I've been thinking some today about the blog and about how even I was bored with the past post. I don't blog for myself; I blog for others, which is exactly the way to have horrible writing, always. No matter what the writing's topic or for what audience, if you don't first write for you, the work reeks worse than some of the awkward and awful smells of the city streets in La Paz.
Entonces, (I don't quite know what that word means yet, but I know it's used for transitions! I refuse, at this time to elicit help from Google Translate or my personal favorite: http://www.spanishdict.com.) I've decided to tell brief stories as I think of or experience them. Everything sounds better in story-form: history lessons, English lessons, tutorials... it's always more interesting, so here it goes.
Sundays
First Sunday Walk (From Church)
I've been approached by grown men twice in my time here, so far. The first time was while I was walking home from my first church service at an English-speaking service in Calacoto (another neighborhood of La Paz, much like Sopocachi, where I live with the Gravity mountain bike guides). In my long maxi-dress-made-skirt and lacy white shirt with a dark blue tank top beneath, I must have let my loose hair blow in the wind for a little too long because, apparently, the glint of strawberry-gold was too much for the gaze of a man across the street.
I wouldn't have noticed him, except he blurred into my rear, peripheral vision with such speed that I clutched my keys out of startled-ness and potential self-defense, even though it was one-o-clock in the afternoon and we were in a plaza that had enough people to be public and enough space to full-on-sprint with clear witnesses if necessary. Mind you, this was my second weekend in La Paz, so I was still adjusting to city-life.
Tapping me on the shoulder, the slightly-flushed, middle-aged man proceeded to ask me from where I traveled, my name, and other casual, coffee-shop chat... right after his flight across the two-laned, semi-busy-as-usual traffic. (There are also random one-way streets in La Paz, much like Morgantown, WV.) If this wasn't bizarre enough, though he was speaking English, he asked me "if we could be friends" and began to tell me about himself, his two sons (who are at least around my age, from the sounds of it...) and the shops he owns in Bolivia and California. After asking my for my number a few times in vain, he gave me his in the hopes that "we could be friends". Perhaps it's needless to say, but I never contacted him, nor do I know what happened to the paper containing his name and number.
Second Sunday Walk (To Church)
The second time a middle-aged man approached me, it was, thankfully, less ridiculous. It was my third Sunday in La Paz and, after passing an emaciated homeless man who showed me what looked like a military carnet (Bolivian ID), I was deep in thought contemplating whether or not I should have given him the bus money I had in my pocket and not gone to church that Sunday. (The poor here still baffle me as to how is best to respond to their, sometimes aggressive, pleas, but that is another story entirely.)
Entonces, I'm walking to church and one and a half blocks from the street I need to be on to catch the right mini-bus, I am stopped by a casually-dressed, well fed (but not too-often idle) man eating a saltena on the street-side. He is much more polite, recognizing that this is not really an ideal situation for two people to meet, but he seemed earnest about wanting a fluently-speaking English conversation partner. It would have seemed more valid if he hadn't also commented on "how beautiful [I] am" and how it was amazing that I was from West Virginia because he has never seen someone from West Virginia who wasn't beautiful. Eventually, though, (and without divulging his life accomplishments and lineage) he disengaged our conversation so I could proceed to church, now with two perplexing and extremely different thoughts bumping into each other in my mind.
This man, I did contact because he did seem genuine, but we met once at a local chain restaurant, Alexander's, and I never heard from him again. I think he was embarrassed with how we met (even at the time, he kept apologizing and informing me that he was not normally so casually dressed and did not normally ever eat saltenas) and slightly embarrassed at the precautions I took and concerns I blatantly told him when it came to meeting for discussions. I did mention the language school, though he never took advantage of IE's services, to the best of my knowledge.
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Memories and Thoughts
Some of my favorite quotes and memories from this trip so far are as follows:
GREETING OTHERS
When introducing myself to others by name, they have reacted in the following ways:
-"Claire? I love your name! It sounds like a doll's name."
-"Only beautiful women come from West Virginia. I've been before, you know."
-"What a lovely name!"
For some reason, Claire is always pretty easy for others here to remember, too, which has been nice. Although, it's pronounced /cl-air-Reh/ when I'm waiting in line at larger business, for the most part, it's been easier for others to pronounce than I thought it would be originally. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for helping me out on that front.
