Hola amigos!

We completed the long journey and finally reached the Amistad Villa yesterday (Dec 31 2009). There was a little trouble with the roads, so our van was not able to pass along the rest of the street. You should have seen the looks we got trying to roll our huge bags down the rock and dirt covered roads. Muchas risas. When we passed through the gates of the mission we were shown to our apartment. A small one room abode, perfect for our stay. After dropping our bags and receiving a schedule of houses at which we were to eat at each day, we were abruptly abandoned by our guides and left to our own devices. I walked down to Kantuta house where we were eating dinner and was greeted with such a warm welcome. Mama Maria Eugenia gave me a kiss on the cheek and the children began to, one by one, attach themselves to each of my limbs. Although I didn’t understand a whole lot of what they were saying, I knew that the excitement of my arrival was mutual. I was told a time to be back for dinner, and continued on the Casa Copacabana where a special friend of mine lives. I wish I could have taped the reunion between Leo and me because I would love to replay it over and over. Leonardo and I became close after my trip to Amistad this past summer. He is a rambunctious ten year old who takes great joy in learning new English words and fixing things. When we saw each other both of our faces lit up and of course I started crying (causing the rest of the children to dub me “loco bambina”). After visiting with Casa Copacabana for a bit I headed back to mi casa to wash up and head to dinner. Surprise! No water in Amistad till Monday. Luckily they turned it on later that night to test the pipes so I got to clean up, but to flush the toilet we keep a bucket of water in the bathroom. 4 scoops equal 1 flush, just in case you were wondering. Mary and I changed clothes and brushed our hair and continued down to Kantuta where we helped set the table for dinner. After a lovely grace we were given a thinly sliced piece of battered chicken, potato wedges, boiled broccoli, and fresh tomatoes (which we unfortunately couldn’t eat because of the bacteria in Bolivian water). It was sad to see that Mary and I were given the largest portions while the children were given only small amounts of meat and potatoes and instead received rice, a filler food. Hopefully we can convince the mamas to serve us exactly like the children during our stay. After dinner, we played a few games, took some pictures, and said “Buenos noches!” Despite the New Year’s celebrations outside our window, we were so tired that we crashed as soon as we hit the sheets.

Rise and shine! We decided to sleep in a bit to catch up on our rest. I woke before Mary and decided to eat my breakfast outside. The weather is absolutely amazing. Warm but not too hot with a slight breeze. No humidity at all. Right outside our door, we are greeted by the large mountains that surround all of Cochabamba. I sat and absorbed the fact that I am fortunate enough to be able to travel to a place like this and experience the things I will this month. After both Mary and I were up and at em, we took Kantuta to the basketball court and played some soccer. The children have so much energy and even after being here for one day, are so comfortable around you. We ate lunch with Copacabana around 12:30. The meal was not too great but it is a part of the Bolivian culture I will need to get accustomed to. After lunch and a quick siesta, we played dogeball with some of the girls from San Miguel (the girls youth house in Amistad). A few boys from the boys youth house located in the city rode their bikes up to visit their old mamas and siblings. Hanging out with kids our own age made for a fun afternoon. They joked about relationships and talked about celebrities. Again, the language barrier made me the comedic relief, but I didn’t mind. It was just fun to be with other teenagers. Before dinner the girls all watched part of The Princess Diaries. Dinner back at Copacabana was amazing. We had mashed potatoes with seasoned beef on top. Mama Teadora surprised us by purchasing Pepsi for us which we told her was unnecessary by incredibly kind. After dinner we took the children to the park where Mary and I got a taste for what this month is going to be like. We played and laughed harder than we ever have before. Towards the end we all sat in a circle on the asphalt and looked and the stars. Already I can’t imagine leaving this place. Finally we said our good nights and walked back to our place where we were greeted by a wonderful smell. Right across from our apartment is the Amistad bakery. Mama Maria Eugenia and a few girls from Kantuta were baking the bread for the week. Perhaps as the month rolls on I will learn to bake as well as they do. Mary and I purchased a few bread rounds and returned to get ready for bed. As I sat in my sheets and wrote this entry, we got a knock on the door. Mama Maria just baked us a fresh piece of bread which she filled with cheese. She warned us that it was too hot to eat tonight, gave us a kiss, and said good night. The kindness of these women and children takes my breath away. I wish I could tell you every detail of my day but this post would be so long no one would want to read it. So as I sit here and eat my warm cheese bread and read my Spanish to English dictionary I am thinking about all of you and how I hope you will all be able to experience this place. I am so grateful for this opportunity! Until next time. Beunos noches!!!