Days 11-15

I've been pretty busy the past few days so I haven't had much time to update my blog. On Thursday my first class was biology. I actually understood most of it because the professor had different people from the class take turns drawing pictures and writing notes on the board and I've already taken biology so that helps. After that, we had a break before having math class. I started understanding math a little better too even though it's kind of different from what I've learned. Then we had another break before German class. I just talked to a classmate and worked on some other stuff during that period and then our final class before lunch was phyics. Only the teacher didn't show up for about 30 minutes so the classroom was pretty crazy! When school let out, Nico and I headed home for lunch and we had mashed potatoes! Oh the sweet taste of mashed potatoes. (: At 2:30 I had to go back to school for geography. It lasted until about 3:50 but then we had to have a 10 minute "recreation time" before we could actually leave. I walked home and talked to the ladies in the salon before heading upstairs to wash my clothes, clean my bathroom, and watch some TV. Once Nico got home, I listened to him practice memorizing the national anthem for one of his classes. Later that night, after supper, I talked with mamá about Quinceñeras, school, food, and some of their family history. I enjoyed learning about a lot of the customs and this was probably one of my favorite days so far. 

On Friday my first class was math. I got to sit in my seat in the corner of the classroom, at the front of the room, facing a different direction than the rest of the class again. That's my seat now since all the other seats in the classroom are full. How fun. (: Then we had a break and then German class. I was pretty bored so I ended up writing a few poems to pass the time. Next we had chemistry but thank goodness we didn't take notes since the class was talking about ways to raise money for their trip in July of their senior year. Every year, the senior class takes a trip somewhere. After another break we had Literature class. I didn't have to do anything during that class either though and the teacher is a lot of fun. Once school let out I went home and had lunch and I told my host parents that I didn't like the place I had played volleyball last time so we went to find somewhere else to play. We found a team that one of the girls from my class plays on and we talked to her dad about me playing. I have practices on Thursdays from 7-9pm and on Saturdays from 8-10am. (More or less since time here doesn't seem to have much meaning!) Then I had my hair done for the second time by the ladies in the salon! Next, we went to mamá's stores and I helped her and a few of her workers organize and stack up a ton of different shoes. When we were finished I gave some money to a homeless guy (there is a lot of elderely homeless people here and it's so sad, I just want to help them all) before we took a taxi home. I talked to the ladies in the salon for awhile before getting ready to go to Café Florín with my classmates at 8. I was pretty nervous to go but once I got there everyone was excited to see me. I shared some Picque de Pollo with two of my classmates and it was super good! One of the girls I had shared it with told me that she plays the piano and that her dad is a piano teacher so I'm going to see about taking lessons from him. After we had finished eating, I headed home to watch TV and talk to Nico before bed.

It finally rained on Saturday!! I love rain and it made me so happy! The only bad thing is that it was really cold. Anyways, I went to volleyball practice and I had a lot of fun. I really loved it and it actually felt like a real practice compared to the other place I had tried. Shadia, the girl from my class who's on my team, thinks I'm really good and her dad does too so he's looking into something for me. I'm not exactly sure what though haha. I don't understand everything yet. After volleyball I walked home and watched TV until lunch. After lunch, I redid my art project (since I had made a small mistake and I'm a perfectionist!) and made some bracelets. However, the entire time, Nico enjoyed watching TV and annoying me. Once I was finished with my art, Nico and I walked across the street to get some snacks and I tried a few new snacks. Then I went downstairs to talk to the ladies in the salon and while I was down there all the power went out for about an hour due to the rain. We still enjoyed talking and after they closed the salon all of the ladies from the salon, Nico, mamá, and I went out to eat since Sunday was like the International Day of Hair or something. We fit 11 people into a 5 person car. Crazy! We went to a chicken place for fried chicken and fries and I had some more fried yuca too. (: Abuelita gave me Nico's and her yuca since she knew I loved it so much. Finally I did a workout and got ready to get some sleep. I was so tired!

