2nd Workshop Down! (2/3-2/4)

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Well our Workshop last night and tonight, went really well! We had a whopping 12 people show up AND they liked our claps and fun games we had prepared for them. As a side note, we have them make the workshop rules that they will abide by (i.e. be on time, no cell phones, etc.) followed by a consequence. Guess what happens when people show up late? They have to sing or dance. Five people showed up late tonight so that was really fun to see them get into their songs and belt out their amazing voices. We've been coming home pretty tired, but it's been really rewarding nonetheless.

I'm still a bit frustrated at the fact that things move really slow here and I'm kind of figuring out why. You see, people will delegate their responsibilities to others and call it a day. Or only one person has the information you need and they happen to be out of town. (they forget they have the internet and can just look it up). Or people forget what you told them only a few hours prior.

Example A:

Cristina needed to send a package and she wanted to send it via DHL so she called the manager and asked him what he knew about DHL. He said that he and the assistant manager would take us to the DHL location to send it and take us home afterwards but to meet them in the center at 2pm. I made this call at about 11am. SO, we showed up at exactly 2pm, waited 20 minutes, called our manager only to find out that he forgot he was going to meet us and was now too far away from the center. He delegated the responsibility to a volunteer and asked him to take us to DHL (which was a 30 minute walk) ONLY to find out that she needed to show her ID and she didn't have any because the managers had her passport anyway. We pretty much wasted 2 hours doing nothing. BUT the story didn't end there. She figured it'd be easier to send it via FedEx since the Employment Center works with FedEx and they would come pick it up on the same day. So, we went to the center and they told her to go talk to this random guy who had the phone number for FedEx to pick up the package. But he wasn't there. NO ONE knew where he was or when he'd be back. AND apparently, he was the ONLY ONE with the number. She asked if they could find it online, but apparently it wasn't online. She got on one of the public computers and found the phone number within the first 3 minutes and called FedEx and arranged for them to pick it up no problem. THREE MINUTES. She was not very happy yesterday. We wasted 2 hours in the center only to find out they could have just come to our apartment here. LESSON LEARNED for sure.

Things definitely work differently here. For better or for worse, We had to learn that we should expect things to not work out the way we want them to, and if we do, we need to constantly follow up with people. But I don't want to constantly be following up, they need to learn how to do their jobs by themselves, and we will just have to do without sometimes. If it's really important, I will not depend on them.

We did our shopping today and for the first time ever, we have FRUIT and VEGETABLES! We are excited, we washed them with a food disinfectant we got from the pharmacy and went right to work with those fruit and veggies. It was quite cheap too (4 lemons= 10 cents, 4 avacados = 1.50, 4 apples, pears, peaches = 1dollar, etc, etc). We have done pretty well staying under our budget. Some weird lady approached me at the grocery store whispering that I buy some sugar. It was really weird..it felt like a drug deal. We found out later that they were low on sugar crops this year so sugar is rationed. She just wanted us to buy some since she had already used up her rations.

Friday, February 4, 2011

We met Yesenia, a student from our last workshop, for ice cream today at the Main Plaza. I explored the big church while waiting, and it reminded me of how much I hated visiting church after church in Jerusalem.

We have been watching the news about all the problems in Egypt. I can't believe that people are looting the Cairo Museum. The have decapitated two mummies!!! And ruined about 70 other artifacts! I was informed that our tour guide while there, Ahmad, was just shot in the leg from trying to protect the museum. He went to the hotel with the JC students and the Jacksons fixed him up. I wonder where the JC students are and if they got out?? It is so weird to see Tahrir Square on TV and know that I was just there last semester.

Hermano Salazar picked us up LATE tonight for our workshop. We didn't get to our own workshop until 7:15. We ended up having to sing and dance in front of our class. We sang this popular Bolivian song we learned in the truck on the way over:

"Dibujare un corazon

Partir en dos….." and that’s all we know, but its about a guy who breaks girls hearts.

