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.