well, i am just now getting to my first entry. we have been busy to say the least, not to mention our lack of internet or the desire to sit in front of a computer..jaja. i can only begin with i LOVE bolivia, i love being here and i am the most content i have been in awhile. peace corps has taken the best care of us and my group (B44) is filled with interesting, motivated, intelligent, and fun individuals. i guess to start---after a brief training in miami, we took a red-eye overnight to la paz where we began our layover of 8 hours. the first couple of hours were fine until we all fell asleep and our lack of sleep and oxygen came over us as we were waking up from naps. the medical team was there, however, fully expectant of our reaction and so we took turns on the oxygen tank they provided and felt 100% better. no problem...
but, getting off the plane in cochabamba was amazing. we walked down the stairs and were surrounded by mountains, lush and green, with an amazing mid-70s temps. we all looked around in disbelief (and still do) and just smiled.
ever since then we have been sitting through countless get-to-know you-health-safety-cultural-language-medical meetings, meetings, meetings. its been great, uh, really. we have been staying at a great hotel and going to a training center 20 minutes out of town. the training center grounds has gardens, animals, latrines, classes, kitchen, offices, etc. we´ll be going to our training host families tomorrow and there we will really begin immersion.
im not really in culture shock as everything is very similar to what ive seen before....well, except for the cholitas: the women with the braids and hats and beautiful colorful cloths, its is then that i remember im actually in bolivia. oh, AND last night they had a practice `entrada¨ for carnival which is in a month. it was beautiful. everyone was dancing the same dance together with knee-high cowboy boots filled with bells. in costa rica they loved drums, in bolivia they love dances. it was quite fun.
the current volunteers have been taking us to dinner the past 3 nights and telling us the ropes of the country. they have been great for telling us all the informal information and they all seem to love their work.
well guys, i can´t think of anything else cool. it is difficult to formulate everything going through my head, but I may not be back for awhile, I just don´t know. feel free to write me though! I´ll get it eventually.
6 comments:
i am so heartened to hear that it was love at first sight in cochabamba, and especially that the oxygen tanks were handy in la paz. i have been thinking of you lots, like this weekend when there was fun sans tiffany at the neal ranch. you're still here in spirit and we sent you positive vibes.
i swear i put a comment on here the other day, but i guess the internet ate it...so here's the new one. i love picturing you sucking oxygen out of a tank...and just so you know, you dont have to tell us it's not that dramatic, you're welcome to embellish cultural experiences all you want...it's encouraged really. love you!
man, tiffany, this morning in lexington it was 14 degrees. farenheit. i can picture you in bolivia smiling and meeting people and being patient with meetings. can you picture me sitting here bundled up in sweaters and listening to gillian welch and drinking tea? also i agree with bree about embellishment and mckinley about the positive vibes.
Howdy T!!!!!! Glad you made down safely and smiling. Sounds fn incredible and its hard to believe that I watched you drive away on limestone two weeks ago and now you are in Bolivia. Niles and I had dinner last night and were both thinking about you (we miss ya!) I am so excited for you. IT is cold here and we have started planning EDBG ( I will save you a Tshirt, guess I will have two or three for ya by the time you get back) Love ya T, have a great time and keep us posted.
this is fun. i'm reading all these comments, but acutally i feel like they are being narrated in my head in each person's own voice, complete with their own unique inflections. maybe i've been staring at fish too long, dunno. i'm even more envious of you now. yay for bolivia! talk to ya' soon!
Hey fannypack! Been thinking about you lots.
So oxygen huh, I think you all should be munching on some cocoa leaves too (I've always wanted to do that). Kentucky's not the same without you but I'm glad to hear you are at ease in Bolivia. Keep rockin' it. Tim and I will be seeing you!
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