Moving right along, I find myself completing over 6 months in Bolivia. 6 months! That’s half a year. Wow.
According to my host mom, my experience in Bolivia is now complete. That’s right: I had Dengue.
Dengue fever is an acute febril disease transmitted through mosquitoes. For a full 7 days, I experienced fever, headache, nausea, muscle aches, lethargy, and loss of appetite. Rolling over in bed left me breathing like I’d just run a marathon.
Dengue originates from Africa, but in the past several years it has appeared in much of South America. This year there is a particularly large outbreak in the Santa Cruz area where I am. Ironically, about 2 days into the illness, I received an email from the U.S. consulate in Bolivia warning all U.S. citizens to beware of Dengue.
At the beginning of February, right before Dengue set in, I went and signed myself up for classes in the local, private university of Domingo Savio. This university does monthly classes. So, every month I will take a different class.
For February, I entered into a class called “Realidad Nacional e Internacional” or “National and International Reality.” It is a mixed history/economy/general knowledge class with a special focus on Bolivia. Topics discussed range from national debt to drug consumption to poverty.
The content of the class is absolutely excellent for me because it covers all kinds of interesting information that won’t be taught in many (if any) U.S. colleges, and it all pertains to Bolivia.
Above: My first University Exam- in Spanish! (I think if you click it you can see it bigger and maybe try to read it.)
I took my first exam this past Monday. Since a 50% is considered a “passing” grade (though perhaps not a particularly “good” grade), it was my goal to make just that. I am proud to say, though, that I managed to do even better: a 64%. A photo of my test is attached… I’m pretty proud of it! Also, you can see the smiley face I drew on the question I did not know the answer to… sometimes the best answer is no answer at all—just a big Rotary smile!
Carnaval just recently ended. Carnaval is essentially the celebration of Mardi Gras, only in South America it is huge. In Santa Cruz, Carnaval lasts 4 days. The first day there is a corso (parade) of bands, dancers, beautiful costumes, and floats featuring Carnaval Kings and Queens. The following three days are outright mayhem—the center of the city is closed off to cars and people play in the streets with water balloons, water guns, spray foam, and bottles of ink in all different colors. Music is heard on every street corner, and people dance everywhere. Everyone celebrates—from the 5-year-old kids to the 80-year-old women; everyone in the center of the city is subject to water, ink, and foam.
Above: Before and After Carnaval photos. I'm wearing my Sarazos comparsa casaca.
I joined a comparsa. A comparsa is a group of people who get together to celebrate—complete with a private barbeque, band, and an area for dancing. My comparsa was called “Sarazos” and was themed with the colors blue and yellow. Comparsas also give out “casacas,” or shirts that are meant to be ruined during Carnaval.
Because Carnaval uses so much ink, I had to take special care of my hair so it wouldn’t end up permanently colorful. I had it braided in small little braids all over my head—a process which took all of 3 hours.
Above: Getting my hair braided for Carnaval.
Then, every day before leaving the house out I rubbed baby oil all over it (and, in fact, all over my whole body). After that I put a handkerchief over my head. All in all, it worked pretty well; only a few small pink streaks are still visible in my hair.
My host dad bought me the biggest water gun he could find for the celebration-- it seems he is really into "getting" other people.
Above: Me and my host dad (spreading black grease all over my face—the first of my Carnaval colors!)
One of Bolivia's more traditional fruits, the achachairú, is just starting to be exported in a "canned peaches" type of way. I'm not sure when or if it will make it to the US, but if you happen to see it in the store, you really ought to try it! I'm not sure about the canned version yet, as I have yet to try it, but I know that the fruit itself is quite delicious!
All the best!
Maija