So, we had to teach 1.5 workshops in less than 3 hours!! Crazy, but we did it. I hope the people liked it. At the beginning of the workshop, I felt like such a failure. I didn't know if the people were having fun, if they understood my Spanish, if they were learning anything, if they would do anything about it, or if it would change any lives. Also, we only graduated 7 of the 12 (although we had 3-4 who were there to review the workshop from last time). So, I was worried that I was a failure. Anyways, after reading the other interns blogs and how great their classes were and how they cried to say bye and they graduated 12…. Anyways, you get the picture.

SO, I almost started crying when at the end of the workshop, they told us how much they enjoyed the workshop and how grateful they were to us. Some chared with us their plans and advertisements for their businesses. They even planned a lunch for us all a week from Saturday so that we could enjoy eating some typical Bolivian dishes. We also got invited over to a vegetarian meal on Monday afternoon. It is a really poor area and a bit dangerous. Lots of dirt roads and huts. BUT, it meant the world to me to know that what I am doing is making a difference (no matter how small) and that they did enjoy the class and understood my Spanish. Its just difficult for me to see the impact I'm making. MORE than Anything, I think I have a difficult time BELIEVING in myself and the POWER I have to help other. Something, I am working on and will need in my future career and family life.

More Hiccups (1/31-2/2)

Monday, January 31, 2011

We didn't do much, but tried to start a schedule to work out and eat well. We have been ding our Pilates and Zumba DVDs that we brought. We also went to Cotoca with the manager's two sons. Cotoca is in the outer skirts of Santa Cruz and it's one of the poorest areas in the city. The manager's son had served his mission in Santa Cruz so we went to one of his old areas. We first went to this place called Parque Fantasia. It was really fun, but really ghetto. There was no one there. Only six dogs who kept following us and barking at the horse randomly there. There were all these miniature versions of world sites and even a mini-version of the statue of liberty. There was also a zip-line! We hoped it was safe and got on it. So much fun!

Upon returning, Jose wanted to take us to eat at Tobys. Let me explain Tobys, Camilo said that it was feo and not very good. Jose always says the opposite of everyone else. So we thought we would try it ourselves. Jose said he would cam at 8 after I told him that I wanted to be home at 8 so I could talk to my family. So we called him back and said we would go at 6:30 or not at all. We walked there and it's just a fast food restaurant. It wasn't that good and a bit over-priced. Cristina was grumpy cause she wasn't satisfied and had to waste her money on that.

Sometimes she doesn't like talking that much so people are always asking her if she's alright or if she's mad or if she doesn't like them. She's never had that problem before, but here she does. I think it’s the culture…you have to be overly friendly with Latin Americans..something I learned on my mission. Anyways, it takes work to keep a conversation going, and since my Spanish isn't as great, (and I'm a bit self-conscious about it at times), this will really help here to learn how to start and keep conversations going. It is good practice for the mission I tell her. She is just used to being around people who do all the talking and so is used to observing and listening…which doesn't fly so well here. I try and push her out of her comfort zone a bit :)

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

The kids started school today. The roads were blocked off as we walked to the center. Cristina and I felt so proud of ourselves for walking all the way there without getting mugged or ran over. After crossing the street by ourselves for the first time, we looked at each other and I could tell we were both thinking the same thing: I feel so cool for doing this..ha ha (like a four year old again).

After arriving, we found out one of the employment specialists did not inform his stake of our workshop dates and now we are teaching the four-day workshops in three-days this week! Let's hope it goes well. We are pumped, excited, and nervous. There will be more people today and most of them will probably be older. So we'll have to explain things as simple as possible.

WED:

We went to the center at two today so Cristina could send her dad's birthday package before he left Peru. Hermano Aguilar said he would take us to DHL at 2, but when we got there, he had forgotten and was far away. So, Alex walked with us to DHL, it took about an hour and it was HOT. I stepped in gum. Anyways, when we finally got there, they wouldn't let her send her package because it had sunscreen in it. SO she took it out, and then she didn't have ID, so she couldn't send it (The center still had her passport anyway). She was so frustrated, I felt bad, but I hated wasting my day and still ahd to do prep for our workshop tonight. We have had a lot of hiccups and things go wrong here. The culture, I think. We are really being tested on patience. Things don't work out for us lately. But at least, we are safe and healthy :)

Hermano Salazar picked us up tonight for our workshop. Only two people were on time. The rest didn't show up until after 7:30, which provides an additional challenge for us to teach all the material in the even shorter amount of time. Also, they had forgotten to bring a few essentials for us (markers, cups for the soda, the legos, name tags). We had to make due without.