GENERAL REFLECTIONS
Among the jokes and laughs Michael and I have shared on this trip so far, I've been really blessed to meet a variety of other people who are also my age or close to it who want to hang out or are willing to hang out regularly. I was able to watch both of Germany's FIFA games in a German restaurant near the school and always have somewhere to go or someone with whom to watch all of the FIFA games.
Rebecca has been a huge blessing, too. She helped encourage me to begin to run regularly in La Paz and is a super patient running partner. Though we don't run daily together, I run at least every other day and she is always willing to meet up, if our schedules allow it. (Not to mention, she makes excellent cookies, is a wonderful listener/ conversationalist, and will someday be a world famous film producer--hire her now, while you have a chance!)
Everyone at the IE is awesome. Plain and simple. Katie is always great for a laugh or pedagogy discussion; Roeland is excellent grammar and historical resource and a super entertaining colleague to boot; James adds his own flair to time in the common areas; Danny is always super helpful, cheerful, and a fantastic go-to for tech-support; Pablo is wonderful scanning support; and Patricia is constantly kind and openly friendly. I greatly enjoy my time teaching here so far and am able to meet so many people from so many different places! I've nothing to compare it to with teaching in the US. All of the Spanish instructors, Marion, and other language instructors are also super friendly, helpful, and knowledgable, but they are also often incredibly busy, so I do not see them too often.
I still haven't found a church to attend consistently yet, but Mike and Roeland and a couple of other people have mentioned a couple of churches to try, so maybe something will come through for me there.
I enjoyed my first bike ride with Gravity (it was not the Death Road). There are pictures on Facebook, but when I get them, I will post some on here as well.
I'm not sure what else to report on... Feel free to message me with questions as they come! I'm able to keep in touch with so many people, it's great!
GREETING OTHERS
When introducing myself to others by name, they have reacted in the following ways:
-"Claire? I love your name! It sounds like a doll's name."
-"Only beautiful women come from West Virginia. I've been before, you know."
-"What a lovely name!"
For some reason, Claire is always pretty easy for others here to remember, too, which has been nice. Although, it's pronounced /cl-air-Reh/ when I'm waiting in line at larger business, for the most part, it's been easier for others to pronounce than I thought it would be originally. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for helping me out on that front.
GENERAL REFLECTIONS
Among the jokes and laughs Michael and I have shared on this trip so far, I've been really blessed to meet a variety of other people who are also my age or close to it who want to hang out or are willing to hang out regularly. I was able to watch both of Germany's FIFA games in a German restaurant near the school and always have somewhere to go or someone with whom to watch all of the FIFA games.
Rebecca has been a huge blessing, too. She helped encourage me to begin to run regularly in La Paz and is a super patient running partner. Though we don't run daily together, I run at least every other day and she is always willing to meet up, if our schedules allow it. (Not to mention, she makes excellent cookies, is a wonderful listener/ conversationalist, and will someday be a world famous film producer--hire her now, while you have a chance!)
Everyone at the IE is awesome. Plain and simple. Katie is always great for a laugh or pedagogy discussion; Roeland is excellent grammar and historical resource and a super entertaining colleague to boot; James adds his own flair to time in the common areas; Danny is always super helpful, cheerful, and a fantastic go-to for tech-support; Pablo is wonderful scanning support; and Patricia is constantly kind and openly friendly. I greatly enjoy my time teaching here so far and am able to meet so many people from so many different places! I've nothing to compare it to with teaching in the US. All of the Spanish instructors, Marion, and other language instructors are also super friendly, helpful, and knowledgable, but they are also often incredibly busy, so I do not see them too often.
I still haven't found a church to attend consistently yet, but Mike and Roeland and a couple of other people have mentioned a couple of churches to try, so maybe something will come through for me there.
I enjoyed my first bike ride with Gravity (it was not the Death Road). There are pictures on Facebook, but when I get them, I will post some on here as well.
I'm not sure what else to report on... Feel free to message me with questions as they come! I'm able to keep in touch with so many people, it's great!
Friday, June 27, 2014
The Institutio Exclusivo
I am officially two and a half weeks into living in Bolivia and two weeks into working in Bolivia and still feel I am adjusting well! I have been sick about two times now and am now eating an average of two meals per day, which is enough for me (I normally eat lightly in the states, anyway.). I´ve picked up some Brittish/ Scottish intonations with certain words because of the medium-to-heavy accents my colleagues have with certain sounds and phrases, but I just take that as part of the fun.
