February...

Time is passing rather quickly right now as it is already the end of February, but of course having my parents and others from church visit has helped pass the time. At first it was an adjustment having them here since they are foreign to my Bolivian reality, but I easily adjusted to their presence. I enjoyed working with them at the day care--part of the reason for coming was to help with a work project--, showing them around and introducing them to the people I have been living with for the past six months. Their time here passed quicker than I had anticipated or wanted, but I have adjusted to my normal routine since their departure. As normal as it can be during Carnival anyways.

I had learned about Carnival in the Spanish class my final semester at Hesston College and I was anxious to experience it first hand. Hearing my host brothers talk non-stop about the festival and listening to all the propaganda also fueled my anticipation. Therefore Sunday afternoon my host brother and I dressed in our oldest clothes and headed downtown to participate in a massive water balloon and paint fight. After about four hours we then returned home soaked and covered in paint from head to toe. Definitely a worthwhile experience we both decided to repeat the following day. However after two days of having people smear paint on your face, having party foam sprayed at your eyes and mouth, and getting soaked by water balloons, we decided to call it quits.

Tuesday we relaxed at home and participated in the custom of giving thanks to the Pacha Mama (mother earth). This included presenting a burnt offering of different foods and of course fire works for some added noise. We then threw confetti and watched the smoke from the offering fill the house which is supposed to bring good luck and a good harvest. I realize this may strike some readers as odd or unnecessary, but it was definitely a unique cultural experience to witness. Afterwards we shared a celebration lunch of Spicy chicken, chunyo (dehydrated potatoes covered in a peanut sauce), yucca (same family as the potato), rice and soup. It was a well needed day of rest after a busy month of visitors and the biggest celebration of the year.

Currently I have resumed my regular routine of working in the library. I have been living in Santa Cruz now for two and a half months and it is a wonderful feeling to be adjusted to my new work and new host family. Again thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers. Chao.

First Week in the Library

Here is a brief update of my activities this past week. I have successfully completed my first week of work in the Plan 3000, working in the library San Silvestre and at the Parish. It was a slow week since very few students attended the library due to the lack of homework assigned this week. The first week is usually spent sitting through "entertaining" and "interesting" syllabi's right? I am not sure how enthusiastic the youth were about resuming their studies either. Some of the schools nearby also didn´t begin classes because some of the classrooms were being painted. However more students should attend this coming week as they get settled into the routine of the new school year. If not I will resume cataloging books, reading and waiting patiently, a routine I have grown accustomed to. Probably the hardest part of this week was waiting in anticipation for my family and friends to arrive.

Saturday my Dad, Mom, Jason Widmer and two persons from my church will be landing here in Bolivia. I have been looking forward to this day for sometime now. I am anxious to show them where I have been living for the past 6 months and to introduce them to my friends and family here in Bolivia. They will be working on a daycare laying bricks for the first week and then they will get a chance to see where I have been working the following week. Hopefully we have desirable weather and everyone stays healthy.

The begininning of February also marked the half-way point for my time here in Bolivia. When looking back it is tempting to say time has passed quickly, but in reality October and November were long and arduous. I faced new and unexpected circumstances daily which challenged me in positive, yet annoying ways. However time is picking up steam and the months are passing quicker as I have grown accustomed, to some degree, to life in Bolivia. The second half will most likely pass quicker than the first, so I am told anyways. Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers and God bless. Chao.