On Sunday, I went to church (mass since they're catholic) with Abuelita at 9. Afterwards, we walked two blocks to buy a TON of fruit and we had to take a taxi to get it all home! We got bananas, oranges, apples, kiwi (HUGE kiwis), strawberries, and papayas. Then we picked up Nico and the three of us went to get salteñas. I liked them a lot more this time since I took out the part of the filling that I didn't like. The outer shell is my favorite part and it's so delicious! After that, we walked around La Plaza for awhile to look for sweatpants for Nico but we couldn't find much so we took a bus to El Mercado Campesino (another crowded area with a ton of outdoor vendors) and found some sweatpants for him. Some places even had raw, unpackaged meat just sitting out to buy. There are dogs EVERYWHERE here. Stray dogs looking for food and a warm place to sleep and I just want to take every single one of them to a shelter! I don't think they have animal shelters here though. When we got home, Nico enjoyed annoying me for a few hours again until we went to get lunch at 4. I had Filete a Caballo (it's not actually horse!) and for dessert we had flan. I loved the steak from my dish and the flan was REALLY good. After that, Abuelita, mamá and I went to look for a long sleeved shirt for Nico and leggings/yoga pants for me. I got to try on diffent leggins in my own fancy dressing room. What is that dressing room? Standing behind a manikin on one half of the open little outdoor vending area. It's definitely an interesting memory now. (: When we got home, Nico, Abuelita, and I watched Batman: The Dark Knight Rises until mamá and Nico had to leave for La Paz. After they left, Abuelita and I finished the movie, had some supper, hung up towels to dry outside, and played with Chachi. When we were hanging up the towels I got to look at the breathtaking view of Sucre (from the roof/deck thing) at night with all the pretty lights and the mountains! It was absolutely beautiful!!

Today (Monday), I woke up and was having some stomach problems from not drinking enough water. Abuelita made some special tea for me and then I made it through school. My first class was biology and we learned about meiosis and reviewed our notes on mitosis. Then we had religion and I really liked that class! The teacher was super sweet and even introduced herself to me. I feel like I could talk to her about anything. Anyways, we just talked about different religions and afterwards we had a break before chemistry. We had to take a TON of notes in chemistry and I don't think I even got half of what he was saying written down! Then we had German and I listened to the teacher reveiw with the class until our next break. When our break was over, we returned to German class and I wrote some more poems. Our final class of the day was physics but the teacher didn't show up so the classroom was super crazy again. After school, papá picked me up and we went home to have lunch. The maid had made me some soup and I was able to eat a few noodles but I still didn't feel too well. Finally, I got a chance to sleep for a few hours. When I woke up I felt a lot better so Abuelita had me eat some crackers and drink some tea. Then I went down to the salon for a little bit and my secretary from school was there getting her hair done. I talked to her and one of the ladies in the salon for awhile before going back upstairs to watch TV and lay down for the rest of the night. I'm really hoping I feel completely back to normal tomorrow!

Eating chicken with the ladies from the salon

All the yummy fruit I get to eat!

