NOVEDADES!!! NEWS!

Good News! After 8 months of lack of work, things are popping up all over the place. Last Wednesday, on my way to Santa Cruz someone from the Alcaldia met me at the train station. My recycling project was finally approved. The guy stuffed 2,000 Boliviano's in 100 b notes into my duffel bag, and I was off to purchase the long awaited bags. The bags that I bought are large, durable bags that are necessary for the storage and transportation of the plastic bottles, bags and other items that we will be collecting. Each school and barrio (neighborhood) will receive their own bag and once they have collected enough we will send the plastics to Santa Cruz, where a recycling company will pay us for the materials. We have worked out an agreement with the train for free transportation for the project. So basically, the only real need we had was these bags, and after 8 months we finally have them! Yayyyyyyyy! The purchase was interesting; I once again had the name and shaky directions to what seemed to be an underground company. When a pirate-y man with one leg answered the door I was very happy that our helpful Peace Corps driver Hermel had accompanied me on the mission. I was pleased to find that the pirate was only the doorman, and let us in to a nice office, where we had a meeting with the friendly owner. The owner seemed to like me and the project so much he gave me 600 bs off the original price! I am hoping to be able to use this money for another project. A half an hour and less the wad of cash later we drove away with the Land rover full of my bags. Finally! This week I start distributing the bags to interested people and educating about the project. Also I am starting to teach the Segundo Medicos- Sophomore English classes at the Marista School. I will be the English teacher for the Second Semester, which starts this Monday and continues until before Christmas… Profe Ani!

B45 gets smaller.

So we heard it since we got here, statistically every group loses about 5 people. Since day one I thought B45 was different- I thought we would all make it. We just hit number 5. Every person that leaves is greatly missed, and leaves a void in our group that cannot be filled.
In training we lost Meera, not too long after we started… then after Christmas Hannah, then Gilbert and Barbara, and now this past week Brandon….. B45 misses you all! Below I have posted the Swear- In Speech written and delivered by our friend Brandon. It was something I meant to post when we swore in… but here it is now. It really shows how much our fellow group members and other volunteers mean to us. It is interesting to read now, and think of how much we have changed and learned during the past year.

I am a donut.

I am a jelly donut.

This is what John F. Kennedy, the founder of Peace Corps, said to the German people when he visited them in June of 1963. Ich bin ein Berliner. Later linguists and historians de-bunked the rumor as simply myth. But the fact remains that what he said could be misinterpreted as something silly, outlandish, and downright ridiculous.

Yo quiero TWO sin chorizo.

I actually said that to a waitress in a restaurant in Quillacollo. Her reaction was of course one of surprise and disgust. She gave me one of those looks that said, “ummm…what?” or in Spanish, “ayyyy…Que?” She followed that up with a quick about face and a flip of the hair that reassured me that I had committed some sort of massive, egregious error. When I turned to my friends who were accompanying me during this particular meal of food I saw that they were all laughing. Good, strong, gut laughing. They informed me of my mistake and I joined in the laugh fest as well. Of course, what I meant to say was:

Yo Quiero DOS sin chorizo.

I had transposed the words for the number two and changed completely the meaning of what I was trying to say. I wanted two orders of papas fritas without sausage, but what I actually said was, “I want YOU without sausage.”

I want YOU without sausage. That had to have been the weirdest pick-up line that poor waitress had ever heard.

How crystal clear these examples are of communication breakdowns. Big, bold communication errors harmlessly and accidentally made that completely change the meaning of a particular phrase or message.

I rest assured, however, that I am not the first nor will I be the last volunteer in Bolivia or Peace Corps Worldwide for that matter to make such an error. It’s hard enough to maintain open channels of communication and understand each other in English let alone try to communicate with someone of a completely different cultural upbringing and background.

We’re going to encounter all kinds of communication errors and faux pas during our travels, our work, and in our lives in general over the next two years. Even you advanced language peeps sometimes forget how to correctly conjugate the past participle pluperfect future preterite of haber or the Spanish word for “sheep.”

It’s obeja, by the way. And there’s no conjugation for the past participle pluperfect future preterite of haber. That was a trick question.

But we’re trying. And this is our charge. This is our task. Communicate. Listen. Learn. Change people’s fundamental ideas and ways of doing things that they may have potentially been doing for centuries upon centuries before.

US!!

Who are we? What gives us the right or the authority? Nobody except the people of Bolivia can grant us the authority to enter their sovereign land and live her for two years. And they’ve done so more or less.

