week two in site

My site mate Garrett. Yes we live in the Andes. This is looking NE from where we live.










Picture of Sacaca from the northside looking south. Check out the plaza with all the trees, several cottonwoods. Makes it feel like autumn here.


Entering week two in Sacaca and I feel a bit inadequate. Daily I try and make friends and get involved with meetings or events, but it is a lot harder than I had initially imagined. People are friendly here, but to make friends is quite another story. For one thing, it is way colder in this part of the country then others, therefore, once the sun goes down everyone ‘normal’ is inside. During the weekdays, most people are working, and as far as I can tell the people I will eventually get to know and share time with will be those that work with the Alcaldia (mayor) and the Distrital (Superintendent). Poco a poco supongo. (Little by little I suppose)

My life here thus far has consisted of ample free time. During the week I try and make myself present wherever I can. Though the school system has a structure to it, which one would think might make it easier to get started; it takes time to build trust and confidence among the professors and directors. Therefore, and as I was told, the first three months are to get to know the community and to perform a diagnostic, as they say in PC terms. So poco a poco I make myself known in my community and hopefully, sooner than later, there will be projects that sprout up. Entonces, those times where I cannot present myself further I find myself reading, writing, sleeping and eating. I have been here only two weeks and already I have completed two books: “the Omnivore’s Dilemma” and “The Unbearable Lightness of Being”, and tonight I am about to start my third: “The Kite Runner”.

This weekend I got sick for the first time since being in Bolivia. Not really sure what caused the stomach pains, unfortunate lack of hunger, and nasty bowel movements, but I can assure you it was a rough 72 hours spent mostly sleeping. Fortunately it was the weekend. Sunday I awoke quite ready to take the day on. I was still hesitant to throw anything down my throat but managed to swallow some cayote soup (which is like a squash), that I made the other night prior to getting sick. Afterwards I was determined to go for a hike with my site mate. We walked nearly 3 miles, to the neighboring town through the most beautiful terrain imaginable. I really think we have the most beautiful site in Bolivia, give or take a few. The walk rejuvenated me and when I returned home I was able to eat! What a successful day.

Today is looking to be a great Monday! I have presented myself to two different educational communities and have a meeting this afternoon with several professors, in hopes to start coordinating future projects. Manana I am off to two outside communities, parte del municipio de Sacaca, with one of the NGO´s in town.