July 3^rd:

The BBQ was a lot of fun! I got to meet Ale’s sister and her sister’s husband, they are really nice and are ridiculously involved in soccer games hahaha. Every time Germany got a goal her husband would scream “GOOOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL ALEMANIAAAAAA!” They gave me this awesome sand which—it was thin meat covered (fried) in egg with potato, onion, and this really spicy salsa (not like the salsa at home this was like chopped up tomatoes and hot peppers.. my mouth is watering thinking about it! Ale told me that if you eat too much of the sandwich I will go back to the united states huge ahhaah ! Of course I love the most unhealthy things ever! I finally got on the internet and on facebook, but at the fundacion ipeno (where I take my classes and meet for community service to go to Loma Pampa) the internet refuses to let me on facebook… oh well so anyone who writes on my facebook it may be a while until I get back to you =[ sorry! After the BBQ I met up with some members of my group to go to La Cancha!! It was soooo crowded and a little bit overwhelming but I really liked it a lot! We met a woman there who was a friend of professor Goldstein’s I think..or she knew of him because Jovanna, Natasha and Carolyn had went to her stand previous years. I bought my first Bolivian artesian product.. a llama sweater!!! It’s the best thing ever!! It’s so so warm!!! After La cancha we went to La Casa Blanca for dinner..i’m not too much of a fan of La Casa Blanca because the service is really really slow and they forgot our Guacamole!!!! I really want guacamole and no one has it anywhere! I guess I will make some myself! Maybe on Saturday?? I told my mom I wanted to make her dinner but I’m not sure what I will make because they don’t have a lot of the stuff I need here =[ (no sauces—I need my hot sauce) So I am going to go to the supermarket and see if they have anything! Tomorrow will be my first time in Loma Pampa and I’m curious as to what it will be like..I know it’s supposed to be very poor with limited resources such as water and electricity but I still don’t know what to expect..and as for the labor part… hmmmm hahah..well I’m very exhausted from all this walking and I am definitely going to lose weight because I walk everywhere hahah. Tonight the dog was waiting for me at the gate again haha he is like my own pet because he waits for me every night at the gate and then I pet him for 5 minutes and he gets mad when I walk away hahaha oh well!

July 4^th:

Today was really fun! We arrived in Loma Pampa at around 9.00 to start work but none of the people of Loma Pampa were there! They say in Bolivia that you tell them 9.00 and they come at 9.30 haha they are on Bolivian time haha. It has a lot to do with the fact that Bolivians in general to my understanding are very relaxed and never really rush. My mom is always late! And she tells me oh don’t worry about it relax you can leave in 10 minutes but I always tell her I have to leave now bla bla bla..the technique is to tell her 15-20 min before I actually have to leave that I have to leave haha.  So while we were waiting I met some of the cholas of the village and the children..they were all very nice! Finally everyone gathered and did their speeches of how grateful they were that we were able to be here with them especially on the day of our independence. Don Miguel (the leader of the village) introduced us to the people of his village and spoke in both Quecha and Spanish and a little English haha. So then we started the labor, which wasn’t terrible (until the next morning, when I woke up). There was a huge pile of rocks they wanted to level out and make into a rock wall near the community center so everyone together, the men, women, children and our group all moved rocks together. Shoveling into wheel barrows, or into tarps or just passing rocks along. In my entire life I never once thought I would be working next to a chola in Loma Pampa; these were the cholas and men that I had been so fond of from books in Latin American Anthro..and now to see them in front of me and to buy from them and work with them..no words can really describe that feeling. When what you have learned so much about and read about in the US comes alive in front of you and you finally observe it in nature and it’s natural setting..it’s breath taking. Sometimes I wake up in the morning and I look around and think to myself.. “Holy crap..I’m in Bolivia”. Now I’m so used to it that I forgot how it feels to have my own car or go to McDonalds.. I’m so used to the way of life and customs here which is a good thing. Being in Bolivia is very relaxing because I have a lot of time to myself, time to reflect and to take in everything. There is no rush and most of the people here are really down to earth and nice. So in the middle of our work Don Miguel announces that we are going to have a celebration in honor of July 4^th because we shouldn’t work on the day of our country. So we stopped for Saltenas and Coca-Cola. Saltena to my understanding is very similar to an empanada but 1. They always have only 1 olive with a pit in it inside, 2. The ridiculous amount of juice ALWAYS spills on you no matter how much you drink out, 3. I love them more than empanadas!! It really meant a lot to me to see these people who did not have much willing to give us a saltena feast. It just goes to show you how generous people are in Loma Pampa they will give you even if they have nothing for themselves. During the feast the people of Loma Pampa didn’t eat and so my mom had packed me 2 sandwiches and I gave away a sandwich to one of the Cholas. I felt that because they had given me these great saltenas that I had to repay and show my thanks..even just with a little sandwhich. Afterwards I joined the music group because we have not gotten our science supplies yet. I cannot describe in words the joy it brought to my heart to see these kids smile. They were so excited and happy to be involved with the music class and later duck duck goose. At first the older girls (Abby and Maribel) were a little stand off ish to the games (not to me or Michele, they greeted us first with many questions haha). Abby and Maribel are around 11 or 12 and they are very smart and very curious about us. Abby talks so fast I can’t understand her a lot and I told her my Spanish wasn’t perfect so she would have to articulate a little more and speak slower..she agreed only if I would help her learn English. In the music class we learned Arroz Con Leche a famous song about someone getting married and rice pudding (arroz con leche) is traditionally served at weddings. We then taught them twinkle twinkle little star. I was nervous about my service learning in Loma Pampa at first because I wasn’t sure if the children would like me.. I am some white girl who speaks terrible Spanish and I’m trying to get them to do stuff with me..but they really enjoyed the time we had together. We left Loma Pampa and promised Maribel and Abby that we would see them at dance class on Wednesday. We then went out for the 4^th of July with Don Miguel, his family and the entire group. We went to a place where they cook the meat on stones in the ground I believe..it was great! I had lapping y lechon (cow and pork). It’s hard to get your daily serving of vegetables in Bolivia because the core of the Bolivian diet is rice/potatoes/pasta and beef/meat but I’m pushing my mom to get greens and prepare me more things with tomato. We had our own fireworks in the basketball court near the restaurant and then I went home and passed out!

July 5^th:

Today was my first day of class with Pamela! I enjoy class in Bolivia because we always have coca or trimate tea during class and it is situated outside the fundacion ipeno (in the garden). Pamela is a great teacher because she really knows what she is talking about in terms of neroliberalism in Bolivia because she lived in Bolivia during and up to that time.  Pamela is really such a caring person and she tries to make sure everyone is understanding every point she makes. She also approached discussions different because it’s not a lecture its more like a interactive seminar, which I really like. We took a break during class for Coca-Cola and Saltenas!! (YES!) and then we finished class. Then Evyn, Michele and I walked over to café Ecla for some great fried American food!! YUMMM! After Michele and I walked around el 25 de May (a street with many shops and vendors) and even went into el 25 de mayo market. I ended up buying a Bebe sweatshirt with fur on the inside..I couldn’t wear my llama sweater every day! Oh and today I wore my llama sweater belted..oh yes I did. Brought some New York Style to Bolivia!!! After shopping I went to my first language class which was really fun! Martha , my teacher, is really nice and patient! After I walked home (without getting lost) and had a quick dinner and met up with the group at a bar for the strongest and biggest margarita I’ve ever had (yes I can legally drink in Bolivia)..wow..and then I realized it was made from all ice.. and I was probably going to get sick.. hmmm well we shall see if I really do get sick! After I got home my mom and I watched her favorite novella (soap opera) and we laughed about the clothing and hair styles and how dramatic they are haha. I am so glad that my mom and I have such a close bond! I don’t feel as home sick because she reminds me a lot of my mom at home and the relationship we had.. Ale is like my best friend I tell her all about my day and about everyone in the group..come one who else has a conversation about love the first night they meet..only Ale hahaah.

The Cristo and The view arre from my room in my house..more pics to come!

Well I will start from the beginning! Ok so by day:

June 30^th: Newark airport at 11 AM flight to Miami from  2.05 to 6.00 (mad delayed!)

