World AIDS Day

Our Ninos con Valor group at the march.
A little girl and her sign that is calling for a health budget for those living with HIV/AIDS.
Abigail, Adriana, and Johana at the march.
The girls marching towards the Main Plaza.
A group was carrying around this coffin–a symbol of the death of Antiretroviral drugs, the treatment for those living with HIV/AIDS, in Bolivia.


December 1st is World AIDS Day–a day for people around the world to unite in the fight against AIDS and HIV, support those living with the disease, and remember and commemorate those who have died. Each year, the foundation participates and joins the marches and activities planned for this day.

This year was an important march, movement, and occupation of the main plaza–to promote knowledge about the disease and about the lack of resources and medicine. Recently, there was news that by the end of 2012 there will be no more medicine for those living with HIV/AIDS here in Bolivia. According to the Bolivian government, the countries and organizations that donate medicine and money to help those who are living positively have suspended their donations.It is not known why this happened, but many are speculating that the government has not been using the money properly.

Currently, about 4,500 people in Bolivia are living positively, but this number only includes the reported cases. According to many organizations, about 17,000 to 20,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS. This discrepancy is due to unreported cases and those who are undiagnosed and untreated.

Therefore, this year, the World AIDS Day march focused on a budget for care, treatment, and medicine for those living and affected by HIV/AIDS. Many people were talking about the lack of medicine and medical care, as well as the lack of education about the disease–how it is contracted, what it is, how to prevent it, etc. For the march, those who are positive were instructed to wear all black, and to show our solidarity and support, the girls and the staff who attended the movement dressed in black as well. We marched from the southern section of the city in the Cancha north to the Main Plaza. While marching, many carried signs, and all chanted about never forgetting those who have died from this disease, as well as a dire need for medicine, education, care, and understanding.Once in the Plaza, tents were set-up to provide information about HIV/AIDS and speakers from different organizations were giving out information about the disease and the crisis about the medicine.

Although a march and movement have been organized, not enough is being done here in Bolivia to improve the lives of those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS, and to educated others about the disease. I only hope that the Bolivian government will do something to ensure those who need the medicine will receive it.

It never fails to amaze me how wonderful and caring our kids are. They talked to other people at the march, chanted, and participated. They all realize that the medicine crisis will not only affect thousands of people in the country, but will affect people they know and live with. Therefore, participating and taking a stand for something that will improve lives has become important to them.

Giving Thanks.

Thanksgiving has come and gone already, and I find myself really understanding the meaning of being thankful and realizing all the blessings I have received. This year, I am not only thankful for my family--my wonderful parents who have given me so much love and support, my grandparents, and uncles, aunts, cousins, and my amazing friends--but I am thankful for my Bolivian family. The girls and boys of Ninos con Valor have changed my life forever, and I love them all so. They have taught me important life lessons--bravery and loyalty, friendship and trust, but most importantly, how to love despite pain. For being so young, these kids are so wise.

I am also thankful for the opportunities I have had, including the time I have spent in Bolivia. I have learned so much about myself here in Cochabamba. I have learned how to face obstacles with strength and faith, extreme appreciation of what i have and have had, and unconditional love for the important people in my life--I wouldn't be who I am or where I am without you all.

This holiday season, as I spend time with the kids baking cookies and making advent calendars, I will appreciate the little moments that bring so much happiness and joy into my life. And, although I will be celebrating Christmas away from my family and friends, I will appreciate their love and send my love to them.

More than thankful for these girls--they have given me the chance to be an older sister, and help me to remember to laugh and not take life so seriously.
Oh, these boys keep me young at heart--running around in water on hot days, playing with cars, and snuggling up reading story books.

Campo Visit Brings Hope

Living in a nice apartment on the north-side of the city and working at two homes located directly in the center, I can easily forget that this, sadly, is not the reality for majority of the Bolivian people. I have my own room, running water, electricity, a separate bathroom with a toilet and a shower, but for a big percentage of Bolivians, these are all luxuries, and for some, have never and will never be experienced.

But, my visit to the campo today definitely helped me remember how majority of families live in Bolivia. Standing before two families that are extremely impoverished, but definitely filled with love, kindness, and extreme appreciation, I felt embarrassed about how much I take for granted and how much I have been blessed with. Standing there today, I wished I could change the world in one small way--create equality and justice for all. And, give those who have so little a chance to experience the "luxuries" and not have to stress about where the next meal will come from or how new school clothes and books will be payed for--things no one should have to worry about.