But there’s a cost for us- an obvious one that we’re all aware of. A sacrifice we have knowingly accepted. But, as with all things there’s an upside to this too. Being here definitely makes me appreciate the things that we have in the United States that I usually take for granted. I think of the U.S. as my little brother when I’m here. No one but me can talk smack about him. But being here also makes me yearn for the simpler way of doing things. The things and places and people I’ve seen already in just my first three months have amazed me beyond words. I’m constantly questioning our presence here. These people seem more at peace than 90% of the people in the United States. Things sometimes don’t really seem that depressed or tragic. There’s not an overabundance of cellphones and Escalades. Not an oversaturation of beer ads with five girls and one guy all of whom spend nearly ever waking hour in a gym, not actually drinking the product their advertising. There’s not a lot of advertising here in general. Television isn’t omnipresent with a message of buy, buy, buy. The people in the campo, I think, have more to teach us about living than we have to teach them.

But there are things we can teach them. There are simple things that we can show them that will improve their quality of life and the quality of life for their children and their children’s children. I’m not asking them to dress like me or listen to the music I listen to. I don’t want to Americanize them. I don’t want to corrupt them. I just want to tweak them. I just want to help. I think we all just want to help.

The stark differences between the people in the campo and the people in the cities is a harsh reality, but one that fascinates me. I love being a spectator here in this country. And that’s exactly what we’ve been for the first three months of our service. Spectators. We’ve been molly coddled and led by the hand; introduced to the necessary contacts and shown which buses and trufis to take.

But now we’re about to take on a completely different role. A role of action. A role of change. A metamorphosis. We’re about to emerge from our cocoon like shells. We’re no longer slothy, gluttonous caterpillars. We’re now attack butterflies. Lean, mean butterflies with fangs dripping with developmental venom. Butterflies with unlimited knowledge ammunition. And most importantly we’re butterflies that are strapped to the hilt with patience and understanding.

I couldn’t think of 27 more capable people to take this challenge head-on. Sometimes, in fact, I feel completely overwhelmed and intimidated by the experience and talent gathered here in this room. We’ve got doctors and engineers. Teachers and laborers and E.M.T.’s. We’ve got people that have never flunked a test until they met Javier. We’ve got people born in other countries, people who have seen the benefits that brave immigrant parents have received and want to give back to the world. We’ve got people that have lived abroad for large portions of their life. We’ve got brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers and everything between. We’ve got Amber. We’ve been trained and have had the privilege to work shoulder to shoulder with people that have dedicated their entire lives to development work. We’ve got people that have memorized entire sections of movies, a guy that can sing melodies acapella that make angels swoon and puts Michael Bubble to shame. I know, it’s Buble. We’ve got a man that when he had only 7 years to his name wondered what it would have been like to live in Communist Russia. We’ve got two Sarahs, two Annas and Hannah. An Erin, an Aaron and a dude that’s technically only 6 years old. Tristan looks great in a speedo. We’ve got west coast peeps that are all, “And he was all, and she was all.” We’ve got meteorological experts, yoga specialists, hug specialists, Queen Amidallah impersonators, graduates of The Ohio State University and a Nubian princess whose smile can shift my inner mountains and alter my current outlook from rainy, damp and dreary, to bright, revamped and seriously cheery. What an inspiration! What a revelation! What?

And then there’s little old me. Lodged in between all of these giant personalities- pillars of strength and fortitude, overwhelmed and humbled. I couldn’t be happier. I couldn’t be more content. I couldn’t be more elated to count myself as your friend and work partner.

Sometimes, a metaphorical anvil of realization drops on my head and I’m awash with warm fuzzies and soft suds of sentiment that feels like my whole body is a giant mouth chewing spearmint.

It’s fresh and crisp and I know this is my place deep in my capillaries. I see it every time I look at you. I see it reflected in your faces. I see it when you laugh. I feel it. I hear it. You are the most intelligent, inspirational, insanely weird in a good way people I have encountered in my life…ever. I know you intimately after only 90 days, but I want to know more. I want to be around all of you all the time. Your combined charisma and extrovertedness make Barak Obama look like Howard Hughes in his later years.

What a privilege we have here, guys. We get to hear ancient languages and dialects and interact with direct descendants of the Incan empire. We get to change people’s lives. That’s your job, no mas. And in the process we’re going to learn so much about ourselves and the world. All you have to do is understand that right now we’re like empty hard drives waiting to be filled with data and information. Be open. Listen. Watch. Observe. Be a “Quiet American.” Don’t be like Graham Greene’s quiet American though.

Maintain your composure. Find ways to always have a smile on your face. Go to your happy place. In the past my method was to completely close off everything to everyone literally and figuratively. I close my eyes. I would close my mouth and breathe through my nose. I put my iPod buds in my ears and go away for a moment. But then I come back refreshed and rejuvenated.