                Miami airport from 6.00 to  10.45 lay over (ay dios mio)

                               In the airport I met up with my classmates and I ended up eating Chinese food (bad decision haha). And we didn’t end up leaving the airport until ummm 12.00 pm. I sat next to a really cute old guy and a 13 yr old chatty Kathy haha. She wanted to tell me everything about Bolivia and had so many questions and she even made fun of my “new York accent”. Many people of Latin America ask personal questions and say things that in america would be “offensive” but they are just curious and very very honest which isn’t terrible!

July 1^st- The old man was on my 9 hr trip but the girl got off the plane at La Paz which was only a 6 hr flight.. La Paz’s altitude is so different that I immediately started getting altitude sickness..it was horrible! So then we flew over many mountains (Cochabamba is in a valley setting) and finally arrived in Santa Cruz. We went through customs where the man joked with me that my Spanish was better than the police officer working security and the airports are so different!!! First of all basically the airport is terminals and baggage claim and then you walk out the doors and its like a waiting area and the check in counters..but you can sit there even if you don’t have a plane ticket..alll the food is outside the terminals and they don’t care if you bring food on the airplanes.  The second plane in Bolivia that we took from Santa Cruz to Cochabamba was AeroSur. 1^st of all Aero Sur is the nicest plane I have ever been on the regular coach seats are huge and exactly the same as first class seats in American airlines…. Yess. I flew with the whole Bolivian youth soccer team and of course they all were interested in what I was doing because I am ridiculously white and the flight attendant insisted on translating everything to English for me… but he was talking really really fast…I would have understood..i was on 2 other planes I know the deal! SO FINALY we land in Cochabamba! And the group we work with for service learning—Pro Justica Bolivia greeted us with a huge banner..it was soo nice and everyone hugged and kissed and said hello. After we took a huge bus (mind you that all the cars and buses are from the 80s and early 90s) to the Bolivia Cultura (the place that is in charge of my homestay and language classes). There we were prepped for our first nights alone in Bolivia and how to live and traditions..

Tradition (in Spanish Costumbre) 1: it is rude to stretch and yawn in public (uh oh)

2: because of tradition of the country most toilets are not meant for toilet paper.. so you must throw your toilet paper and sanitary napkins/ items in the garbage.. I am finally used to this after 2 days but I catch myself

3. it is rude to arrive at home later than you had said, not call your home stay mom to tell her what time you will be home or especially to miss a meal.

In Bolivia lunch is the big meal but my mom lives solo so she doesn’t cook a 5 course meal or anything extravagant. We both get along perfect because we enjoy simple things…simple meals, no tv, no telephones. Any way enough digression!

So Bolivia cultura told us what to expect and how to behave and then we were picked up by our parents… I was sooo nervous! But I am so so happy that I am staying with Alejandra! She is very young and single and we live in a 3 bedroom apartment. It is on la pasaje Michel (Passage way Michel). It is called a passage way because you can only enter and exit from one side of the street and the other part is blocked off..this keeps it private and quiet most of the time. There is two locks..the huge gate with barbed wire which this little mini sheep dog waits for me every night to come home and then the apartment door. And by the way the sheep dog is not Alejandras haha it’s her neighbors but in Bolivia the dogs run free in the apartments because there is a fence.. there are many many dogs on the streets I couldn’t even count on 2 hands.. and it makes me so sad I want to feed them all and hug them but they are dirty and they don’t look starving but some are very cute and just lay in the street and smell you others bark at you and today one dog chased my taxi for a block hahah. Alej has a little tiny poodle mix dog and she is very cute! She always greets me at the door or even sleeps under my bed when I am in my room. Alej always waits on me and I try to help her like clearing the table or putting out glasses and she just tells me to relax… Well if she wants to take care of me I’m not going to say no! The first day we spoke a lot (only in Spanish) and she asked what kinds of foods and drinks I liked.i of course said I loved coca cola..this was the night she took me to the market and I couldn’t figure out my international phone and it was a mess! So she knew I was upset and so she especially bought coke for us to drink with dinner.. It meant so much to me that she went out of her way to do that.  We took the bus together from the market and my first shower was ice burg cold because I didn’t turn on the power for the hot water—hot water is heated electrically .the water pressure is extremely terrible but its not a big deal I just wont use as much soap haha..So I went to bed very upset due to my phone, my cold shower and just no sleep from the planes.

