 |
| Some gifts from Mike's family, assembled... in January. |
- First, IE had a staff Christmas dinner which was delicious and fun.
- Then, Mike and I celebrated Christmas over a weekend in December because we would be traveling to the states separately and returning (hopefully) in time to celebrate the New Year together in La Paz. On "Christmas Eve", we made dinner together (red wine-soaked steaks with new potatoes and other vegetables) and put our presents under our fig tree for the morning. In the morning, we opened the gifts and went to see the latest (and last) installation of The Hobbit. I was entirely too excited about it. That evening we danced and watched a movie. It was really nice.
- Finally, I had actual Christmas with my immediate family, cousins, friends, and my brother's new fiancee!
- After it all, Mike and I had a second Christmas in January, when some packages from Mike's family made it through to the Gravity office, so we got to celebrate with foods and gifts and a tiny pine tree. Truly, there were packages from October to December in that "kit".
Not to mention, Max decided that he would propose to his then-girlfriend on the Tuesday before Christmas (she wanted to do a dress-up dinner, so he thought it would work well--and it did!). I was so excited that I told ALL of my students at IE before I left and even mentioned it to a couple on one of the plane-rides to the US. THRILLED. So, we got to add in Max and his FIANCEE to the mix; it was a joyful setting indeed.
While I was only home for five days, it was entirely worth it. Other travellers warned me both ways-- that it could feel way too short of a time to spend with them and I would miss them more when I left, and that any longer than ten days would feel too long. True, I didn't get to see everyone I wanted to see or do everything I wanted to do (I haven't been lap-swimming since before I originally left for Bolivia and I'm still trying to fill that exercise hole!), but five days was enough for me to get a positive, non-restless taste of everyone and still miss them. I am definitely excited to see them in June!
~~~
The week after Christmas, I was back to work at IE, but with the New Year holiday approaching, it was a short work week for me. I was quite thankful for this, as returning to the altitude in La Paz had no ill-effect other than fatigue. It was incredibly difficult for me to get up in the morning, even if I slept for 10 - 12 hours (this is normally UNHEARD of for me). Nonetheless, I managed.
As the next holiday approached, Mike wasn't sure if he would return by New Year's Eve due to a complication, but everything ended up working out in spite of it all! He arrived on New Year's Eve morning and for that day and the next few, we were stranded on a wifi-less island with all or most of our friends out-of-town for the holidays. That night was pretty low-key: we shopped for food and "lucky" underwear for the New Year (it was being sold EVERYWHERE-- a red and gold Bolivian tradition), we played chess to pop and jazz music, ate 12 grapes in 12 seconds (and cheated the whole time) at midnight, admired the sound of thousands of illegal fireworks showering the new sky like rain, and build a blanket fort, in which we slept for the night.
Over the next few days, we cooked, deep-cleaned the apartment, played chess, went shopping (for the apartment), and watched movies during this time. We just tried to enjoy each other's company before we both returned to work.
~~~
January was filled with a lot of work. English classes at the institute are in demand, as everyone seems to have some deadline or new resolution, and it's fantastic, but incredibly busy. Still over the weekends, I've found time to escape it all with some people.
 |
| Groups practicing for Carnival in the rain. |
For example, on a rainy Saturday in mid-January, I met up with a friend, Ramiro, to go watch the dancing groups practice their routines for Carnival (in mid-Febuary). It was awesome! Every dance has a story behind it because the movements and sequences are all based on one folkloric legend or another. I think my favourite dance is the Tinku dance, which is actually supposed to be a fighting dance, but the version I saw wasn't violent and looked quite fun! They used all three levels of dance-space and there were a lot of arm swinging and alternation--really elaborate.
I was also invited to "help out" a friend's friend with her documentary. She needed to attend a gringo party to show the different types of things she's done while in Bolivia. Basically, I got to go hang out with friends while Sisa filmed her documentary. It was a relaxed evening and I love Ashley and Bill's apartment because of the fireplace! (It's more than difficult to light a fire when there's such little oxygen.)
 |
| Sisa and her camera crew. |
 |
| A Scottish flag was gifted by Ashley (Scottish) to Tomas (Chilean) during the festivities. |
~~~
On another Saturday, Mike and I hiked La Muella Del Diablo a second time with one of my friends and cohorts, Lizzie and her husband, Lew. Here are a couple of photos from that trip:
~~~
Last weekend, Mike and I went to see the Cascadas (waterfalls) in Coroico (we ended up seeing them on the second day). The first night we were there, we stayed in Carlos' (a biking friend of Mike) house, much of which he decorated himself. The lush vegetation surrounding the house was almost beyond imagination. While there, we hiked and visited with two German friends whom we had gotten to know in La Paz. It was a nice break from the city.
 |
| This is a banana plant; a hummingbird is on the bottom, right side of the flower that is dangling from the bananas. |
 |
| Mike, protector of the Bolivian amazon. (Unfortunately, not of the mosquitos!) |
The second night in Coroico, we stayed in a hostel called "Sol y Luna". They must have prided themselves on their gardening and water-piping systems, as the flowers were vibrant and abundant, the views from the rooms were breath-taking, and the in-ground pools (2) and hot tub (1) were luxuries that Mike and I weren't used to in chilly La Paz.
 |
| An example of natural piping. (My dad would be pleased, I'm sure.) |
 |
| A nearby view, on the way to the waterfalls. |
 |
| We almost walked into a thunder and lightening storm, but turned around in time! |
 |
| Some of the plants at the hostel had faces. ^-^ |
 |
| More plants! |
~~~
Most recently, a friend of mine, Lorea, is leaving La Paz, so we've been spending a lot of time with her lately. She's moving from her internship with the German Embassy in La Paz to Quito, Equador to do more internship work. I'll certainly miss her!
These pictures are from a dinner Mike and I had this past week. After a few snafus, we finally got a chance to eat the prized, roasted chickens around 11pm. It was still a really nice time! Everyone was enjoying each other's company.
Though rapid, it's been a memorable past couple of months. I'm excited to see what Carnival, other side-trips, and my experience on the Death Road (I haven't been on it yet.) will entail. June can wait a bit longer, but I have a feeling it's not going to!