Along with the social worker who works quite diligently to protect and to create a brighter future for the children of Ninos con Valor and the families we work with, we set off to visit two families the foundation has been helping. The first family is made up of an elderly grandmother and her 5 grandchildren. After both parents passed away, the grandmother took in the children so they would not have to enter the system, which means potentially being separated. However, because the grandmother is older and very sick, the children have taken on responsibilities that no child should have to deal with, let alone even think about.

The oldest sister met us at one of the homes to ensure we arrived safely, and thank goodness she did! We spent about an hour and a half on multiple trufis heading out of the city. Once we arrived in her "neighborhood" (zona in spanish), we walked for 25 minutes on dirt and rock roads to get to their house. The children and the grandmother were extremely grateful, and very welcoming. Although they possess very little, they have learned what is truly important--family, love, and unity. We talked about how they were all doing in school and joked around.

View from their house-the city isn't even in sight.

The family together-they have so much love for each other.

We took pictures of the kids because we are trying to raise money to help the three oldest enter college, and promote sponsorship of all the children. The oldest sister is finishing her first year at a local university and is studying law. She leaves the house at 6 AM in order to arrive at the university for her 8 AM classes. She works extremely hard in school, and is very responsible. Her two siblings will enter a university next year--the sister wants to study to become a nurse, and the brother wants to become a mechanic. They all realize that receiving an education is the only way to help their siblings and create a future for their family.

The hike the oldest sister takes each day in order to attend her classes.

After a quick lunch break, we were back on a trufi headed out the city to visit another family. This family consists of a mother, a father, and 5 children. The parents got together at a very young age, and had their first child when the mother was 15. Both have very little education, and currently do small jobs to make enough money to squeeze by--the mom sells fruit in the market two days a week, and takes care of a house, and the father is a brick-layer and mason. The father works from early in the morning until late at night, so the mom takes care of the children.

The mother and her 5 children.

All 7 of the family members live in one room with 2 mattresses, a broken TV, and one light. Despite the lack of space and resources, the family is very close and appreciates what they have. They are building a kitchen, but the construction is slow due to the lack of money. But, the mother explained that it is slowly coming together. Once we arrived, they offered us Pepsi. The mother expressed her embarrassment, however, about the old, worn-out cups. We chatted with the mom about her health (She was diagnosed with cancer a few years back and had a surgery to remove the large tumor) and talked to the children about school. We also took pictures of them in hopes of finding sponsors for the 5 siblings.

The one room all live in, and the kitchen that is being built to the right.

Although these moments are tough on the spirit and the belief in hope, justice, and equality, these moments help me realize just how lucky I am. I have been blessed with wonderful, caring parents, a university education, a roof over my head, healhty food, and the chance to travel and experience the world.

My hope for the future is that one day justice will reign, equality will prevail, and those who are without will have what they need.

Understanding.

This past week has been about trying to make sense of and understand things going on around me. More than any other week in Bolivia, last week tested my ideas about cultural acceptance and sensitivity--if something is a cultural norm, does it make it right??

After turning my visa papers into the immigration offices in August, I assumed that I would have my passport and 2 year visa by November. Clearly, I was wrong. The workers keep commenting that I "Just turned the papers in not too long ago." However, to me, 3 months to stamp and write on the visa seems quite adequate. So, I am still waiting, not patiently and very begrudgingly, for my passport and my visa to return from La Paz--after three months.

After receiving this news from the immigration officer, I went to get a bus home and ended up taking a tour of the city. Without announcement, the Police blocked off all major bridges and roads leading up north, towards my house. Everyone on the bus was confused and upset about the blockades, as nothing had been announced. A woman on the bus started crying because she was worried about picking up her daughter from school. The bus driver drove all over the city attempting to cross-over and head north, but everything was blocked. So, I decided to make the long trek from downtown up to my apartment, a 45 minute walk. After getting home, I learned that there was a major bicycle race through the city, but no announcements had been made previously about the road closures.

