Coke-head Sammy

Ok, we’re in Copacabana and upon the recommendation of a friend to only drink hard liquor at such high altitude (3,841 m = 12,602 ft!!) we’re a little tipsy. After dinner we’re sitting at a bar that literally looks like someone opened up an empty room for the evening and threw in some chairs and a few tables. When fancy drinks are less than $3 they seem to keep coming and the next thing you know your roommate is doing a jager bomb. Laughing. You know how after a while at the same bar you get antsy and it’s time to find a new spot or go home? Well you can’t get me liquored up and then send me home, so we leave the bar to find a wheelbarrow leaning against the building outside the door. Not being able to resist my roommate jumps in and I think it would be a good idea to take her for a ride. More laughing. We get in trouble by some local person and get directions to the late night bar. Head right and then right again and walk until on the right you see a door. Oh, ok, clear enough, let’s go.

We get inside and order up some, what?, beer? Ok, sure why not. What is that I hear? Music that IS NOT salsa? Yahoo, let’s dance. We’re jamming to Oasis when a guy we met earlier (as our waiter) pulls me aside and says in his broken English, “I have a surprise for you! I have a surprise for you! I have a surprise for you!” He repeats himself a few more times and starts pulling me in the direction of the bathroom. I reach for my roommate and pull her with me. We’re both pulled into the stall of a bathroom and he is giddy with excitement and keeps telling us he has a surprise and before you know it we are directed to the back of the toilet. Huh? What? Whoa! Wait! WTF? NO! Eww! Ummmmm… My roommate backs out of the crowded stall and pulls me with her. OMG, OMG, OMG, are you kidding me? What just happened? Before you know it Sammy is back out on the dance floor, maybe a little more energetic, and has managed to weasel his self into most of our pictures from that night.

Surs are Brrrr

The weather is schitzo here. One minute it is close to 100°F and it’s all I can do to stop complaining about my upstairs bedroom being an sauna, and the next morning you wake up and BAM the clouds have rolled in and the wind is whipping through the palm trees and it’s now 50°F. Yeah, yeah, you think 50 isn’t that bad, but let me tell you that it only takes a year of living in the tropics for 50 to chill you through to the bone. I didn’t expect this temperature variation here. I packed 2 pairs of long pants (both jeans) and no comfy sweatshirt at all. After wearing flip flops every day last year, it’s quite an adjustment to wake up to the chilly rain.

Looking though my window at home you can see the clouds rolling in and almost feel the creepy cold.

Feria

The big state fair is here! Thursday is Santa Cruz Day (I have no idea what that means) but I do know that I get a four day weekend to celebrate. So next weekend a group of us will be heading to LaPaz. This past weekend was the start of the fair and the big opening event is the Cattle Auction. A parent of one of my 10th graders owns a farm and is in charge of the auction. They also own an import company that imports beverages such as various whiskeys, other hard liquors and energy drinks. So after being added to the "list" we headed down to the fair to see what the auction is all about.

The night started with a "Mother's Club Dinner" at the country club by our school. The dinner invitation was for 8 pm and keeping with 3rd world country time lines, we were served dinner around 10 pm. Did you remember to lower your expectations? Did you check your common sense at the door?

We arrive at around 11 pm to find that the auction is under full swing. There is a huge "stage" with sand and bars and two vaqueros leading the cows around. The auctioneer is speed talking his way through descriptions of the cows family line, measurements and finally calling for bids. There is a book on the table with the cow stats and low and behold measurements of all body parts, including the most valuable part of a bull. 39.5 cm? Wow, now I'm even impressed. Along the wall we see a screen with the lot number and the bidding amount. What $5,000? $6,000? $13,000? Oui, now that's a bit out of my price range. As none of the teachers were in the market for a cow or bull, we just enjoyed the free flowing drinks and food (hey is this part of the cow we just saw?) and of course admired the anatomy of the cows.

Jones - N

I really, really, really want to go to a "real" mall. I am dying for some good old fashion Bath and Body Works lotion and body splash. I would love a Starbucks coffee and oh how good does a chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-A sound? I loved just strolling around Whole Foods and what I wouldn't give for a delicious smelling candle! I keep thinking of plopping down in front of my parent's nice, huge TV and vegging out for a few hours. Oh, how about walking down the street without being worried about being pistol whipped or held up at gun point. Just to zone out for a bit. It's tough living in a new place and getting settled. It's tough being on guard every second. It's tough not being able to hop in my car and run some errands. Don't get me wrong... it's all worth it, but this week has been a week from hell and I would love some familar things around me. I did bring a stock pile of some lotions and body products, but each day, as I use a little more I get stressed about that one moment - when poof- no BBW left in my closet. You all who knew me back home know that I am a lotion addict. I have been known to have rubbermaid bins filled with BBW stuff in my closets. I find comfort in having a stockpile of body products. Food - now I don't care about that so much, but lotion - now that's what makes me happy!

Tomorrow I'm getting up early to help with a Habitat for Humanity project. I'll bring my camera and post some pics from the day. Until then, I'll burn the last bit of my US candles (please, try and find a good smelling, good quality candle here!) and get some rest. Of course that is after my pilates class.
Ciao