Now I remember why I wanted to take Spanish in College...

I'm in Bolivia. Finally. My flight from Miami was delayed and I missed my connection from La Paz to Cochabamba. I bused it instead, which was actually a pleasant seven hour trip. For those that don't know, La Paz is the highest capital in the world, somewhere around 14,000 feet I think. The city is amazing. It's built in a bowl shape. Most of the buildings are made of stone and seem to grow out of mountainside as part of the mountain. I would not have seen so much of the city had I made my connecting flight.

As for Cochabamba, it's the most modern place I've been to since China. I said a silent prayer when I noticed that sewage was below ground (not everywhere of course, but at least in the major cities). There are plenty of fast internet connections, multicultural restaurants and easy public transportation. I only have one problem: I don't speak a lick of spanish and you'd be hard pressed to find an english speaker. This makes work quite a challenge. I fortunately found an intern that speaks english so I usually follow her around most of the day. While I'm sure I would have plenty of hands on experience if I spoke the language, the barrier is more inhibitory than I would like. Fortunately I'm taking spanish lessons and picking up the language rather quickly. While I can't speak much, I can understand quite a bit. Surprisingly so. Aside from the language barrier, Bolivia is a lovely and colorful place. Apparently it is 80% indigenous. So you see many women with the colorful panchos, poofed out skirts and bowler hats, or a wide brimmed straw hat. I live just a block down from the soccer stadium which makes for some loud and enjoyable evenings. Another source of excitement are the ¨cleferos ¨ or glue sniffers. These are apparently glue sniffing teenagers that group mug people. I haven't run into them yet, but partially hope that I do. Things like that make great stories!

A month to volunteer in a country is far too short. I feel so strapped for time and I've only been here a week. I was feeling a little morose when I left because for once in a very long time, I wanted to be home; to be around friends and family and comforting things I know. When I left I thought of the poem by Davy Crockett

Farewell to the mountains, whose mazes to me
Are more beautiful far than Eden could be.
The home I redeemed from the savage and wild.
The home I have loved as a father his child.
The wife of my bosom, Farewell to ye all.
In the land of the stranger, I rise or I fall.

It's a strangely wonderful feeling to miss home this much and to know that I'll find contentment there, which isn't something I could have said a year ago. Fortunately, Bolivia has ample amounts of charm to keep me satisfied and excited and my time is so restrained that I won't have the opportunity to get homesick. Heh, ironic that now, finally, in my last month of travels, I finally miss home. Farewell all. Take care and I'll be seeing you all soon.