And, on Friday, I went to the one of the schools the girls attend to see their end of the year performances. I enjoy going to these school, and look forward to them. But, mid-way through the presentations, one of the girls informed me that one of the other girls was crying in the bathroom. So, along with her sister, I went in to the bathroom to figure out what was going on. Eventually through tons of sobs and tears, she told us the director of the school had hit her. I was immediately angry and outraged, and her sister went to talk to another tia who was there. Who could hit a child, especially a kid that has already suffered violence, neglect, and abandonment?
When we got home, I talked with the tia who had also been present at the school. And, as we talked about what happened, I was shocked at her lack of outrage and anger. She seemed to be placing some of the blame on the girl who had been hit. The director claimed that because our girl had been rude and had an attitude, she hit her. I was appalled by this, and shocked the other tia wasn't more upset. She was saying that because I am not Bolivian and of the Bolivian culture, I wouldn't understand. But, despite my culture, hitting a kid is wrong and child abuse. And, just because this may be something that is accepted and approved of within the Bolivian culture, does not make it right.

Last week was very trying, and had me questioning certain factors of the Bolivian culture. And, I realize, the culture of the US, the culture I grew up in, is far from perfect and has many unsolved problems. Unannounced blockades seems inconsiderate and inefficient, but something that will not harm anyone. And, taking extra time to complete and finalize paperwork to make an extra buck seems wrong and erroneous. But, sadly, is something that stems from severe, fierce poverty that has plagued the Bolivian people for hundreds of years. But, hitting a child because of his or her attitude and rudeness is never allowed--it is child abuse. And, just because something is an accepted cultural norm, does not make it right. And, I say the same thing about cultural norms of the US--the envious, greedy, ravenous, self-indulgent nature of many North Americans. Just because this is normal and accepted by many North Americans, does not make it right!

So, I look at these moments as enlightening and illuminating. I invite these instances, and realize that although I may not be able to change everyone's opinions, I can change, help, and improve the lives of the kids I am working with--protecting them from abusive teachers, helping them discover their talents and strengths, and assisting them in creating a better, brighter future for themselves.

Karina Lost Her Tooth!

After weeks and weeks of two very loose front teeth, Karina made the brave decision to pull out her own tooth last Friday. Earlier last week, the other very loose front tooth fell out while she was eating, but its pair held on for the next few days by a very, very strong root. Her new teeth were beginning to grow in, and we were hoping it would fall out naturally. But, this was a very stubborn tooth!

So, last Friday after lunch, Karina sat in the dining room with a group of the tias. She was determined to get the tooth out, but was extremely nervous about the pain and the blood. After about 10 minutes of crying and trying to pry the stubborn tooth out by herself, the tias convinced Karina that a better idea was to use string, and that way she could get it out all by herself. And, after some panicking, Karina was convinced that this was the best, quickest way to get this very stubborn tooth out!

So, after we put ice on the tooth, Karina asked for a countdown and pulled the string. She pulled her tooth out all by herself! Karina was extremely excited and proud of herself, but I think she was most excited about the ice cream she got after!

"Old Friends...Sat on Their Park Bench Like Bookends"

As the quince of one of our teens approaches, plans and details are being worked out. So, that means running errands and escorting her places to ensure everything is planned and in place.

Today, she needed to chat with some of the boys in her quince about their ties and shirts. We had to go to one of the schools where half of the girls have classes in the afternoon. I was a bit nervous to go because I know that it can be embarrassing when a parent figure comes to school.

But, as we arrived, the students were beginning recess. I told her to go and find the boys she needed to talk with because I didn't think she wanted one of her tias following her around. So, I decided to sit on a bench near the entrance to the school and wait for her. As I sat there, Sofia ran up and gave me a big hug. She sat down on the bench with me and we talked. Then, Olivia, who was walking with a friend, came over and sat with us, as did her friend. And, one of the younger girls, Adriana, found us and joined us on the bench. I told the girls that they could enjoy their recess chatting with friends, but they said that sitting with me was what they wanted. This absolutely made my day!

As frustrated as I get with the girls at times, these are the moments that make the small spats, attitudes, and PMS all worth it. I don't think these three girls will ever know how much this meant to me. I know I say this all the time, but I work with the most amazing kids ever.

As the five of us sat on the bench, I thought of Simon and Garfunkel's song "Old Friend:"

"Old Friends, old friends, sat on their park bench like bookends..."

Go with all your Heart...