July 2^nd:

I was supposed to be up for breakfast at 8 but my phone is in 24 hr time and I had set the wrong time so instead of saying 8 am my phone said 20…and my alarm was set for 8 not 20 so I ended up waking up in fear of being late at 8.30 which I was kind of later because I left my house at 9 passed the Fundacion Ipeno (a?) and realized I had passed a minute later and ended up near the Catholic University where I found Michele, Natasha and Carolyn who were lost. I passed the Fundacion (also a university of dentistry haha) so I remembered the way from the Catholic University. This building is in the middle of a residential area so it was weird to be there haha. It was on Fidel Anze y la Esquina de General Galindo cerca de la parquet de Anze. My first taxi knew exactly where it was and I was only a few minutes late due to a detour but my second driver who picked me up after lunch… had no idea and I had to give him directions. In Bolivia there is a lot of traffic and cars are first then people…crossing the roads is a nightmare.. there are no traffic laws..taxis go both ways down one ways, go through red lights, speed and there are no seat belts and the doors are never locked… jesus hahah. In Bolivia there are many taxis and many are private. It is not recommended to take a private one since they can like murder you or something haha so we are only allowed to take taxis that on the side of the door say radio taxi. I have become a master at flagging them down and negotiating prices! I need to learn the buses because a taxi ride is 7 bs (equivalent to 1$) but I take a taxi some days 4 or more times. And a bus is only a few cents so I need to learn the bus route.  So we arrived at la Fundacion and they have computers with internet and printers so I don’t have to go to internet cafes… what I don’t like about these places is that it’s crowded and you are charged by the minute and the doors (usually take up the whole wall) are completely open so anyone can walk in. Alej’s sister has a computer with internet as well. We had an academic orientation and a service learning orientation and this is my schedule:

Mon: 9.30-12.00 Anthropology (Law justice and rights in Bolivia) at Fundacion

                4.30-6.00 Spanish class at Bolivia Cultura

Tue: 4.30 – 6.00 Spanish class

Wed: 2.30-6.00 service-learning in Loma Pampa

Thurs: 2.30-6.00 service learning in Loma Pampa

Fri: 9.00 class

                6.00 reflections

Sat: NOTHING

Sun: service-learning at Loma Pampa 8.30 am – (?)

My service learning on wed and thurs is geared towards teaching about human rights and laws in Bolivia to children in various ways such as dances, theatre, puppet shows, etc. this is with a group of girls.

Service-learning on Sunday is first off all construction/panting – labor for a while and then from 12-2 is my own project. My project is going to be science experiments and I need a lot of ideas a pack up plans and I talked to Pro Justica and they said that my options are unlimited… I would love to dissect or even use a microscope to look at cheek cells or grow a plant..etc.

Loma Pampa is an area about 30 minutes from Cochabamba that is poor in resources. They have no electricity or running water and only 1 outhouse…which is a hole. I have been told that many of these students have never done science or anything of that nature so I’m so excited to make things explode with them! Hahah The children of Loma Pampa have good hearts and I hope they will accept me and help me learn as I teach them and of course have fun!

So after this a group of about 11 of us decided to go out to eat dinner and coffee and karoke. We decided on this Iranian restaurant and I had this sheesh kabob with lettuce, tomato, sauce and pork in not a wrap but kind of like it…its like the middle eastern version..similar to naan but thiner..it was amazing and only 15 bs (approx 2$). Then we had coffee at a nearby expensive place that was 10 bs for my cappuccino and it was huge!! It took forever to flag down a cab because we weren’t in such a urban area but more of an “upscale” area where the professor Hotel is located this was off of Avenue America where everything is! (The Catholic University and Fundacion are close to Ave. America) After coffee it seemed so late so I didn’t do karoke but definitely another time!

