a way better weekend.

This past weekend was a 180 from last. Friday I went out with four coworkers to dance the night away at a local disco.  My soul needed some cumbia dancing, it had been too long.  I think I surprised the locals with my invisible yet present Latin blood that allows me to blend right in on the dance floor. All the years I offered to compete at school dance competitions in Chile most certainly paid off.  Saturday I went with another coworker, Evelyn, to help out at her church’s youth group fundraiser. The organization, or might I say, lack there of, was expected and while hilarious, I really wanted to take charge and start handing out assignments. There were five of us working the snack stand and no one could decide how to price things.  Sunday I went with Evelyn on her fiancés church’s picnic.  It was great to spend time and get to know her and my other coworkers outside of the office.

 

After work today I went to the Bolivian version of Starbuck’s, Alexander’s, to write some postcards and have an after-work snack.  I began to think of all the things I love here…

publicly affectionate people, natural foods (in fact certain things are only sold until noon due to the lack of preservatives), being able to listen in on a stranger’s conversation and not look suspicious, being able to have a four course lunch for under three dollars, the availability of anything I could ever need/want sold on the street on my walk home, the fact that I can WALK home, the idea that cobble stone streets might outnumber the paved ones and that dirt roads for sure outnumber them all. That you can dance and not be scandalous, that a fully grown adult may only make it to my elbow, that bowler hats and wool leggings have been in style for about one hundred years and likely one hundred more.

 

So far Bolivia has treated me well, one month almost down and looking forward to many more to go.  

headed back.

The past 24 hours has made me 

a) Feel like little Alex on his horrible, terrible, very bad, no good, very bad day.

b) Realize how much a like routine.

c-) Wish I got married young and was expecting my first child (which might not have brought happiness, but it would have likely avoided this).

maybe this is an exaggeration, there were some Lima highlights, which include

a-) Oxygen

b-) Manjar ice cream

c-) a much needed hair cut

But all in all it has led me to be most excited to return to La Paz and get into the swing of things again. 

Thank you for your support.  Please continue to pray for peace in the political situation, that a solution might be found, and that people of both sides would not be at a place where they are willing to risk their lives and the lives of others to be heard. 

¡Feliz Diesiocho desde Perú!

I am currently sitting in a local coffee shop in Lima, Peru.  Yesterday we flew here just as a precaution to what is happening in Bolivia and its current tiff with the U.S.    There was a march of 8,000 people with the intent of burning the American embassy, but it police controlled the situation and it was unsuccessful.  There were also a couple protests that attacked local media buildings in La Paz.  For the most part these attacks are isolated to the locations of the building, on the day of these marches I went out to lunch and didn't even realize they were going on a few blocks away (well aside from the booms, but those sound everyday). Yet since things are a tad unstable it was decided that the Americans from the office should watch things unfold in Bolivia from the outside.

For now we are planing on returning to La Paz on Saturday. Hopefully things will have calmed down.  As for long-term, the country will continue to face challenges (including the passage of the new constitution) that are quite unpredictable and might mean another trip to a calmer neighbor.  I am fine, safe and learning a lot. Lima is way nicer than I had thought, very clean, lots of western and Chilean things and pretty much nothing like La Paz. 

taking it in

If you have watched the news, perhaps for a second across the bottom of your screen there was something about Bolivia.  In the past week there has been violence in the eastern provinces, road blocks and casualties.  Oh and the U.S. ambassador was ousted. Tonight they have declared martial law in one province where the violence escalated.

I am fine. La Paz is under no threat, which everyone here says is a surprise because usually the action is here.  I hope things will continue to settle and that the different factions will come into peaceful dialogue. 

In other news life here is swell. Right now I am taking it all in;  the people, the politics, the colder weather, the food (too much of it) and the beauty that lies in being in a new place. 

politics

So apparently when it comes to gas U.S. news sources cover Bolivia...

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/09/09/bolivia.unrest/

I hope La Paz lives up to its name. Thus far its all in the east. 

Work

Bellow is a link that will provide you with an example of what the office here does. 

www.ijm.ca/bolivian%20conviction.html

dia dos

I have arrived and can now officially can La Paz home.  Tomorrow I am hoping to play tourist and take a bus around the city to check it out and become further acquainted with my surroundings.  I am staying at a house in the old center of town, a few blocks from San Francisco, for those into goggle maps. The area is pretty touristy, meaning I see a few other gringos when I walk around.  I am convenient to public transport, which consist of taxis, private taxies, mini-vans, and mini-buses.  So far mini-buses are the best bet, some people greet the other passengers, which I find quite friendly, especially since we are all going to be smooshed together anyway- why not make friends. (I was partially in me neighbors lap this morning).

La Paz is bowl shaped, I am right at the point where you begin to question your cereal to milk ratio. There are lots of ups and downs, which take the wind out of me due to the altitude/lack of oxygen.  I think if I built up endurance to run here I would be unstoppable elsewhere, the tragedy is that I would likely get run over trying.

Work is great, I mean seeing it has only been two days.  Not many details will be shared here due to confidentiality.  The important part is that everyone has been really welcoming and I will have plenty of interesting things to do during my months here. Hearing and understanding the political climate here will also keep me busy and entertained (and hopefully relatively safe). Oh, I had my first cup of coca tea upon arrival and had coca pasta for lunch yesterday. There are t-shirts here that have a coca leaf and then cola, pretty clever, I will for sure get you on Lucy. 

Just wanted you to know I am here and well. More on life in La Paz as it unfolds.