More Hiccups (1/31-2/2)

Monday, January 31, 2011

We didn't do much, but tried to start a schedule to work out and eat well. We have been ding our Pilates and Zumba DVDs that we brought. We also went to Cotoca with the manager's two sons. Cotoca is in the outer skirts of Santa Cruz and it's one of the poorest areas in the city. The manager's son had served his mission in Santa Cruz so we went to one of his old areas. We first went to this place called Parque Fantasia. It was really fun, but really ghetto. There was no one there. Only six dogs who kept following us and barking at the horse randomly there. There were all these miniature versions of world sites and even a mini-version of the statue of liberty. There was also a zip-line! We hoped it was safe and got on it. So much fun!

Upon returning, Jose wanted to take us to eat at Tobys. Let me explain Tobys, Camilo said that it was feo and not very good. Jose always says the opposite of everyone else. So we thought we would try it ourselves. Jose said he would cam at 8 after I told him that I wanted to be home at 8 so I could talk to my family. So we called him back and said we would go at 6:30 or not at all. We walked there and it's just a fast food restaurant. It wasn't that good and a bit over-priced. Cristina was grumpy cause she wasn't satisfied and had to waste her money on that.

Sometimes she doesn't talk much so people are always asking her if she's alright or if she's mad or if she doesn't like them. She's never had that problem before, but here she does. I think it’s the culture…you have to be overly friendly with Latin Americans..something I learned on my mission. Anyways, it takes work to keep a conversation going, and since my Spanish isn't as great, (and I'm a bit self-conscious about it at times), this will really help here to learn how to start and keep conversations going. It is good practice for the mission I tell her. She is just used to being around people who do all the talking and so is used to observing and listening…which doesn't fly so well here. I try and push her out of her comfort zone a bit :)

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

The kids started school today. The roads were blocked off as we walked to the center. Cristina and I felt so proud of ourselves for walking all the way there without getting mugged or ran over. After crossing the street by ourselves for the first time, we looked at each other and I could tell we were both thinking the same thing: I feel so cool for doing this..ha ha (like a four year old again).

After arriving, we found out one of the employment specialists did not inform his stake of our workshop dates and now we are teaching the four-day workshops in three-days this week! Let's hope it goes well. We are pumped, excited, and nervous. There will be more people today and most of them will probably be older. So we'll have to explain things as simple as possible.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

We went to the center at two today so Cristina could send her dad's birthday package before he left Peru. Hermano Aguilar said he would take us to DHL at 2, but when we got there, he had forgotten and was far away. So, Alex walked with us to DHL, it took about an hour and it was HOT. I stepped in gum. Anyways, when we finally got there, they wouldn't let her send her package because it had sunscreen in it. SO she took it out, and then she didn't have ID, so she couldn't send it (The center still had her passport anyway). She was so frustrated, I felt bad, but I hated wasting my day and still ahd to do prep for our workshop tonight. We have had a lot of hiccups and things go wrong here. The culture, I think. We are really being tested on patience. Things don't work out for us lately. But at least, we are safe and healthy :)

Hermano Salazar picked us up tonight for our workshop. Only two people were on time. The rest didn't show up until after 7:30, which provides an additional challenge for us to teach all the material in the even shorter amount of time. Also, they had forgotten to bring a few essentials for us (markers, cups for the soda, the legos, name tags). We had to make due without.

