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!
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