Now I don’t even need that. I’ve got a variety of options at my disposal to flip the switch on the sitch that I can’t pull my mind out of. I can simply have a conversation with one of you guys or recite a line from a Chris Farley movie and I’m right back in touch. Any one of you can flip my mood 180 degrees. I’ve never been in an environment like this before. It’s like I’m riding a constant crowd surfing wave, fully confident that I’m not going to be dropped. It’s like floating on a cloud made of hands. I’ve lost weight because I’m laughing so hard all the time. My abs are constantly sore. It’s a good sore though.

And I am going to miss that so much. So much. I’ll miss all of your bright shiny faces and individual, unique laughters. I’ll miss your thoughts and opinions. I’ll miss your minds and intellects. But I’ve got each and everyone of you stored away in my mind so that I can access you at anytime and relive moments that we’ve shared. For now, we have to depart. We have to shed the Stars and Stripes and don the Rojo, Amarillo, y Verde. We have to say goodbye to each other, to our new family, and say hello to a community that needs us.

We have to fan out across this vast nation like individual robotic lions. We can’t be Voltron right now. But if Voltron is ever needed you know that you can make the call and the team will assemble without hesitation, without question, without thought. We’ll unite with fangs of truth bared, swords of justice ready, and souls centered and steady. I’m here for you. I know you all are there for me and for each other. And that’s a beautiful thing.

Let’s put a smile on the statue of liberty’s face. She’s been frowning for far too long.

Stay classy B-45.

Let’s do this.

DUM DE DUM DUMMMM... back to BOLIVIA

I arrived back in Bolivia and felt the culture shock run through my body. I couldn’t stay in Santa Cruz, and left immediately for San José. It was dreary weather and I was super homesick… it was definitely a hard transition back- I kept thinking, if I just went home… where am I now. It felt so weird that I knew so many people here and that I had spent so much time here. Thank goodness for Brooklyn and my friends from Argentina- Santiago and Clara, the three of them really pulled my out of the slump and back into reality. Reality is that being here is hard, super hard, but good for me. I am learning things, and helping people. I have passed the one-year point, so it is really starting to be more like a countdown than counting the months… I need to use this time wisely and take advantage of it in many ways. Okay… one day at a time.

A couple of things that help pass the hard days... funny dances, kids, my friends clara and santiago, cooking/hanging with my sitemate jenny!

HOME SWEET HOME

Thank goodness that soon after my parents left Bolivia, I too was headed off on my first real vacation in a year. After saving up my 2 days a month, I was on my way to the United States of America. After being away from the states for a year, I was ooooh so exited to get back. I had tears in my eyes landing in New York. I spent 2 wonderful weeks enjoying the luxuries that I used to consider daily life. The beauty of the cities, the suburbs, the woods and the beach amazed me. Instead of being impressed by the gringos that the people here imagine filling up the USA, I was overwhelmed by the diversity, people of all races, ethnicities and backgrounds… what beauty. I truly saw our (first) world through new eyes and appreciated everything in a new way. The best part was simply spending time with the people I love and miss most, my family, boyfriend and friends… time flew by and I didn’t get to see half the people I wanted to- but that just means that it will be all the most exciting when I come home again. One of the reasons I went home was to see Connor (my bro) graduate from NYU. It was a great event, and moreover spending time with my family was unbeatable. We celebrated throughout the first week- lunch at Roberto’s (my favorite restaurant in the Bronx), again at Aunt Laney’s house, and later in the city as well. It was perfect timing because I got to see- Granny, Grandpa, Aunt Laney,Uncle Jimmy, Read,Connor, Lindsay and my parents! Aside from seeing my family I got to spend a lot of time with Chris and his family in Long Island. It was wonderful to see them, as always and it was so nice of them to let me move in for the vacation. Coming back to New York felt like coming home. I was so incredibly happy to be with Chris, close to my family and friends. The life is good in the United States, and I think that I have taken it for granted up until now. I am so thankful for this experience in the Peace Corps, because my eyes are now forever opened to see life in a new way. I cannot explain how much I appreciated everything and how wonderful it was to spend time with those I love most. Needless to say it was very hard to leave again. Saying goodbye to Chris in the airport I was having flashbacks of leaving a year ago… which sometimes feels like forever ago, and other times like yesterday.

Does it look like I miss these people a little??????????

Mis Padres!!!

It was great to have my parents in country with me for 2 weeks… We had some great adventures and saw so many amazing things. I am so happy that they came and now they both know more about Bolivia and my Peace Corps life here.

