Be right back...THEY HAVE DINNER ON THIS FLIGHT, Praise Jesus! I am so hungry!
(6 hrs later) Ok, I'm back now. Although I scarfed it down, the airplane ravioli was most likely 150% of my daily value of sodium! I am still thirsty from it!
Anyway, the flight was pretty enjoyable despite the fact that they made us wait in the plane for over an hour so they could load our luggage. I would have been more upset about it but it gave me extra time to text people at home. During this time, my mother told me that the flight was 17hrs. I about cried. But she was wrong. Thank the Lord.
Joey and I had a great texting conversation too, it made me miss him a bunch but I know where I am where I am supposed to be.
And where am I? Well, for the most of the plane ride, between two men. One showed me a picture of his sweet, beautiful girls. The other was quiet but I'm fairly certain that I was leaning on him for half the night. :/ I slept a lot better on this flight than I thought I would -although it's impossible to tell for how long. Time is so abstract on an airplane.
Looking out of the airplane as we landed, there were pretty sweet mountains and the lights of the city were glowing. I was surprised to see that La Paz was not as nice as I expected. Not that I am bad mouthing La Paz, I'm not -but I expected it to have more skyscrapers and less brick, being one of the biggest cities in Bolivia. It certainly had a rustic look to it. There were a ton of cedar block buildings and every few block there were these beautiful white churches. Absolutely gorgeous! I like Bolivia already and realized I've missed being in another country for sure.
I'm glad I got the opportunity to travel alone, to prove to myself that I could do it! But I don't really want to do it ever again -although I'll have to on my way home. It's much more fun to experience new things with someone. I know God is with me though!
Right now we are sitting on the plane in La Paz, waiting to load new passengers and take off for Santa Cruz. And that is where I suppose the real adventure will begin!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Leaving on a Jet Plane: Part Two
Second journal entry on my way to Bolivia!
Flight #2 San Fran -> Miami
Even though this flight is longer than the San Fran flight -so far it's been way better! In flight movie and a whole thing of juice to myself! Living life large, people :)
The layover in San Fran was just enough time to find my gate -I asked for directions four times. Grabbed lunch and also used the restroom. I had been holding it the whole flight and sister was gonna blow, let me tell ya. Also got to text updates to family and the boy. I love technology!
Right now I'm sitting between two men. Pretty darn sure the one of my left is reading a porno magazine -I only saw the cover and have been trying to avert mine eyes. The guy on my right was only awake long enough to spill his drink.
I miss people. I miss sharing this with someone. Traveling by yourself isn't the best. I miss the fun of my Haiti teammates. It makes me want to travel with everyone I love someday.
Since I thanked people in the last entry, I'd like to take the time to acknowledge the less than satisfactory people/things:
My stupid travel pillow: You were expensive and the only reason I bought you was because you could clip onto my backpack. That clip broke before I even left SeaTac. Grrr.
The person currently sitting behind me: Are you tap dancing on my chair??
And lastly, Airplane air: You are dry and stale and I do not like you.
Ok, I have to leave on a positive note: Bellingham sunsets are only rivaled by ones seen IN THE AIR. So beautiful!
Errrr...negative thing: The "men's magazine" reader is drunk.
Must end on positive note...uhhh...he's a happy drunk?
Flight #2 San Fran -> Miami
Even though this flight is longer than the San Fran flight -so far it's been way better! In flight movie and a whole thing of juice to myself! Living life large, people :)
The layover in San Fran was just enough time to find my gate -I asked for directions four times. Grabbed lunch and also used the restroom. I had been holding it the whole flight and sister was gonna blow, let me tell ya. Also got to text updates to family and the boy. I love technology!
Right now I'm sitting between two men. Pretty darn sure the one of my left is reading a porno magazine -I only saw the cover and have been trying to avert mine eyes. The guy on my right was only awake long enough to spill his drink.
