"On the Trail"
LaPaz, Bolivia (Shauna)
A great rest! I didn't realize how tired I was until I arrived. Being received in by a wonderful family with a "North-American-standard" of home (house, customs, etc) was a well needed break.
The father is a Director with the Peace Corps, and surprise surprise, the mother a Councillor at the International school I wanted to visit - how perfect! Both boys - energetic and caring 15 and 16 year olds. I, for a short time, felt part of their family. I appreciate especially watching how their family really is the four of them working together to create the home they want. The eldest boy, for example, being an active part of helping to design their new kitchen. The younger, coming back from a school trip in the jungle and sharing that now he knows more about this region than Dad. Learning together; learning from one another. And, like any healthy family, a small dose of conflict - that sibling rivalry of which I've been missing! (Ntara, Beth -- beware, I'll be home soon! *grin*)
On Tuesday, I visited an International School - two grade three classes, the grades fives and sixes and one grade eight class. Loads of questions, and energy! One of the first teachers I met is from my home province - Saskatchewan! He's a cyclist and grew up in Moose Jaw, of all places! His wife is from Regina. Very fun connect!
La Paz is built on steep slopes - if you get lost, just go down! Reorient yourself, and go back up! Sometimes I like to imagine I am arriving to a place straight from Canada - to see things with "fresh eyes." As I did this, walking or riding around the streets of La Paz, I realize how chaotic it all would seem. An "organized chaos" - one area containing vendors selling all sorts of hardware - light bulbs, nuts and bolts, locks, extension cords - you name it. Some are in actual stores and the majority on the street. People walking, on bikes, in cars, the mini-van buses honking. Another area - nothing but dried goods - gigantic bags of rice, oats, powdered condiments, all sorts of nuts, raisins, rock hard dried peaches. Then there's your clothing and shoes. Intermixed are the leather jackets made in Bolivia - of various qualities. And, of course, the tourist section of artesenias - colourful woven tablecloths, ponchos, handbags, sweaters and postcards. There's a couple of streets which sell all sorts of natural medicinal products and "witchcraft" - amulets for good luck, to keep away bad spirits, for your health, for - you name it! Supposedly the dried up llama fetus is extra special good luck (but too big to wear around your neck!) And, of course, everywhere a woman with child selling candies and chocolates, bananas and oranges or tomatos and carrots. While in other countries buying peanuts was quite expensive, here they're all over the place! Peanut soup, peanut bars, peanuts in shells, peanuts without shells. And, I rediscovered GORP - with all the ingredients so readily available, I'm off jam-packed with energizing Good Old Raisins and Peanuts!
Shauna
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