These words are so true on a day like this...
I have come to Bolivia with all my heart.
I have found a place that will hold my heart forever.
And when I leave, a piece of my heart will stay.
It will stay with the wonderful girls and boys I work with.
It will stay with the people I met and got to know.
It will stay.
Forever.

Fondue Fun!

Saturday night, after saying goodbye to Tia Clare at the airport, Kimber and I had the older girls over for a special treat and some fun times! We arrived, and immediately, the girls wanted a tour of the apartment. They wanted to see the different rooms, and they were in awe of the view from our terrace.

But, not long after arriving, we shared the surprise we put together for the girls--chocolate fondue with bananas and apples, pears and marshmallows. At first, the girls were hesitant to dive into the fondue. But, after a few demonstrations, the girls dug into with their fondue sticks, and kept returning for more! Because they don't get to eat sweets and candy often, they definitely ate much more than we expected! But, that's what we are here for, to have fun nights and eat chocolate with the girls!

After consuming a bunch of fondue and fruit, it was time for games! We played telephone, which took me back to grade school, and the scissor game, where you need to figure out whether to pass the scissors open or closed. The girls really had fun with the telephone sentences, and really got into figuring out the key to the scissor game. After that, some of the girls played cacho, the Bolivian dice game, with us, while others played a car racing game and watched a movie.

Around 11:15 PM, the girls headed home in a taxi. Before taking off, all of them thanked us for everything, but especially the chocolate fondue, obviously their favorite part of the night!

Times like this make me realize not only how lucky I am to work with such amazing, inspirational kids, but also, how sweet, kind, and caring the children of Ninos con Valor are! These are the nights that I truly appreciate. Nights that I get to know the girls a little more and share special moments with them!

Suffering.

A man asked his friend, "Why does God allow so much suffering, pain, and sadness to occur in the world?"

His friend replied, "Why don't you ask Him yourself?"

And, the first man says, "Because I am afraid God might ask me the same question."

I went to church yesterday, which I hate to admit was my first time in a while, and the pastor touched on an issue that I have been struggling with--why God allows so much suffering and heartbreak? Since moving to Bolivia, I have struggled with this idea as I see families living in desperate poverty, a type of poverty I had never seen before.

I ask God why the children I work with have had such heartbreaking, devastating, traumatic pasts that continue to haunt them? I ask why parents leave their babies in trashcans and parks, on the street and in public bathrooms? I continue to ask why families do not have enough food and water, basic rights for all mankind? I ask why 12 year olds have to make extremely life choices that I, as a 24 year old, have never had to even think about? I ask why we all do not live in a world with more justice, more equality, more love, and less jealousy, less hate, and less inequity?

The list goes on and on, but I realized sitting in church that God is not the only on responsible for the suffering that occurs. We are, as human beings, responsible for the happiness, as well as the pain, of others. We have a duty to ensure others are not suffering, which may include distributing wealth more equally or donating extra money we possess, living a more practical lifestyle to ensure others are surviving or helping raise awareness about certain issues.

As Ghandi once said, "Live simply so that others may simply live."



Photos:
1. http://chrisbonoan.blogspot.com/2011/02/in-early-2004-my-father-was-diagnosed.html
2. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3367/3554672929_6f1ce27e65.jpg

Mizque: Chirimolle Pampa

Last Monday morning, we left for Mizque with a team from First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue, Washington. We first visited Incallajta, Incan ruins about 4 hours south east of the city of Cochabamba. The ruins were very interesting, but are less frequented than Machu Picchu and less taken care of as well. This area was the easternmost section of the extremely vast Incan Empire. The biggest building was 80m by 25m (263 ft by 82 ft). During the time of the Incas, this huge building had a roof which was supported by huge columns, however, today the roof and columns are no longer standing. Outside of this building, there is a large boulder, which functioned as a platform. And, close by, a rock used for for sacrifices that still functions today. Every June, the members of this community sacrifice a llama in the exact spot the INcas used to make sacrifices to their gods. These ruins have largely been ignored despite the amazing history and information the remnants hold about the Incan Empire. Until recently, treasure hunters would visit the site hoping to unearth amazing riches. So, many of the buildings and structures that were left were destroyed and ruined.