Wally (1/29-1/30)

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Wally day! Wally is like Volleyball. Except, you get walls you can bounce the ball off and you can also kick the ball. Pretty Sweet, huh? My manager and his family are PROS. No lie, they've been playing for YEARS! We got divided up into groups and mine won quite a few. Until we got tired, then we'd lose. That was such a workout though. I really enjoyed it despitemy reluctance to play initially. I did really well! We went to the pool afterwards and got to witness our manager do the doggy paddle and bark like a dog. I hadn't laughed so hard in a long time. NO LIE. And to end this awesome day, we went to Los Lomitos, and Argentinian place where they had some of the best meat I have ever tasted. We took leftovers home since we did NOT finish everything they served us. Two of the girls that were returning home and couldn't save their food gave us meat they hadn't touched and the rest of their rice and french fries. I had enough food for lunch and dinner the next day!

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Finally, on Sunday, we went to our corresponding ward, Barrio Estacion. It's actually a branch, but people there were super nice. They have a couple elders there. One of them is from Cedar City, Utah, and the other is from Cuzco, Peru. So one of them is ridiculously tall and the other is short, a great pair indeed. :) I think the one from Utah is new and doesn't speak a lot yet. Unfortunately, Alvaro (the managers son), who used to serve in this mission, said that the mission has gone down hill and the members don't trust the missionarys as much because of some disobedience. Our manager's wife and son were at our ward because it was a ward conference and the wife is in the Relief Society Stake Presidency. They offered to take us home which meant, free ride!!

We spent the rest of the Sunday home chilling til a friend, Jose, came over to visit for THREE hours before leaving! It was enjoyable for the most part, but I wanted to call my family and it was just an inconvenient time.

I learned something cool in church, you either ADAPT to the ways of the Lord in your own way, or you can ADOPT the ways of the Lord into your own life. I'm choosing for ADOPTING.

Cristina and I have been reading preach my gospel together since she is preparing for a misssion. I help teach her about how we taught it on my mission and how a mission is, and she helps teach me Spanish. It’s a great trade-off and I think we work really well together and are respectful of each other. We take turns doing things and serving each other. We both have our trials and problems, but we both help each other learn.

Check back for Pics later!

Free Week (1/25-1/28)

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

We stayed home most of the day today trying to send my grad school interview. Our internet is sooo slow that we ended up spending about all day and still didn't get it sent. The first time, it loaded to 60% and then failed (I had to pay ten bucks for that). The second time, I skyped my bro and we tried to do it through his work. It loaded to 80% after about 7 hours and then Cristina's internet stopped working! Apparently, our internet is not unlimited (like they said). What made it a longer day was that she had to constantly be doing something on the internet all day so it wouldn't shut off.

We kept ourselves busy with doing exercise, and I laid out in the house. 2:30 is the perfect time to get sun. We also did a dance video that was super funny.

Later, we went to Cine center and saw Enredados (tangled). Cristina loved it and this was my thrid time seeing it, only this time in Spanish. We were going to go with the single adults later at a different theater, but we didn't want to see imparable. On tuesdays, you can get into the movie theater for the price of 2 for 1. So it is only 25 Bolivians (3 bucks) for both of us to get a ticket. We also ate at the cinecenter and then Jose came and picked us up afterwards. We walked to the plaza and then through the park below our condominium and then just spent some time observing the people. It was pretty late and kids were just starting their practices for Carnaval. They prepare their dances about 2-3 months before Carnaval every night.

We found out from Jose some sad news. Today, a 9-story building by the center fell down. They were doing construction and it wasn't well-constructed. For the next few days people will be picking up rubble and trying to get the buried bodies out. In total, about 10-15 people died and as of today (a week later), they still haven't uncovered all the bodies. The US offered to help but Bolivia's Government said that they could take care of it themselves.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

We finally sent my video today. Though we had to go to the center and use Luis' computer. It only took 20 minutes! We complained about how slow our internet is and that Cristina's now does not work. I feel bad, but internet is a MUST, especially with school. They do everything they can to help us, but in Bolivia things move so slow and nothing ever works. (phone, internet, dryer, washer, dirty apartment, schedules, etc.)