When I got home Alej and I embarked on a 4 hour conversation (in only Spanish, yes my head hurts a little) about so many things. We spoke of Goni the ex-president and how he was a bad president. I found our her uncle was the past owner of the Southern Bank.. (I think that’s what it’s called) and Aero Sur for a while until Goni shut his bank branch down. He wrote a book about it and she showed me the book, it was really interesting. We spoke about coca and the controversy and I told her the united states doesn’t understand the traditional or everyday practical usage of this plant only the bad of it. We spoke of hwo the solution is not in destroying the plants but rather controlling it on a domestic level in the US. Then we spoke about Evo Morales (the current president and first indigenous president) she likes him but Evo apparently hates Americans and her sister hates Evo haah. Her uncle and Evo are good friends! Alej has many connections! She lives very simple and we agreed that material means nothing. Then we spoke of the American dream and what exactly it means and how it’s a romantic view of looking at it because the US is corrupt. I told her that my family had not all agreed that I go to Bolivia but I insisted because I wanted to gain an intimate relationship with the country in order to completely understand the culture and the people. I also told her I picked this program and not one to a more “romantic” country because those countries are only portraying what tourists want.. I wanted to live like an everyday Bolivian, no special treatment. I want to get to know the culture, “la cultura realmente” (the real culture) of the Bolivian peoples..not of the tourist areas like Lake Titicaca or El Cristo (which I can see from my room clearly). I want to explore the real Bolivia and become as professor Goldstein says “a global citizen”.  It’s hard living in Bolivia and adjusting but I like the simplicity and chaos at the same time. We also talked of music and art work because we both like dali and what museums we should go to. It’s amazing that I as able to hold a deep conversation in Spanish only after my second day.. I love not having technology because it allows me to connect with Alej much more..we bond over conversation and deep and critical thinking not over laughing about a show or just dinner conversation. I am really already attached to Alej and I feel extremely comfortable with her. She is not traditional and since it’s just us I can leave my bedroom door open, walk in my pjs around the house, come out of the bathroom with a towel on..in other families that is unheard of… Even speaking of coca and international politics is touchy for many but Alej has such a open mind on these matters..

So anyway Alej invited me tomorrow at 10 am to go to her sisters house for a BBQ to meet her family because they keep asking about me haha and then I am heading off to La Cancha (huge market). I hope to buy a zip up sweat shirt.. and possible ugg boots. They aren’t really ugg but I think they are alpaca or llama or something..idk but my feet are really really cold at night and during the day. It gets down to 35 degrees at night and I didn’t pack my sweat pants…duh lauren..so I will probably buy some..i’m not dying it’s just a little chilly I have on 3 comforters though (they are a lot thinner in Bolivia than in the US) and in the morning its warmer. In the shade from 9-12 is comfortable in short sleves but from 3 on in the shade it’s cold like sweat shirt..it’s weird in the sun its hot hot but in the shade is really cold..its quite a change and at night its like winter.welll technically it is winter here but the weather is 70s. NO HUMIDITY! My eye are very dry but I’m not complaining! Well now its 2.36 AM and I need to be up at 7 and still write rosh and sean emails… ay dios!

if anyone wants to call or text me my number is 76438389

u have to find the international codes though

wow after tons and tons of hours on the plane we finally made it to bolivia yestersday..it´s very pretty and very different. My host mother is soo soo nice and I really enjoy her and her dog haha. we live in a cute little apartment. We went to the market place together last night and myabe today i will go with a friend… cold showers and minimal technology are a few differences but i am getting used to it. i will write more later on but internet time is limited because many houses have no internet. there is so much to say but i cant even begin. when we landed in la paz the altitude difference got me so i just dozed off but cochabamba is pretty much the same as the us in altitude. i have been taking taxis everywhere which is nice because they are onlly 7 bolivianos (1 dollar). I sat next to the nicest old man ever on the plane and he explained everything to me..the customs papers the landscape the mountains. it was a nice beginning to my trip. my brain is exploding because everything is spanish and i have to think so hard about tenses and grammar but my host mother says that i have very good spanish  (she is probably trying to make me feel better hahaha). <i need to learn the buses for cochabamba since they are so cheap and i need to limit my international calls..i went through a card already…ay dios!

