Bolivia

So - I probably won´t have pictures for a few weeks, but I think I can do pictures when I go to lapaz. Word on the street is they have wifi.

SO - here´s what´s going on

1. I got my suitcase today. That means I have more than 1 and a half outfits...and I can start using a normal amount of deodorant, facewash and toothpaste.

2. The kids are back. Until Saturday

3. I´m buildng a rabbit hutch. Better than the ferro cement tank from two years ago, but still hard.

4. I love having my own room this time.

5. We´ve had GREAT food so far. We start bolivian food today.

6. I´ve had good coffee. Which is just unheard of in ixiamas. Becky being here sure helps things.

7. I´m having to do internet way more than I like.

8. WE HAVE A MONKEY! Named Chas. I love him.

9. We have kittens. I might bring one back.

10. I´ll try to post every once in a while.

Check back for i´m sure interesting stories about how I´m completely incompetent.....

Oh, in sad news, one of my favorite kids got kicked out of the internado. I´m going to go look for her in town to talk to her.

In happy news I found out Zoraida...my chicitita peligrosa...(dangerous little girl) still lives in town. Í´m going to stalk the elementary school to see her this week. We´ll see how that goes.

I´ll try to be a faithful for my 3 readers (thanks Rachel, SFL, Holli, A - MAYBE? and Cassie sometimes).

:)

SO EXCITED!!!

I love my new little blog background and header. I finally figured out how to do something semi cute. It doesn't compare to some...but I'm happy!

I'm on hour 10 of traveling and we are closing in on hour 11.

SO - I didn't check to see if the flight was on time - Result: losing 2 hours of sleep
SO - I didn't check my bags right - Result...hassle of having to recheck them
BUT - THEY LOST MY BAGS - It's ar eally long story but when I initially didn't check them right, the girl was like "OH, I can't change them now b'c they are already on the plane and labeled." THEN, when I realized they were lost the woman was like "Oh, well if you're gonig to Bolivia we'll just send them there" ME - "Yeah, but do you even know where they are?" HER - "I don't know for sure, probably on the next flight."

I tried to explain to her that I am leaving LaPaz as soon as I get there, so there is no hope of me getting them "later." I don't think she understands that Ixiamas is either a 26 hour bus ride OR a $75 flight + a 4 hour car trip.

NOT EASY!

Oh well.

My mom is in Italy and there bags were lost for awhile, but they have gotten there.

In other news I am done with my portfolio....Well, except for 1 piece of info I'm waiting on and one paper I can't do until I get back in July.

HOPEFULLY they will let me turn it in late.

P.S. there is this really adorable hispanic couple to my left right now, they are discussing their kids who are coming in. The woman has a million questions and the man keeps answering her with other questions. She just told him she was sick of it. They are funny.

Okay. Maybe I will upload some photos soon.

LOVE YOU ALL - Check back soon for updates on life in Bo-town!

STRESS...

I just booked my ticket to Bolivia.

It was the most stressful half hour of my life.

Most of the stress was COMPLETELY my fault.

#1. I waited a WAY LONG TIME to book my ticket - you see, despite what I was told I was CONVINCED that it wouldn't be more expensive. SYKE! (how do you even spell that?)

#2. I just COULDN'T decide when to come back. This is precisely why I waited so long to book in the first place.

I have had this theory that if I would just book a flight I would make everything else work around it...(obviously since the flights are so dadgum expensive).

I was back and forth between the 11th and the 20th. A group is coming in on the 11th and leaving on the 20th. I decided on the 11th. I'm really sad I won't be there with the group. I really enojoyed watching other people fall in love with Bolivia last time. If I think about it I will just get sadder. I want to be there with the group. But the flip of the coin is I HAVE A TON OF WORK TO DO when I get back.

I need to finish my portfolio for school, I have several PD days I need to attend, and I am going to want to spend time with my family and friends.

Now that I am typing it I feel like I should have stayed until the 20th. But - you know what?
If I get there and still decide I need to stay longer...I'll just change the flight. It'll just be a little more money.

What's money?

I think money is dumb and we should move to a barter society.

Ex: Bolivia - I'll come down and explore and love your country and write a book and convince all my friends to come visit if you will just let me come down for free. Deal? Deal!

That's how the world should work.

Anyways...Check back starting June 9th for Bolivia updates!!!!

BOLIVIA!!!!!!!!

The "official" Bolivia dates are now June 10th - July 11th OR 20th. Or maybe sometime in between if I decide I want to site see in LaPaz.

There are a million reasons I am excited:

1. I won't be a newbie this time.
2. I know people and will get to connect with old friends
3. There will be no other new people to distract from my experience (selfish much?
4. I get to go to a Bolivian wedding reception (I don't even know what this means but it sounds fun).
5. I get to just hug Nancy forever. Maybe we can talk more to each other.
6. Rachel and Mateo are married now...that's fun
7. Becky is SUPER COOL and I'm excited to spend more time getting to know her
8. I doubt Becky will ever suggest I not eat dinner because I'm a woman and "women" don't need to eat 3 meals a day...
9. Stephen will be gone all summer anyways...So I might as well peace out too.
10. INSANE amounts of time in a hammock with Jesus! :)

A million...Ten...That's about the same right. I could write more...about how I am excited to shop in town...or buy mandarine's on the way home...or walk to kids to school, or go fishing Zoraida style (even though she's not there :( ... Walk to the internet cafe...Walk to town...Have a meal with the Mennonites. Eat at the internado. Eat at the resteraunt. Eat at Pollo Loco (Please still be there). Eat an empanada...or 10. or 100. Buy crazy bolivian ice ceam off the street. Go to a crazy parade. March with a lantern.

Geeze Louise...I'm so excited!