I miss people. I miss sharing this with someone. Traveling by yourself isn't the best. I miss the fun of my Haiti teammates. It makes me want to travel with everyone I love someday.
Since I thanked people in the last entry, I'd like to take the time to acknowledge the less than satisfactory people/things:
My stupid travel pillow: You were expensive and the only reason I bought you was because you could clip onto my backpack. That clip broke before I even left SeaTac. Grrr.
The person currently sitting behind me: Are you tap dancing on my chair??
And lastly, Airplane air: You are dry and stale and I do not like you.
Ok, I have to leave on a positive note: Bellingham sunsets are only rivaled by ones seen IN THE AIR. So beautiful!
Errrr...negative thing: The "men's magazine" reader is drunk.
Must end on positive note...uhhh...he's a happy drunk?
Leaving on a Jet Plane: Part One
I'm in Bolivia! Here's the account of my time in the skies, for what it's worth. I will post about Bolivia when I get the chance.
Excerpt from journal:
Flight #1 Sea Tac -> San Fran
I survived saying goodbye to my family! Yes! I am such a big girl, haha. Dad and I got up at FOUR AM to catch my 7:30am flight. We left in plenty of time but I accidentally got in the wrong airline check in, so things got rushed/stressed at the end. But I made it to my gate, only to find out that the flight was delayed for about an hour due to fog in San Fran. I was still scared to leave the gate though in case I missed my flight. So I texted the love ones and people watched.
It was while people watching that I noticed a woman with her small dog and realized that this might mean that she was bringing it on my flight. And I got real worried that she was gonna sit next to me with that small animal. If you know me well at all, you've probably heard that small dogs and I are not the best of friends. I like to think that God put all my love for animals in my love for babies bank, which I am perfectly ok with. Anyway, so I am praying that the dog will be far from me, with the prayers growing more frantic with every yip and yap. However, thankfully here from my seat in F26, there is no sign of the small animal! Praise Jesus.
Said my goodbyes to Washington as we lifted off. Man oh man, I love this place! Born and raised here and this state has treated me well (excluding the Rains of '99 and the Winter of 2010-11). Good bye, sweet Washington! Stay green and beautiful!
Dad always makes me cry whenever I say goodbye to him. He's just a sweet Dad. I kept waiting for him to stop me and be all "Ok, you might be fooling everyone else but I know you are still eight years old and there's no way I'm letting you on a plane by yourself!" But he didn't. Gotta love both of my parents for their faith in me -makes me have more faith in myself.
Other thanks thus far goes to:
Katrina and Josiah -thanks for your sappy, goofy goodbyes. I'm so proud of both of you, can't wait to see what the fall brings in both of your lives!
Linds: Thanks for calling me yesterday. It meant a lot that you were still thinking of me. I treasure the week we got to share that room! OUR room :)
Bri: Thanks for always joining me on my pre-trip Target shopping sprees. We have another tradition to keep now, my dear old friend.
Joey: Oh man. Thanks for being positive when I wasn't, for making me laugh and look forward to this trip, and for the late night phone call. I hope someday I get the chance to encourage you the way that you have encouraged me.
Alrighty, signing off from the skies!
Quote of the week "DAV! That's FAR! That's not even by Mexico!! It's way down HERE" -Josiah, while looking at the globe and figuring out where Bolivia is.
Excerpt from journal:
Flight #1 Sea Tac -> San Fran
I survived saying goodbye to my family! Yes! I am such a big girl, haha. Dad and I got up at FOUR AM to catch my 7:30am flight. We left in plenty of time but I accidentally got in the wrong airline check in, so things got rushed/stressed at the end. But I made it to my gate, only to find out that the flight was delayed for about an hour due to fog in San Fran. I was still scared to leave the gate though in case I missed my flight. So I texted the love ones and people watched.