Eating chicken with the ladies from the salon and Nico

Days 8-10

On Monday, we didn't spend too much time talking to the director and afterwards I talked to all of the ladies in the salon until lunch. After lunch all of us went to watch Nico practice tennis and then mamá and I went to figure out how to extend my visa for the whole year. I also finally got my debit card back after a week (the ATM had taken the card, probably because I tried to take too much out at once). Later that night we went to buy my uniforms for school. Unless there's a special occasion, you only have to wear a uniform shirt with whatever else you want. There's three colors of shirts and there's short sleeve and long sleeve. I got one of each color, navy, tan, and white, all short sleeves. After we bought my uniforms I had my first volleyball practice! The girls my age had a game somewhere so I played with 13 and 14 year olds but it was still good to be playing volleyball again! My next practice is Friday and if I like playing with the girls my age I'll keep going to the same place. If not, we'll look for a different place. Tuesday was my first day of school at Juan Pestalozzi! I was SUPER nervous, but the secretary lady introduced me to everyone and they were all so welcoming! School lasts from 8:30 in the morning (it will be 8 in a few weeks) and goes until about 12:50. Then only on Tuesdays and Thursdays the upper grades go back from 2:30 to 5:30. My first class was music but we did NOTHING but talk and everyone was on their phone. After music was a 10 minute break. Then we had art and even though I don't normally like art I really liked what we were doing and the girl next to me, Karla, was really nice and let me borrow her supplies for the class. After art we had math. I think it's a mixture of algebra 2 and trigonometry right now. Next we had a 10 minute break before starting physics. All the teacher did in physics was hand back papers thank goodness. Then I went home for lunch and when I returned to school out first class was gym. I had so much fun in gym! We played basketball and the class lasted for an hour and a half. I think we play volleyball in September and the gym teacher said I was really good at basketball and wanted to know what other sports I've played. After gym we had history. I understood hardly anything but it was fun listening to the teacher talk! After school was over, I walked to mamá's shoe store to wait for her and when she got there we walked across the street where there was a bunch of vendors with indigenous handmade stuff. She bought me a really pretty purse that's the perfect size for all the stuff I need to put in it! Later that night Nico and I hung out until he had to go to bed. I enjoy finally having a little brother to tease. (: Today I really didn't want to go to school but I made myself get up anyways. Every day the schedule and classes are different so today my first class was philosophy. The teacher didn't write any notes on the board so I didn't understand anything and he gave us 8 questions for homework but he read them off for us to write down so I had to use one of my classmate's papers to get the right questions. After that we had a 10 minute break before chemistry. In chemistry, the teacher read off all of our notes for us to copy down except for some of the compounds and stuff. I hardly got any of it but I decided not to worry about it too much. After chemistry I had German but I don't have to take the class so the teacher told me I could do something else. My classmate let me use her notes again and I got all my chemistry notes written down. Now I just have to translate them and figure out what they mean!! Then we had another 10 minute break and finally we had literature. After school Nico and I walked home to have lunch (mamá and papá were at a meeting all day) and then we took a taxi to his tennis practice. When he was done we walked home again and hung out for awhile. Once mamá got home, I went down to the salon to read a magazine and improve my Spanish but one of the ladies working, Emma, took me across the street to get bread with her. While we were there I asked her what something on the shelf was and she bought one for me to try. It was a wafer kind of thing covered in chocolate and it was really good! Then I went back to the salon and finished my magazine until papá and Nico dropped mamá and I off at the bank on their way to another tennis practice for Nico. After the bank we went the the supermarket (the theater, bank, and supermarket are all in the same building) and after buying what we actually needed, mamá bought some chocolate with quinoa in it for us to share. It was amazing! Then we headed home and when Nico got home, him and I had supper together and watched a movie. Finally, we all headed down to La Plaza to get some school supplies. Now I'm just relaxing and watching tv until I head to bed! 

The purse that mamá bought for me

My school uniforms

Day 7

Yesterday my family and I went to play tennis for about three hours and then afterwards we went to get salteñas. Apparently they're really common here. We each had a salteña con caldo and an empanada Santa Clara. They were pretty good but they weren't my favorite. Then we went home and I just watched tv until we went to get lunch. Miguel (mamá's brother) and Abuelita went with us too. I got to try some really interesting parts of a cow. For example riñon (kidney), ubre (udders), and tripa (intestines). It was actually pretty good but I think I would've like it a lot more if I hadn't known what it was! After lunch, we went and got ice cream (I think I've had I've cream every day so far!) and then looked at some cars for the family. Then Abuelita, Miguel, and I went to the plaza to get some movies and a phone charger for Abuelita. Abuelita bought me some flowers to put in my room and they smell amazing. (: Then we walked back to the house and Abuelita taught me how to make earrings. She gave me a pretty pair of blue earrings as a turquoise necklace that she made. The necklace was broken though so we took the broken part off and I made earrings with the beads. I also made a pair of purple earrings to go with all the purple stuff I have here. When my family got home, we watched tv in my parents room for awhile. Then around 9 our pizza arrived and Nico and I went upstairs to watch Batman Begins and eat pizza with Abuelita. Today I'm just relaxing before I go to talk to the director of my school. 

The flowers that Abuelita bought for me

Some of the earrings that Abuelita and I made

Day 6

The past two days haven't been quite as busy for me. Friday night I met another one of my cousins. He's the same age as me and he's going to be in my class at school. We spent about two hours just talking and getting to know each other and he's going to introduce me to people at school. There's 30 kids in my class, 19 girls and 11 boys. Then yesterday I went with mi mamá to watch Nico's soccer game. I ended up talking to some family friends of theirs the whole time. Their son is 14 but after he's done with high school, he's going to be going to college somewhere in the United States. After that, Nico and I walked down to the plaza and I got a nice white jacket from one of the stores. We got some ice cream and sat on some benches to feed pigeons in the center of the plaza. When we got home we had lunch and then both Nico and I fell asleep while watching tv. Later, Nico and I went to Las Delecias to get a snack and then we came back home and hung out watching tv and talking for the next few hours until we went to get supper around 9. After supper we were all tired so we didn't do anything together afterwards. This morning, we're headed to play some tennis! 