Writing on a keyboard intended for Spanish typers is becoming second nature and purchasing fruit and other small items from the women with stands along the street is certainly something that I´m used to seeing and doing. Overall, La Paz is becoming managable--from taking and collecting laundry from the lavandería to finding the minibus to get myself from point a to point b if I need a ride outside of the general area I normally walk. Just like Morgantown, things have a way of getting smaller as they become known to you, which is a nice homecoming, I think.
At the Instutito Exclusivo, I currently have seven preps and am expected to gain more because I am full time, but that´s perfectly fine because the professioanl support here is phenominal and I have plenty of time during the day to plan ahead for classes and do some additional brainstorming and research. I am also participating in "Teacher Training" which has two factions: grammar and pedogogy, which is also wonderful. I LOVE receiving intensive grammar training because I really haven`t had training similar to this since I was around 11 or 12 years old (middle school) and even then, we couldn´t go into this kind of depth because I would´ve tuned it out. The trainings are one-on-one and incredibly thorough... It´s nice to feel challenged like this. I can go home mentally exhausted, which I appreciate because I also have time to absorb the material and work with it on my own (optional) outside of training. Sure, trainings take a little longer this way, but I certainly think they´re more effective in these roughly two-hour sessions rather than the typical American four-to-eight-hour training days (not to mention, three to five of these long days in a row). I feel much more knowledgable AND have time (and the desire) to work with the material on my own!
Otherwise, the students here are great. I am currently teaching seven young learners (ages 7 to 13) and three adult learners (currently their ages range from mid-20s to mid-40s. My largest class is with three of the kids and I have two skype classes. I have two classes that involve two learners at a time and the rest are individual lessons, so this is excellent practice for really becoming aware of the specific needs of learners as individuals and how to facilitate the curriculum in a way that will benefit them. With some of the groups, the ages become difficult to manage within the same class (for example, a (shy) 7- and a(n) (outgoing) 10-year-old are learning together, which can be tricky, but definitely a welcome challenge for me). I am able to design the curriculum however I´d like and resources are provided for me. My only current contemplation is how to get more novels or children´s books (written in English) to the school, so the students can work with materials other than articles from the internet or the textbooks provided by the institute--thankfully, they´re open to request and conversation about these materials, though!
I have yet to take a picture of the school, but when I do, I will upload it to this post. It is a four-story building with computers and whiteboards. The room aesthetics range from small with no windows to collaborative rooms with windows and anything in between (not a huge range, I know, but the rooms are very bright!). There are no decorations on the walls, though, because the rooms are not designated to any specific teacher--you schedule for a room when you have class, since classes can be scheduled any time for any duration from 8am to 9pm. It´s certainly a nice change of pace, but I have to admit that I do miss the endearing chaos of larger classes just a little bit.
If I´ve left anything out, please ask me about it! I´m more than eager to share and discuss details of the school or difference in experiences.
Writing on a keyboard intended for Spanish typers is becoming second nature and purchasing fruit and other small items from the women with stands along the street is certainly something that I´m used to seeing and doing. Overall, La Paz is becoming managable--from taking and collecting laundry from the lavandería to finding the minibus to get myself from point a to point b if I need a ride outside of the general area I normally walk. Just like Morgantown, things have a way of getting smaller as they become known to you, which is a nice homecoming, I think.
At the Instutito Exclusivo, I currently have seven preps and am expected to gain more because I am full time, but that´s perfectly fine because the professioanl support here is phenominal and I have plenty of time during the day to plan ahead for classes and do some additional brainstorming and research. I am also participating in "Teacher Training" which has two factions: grammar and pedogogy, which is also wonderful. I LOVE receiving intensive grammar training because I really haven`t had training similar to this since I was around 11 or 12 years old (middle school) and even then, we couldn´t go into this kind of depth because I would´ve tuned it out. The trainings are one-on-one and incredibly thorough... It´s nice to feel challenged like this. I can go home mentally exhausted, which I appreciate because I also have time to absorb the material and work with it on my own (optional) outside of training. Sure, trainings take a little longer this way, but I certainly think they´re more effective in these roughly two-hour sessions rather than the typical American four-to-eight-hour training days (not to mention, three to five of these long days in a row). I feel much more knowledgable AND have time (and the desire) to work with the material on my own!