Thursday, January 27, 2011

We called Camilo and Jose to go to the Zoo with us today. Camilo came over at about noon to bring us a big water jug and tell us that Luis wants us to go to the center to do Passport stuff at two. Unfortunately, we had plans to leave for the zoo at noon and we were a bit peeved that people could just drop something like that on you randomly. However, I called Luis and told him we were going to the zoo and were planning on spending a couple of hours there. He was understanding. There was no way we were going to make it back by two, even though the zoo was supposedly small. It was still cool to see the monkeys, pumas, llamas, and the tigers were really playful and fighting each other. That was fun to watch. I especially thought it was funny how there was a sign next to the tiger cage that said "cuidado, este animal muerde" (careful, this animal bites).

We also ordered Pizza tonight. It was an American chain so it was really good. We will have enough for the next few meals. It was only like 5$ each for a large 12 piece pizza to be delivered.

Friday, January 28, 2011

So Camilo told us he would pick us up between 7 and 8 this morning. I told him he can't give us an hour-long time frame. So he said ok, well more like 7:30 or closer to eight. We set our alarms for 7 so we could be ready by 7:30. Camilo called us at 7:01 and said "are you guys ready yet?" !!!!!????? He said that he had sent a taxi and it would be here in ten. What was he thinking? We raced out of bed and got ready for the long day ahead of us in 5 minutes and grabbed cold pizza to eat with our medicine on the way out.

We were about an hour and half early for the employment seminar by the time we got there at (7:15). We were both a little bit angry with Camilo. My anger wore off, but I know now how I need to be firm with and take a little bit more control over my time and what I expect from others. If I don't want to wait an hour and a half for someone to pick me up (or be picked up an hour and a half early), I need to give people a fifteen minute time frame in which I will be picked up or take my own cab.

The seminar was mostly for the stake specialists. But it was fun to get to know the specialists from each stake. We also got Polo shirts, planners and fed all day. I got to learn lots of new Vocabulary and got used tp the way people talk here.

When we went to lunch, one of the ladies invited us to stay at her house when we go to Cochabamba. It sounded fun and she has two daughters our age, but after asking our manager…he said we would suffer there. (I guess she was exceptionally nice and sociable that day and that she usually causes problems at the meeting each year). So it was difficult trying to dodge that one without offending her.

We went to the chapel for lunch and had Bolivia's delicious peanut soup. And, then, there was still more after that. Pineapple juice, and chicken, rice and and something green and yellow. I tried it and liked the taste, but after inquiring, found out that I was eating CHUNO!! Let's explain chuño a bit. It's freeze-dried potatoes that are then fermented. It was...not that bad, until they told me what it was. When you have the image of women stomping on these potatoes until they're juiced out, it kinda takes away your appetite. BUT the meal was really really good. Apparently Cochabamba has better food, and people like to eat there, a lot. I'll probably fast before our two-week trip to Cochabamba hahaha

After lunch, we walked past the building that had fallen down and found out we could volunteer to help remove the rubble at night. However, Camilo told us not to and that it probably wouldn't do any good anymore because the people are already dead. I think the death count was around 28.

After the conference ended at 6, we went to the center for premiacion. We waited two hours before the people came to dance for us. I was so tired and wanted to go home. It was supposed to start at 6:30, but didn't until 8. Anyways, we stayed and it was really fun to watch the youth group do some folklore dances for us. We ate empanadas afterward which were pretty good, but I got a chicken bone and an olive pit in mine. I hate having to spit things out in front of the cook.

Pictures to come!

Grad School Interviews (1/23-1/24)

Sunday, January 23, 2011

We were supposed to go to Warnes (a province outside the city) to go to the ward of one of our workshop participants. We were also supposed to give a talk during Sacrament and inform people of the TAL workshops we taught. We were up and running by 7am, despite not having slept too long. BUT, Reynaldo never came to pick us up!! So........we didn't get to go to church. Not because we were slackers, but because we didn't know where our own ward met, since we had just moved into the apartment earlier that week and had planned on going to Warnes to give talks. We checked online but couldn't find any info. We don't have a phone yet either (we do but its not activated). So, we cleaned out the FRIDGE and then some. The apartment is starting to look more homey. And we watched Pride and Prejudice, the LONG version. Cristina had never seen it, she liked it better than the newer version. Then I spent all day tagging photos of me on facebook since Cristina taught me how to do it. It was kind of a long day being in our one room with AC all day. PS, we didn't have any food either, so we just ate rice and crackers. That was all the food we had. We may have torn up a piece of ham in it.