After a very long trip from the ruins to Mizque, we finally arrived and headed straight to lunch. We had sopa de mani (peanut soup), which was delicious! Then, it was back to the hotel for a rest and clean up. Around 8:30 we headed back to the market for dinner--silpancho, one of my favorite Bolivian dishes! After dinner, we headed back to the hotel to play Cacho, a Bolivian dice game and drink Chuflys, a typical Bolivian drink with Singani (Bolivian alcohol made from grapes), lime, and ginger ale! My favorite Bolivian refreshment!

Tuesday, we visited a new community, Chirimolle Pampa, which is about 40 minutes from the town of Mizque. The team from Bellevue donated the money to fix the daycare and kitchen areas. Before we arrived, the community had the walls thatched and cemented, and when we arrived our job was to paint both areas. While about half the group painted, the other half of us took pictures of the kids, got to know them, and played games. They loved the parachute games, especially when we added balls and candy! The kids in this community are so beautiful and were very welcoming. Unlike other communities Ninos con Valor has visited, the children of Chirimolle Pampa did not have an orange-tint to their hair, a sign of malnutrition. We were all very happy about that! I enjoyed taking pictures of them because they got so excited to see their faces on the camera screen! These are the moments that make me incredibly thankful for this amazing experience!

After painting and playing, we gathered in their common area. The dirigente, or chief, explained that because of a serious lack of water and resources, many people have moved north. The community has been growing smaller and smaller. However, much of what he said was lost on us because he was speaking Quechua. But, we understood that he was explaining the harsh situation the community is in, as well as thanking us for all that we have done! We presented the community with plates and silverware, toys and puzzles, pots and pans, art and school supplies, mattresses and shelves donated by Orkney Helping Hands to equip the daycare and kitchen area. The people were extremely grateful! Then, a few of the little kids danced the Saya and another traditional dance. To show their appreciation, the community served us lunch and refrescos. Despite being leery of eating it, I ate as much as I could, not wanting to offend anyone.

After lunch, we hung out with the people of the community. One of the team members was given directions on how to spin wool by hand! It was wonderful to see the women of the community bonding with the team member and showing her their skill! After a bit, we said goodbye. The woman leader of the community thanked us for all the help and asked us to please return. She explained that the closest schools are more than a hour away, and many of the older kids make this trek in order to attend school. But, this is too far for the little ones, so the daycare will help them educate the littler ones. She expressed her concern about the lack of water, something we all wished we could help with. As our truck pulled away, two girls ran behind it waving and waving. That was a lasting image for me!

Trips to Mizque are always a highlight of my time here. I enjoy going to the communities and getting to know the people--seeing the smiles of the children and hearing their laughter puts everything into perspective!

For photos, please visit: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.640532151595.2123257.32402725&l=94c39bbd95&type=1

Felicidades, Ninos con Valor

Olivia, Sofia, and I before dancing the Tinkus.


A group from CdP dancing the Saya!


The other group dancing the Taquirari!


The little ones from CdP dancing a traditional dance from Potosi!


The little angles from PdC!


Our Tinkus group!


The backdrop we put together that displayed the girls "thank you" flowers and photos!

Yesterday, Friday, September 23rd, 2011, we celebrated Ninos con Valor's 5th anniversary! The foundation has been changing Bolivian children's lives for five years--giving children love and encouragement, giving children a home and food, giving children the support and the guidance they need to overcome past traumas and succeed. I am so privileged to work with Ninos con Valor, an organization that not only has homes for boys and girls, but also works with poor, rural families and extremely poor, rural communities. NCV is dedicated to changing the lives of Bolivian children--one child at a time!

We began the morning by decorating the girls' home with balloons, bows, and photos. The girls helped as we cleaned, decorated, and set-up chairs for the guests. I helped decorate the back-drop with flowers the girls made thanking NCV for the love, support, and kindness (some of the flowers were extremely sweet, showing the strong bond between the girls in the home.), photos of the children from the beginning until now--and how much they have all grown!

As 7:00 PM approached, we put the final decorations up and got all the girls in dance costumes. Guests began to arrive, including a team visiting from the Seattle area, Members from the NCV Bolivian Board, fellow volunteer agencies, and friends of the staff and girls. Margot, one of the Bolivian board members, MCed the event. She began by explaining the foundation and the numerous projects, including the two homes, the One Child at a Time program that works with poor families and rural communities, and the future Streetlight program, which will work with children living on the streets, especially single mothers.