Otherwise, the students here are great. I am currently teaching seven young learners (ages 7 to 13) and three adult learners (currently their ages range from mid-20s to mid-40s. My largest class is with three of the kids and I have two skype classes. I have two classes that involve two learners at a time and the rest are individual lessons, so this is excellent practice for really becoming aware of the specific needs of learners as individuals and how to facilitate the curriculum in a way that will benefit them. With some of the groups, the ages become difficult to manage within the same class (for example, a (shy) 7- and a(n) (outgoing) 10-year-old are learning together, which can be tricky, but definitely a welcome challenge for me). I am able to design the curriculum however I´d like and resources are provided for me. My only current contemplation is how to get more novels or children´s books (written in English) to the school, so the students can work with materials other than articles from the internet or the textbooks provided by the institute--thankfully, they´re open to request and conversation about these materials, though!
I have yet to take a picture of the school, but when I do, I will upload it to this post. It is a four-story building with computers and whiteboards. The room aesthetics range from small with no windows to collaborative rooms with windows and anything in between (not a huge range, I know, but the rooms are very bright!). There are no decorations on the walls, though, because the rooms are not designated to any specific teacher--you schedule for a room when you have class, since classes can be scheduled any time for any duration from 8am to 9pm. It´s certainly a nice change of pace, but I have to admit that I do miss the endearing chaos of larger classes just a little bit.
If I´ve left anything out, please ask me about it! I´m more than eager to share and discuss details of the school or difference in experiences.
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Friday the 13th and El Gran Poder
Buenas noches, amigos!
Between yesterday and today, my life here seems to be molding, which is wonderful. While Mike worked out visa things yesterday morning, I stayed behind to turn this:
.
Between yesterday and today, my life here seems to be molding, which is wonderful. While Mike worked out visa things yesterday morning, I stayed behind to turn this:
into this:
.
Needless to say it took me an hour or two. Otherwise, we adventured during the day by going to the supermarket to get some things and I made it a point to take more pictures of the area, so people back home would feel a little more familiar with my current surroundings. Truthfully, I really am trying to ease their minds, but I know almost for a fact that no matter what I do, it may not be enough until I simply am where they are; which is sad, but I have to move on and live here because, with each passing day, I fall more in love with La Paz.
I love the people. They smile when I butcher their language and make an effort to ensure I understand, so with our partial sign language and my fragmented Spanish, we make do. Today I fell more in love with the city because I had to be independent in the city, without Mike, which was incredible. I was able to get around from point a to point b with relative ease and had a few side-adventures, but I'll get there in a minute. For now, I'll sum up Friday the 13th.
After eating some traditional Bolivian food and fruit smoothies for lunch:
Mike took a nap while I chatted with friends and family and attempted to upload pictures. Unfortunately, he was in need of more rest that evening, so we stayed in, taking a break to briefly go full moon-hunting. It was a productive day and I was glad for the time we spent walking around the city because I am beginning to be able to get around with more confidence.
Now, TODAY is El Gran Poder, which is an annual festival in Bolivia. It is a day where the cholitas (the indigenous women of the Aymara culture) dress in their finest clothes and gold and have a glittering parade with many full bands and the spectators make merry all day long. Streets are closed so vendors may sell goods along the roads in the main area of town and the shops that are open closed around 3pm so everyone may participate in the festivities.
When I awoke this morning, I was unsure of how today would go because it was my first day without Mike as a personal escort. So, as I was reading about God's promise to Noah after the flood and eating breakfast, our roommate and another Gravity mountain bike guide, Kieran, came out and asked what I was doing today and if I wanted to go to the Gran Poder with him and one of his mates (Kieran is from New Zealand). Of course, it was on my to-do list, so he got ready for the day and off we went to, first, run some errands we had to get done.
To make many stories short (but feel free to ask me about them later), Kieran and I got my errands done first (the gentleman), but he was unable to get his done because most of the stores he needed to access were closed, so we spent about an hour at the parade (paid 20 Bs for fourth-seat--back row-- from the parade; the parade was blocked off to viewers who didn't pay by sheets and tarps):
I tried my first bit of street food--I was cautious about it and have had no ill side effects yet; we met up with Andy (another Gravity guide) who happened to be wearing an adult-sized onesie, fashioned to the likeness of a devil--hood with horns, tail and everything; we visited Danielle (Dani) at work, who works for Gravity and has had a rough week (sick and family member in the hospital), but is as kind and helpful as anyone I've ever met; and then we walked through the crowds to eventually go to Oliver's, an English tavern, where I had an adult hot chocolate and an engaging conversation with Kieren, Andy, a woman and man (not together) from England, a woman from Australia, and a woman from Sweden--all around my age! It was pretty awesome and the conversation was still progressing when I left to begin the walk back to the apartment. The women from Australia and Sweden went on a walk with me at first and when we parted, I left for the apartment--and made it successfully without getting turned around.