My host family

My host brother, Nico

Day 5

Yesterday wasn't busy in the morning so I had some time to explore. I found the outside deck on the very top floor of our house (I didn't know it was there). it was a SPECTACULAR view and now I know where to hang my clothes after I wash them. Also, Chachi (our shaggy white dog) sleeps up there so I sat in the warm sun and played with Chachi for a few hours. Then I walked down to the plaza and bought a nice watch and some pretty jewelry for a really good price. After lunch, I went with mi mamá to drop Nico off at soccer and then go to the supermarket. I had so much fun reading all the labels and seeing all the different foods! Mamá said when I want to cook something to let her know which ingredients I need. She got quinoa and dulce de leche (which I had with bread for breakfast this morning and it's AMAZING) for me to try. I also found out she loves watermelons and mangos (just like me!) but we didn't buy any. After the supermercado, we went back to pick up Nico and talked to the coordinator at the gym about playing volleyball. I'm going to play on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:30-2 and then during the weekends but I'm not sure what time. And the best part? It doesn't cost anything! It's either because I'm going to attend el colegio de Juan Pestalozzi or because I'm getting out of school early. I'm not sure though. On the way home we stopped for ice cream and when we got home Nico and I put the groceries away. Then I had more time to myself before my first Rotary meeting! I got to the meeting around 9pm and I was so scared! At first I felt super awkward but then a Rotex came and sat down with me and once she left another one started talking to me. The second one I talked to was named Judi. She's 22 and super friendly. She took English classes when she was little so she would talk in English and I would talk in Spanish. We ended up talking the ENTIRE night! The first 2 1/2 hours was just people talking. However in between that, Roteract was introduced into Sucre for the first time ever, so that was pretty cool. After they all finished talking, I was introduced. I presented the banner to their club president, handed out my pins and business cards to everyone in the room (and of course greeted them all with a kiss on the cheek), and took pictures with my counselor, YEO, and Judi. Then at about 11:30 we had supper and the meeting ended at about 12:30. It was really long and even though I was terrified at first, I feel comfortable with them now and am ready to give my presentation when the time comes! 

View from the terraza (roof thing) of my house

My dog here, Chachi

My Rotary counselor, Luis

My Rotary youth exchange officer, Eduardo

Judi and me

Day 4

My last post was from yesterday morning it just didn't post until now for some reason. Yesterday was my busiest day yet. After breakfast when I went down to the salon, one of the ladies who work there gave me a manicure (my first ever too). After that, I left with mi abuelita to go to the bank. We walked a long ways but I like walking down the sidewalks because everywhere you go there are hundreds of street venders selling various things. On the way to the bank, mi abuelita bought some maíz dulce (that's how she explained it to me) for me to try. It was really good. It had a similar consistency to popcorn but it was sweet. Around 1 we returned to our house to have lunch (we eat lunch at 1 everyday since that's when school gets out). Next I went with mi papá to take Nico to tennis and when we got home he gave me a map of Sucre so I could find my way around. I went out on my own (I know I'm such a big girl!) to get my chocolate fix for the day and I found an elderly lady selling some chocolate about 2 blocks from my house. What a deal! I got two big chocolate bars because she said they were her two best kinds. One is called Crocante and the other is called Ao Leite. I'll have plenty to last me for a week! Then I walked back home (there are tons of hills since Sucre is in the mountains) and went with mi mamá to pick Nico up. On they way home we stopped for ice cream and then we stopped at one of the shoe stores that mi mamá owns. While she was busy doing some stuff, Nico and I played tons of games of tic-tac-toe. Once we got to the house we dropped off Nico and picked up mi abuelita to take her to the airport. At the airport there was a chocolate store called Chocolates para Ti and mi mamá bought some chocolate for us three. The chocolate there was really good and super cheap! A truffle that costs $2 in the US only costs 1-3 bolivianos here (14-42 cents). When we got home, some of the ladies in the salon did my hair. Then I sat around showing them the pictures I brought for my presentation, letting them look through all the pictures on my phone, showing them the bracelets I made on the way here, and talking to them in my choppy Español for three hours. They absolutely loved every second of it and so did I! They told me to come down there and talk to them when I feel homesick, have questions, am bored, or just want to talk. (: Then around 7, we left to go to my other grandpas house (Mauricio's dad) to celebrate his birthday. I met all my relatives (I think) from that side of the family. I especially liked 19-year-old Andrea and 5-year-old Rachel. Andrea speaks a little English and she is super friendly. She started talking to me right away and sometime soon we're gonna hang out so she can show me around Sucre a little more. Rachel is sooo adorable. At first she was shy but once I started talking to her she latched on to me. Lastly, we came back home and I spent the night playing soccer on the PS2 with Nico. I have my first Rotary meeting tonight and I'm super excited. I've already met my counselor and my youth exchange officer. They're very friendly. Gradually I'm getting used to greeting people with a kiss on the cheek and my Spanish is quickly improving. Every time someone says something I understand more and more of it and every time I speak I have to think bout it less. Bolivia is amazing!