well ill be back later adios

Soft Construction with Boiled Beans (Promotion of Civil War)

Dali is such an inspiration for me. Even though I am not an artist I appreciate the thought and surrealism involved with the creation and meaning of each of his works

Excitement, thrilled, nerve-racked, anxious, sweaty and paranoid..that’s about everything I’m feeling summed up into a few words.. Last minute packing details are being worked out currently.. I bought a few skirts last minute… so cute so cute haha! I am really at a loss of words today.. I slept 4 to 5 hours last night just because I could not really sleep..laying in bed tonight will be interesting! =/ sad to say goodbye to all my friends today and yesterday but I’m glad I fit almost everyone in. Well I’ve got to go finish packing and stuff like that…

next post will be from Bolivia!!!

Ah! I forgot here are the specifics as to what i will be doing in Bolivia!! (Copied from my professors journal!)

“This year for the first time, our students will be doing service work directly through a project run by the Fundación Pro Justicia, a non-governmental organization that I helped to found in 2007, and which has helped to run the summer program each of the past two years. Pro Justicia is now operating two human rights and access-to-justice centers in two Cochabamba neighborhoods. These centers are called the EJEs, or Espacios de Justicia Equitativa (Spaces of Equal Justice). The project, funded by the Inter-American Foundation, aims to teach barrio residents about human rights, provides counseling and legal services, offers training in non-violent conflict resolution, and helps to create new understanding and opportunities in the barrios.

The EJEs will be the site of our students’ community service and anthropological research this summer. Students will be assigned to one of the two barrio sites, and will work with groups of men, women and children to design activities, prepare materials, and help lead workshops and trainings. At the same, the students themselves will learn alongside barrio residents about the nature of human rights and HR defense. Some students may work to develop curricula for teaching about HR in schools; others will help the trainers work with kids to discover the importance of non-violence through, somewhat paradoxically, martial arts; others will work with women’s groups to help develop new income-generating opportunities.”- Daniel Goldstein from his online journal:

http://bolivia-ru.blogspot.com/

feel free to explore his journal as well!

so I am attempting to relax for the next 2 days..is that possible? NO since waking up with chest pains is not too relaxing! I am going shopping later with Erica to ease myself and seeing Sean a little later. It just feels so surreal… I don’t feel like I’m leaving or that I’ll be away for long but I’m sure once I get there my “Cocha-mama” (My mother from Cochabamba) will have to listen to me being home sick. I’m not one to really be homesick though..but 6 weeks is a long time..hmmm. I’m very excited to meet my family!!! I had a great time with my real family this weekend!! I’m so happy I got to see them for 2 days in a row before I left! It stinks I will miss my other sides reunion..that would have been nice to see my entire family.. but that’s ok!

Sorry this entry is short but I gotta go!!

Hello! It is coming down to the wire now! Only three days left… and i’m basically packed =] so that means i can relax…not haha. Relax is not a word in my vocabulary!!! My lack of sleep continues to day 3, hey sleep is for the weary!! God help my caffeine addiction ! I hope Bolivia has good coffee..or none so i cant drink any and get rid of this addiction. Yesterday I told my whole dad’s side of the family that I was going to Bolivia… since my Dad was so nice as to not tell them! I think he doesn’t want me to go haha neither does Sean though so I can’t be mad. I’m starting to get nervous and excited and stressed… Basically extremely on edge and emotional.. and my lack of sleep ay ay you definitely do not want to make me mad in the next 3 days because I’ll probably just cry.

But I am excited to get away from the States for a while and especially Verona! I forgot how much I LOVE being in a town where everyone is in my business (sarcasm). And the drama factor of my life is being cut out as soon as I leave thank god!! I’m just relieved to leave for so many reasons. AND I finally get to be with cultured people again! Verona’s population is about 90% white Roman Catholic conservative 50% are Italian (diversity is unheard of) and 100% of Verona is too worried about their selves to focus on anything other than the latest gossip of the town. YUCK!

=] on a much much lighter note my camera came in..it’s purple and so so cute! I will be posting 10000000 pics and on facebook =]