It was while people watching that I noticed a woman with her small dog and realized that this might mean that she was bringing it on my flight. And I got real worried that she was gonna sit next to me with that small animal. If you know me well at all, you've probably heard that small dogs and I are not the best of friends. I like to think that God put all my love for animals in my love for babies bank, which I am perfectly ok with. Anyway, so I am praying that the dog will be far from me, with the prayers growing more frantic with every yip and yap. However, thankfully here from my seat in F26, there is no sign of the small animal! Praise Jesus.
Said my goodbyes to Washington as we lifted off. Man oh man, I love this place! Born and raised here and this state has treated me well (excluding the Rains of '99 and the Winter of 2010-11). Good bye, sweet Washington! Stay green and beautiful!
Dad always makes me cry whenever I say goodbye to him. He's just a sweet Dad. I kept waiting for him to stop me and be all "Ok, you might be fooling everyone else but I know you are still eight years old and there's no way I'm letting you on a plane by yourself!" But he didn't. Gotta love both of my parents for their faith in me -makes me have more faith in myself.
Other thanks thus far goes to:
Katrina and Josiah -thanks for your sappy, goofy goodbyes. I'm so proud of both of you, can't wait to see what the fall brings in both of your lives!
Linds: Thanks for calling me yesterday. It meant a lot that you were still thinking of me. I treasure the week we got to share that room! OUR room :)
Bri: Thanks for always joining me on my pre-trip Target shopping sprees. We have another tradition to keep now, my dear old friend.
Joey: Oh man. Thanks for being positive when I wasn't, for making me laugh and look forward to this trip, and for the late night phone call. I hope someday I get the chance to encourage you the way that you have encouraged me.
Alrighty, signing off from the skies!
Quote of the week "DAV! That's FAR! That's not even by Mexico!! It's way down HERE" -Josiah, while looking at the globe and figuring out where Bolivia is.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Last Day of Work
Cakes -2 (both chocolate)
Cards - 3 (Two store-bought and one lovingly homemade)
Flowers - 2 bouquets (tiger lilies and white and yellow roses )
Goodbyes: 2 many :(
I'm really going to miss the best coworkers in the whole world.
Cards - 3 (Two store-bought and one lovingly homemade)
Flowers - 2 bouquets (tiger lilies and white and yellow roses )
Goodbyes: 2 many :(
I'm really going to miss the best coworkers in the whole world.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Peace Be Still
Only a little over week left in the States! The goodbyes have started -I have so many wonderful people in my life and it is challenging to give them all the time that they deserve. I'm celebrating all of the things I've gotten checked off the To-Do List too: packing my room up, feeding 40 people on a camping trip, enjoying/surviving the transition of new housemates, paperwork completed, fees paid... There's still more to do -but the majority of things ARE DONE. And I am celebrating that with deep breaths and by savoring some of the last moments of beautiful people in beautiful Bellingham.
And Bellingham is definitely doing her best to woe me, serenading my last weekend here with sunshine, clear lakes, and green grass. She's delivering some good memories, alrighty. And I'm thankful that I'll have these to tide me over in Bolivia.
I feel more centered, grounded, relaxed this week. More certain that I am headed in the right direction, that the people left here are going to be just fine, that I am going to be fine. And with that grounded-ness, has come the excitement, seeping into the cracks where nervousness and stress were before. And I fully expect them to come back, rearing their ugly heads -but I think the peace is here to stay too.
PS The song, "Peace" by Sherri Youngward is genius -check it out!
And Bellingham is definitely doing her best to woe me, serenading my last weekend here with sunshine, clear lakes, and green grass. She's delivering some good memories, alrighty. And I'm thankful that I'll have these to tide me over in Bolivia.
I feel more centered, grounded, relaxed this week. More certain that I am headed in the right direction, that the people left here are going to be just fine, that I am going to be fine. And with that grounded-ness, has come the excitement, seeping into the cracks where nervousness and stress were before. And I fully expect them to come back, rearing their ugly heads -but I think the peace is here to stay too.
PS The song, "Peace" by Sherri Youngward is genius -check it out!
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