Un Dia Normal

  This past week has been a little rough.  I think I finally caught the "Welcome to Bolivia" bug which includes a fever, cold symptoms, nausea and vomiting (sorry for the images!) -- so I spent most of Thursday and Friday in bed.  But my host family was wonderful!  My host dad brought me lemon water with a little tea (no, not tea with lemon, it was essentially lemonade without sugar), and a viscous drink made from oranges and cinnamon.  It's supposed to make you feel better, but it was a super strange texture, so I struggled to get it down.  But it was the thought that counts, and I do feel much better! :)   But being sick in Bolivia isn't an excuse for anything.  We had plans as a family to go to La Cancha (the outdoor market -- think strip district on steroids Pittsburghers) as I need an alpaca sweater to wear in Potosi during our first excursion!  So, after lunch on Saturday my sisters and I ventured to La Cancha.  I always look like a tourist in Bolivia, being a tall red head who towers over everyone, but I also donned the money belt my host mom bought for me and a baseball cap... something I would NEVER do in the states!  But When in Rome Bolivia, right!?  And nothing was stolen, so I'd call it a win. Anyway, in La Cancha usually the Bolivians charge foreigners more, so if I liked something I'd ask how much it cost, relay it back to my host sisters who were trailing behind about 10 feet pretending to be in their own world and they would then ask the price and make the deal!  I didn't quite understand the process at first, but the second time around we were pros!  I ended up getting a blue chompa with llamas on it (chompa:  a sweater with a zipper up the middle, a hood and pockets), alpaca socks and a reversible white and grey alpaca hat!  I don't have photos now, but don't worry, I pretty much haven't taken my chompa off since we bought it!  It's very cozy and I know I'm going to be wearing it daily in Potosi!  I actually might go back tomorrow and get a regular sweater!  In total it only cost about $18 USD and they are all hand knitted!  I love how cheap Bolivia is!  (Or maybe I just miss my full wardrobe and want more clothes!!! - it's an addiction.)  Anyway, yes Bolivia is cheap, but I bought a Gatorade to rehydrate after being sick and it cost about $4 USD, while most drinks only cost $1 or less... so figure that one out!

   Anyway, even after going out and exploring I still wasn't feeling well thus instead of going out on Saturday night as we had planned my host sisters bought movies for us (Charlie, Wilson, my sisters, and myself) to watch.  And you'd think, movies, chill night, right?  WRONG.  First we watched Mundial Guerra Z (World War Z), then Cemeterio de los Elefantes, and finally Cemeterio General.  Cemeterio de los Elefantes is a great movie! It's a Bolivian film and takes place in La Paz, Bolivia.  (Where I landed and where I will be in a few weeks!)  It is the story of a man's life in Bolivia and what he's done, not done, etc. etc.  You just have to watch it! As for Cemeterio General... I'm not a fan of scary movies and this one was no different.  I spent most of the movie turned away from the TV while everyone was trying to scare me and get me to watch the most horrible parts... there was lots of unnecessary screaming and laughing and although I probably only watched 20 minutes of the entire movie, it was probably the best time I've ever had watching a scary movie!  After the movie there was talk about watching yet another movie, but instead we played charades:  chicos vs chicas!  (Las chicas ganaron!)  We played with movies and it was hilarious!  I learned a lot of new words and that I have not seen ANY movies!  Many US movies are dubbed over in Spanish and are very popular here... I only knew like 5 of the ones that are staples to the Bolivian movie shelf!  We played until 3:30am -- so much for a low key night!  When I finally crawled into bed I crashed the second my head hit the pillow!

Oh!!! And we have a new addition to our family!!!  Una perrita!  Her name is Minnie, like Minnie Mouse!  It's kind of funny because the other miniature pinscher is named Maximo, so it's like Mini and Maxi!  I tried to explain this to my host family and they just smiled and nodded.. oh well!  We took her to La Cancha with us.  Everyone wanted to pet her and she slept in our arms the whole time!  Que linda!

Minnie

Next weekend my sisters and I are going to go dancing with their friends!  Here's hoping I don't catch anything in Potosi or Sucre!

The winner of Charades,
Carly