Later I may meet up with the group again, but I figure I'll see how Mike feels after he finishes his shift--I'd rather not walk back to them on my own. I could take a cab, but that would be a whole other, potentially expensive, adventure. Who knows, though? The night is still young. For now, buenas noches, amigos! I hope all is well with you.
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Arrival/ Day 1
After departing from family and friends, I began my embarkment to La Paz, Bolivia where I planned to spend the next year of my life teaching English as a Second Language. I saw some stunning displays of God's glory in creativity and humor throughout my time in the air.
*My Aunt and Grandmother came up to see me off as well. Though we didn't take a group photo, the lovingly meaningful weight of their hugs and words (Grand Jean kept saying something along the lines of, "If you hold on to someone long enough, you eventually stick to them like glue, so they can never leave you.").
*I also got overly excited about seeing a rainbow in midst of the clouds in the stratosphere, among other beautiful shapes and arrangements. It was truly amazing.
Awaiting my arrival, Michael Niemann was an excellent, at tentative host who was very conscientious of my every need and kindled, even farther, my excitement for this new adventure from the moment I stepped off the plane (and went through customs, of course--with no difficulty).
Michael met me, with the kindly taxi driver sent by my school, immediately when I emerged from customs. (Keep in mind, he was up at 4:00 this morning, preparing to greet me and left La Paz around 4:30 to be at El Alto when my flight arrived around the anticipated 5:15.) My flight landed around 5:20, so I did not get out of customs until around 5:40--praise God for his patience in the wee hours because I know some who would not be as excited to see me if they were in that predicament, simply because of the situation (love you anyway).
After eating "dinner" on the plane around 12am, sleeping on-and-off until about 4:30am, when I became so nervously excited that I began to feel physically ill, I realized we had begun our descent to La Paz. The last jerky bout of erectly-seated sleep left my mouth once again agape, so I popped in a piece of gum in the hopes that it would at least make me somewhat bearable after a full day of traveling. In the blur that was the man who grabbed my bulky suitcases and began walking them to the exit (a valet... I had expected to be offered the service, but I'll know for next time), I saw Michael smiling my way and plant a kiss on my cheek as I was rapidly introduced to the taxi driver, who took my carry-on bag (yoda) and Michael slipped on my backpack. I was glad for it, though, because what I had thought was my heart that had flown out of the open airplane doors turned out to be insufficient oxygen (based on what I was used to using). Though, I kept waiting for the sucker-punch that would be the altitude shift (I was now at 14,000 feet above sea level.), nothing drastic happened. I was just a little more fatigued when I wore my backpack (which easily weighed 10-15 pounds alone--books and laptop and things...); granted, I may have been fatigued in the states with as little sleep and amount of stress/ anticipation as I experienced while traveling.
Anyway, La Paz is a starlit sky laid down in a basin surrounded by craggy mountains at night. The city twinkled as the taxi descended from El Alto to La Paz; it could be likened to the light in Michael's eyes as he informed me about the different suburbs and factoids about El Alto and La Paz, respectively. He was equally excited for me to be there.
When we reached the Gravity house, Michael lead me to the room in which I would be staying for now and promptly retrieved a vase of pinky-purple mini tiger lilies (mom would correct me on the type) and I was gracious for his kindness and awed by the beauty of the view from the window of the apartment: a blanket of midnight blue backdrop for a city of starlight and eminent sunrise against the outline of an all-too-close mountain range. It is surreal.
Though he encouraged me to sleep, I was much too excited, so instead I began to unpack some items I had brought for Gravity and watch the sunrise in my new home for the first time. Eventually, I was able to fall asleep as he read beside of me... for about an hour before a alarm that was preset in my phone went off (this was 8:00am). After this, I let Michael make me some Matte de Cocoa (to help with altitude adjustment) and quinoa and yogurt. It was the lightest, most perfect breakfast I could have eaten.