The kids from Pedacito de Cielo were the first to dance. They were dressed as little angels, and danced to religious songs sung by other kids! They were so cute, and did a really great job following the tias! I remember the last anniversary party, and most of them cried through the whole performance! The second dance number was the littlest girls from Corazon del Pastor. They did a traditional dance from Potosi with the polleras (traditional skirts) and shirts, hats and "babies" in their agoyos. Karina, the oldest of this group, did a spectacular job and helped guide the littler ones during the dance. After, the middle-aged girls danced the Taquirari, another traditional dance. The Taquirari is from Santa Cruz, Beni, and the Pando--all the jungly areas of Bolivia. Because it originated in areas with a lot of humidity and heat, the outfits worn are colorful dresses, a red flower in the hair, and no shoes. However, there was a lot of wind and cold last night, but the girls toughed it out and wore no shoes and no jackets--I was very impressed! Next, some of the other girls danced the Saya, another traditional dance from the Yungas, the jungle area of La Paz. The Saya is a mix of African, Aymara, and Spanish music and dance. It is a wonderfully fun dance, with lots of movement and a good beat! The girls were dressed in all white with the pollera (traditional skirt) and shirt with black hats and brown shawls. The tias had a surprise for four of the older girls who excelled in school and led their classes in the parade this year. Lourdes and Ana, Sofia and Valeria were all acknowledged and presented with small gifts, and Tia Jacki, the director of NCV, was given a frame with all the girls pictures. Finally, Sofia and Olivia, Ana and Abigail, Tia Pati and I danced the Tinkus. The Tinkus is a dance from Potosi that depicts a form of ritualistic combat. We wore long, embroidered dresses in either red of blue, hats decorated with feathers and ribbons, and waist sashes. I was extremely nervous, but think I did pretty well, considering I learned the dance 2 days before the celebration! Also, it was so fun to dance with the girls--we had tons of fun practicing and getting ready together. Margot closed by thanking everyone for attending, and because of the wind and cold, we moved inside to eat hors d'oeuvres and toast the foundation.

After a bit, the dance party began! The dance parties are my favorite part of the NCV celebrations! I love dancing with the girls--some of my best memories are dancing at parties with them! Last night was tons of fun and such an honor to be a part of!

Here's to five more amazing years, Ninos con Valor!

Feria de Cochabamba!

Today, the group of girls who go to school in the afternoon had presentations about the different provinces within the department of Cochabamba. I had the privilege of going and taking photos, as well as meeting their professors and friends, and tasting food and drinks typical of each province.

The girls are in different classes within the school, and each grade picked a different province to study and report on. The classrooms were set up in a circle and the parents and siblings walked around and received information from the students about the province--the typical dishes, traditional dances and music, products produced, traditional dress, and other interesting facts. In addition to facts and information, the students provided samples of the typical food and drink (which we carefully walked over soup, and kept running back and forth between the school and the house with food items and clothing items the girls had forgotten), dressed in the attire, made dioramas of the terrain, and provided brochures and pamphlets to take home and read more about the provinces. It was very interesting, considering I have not visited all the provinces, but I especially enjoyed tasting the food and beverages provided! More than anything though, I was extremely proud of the girls! They each knew their part and presented the information so well! They make a tia so proud, and I am so glad I can attend their school presentations and support them! I know how important it was to me that my parents came to my school functions, so I make a point of trying to go to their school presentations, and of course, taking pictures for them so they have these memories when they are older.

After the exhibition, I got to meet the girls teachers and received their progress reports. One of the teachers asked where I was from and we got to talking. I really touched me that she praised all of the tias and staff of Ninos and said what a wonderful job we have done with the girls, and what big hearts we must have. I told her that I definitely receive more from the children than I give them, and it is a pleasure to work with such wonderful, inspirational kids! Truly, I have one of the most amazing jobs ever, and appreciate every minute spent with the kids, as well as the lessons they have taught me--nothing is impossible and to keep on loving and caring, to be brave and loyal.

a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCXCqKhf20kAZHpWqTApd1Z3h2q75JQHLcd8QdCvoO9o_PrvaMx51-t1KWjhs87b4Amo55141D8ytMVqxakVmmK_QxHjR2bedMhpG8QCsdo3fmbvCHqkVLL2cZvYBWpC2YEYxC_9cjeY7/s1600/IMG_9337.jpg">
Bryssa enjoying a typical dish from Arani.


