This letter marks my 7 months in Bolivia.
I realized after sending my last letter that I forgot to elaborate about the University I am attending. I am taking one class in the morning, and it starts at 8am and goes until 11:15am (3 hours of class every day). There is one short 15-minute break around 9:30.
Above left: My University "Domingo Savio." Above right: Cafeteria "El Encuentro at the University.
The classes in this university are rather large: around 60-70 students. At 80 students they break the class into two groups.
The University itself is essentially one big 5-story building with classrooms and labs. A picture of the University is above. Right outside there is a little courtyard area and a cafeteria building which sells soda, juice, salteñas, sandwiches, and the like. A picture of the cafeteria, called "El Encuentro" is also above. Below are two photos: one of some university boys eating salteñas, and one of me eating a salteña.
Above left: Boys eating salteñas. Above right: Me eating a salteña.
This University is particularly focused on assigning group exposiciónes, or presentations. Each group of about 5 people is assigned an overlying theme, and each individual in that group has a specific topic from the theme to present.
My current class is Cultura Boliviana (Bolivian Culture). The last topic I presented was the Jesuit missions in Bolivia. I think I actually presented quite well because I received several compliments. And then, when we had our first test for this class (on Monday), one of the 10 questions was pulled directly from the information I presented.
The University also takes several trips around Bolivia in order to enhance learning. In my last (and first) class of Realidad Nacional e Internacional, we traveled to Yvaga Guazu for one morning. Yvaga Guazu is an ecological park that features everything from orchids to rubber trees to bonsai trees and bamboo. There are also several animals including toucans, a collared peccary, and monkeys.
With my current class there are plans for an upcoming trip to Amboro Park, which, essentially, is jungle.
Above: In front of a rubber tree at Yvaga Guazu.
Another fun short trip that I took this month was to the Río Piraí (Piraí River). It is just on the outskirts of Santa Cruz and is a nice little place to visit with friends on a Saturday afternoon. It is fairly shallow and very sandy, so swimming more than wading is a tad difficult, but nonetheless fun.
The University also had a recent seminar on communication and one of the speakers I went to see is former President Carlos D. Mesa Gisbert.
Above: Former Bolivian President Carlos D. Mesa Gisbert.
On Saturday March 7th, Santa Cruz had a day “Contra el Dengue.” Basically a government enforced “Spring Cleaning,” where vehicles were prohibited and all citizens were expected to stay home from 7am until 7pm and clean their houses. The idea was to eliminate mosquito homes and decrease the presence of Dengue.
Sundays are still quinta days with the family. Recently, on one particularly silly Sunday, my little cousins asked me if I speak English. Of course, I had to say “no”… they are in English-speaking schools, and since my interest is in learning Spanish, I don’t really want to give them reason to speak English with me. Of course, this got them very confused because they had I thought I was from the United States (or was it Canada?)
They had almost become settled on the idea that I am a Mexican, when my aunt stepped in and explained the whole situation.
For those of you who didn’t know, I am an albino Jamaican. I speak Jamaicanese, which, though it sounds similar to English, is very different. Bob Marley is my uncle.
Wow! What self-realizations I have made here!
Above: At my host dad's birthday party.
A few days ago we celebrated my host dad’s birthday. They had a dinner at midnight the night before (just as it turned into the day of his birthday), and then another dinner on his actual birthday. I gave him a photo album as a gift with a few photos from throughout the year. Above is a photo from his birthday of my host parents, all their friends, and me.
Father’s Day was the 19th. We had another nice dinner in celebration as well as a lunch. I met my host grandfather for the first time (on my dad’s side). He told me I am gorgeous, skinny, and have beautiful eyes. He made me come sit by him and talk. He then told me to stop eating yucca or I would get fat.
Above: Ants!
On the 19th (yesterday) I also found a wall full of ants in my bedroom. Our house constantly has problems with ant infestations, I think perhaps because of the location. I took a picture (above) to share. It really freaked me out!
Above: Rain in Santa Cruz.
Summer has been ending in Bolivia, and the rain and colder weather is moving in. When it rains in Bolivia, it really really rains. Above are two rainy day photos. There is essentially no drainage system and the city is quite flat. Thus, the whole place fills up like a lake, especially in the streets.
Below is a photo of Kinder Hello Kitty, which is a kindergarten in the north of city that is just really really cute.
Above: Kinder Hello Kitty.
That's all for now! I will be back in Arkansas in less than 3 months (11th of June)!
All the best!
Maija