After unpacking some more, Michael and I went to drop off items and meet people at the Gravity mechanic shop, stop for an early lunch (chicken and guacamole sandwich on a baguette), exchange some money (no USA airport will exchange for Boliviano's unless you call ahead--who knew?), went to the downtown Gravity office drop off items and meet people, and finally, to my school, so I would know how to get there and could introduce myself. It was great to walk around the city and meet everyone! After these errands, we went back to the apartment, so I could rest some. I ended up talking to a room-mate there, who is from Australia and a fascinating, adventurous person and attempting to rest, but listened to Michael play guitar and organized my things a bit more before we left to go on a free city tour.
Now, the city tour is free, extensive, charming, bold, and entirely worth every penny of any tip you leave the guide. Guides do not pressure, provoke, or react to tips (or lack of tips) and strive to do the best job to earn their tips. (Two March's ago, the group that went to France participated in a tour like this in Paris--COMPLETELY worth it--same concept.) We learned more about the local prison (fascinating), the primary local outdoor market (AMAZING, fresh variety), indoor market (terrible aesthetics, but wonderful shops and amazing smoothies), witch's market (perhaps not surprisingly, the people there are not as kind as elsewhere in La Paz; a little eerie), and the local native people and why they still dress in traditional garb. They are an incredible race of women (we discussed the women primarily). The tour ended in a 5-star hotel that hosts an activity called Urban Rush (more on this later, I hope!); it is terrifyingly awesome. As it turns out, the tour guide is friends with the English teacher who will train me at my school, is friends with Gravity workers (who have apparently given Michael the nickname, "gospel singer"), and leads a food tour that Mike and I are interested in participating, so we will likely see each other again.
The Free City Tour lasted from 2-5pm and took us all around the city, so needless to say, I was pretty tired. As we walked back to the apartment, Mike and I stopped in at the Gravity office again, and headed home, so I could give my momma a FaceTime call. I was so tired that I began to fall asleep toward the end of her call, and after she graciously and gracefully allowed the conversation to end, I did conk out until around 7pm, when Mike and I were going to go to dinner--he wanted to take me to a fancy place for the first night and, though I protested, I donned my new maxi skirt (thanks Mom and Cassie!) and we walked back down the cobblestone, hilly alleys of La Paz.
I am entirely glad I decided to be dragged from the bed for this meal because it was perhaps THE BEST llama and duck (I tried a bite of Mike's duck dish) I will ever put to my taste buds. It included three types of potatoes and a pepper mix. It was succulent. At one point, though, Mike asked me if I felt bad for the llama (I must have made some face in the conversation.) and I quickly replied, "Only when I think of the llama [when it was a living llama]." Mike compared the taste to deer, but I thought it was quite of its own, but it did have the texture of deer, so I took some comfort in that, too. I also remember saying, immediately after our waitress had left the table smiling, that I was SO thankful for people who smiled at my haggard attempts at speaking their language with confidence. (That sentiment, I'm sure will be the theme of the first few months of this trip.)
To top off the impressive dinner, Mike got creme brûlée and I got, essentially, an apple pie al la mode, and while the creme brûlée was heavenly, I must say that the apple pie and ice cream doesn't have anything on what my mom has back in West Virginia! (Boom.) Overall, this candlelit, gourmet dinner cost us around $30, total. While we won't be eating like this nightly, it was definitely a nice treat for the first evening in La Paz.
Finally, the few pictures I took for today's adventures are utterly insufficient, but I will take more pictures in the future. For the first time in La Paz, good night!
*I found a way to travel to/ from the airport bathrooms without donning the backpack a 50th time; Yoda (the carry-on roller) is so good! These pieces held books, daily supplies and at least a day's worth of clothing, just in case--love you, Mom!
Awaiting my arrival, Michael Niemann was an excellent, at tentative host who was very conscientious of my every need and kindled, even farther, my excitement for this new adventure from the moment I stepped off the plane (and went through customs, of course--with no difficulty).
Michael met me, with the kindly taxi driver sent by my school, immediately when I emerged from customs. (Keep in mind, he was up at 4:00 this morning, preparing to greet me and left La Paz around 4:30 to be at El Alto when my flight arrived around the anticipated 5:15.) My flight landed around 5:20, so I did not get out of customs until around 5:40--praise God for his patience in the wee hours because I know some who would not be as excited to see me if they were in that predicament, simply because of the situation (love you anyway).