Evelyn displaying her map of the Chapare, the jungle region.


Jhoselin with one of her classmates!


Cynthia and 2 friends presenting traditional dishes from Arani.


Sofia and her friends getting ready for their presentation on the Arque province.

Viva Cochabamba!

Yesterday, September 14th, was the 201st anniversary of the department of Cochabamba! It's quite the celebration here, considering we are in the department--the schools celebrate with dances, songs, and speeches the week of, the flag of the department is flown from cars and houses, and there are tons and tons of fireworks!

Because there was no school yesterday, the schools the girls attend had celebrations on Tuesday. In the morning, a small group of us went to watch Elena dance the Caporales at her school. The Caporales is a very traditional dance that comes of the time of Spanish rule. The male dancers dress in heeled boots and large, decorated belts--the typical dress of a Spanish military guard, while the women wear extremely, elaborately decorated skirts and shirts with high heels and a matching hat. It is still extremely popular today, and huge groups of dancers dance the Caporales in national festivities and parades.

Elena and her classmates danced for about 45 minutes, but did a wonderful job! Within the traditional dance, there is a lot of jumping and movement, but none of the students showed that they were tired and worn out! Elena was so nervous before the dance started, but the group of us who went to show support were very impressed with her dancing! I was also very exciting for me because I got to help Elena get ready, and I honestly felt like a big sister! These are the best moments of my job!

After lunch, we went to another school in our neighborhood to watch Cynthia dance the Cueca! The Cueca is an extremely beautiful dance and each department in Bolivia has their own version. (Cynthia and her classmates danced the Cueca that is from Cochabamba.) The clothing worn for the Cochabamba Cueca is different than that worn in other parts of Bolivia. The women wear a white traditional hat and traditional shirt with a light blue skirt, while the men wear black pants, a white shirt, a vest, and brown or black hat. The Cueca of Cochabamba is very lively with fast movements of the feet! Cynthia and her classmates also did a wonderful job with this dance!

I love to attend the celebrations at the girls' schools not only to show them support and of course take pictutres, but to also see and experience the Bolivian culture. Along with the traditional dances, the students sang the hymns of the country and the department, as well as recited poems written by Bolivian authors and some of the students! Attending the festivals and parades makes me jealous that in the United States we do not have traditional dances and songs! I guess I will just have to bring the dances I have learned here back home with me!

Potosi and Sucre Adventure!

Last Wednesday night, Kait, another volunteer, and I climbed onto a double-decker, sleeper bus and headed to Potosi. For being a ten hour ride, the seats were fairly comfortable and we slept pretty well. We arrived in Potosi on Thursday morning around 6:30 AM and it was freezing! So, we headed to our hostel to sleep for a bit and shower before heading out to explore the town. After walking around the small center and indulging in a bit of shopping, we went to Cafe La Plata, one of the most amazing cafes ever, for lunch! The afternoon was full of activiites--La Casa de la Moneda (which functioned as a mint, a prison, and the headquarters of the Bolivian Army. It houses amazing artifacts, including religious paintings from the Potosi Art School and various minerals and metals found in Cerro Rico, the mountain the looms over the city that has been mined for centuries. The Spanish, in essence, stole the silver and other valuable minerals from Cerro Rico. The mine is still being used today by Cooperative groups of miners), La Torre de la Compania de Jesus (a very old bell tower with amazing views of the city), and a bus ride to the outskirts of the city (we took the bus to the edge of town and ended up in a shanty-town, which was much different than the well-kept center of Potosi.)

The second day in Potosi was filled with more museums and activities--the Convent of San Francisco (which had interesting art work portraying the life of Saint Francis, as well as an amazing view from the roof of Potosi and Cerro Rico.), a quick lunch and a walk around the older, colonial streets, which are extremely windy and curvy to prevent the chill of the wind in the olden days. We walked and walked, but it was nice to get to know the city and see some very historical, antique buildings. We went to dinner at a very modern restaurant, 4060 (which represents the altitude of Potosi in meters) and went to the local pub to drink a little local beer, Potosina, and hear some traditional music.