Monday, January 24, 2011

So Monday, we went to the Center to film my Interview so I could send it to BYU's MFT Grad Program. That's how we spent the entire morning, it was nerve-racking a difficult. But, it feels great to be done with it and to have finished it so quickly and so well. THEN we went to go eat Mexican Food!! It's called El Chile and the burritos were good, although they weren't authentic, but still, it reminded us a little of American food at home. At a reasonable price too. I think I paid $5 for the entire meal (even though its apparantly a really expensive restaurant just for tourists??). I felt more at home for sure. Well we came home because there was a guy who was supposed to come fix the dryer, but it turns out he couldn't so he's sending us someone else sometime this week or next week (although it probably will never happen with how the things move here). Everything moves quite slow here, definitely not used to it yet. And last but not least, we went to a store called Hypermaxi and bought a bunch of stuff for the apartment. AKA more WATER. Hermano Salazar and Camilo drove us there in the truck so we could by a ton. It wasn't as cheap as I expected, but we stayed under our budget and were super frugal with what we would and would not buy.

Ah well this is what's happened until now. It hasn't been easy adjusting to a new country and a new culture. But, I know the Lord has a reason for everything and there's a reason I'm here. I'm teaching workshops that can and will change people's lives.

I decided we should read a chapter in the Book of Mormon for "Family Home Evening" to help us be patient and have the spirit with us. (Ever since we have been doing this and reading a chapter a day and praying a lot and I already feel a world of difference. I feel Safer, more relaxed, and at home and can enjoy myself despite the terror..ha ha). We wanted to read something that applied to us, so we're reading about Mosiah's sons mission to the Lamanites. We feel like we can relate a liitle, and have no reason to feel sorry for us and every reason to trust in the Lord. Tonight, we read about Ammon and his cutting off the arms. Haha it's a great story, but I kind of feel like we are a bit like the sons of Mosiah. We each went our separate ways to teach the "workshops" to the "Latin Americans" and we're told that we should be patient towards them and have faith that God is with us always. Times are hard, especially when you're far away from your family and close friends. But it's the Footprints in the Sand poem, there's another set of footprints right beside ours.

Las Cuevas (1/22)

Saturday, January 22, 2011

We went to a place called Las Cuevas, which is about 3+ hours from the city. It was really fun riding in a "micro" with 30 other single adults (some had to stand the whole three hours, we really squished in there)

Camilo was late picking us up of course (and forgot to tell us to bring a swimsuit), the bus left late (Bolivian time = one and one half hour later always) But I met Carlos, from Utah who is visiting his dad for the year. His girlfriend Carolina was soo nice. She lent me a tank, and her friend Yesenia lent me binker shorts to swim in :). Camilo also bought us some empanadas and strawberry milk for the road to add to our packed lunch. Carolina gave me a Saltena to try. It was pretty good, like an empanada but more juicy. We made a lot of new friends.

Las Cuevas was GREEN beyond reason. I really felt like I was in the jungle.

We did see a bunch of horses and cows, some peacocks, tiny villages and shacks, a random guy walking in the canyon with a machete, and cocaine leaves. Also, any time the bus stopped in any small village, women and children mauled the bus trying to sale stuff. They were such cute indigenous people with the long thick braids, hats, and blue skirts. Also, I have never seen so many Butterflies in one place in my entire life!!

There were some really cool waterfalls and lots of mosquitoes too. I swam in the waterfalls and played on the beach. Cristina got bit in one of her eyelids by a mariwi. We had to be careful about repellent since Dengue fever is such a big deal here at this time of year. The mariwi bites itch sooo bad. I did get a bit sunburned too. I had really good time appreciating the wonders of Mother Nature and taking pics. The bus ride was long going back, and the roads were super questionable (steep cliffs, dirt roads, bumps and narrow) At one point we blew a tire and at another everyone had to stand on one side so the bus wouldn't tip when we went through the hole. but it was worth it.