After eating "dinner" on the plane around 12am, sleeping on-and-off until about 4:30am, when I became so nervously excited that I began to feel physically ill, I realized we had begun our descent to La Paz. The last jerky bout of erectly-seated sleep left my mouth once again agape, so I popped in a piece of gum in the hopes that it would at least make me somewhat bearable after a full day of traveling. In the blur that was the man who grabbed my bulky suitcases and began walking them to the exit (a valet... I had expected to be offered the service, but I'll know for next time), I saw Michael smiling my way and plant a kiss on my cheek as I was rapidly introduced to the taxi driver, who took my carry-on bag (yoda) and Michael slipped on my backpack. I was glad for it, though, because what I had thought was my heart that had flown out of the open airplane doors turned out to be insufficient oxygen (based on what I was used to using). Though, I kept waiting for the sucker-punch that would be the altitude shift (I was now at 14,000 feet above sea level.), nothing drastic happened. I was just a little more fatigued when I wore my backpack (which easily weighed 10-15 pounds alone--books and laptop and things...); granted, I may have been fatigued in the states with as little sleep and amount of stress/ anticipation as I experienced while traveling.
Anyway, La Paz is a starlit sky laid down in a basin surrounded by craggy mountains at night. The city twinkled as the taxi descended from El Alto to La Paz; it could be likened to the light in Michael's eyes as he informed me about the different suburbs and factoids about El Alto and La Paz, respectively. He was equally excited for me to be there.
When we reached the Gravity house, Michael lead me to the room in which I would be staying for now and promptly retrieved a vase of pinky-purple mini tiger lilies (mom would correct me on the type) and I was gracious for his kindness and awed by the beauty of the view from the window of the apartment: a blanket of midnight blue backdrop for a city of starlight and eminent sunrise against the outline of an all-too-close mountain range. It is surreal.
*Unfortunately, I was prompted to take a picture after the sun had begun to rise and after a half hour or so of leaving the taxi, but it is still lovely.
Though he encouraged me to sleep, I was much too excited, so instead I began to unpack some items I had brought for Gravity and watch the sunrise in my new home for the first time. Eventually, I was able to fall asleep as he read beside of me... for about an hour before a alarm that was preset in my phone went off (this was 8:00am). After this, I let Michael make me some Matte de Cocoa (to help with altitude adjustment) and quinoa and yogurt. It was the lightest, most perfect breakfast I could have eaten.
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| Michael |
Now, the city tour is free, extensive, charming, bold, and entirely worth every penny of any tip you leave the guide. Guides do not pressure, provoke, or react to tips (or lack of tips) and strive to do the best job to earn their tips. (Two March's ago, the group that went to France participated in a tour like this in Paris--COMPLETELY worth it--same concept.) We learned more about the local prison (fascinating), the primary local outdoor market (AMAZING, fresh variety), indoor market (terrible aesthetics, but wonderful shops and amazing smoothies), witch's market (perhaps not surprisingly, the people there are not as kind as elsewhere in La Paz; a little eerie), and the local native people and why they still dress in traditional garb. They are an incredible race of women (we discussed the women primarily). The tour ended in a 5-star hotel that hosts an activity called Urban Rush (more on this later, I hope!); it is terrifyingly awesome. As it turns out, the tour guide is friends with the English teacher who will train me at my school, is friends with Gravity workers (who have apparently given Michael the nickname, "gospel singer"), and leads a food tour that Mike and I are interested in participating, so we will likely see each other again.
The Free City Tour lasted from 2-5pm and took us all around the city, so needless to say, I was pretty tired. As we walked back to the apartment, Mike and I stopped in at the Gravity office again, and headed home, so I could give my momma a FaceTime call. I was so tired that I began to fall asleep toward the end of her call, and after she graciously and gracefully allowed the conversation to end, I did conk out until around 7pm, when Mike and I were going to go to dinner--he wanted to take me to a fancy place for the first night and, though I protested, I donned my new maxi skirt (thanks Mom and Cassie!) and we walked back down the cobblestone, hilly alleys of La Paz.
To top off the impressive dinner, Mike got creme brûlée and I got, essentially, an apple pie al la mode, and while the creme brûlée was heavenly, I must say that the apple pie and ice cream doesn't have anything on what my mom has back in West Virginia! (Boom.) Overall, this candlelit, gourmet dinner cost us around $30, total. While we won't be eating like this nightly, it was definitely a nice treat for the first evening in La Paz.
Finally, the few pictures I took for today's adventures are utterly insufficient, but I will take more pictures in the future. For the first time in La Paz, good night!
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