We spent the first weekend catching up and exploring Santa Cruz City. They got to experience the strange mix of intense poverty and little patches of glittering new money establishments around the city. The days were random, moving from gritty, dirty markets where people tried to sell us dogs out of bags, areas full of fruit, then bread, then meat, then chicken legs, pigs feet… to later the same day we found ourselves enjoying a fancy café with all of the traditional “camba” accompaniments- canapés, sonsos, pan de arroz (basically all different forms of yucca- cheese bread.

After the city we headed out on “the death train”. 7 bumpy hours later we arrived. I was happy that we all survived the trip. We were greeted by the kids selling tea, meat on a stick and empanadas- a foreign sight for them, but a familiar one for me. Having my parents in San José was great because they got to see how many people I know and we got to really enjoy the natural beauty outside the city. It was also on little hard for me to have them in San José because it was a struggle for myself to be there because of my frustrations and bitterness. Getting back to San José I once again felt the negative feeling of wanting to work but not being supported or used as a resource by the community. These negative feelings were really weighing down on me, and I hope that they did not carry out too much on our trip.

The moment we left to do a “Jesuit Mission Circuit” trip I felt more relaxed and was really able to enjoy my parents company. I really realized how lucky I was to have with them. We hit the road with our driver, to conocer (get to know) the pueblos of San Miguel, San Rafael, San Ignacio, Concepcion and Santa Ana. San Miguel and San Rafael were quaint towns with unique mission churches. I found them to be cute compared to San José, and cleaner as well. The stop in Conce was great because we saw a lot of Peace Corps friends and got to stay in a little condo on a lake. San Ignacio was the best of all, we stayed in a fancy hotel, and really enjoyed walking around the clean streets. Our trip along the “mission Circuit” coincided with “The Baroque Music Festival”, an international festival that occurs every 2 years, bringing musicians from around the globe. We were lucky enough to see quite a few amazing concerts both of local and international artists. When Spain conquered parts of the Chiqitania they brought with them their music traditions, for this reason there is a great history of Baroque and chamber music in this area. Driving around the Chiquitania in our big white pickup was an experience I will never forget.

At the end of the trip we had a little more time in San José. We got to visit some of the local schools that I work with. One great day was doing a hand-washing project with a kindergarten class. The kids were so excited to meet my parents and sang us each a song- saying nice to meet you! I did the hand washing presentation, and then the kids practiced using a “Tippy Top” we had given to them. Afterwards they had to have their hands checked by Mama and Papa to make sure they were clean enough- too cute! Another great thing about our time in San José was that we all had bikes- and did some great bike rides. I had found 2 pretty nice but out of use bikes in a storage room in my house, I got them fixed up by my favorite bike guy- who also became Papa’s friend! One day Papa and I rode to the top of The Mirador- our mesa/mountain. This was something that I had always wanted to do, but didn’t think I could. We broke physical and mental barriers that day.

One of the best things about having my parents here was seeing how much the people that I know in San José and even in other places we visited went out of the their way to make their trip special. People were really honored that they had come all the way to visit their country. I was so proud and happy to have my parents meet my Bolivian friends.

Frusterations

I have to apologize for the lack of postings lately… I have been a bit distracted. After Semana Santa I hit sort of a slump. I had begin to realize that the excited talking that people, especially in the government office had been doing for the past 8 months was just that, talk. I began to feel useless, unwanted and unappreciated. Not what you expect of a Peace Corps volunteer right? It definitely wasn’t in the vision that I had in my head for my service, I expected to be embraced into the community and my ideas and projects accepted with thanks. Day by day I was growing more and more frustrated. I continued to go to the Alcaldia to find that usually 90% of the people that I needed to talk to were not there. I began to notice more things that I would classify as corruption. I noticed that I was becoming very bitter. The worst was when my boss came for his 2nd visit (of 3 total visits) I found that my work partners had left without canceling our confirmed meeting. I broke down in tears and told everyone that I was ready to move to a community that wanted a volunteer and wanted to work. I was fed up… Thankfully my boss is a very supportive figure and was able to help me see the good things that I have going in San José.

A couple good things: I along with others have started an Environmental Committee, a group of interested people from different areas of the pueblo. We meet about every week and talk about environmental concerns, especially in relation to trash problems in San José. This is a group of motivated, educated people willing to work together to do something good for the pueblo. I have connections all over the pueblo. If I have accomplished nothing else in the last 10 months in San José I have established relationships in all sectors, barrios and of people of all ages. These 2 things mean that I have opportunities… Thankfully in the midst of my frustration, my parents came for a much needed visit.