Days 1-3

No pictures yet but I'm finally settled into my house in Sucre and I am definitely loving it! I have my own bedroom and bathroom, there's a big desk perfect for all my stuff and for doing homework when I start school, a tv, and lots of closet space. There's even a perfect place to store all of my shoes! (After I get some more.) (: My host family is absolutely wonderful and they said that now I am their hija. When I first arrived on Sunday in Santa Cruz Rodolfo (my host Grandpa) picked me up from the airport and I slept most of the afternoon because I was feeling sick from the change in altitude. After I woke up he took me to La Cabaña Rio Piraí where there is tons of little eating places, cars driving around very crazy, and people riding horses everywhere! I got to ride one of the horses for 2 hours around La Cabaña and I made my first friend, 15 year old Fernando. At first he just guided the horse around and then he got on with me. He would make the horse walk or run while I would steer and stop the horse. It was a lot of fun! Later that night we picked up my family from the airport and went out to get something to eat. I tried some yuca and I love it! The next day we took Mauricio (mi papá) and Nico (my 11 year old brother) to the airport so they could fly back to Sucre. Carola (mi mamá) and I stayed one more night and then flew to Sucre the next day. (Thank goodness we didn't have to drive!) After we dropped off Nico and Mauricio at the airport, Carola and I went to get some breakfast and I got to have more yuca. Then we walked around La Plaza and we went into lots of shops. Apparently I'm not the only one who loves shoes. (: Carola stopped in several shoe stores! After we flew to Sucre the next day, she showed me around the house and I unpacked and settled in. I really like Sucre because it's quieter than Santa Cruz and the driving isn't so crazy. Then I went with mi papá to pick up Nico from school and he showed me around the city a bit. Their are two main mountains named after a legend of two kings. The mountains are called Churuquella and Sica Sica. When we got back home we had some lunch and I had some really good helado (ice cream) for dessert. After that mi mamá and I took Nico to his tennis practice and on the way she stopped to buy some more yuca for me. (: The rest of the afternoon I had some time to myself until I went with Carola to pick up Nico and some supper to ring home. On the way home Nico played a game with me where we go through the alphabet and I have to say a Spanish word that starts with each letter. After supper I gave them the gifts I had brought from the United States and showed them some pictures of me and Seward. I also met their dog Chachi. Then I Skyped my parents until Nico wanted me to go read a book to him, play some games on their tablet, and watch tennis on TV. We hung out in Mauricio and Carola's room for the rest of the night until I went to get ready for bed. I found it's SO much easier to sleep here. I learned one thing for sure... I'm going to try everything they offer because the food here is muy rico. Now I like mushrooms, tea, and coffee and I haven't before! Well mi abuelita just came to get me so we could go downstairs to their salon for a while. Chao! 

A New Beginning

I began my trip to Bolivia today and I couldn't be more excited! I met José, the exchange student from Bolivia that my parents are hosting, in the Chicago airport for about 10 minutes. Our flights were timed perfectly! Right now I'm waiting in the Miami airport for my final flight and I'm getting more nervous and more excited every second! When I get there my host grandpa will pick me up at the airport and I'll spend the day with him until I meet my host family in the evening. Then I'll stay the night in Santa Cruz with my host family and the next day we'll start our 9 hour drive through the mountains to the town I will be living in, Sucre. I hope I can figure things out quickly when I get to Bolivia! Deséame suerte!!