Saturday was our last day in Potosi, but we made the best of it! We slept in late--we were so tired from the non-stop activities and running around, as well as the very high altitude...well over 13,000 feet. But, we went to a local spot for lunch--Dona Eugenia's for some Kala Purca, a thick soup made from corn with a scalding rock added to made it bubble and spit! It was quite the interesting lunch, considering I have never eaten "rock soup" before. We felt dumb, but many pictures and videos were taken of the Kala Purca! Traveling is all about these moments! After lunch, we headed to the new bus terminal in Potosi to take a bus to Sucre. After about 4 hours, we arrived in Sucre just in time for dinner! We went to our hostel, which was a block off of the main plaza and then headed to Florin, a restaurant we had heard about in Cochabamba. And, we were extremely satisfied with the food and the amazing beer! After a lovely dinner, we walked home through the main plaza, only to find a huge parade celebrating the Virgin de Guadalupe! There was traditional dancing, music, and fireworks set-off about 4 feet from us!

Sunday was Dia del Peaton (Pedestrian Day) nationwide. So, there were no cars and no motorcycles on the roads, just people walking, riding bikes and skateboarding. So, we took the opportunity to walk around the city and take pictures that would be carless! So, after walking around all day, we stopped into Ted's for lunch and then went to the hostel for an afternoon nap. Dinner was a treat--amazing Chinese food! Something both Kait and I had been missing! Sunday night was the second night of dancing to celebrate the Virgin de Guapalupe, and we watched and even participated in the dancing a bit!

Monday we took the bus out of the city to visit Parque Cretacico, the dinosaur park! We got to take pictures with replicas of the dinosaurs that were found in the area, and see their footprints in the hill! It is so cool, but a major part of the hill collapsed and our tour guide was explaining that soon most of the hill will collapse soon. A team of scientists from Chile visited to try and construct something to slow the crumbling and deterioration, so hopefully, they can come up with a plan! After a quick lunch, we went to the Convent of San Felipe Neri, which was one of my favorite places we visited! There is an amazing view of the city from the rooftop, and from there, you can really see why Sucre is known as the "White City." I got some amazing pictures from the roof (which will be posted to Facebook soon)! After the visit to the Convent, we took the bus up to the Recoleta, an area that overlooks the city from a hill! We had coffee and watched as the sun set over Sucre! It was one of the most amazing sunsets I have ever seen!

Tuesday we visited La Casa de la Libertad, which houses the Bolivian Declaration of Independence signed by Simon Bolivar, as well as other historical artifacts and paintings. We sat in the Main Plaza for a bit after the tour of the Museum and watched the daily life of those in Sucre. The Main Plaza is very peaceful and is filled with beautiful trees and flowers! The afternoon was a bit disappointing because the Museum of Indigenous art, the famous Iglesia de la Merced, and the spectacular water show were closed. So, we settled for an early dinner and a movie in our hostel.

Wednesday was our final day of travel and we visited the main cathedral in the Plaza, had coffee, and had out last meal at Florin, our favorite restaurant of the trip! And, our last stop in Sucre was Para Ti, the most amazing chocolate store. We had fabulous hot chocolate and chocolate coffee to end our adventure on a good note! Reluctantly, we walked back to the hostel to catch a cab to the airport. We had a wonderful trip, full of amazing memories! I was glad I was able to spend time with Kait before she returned to Canada!

However, as amazing as the trip was, going back to work on Thursday morning and being greeted with, "Tia Megan!" and hugs and kisses made me realize how much I really missed the kids and how lucky I am to work with Ninos con Valor! I missed their little smiling faces, amazing hugs, fun adventures to the park, and of course, laughing until it hurts!

These are the faces that greeted me on Thursday morning, who wouldn't miss their job???

Family.

What is a family? According to Google, the definition of a family is: “A group consisting of parents and children living together in a household.” When I was younger, I believed this was an accurate, true description of a family. Everyone I knew had parents and some had siblings. However, this belief was based on my experiences, not on reality.

Based on Google’s definition, Pedacito de Cielo (the baby home) and Corazon del Pastor (the girls’ home) are not families. There are no parents that live in these houses. And, the children living in the homes are not related. But, after volunteering at both homes for over a year, I know that both homes are families. And each child realizes his or her responsibility to the others.

At Corazon del Pastor, the older girls look after the younger ones like they are of the same blood. When one is hurt or upset, there is always another girl’s shoulder to cry on. Playing is so much better when you have six “sisters” to imagine and create with. There is always someone in the study room to keep you company when you have homework to do. And, best of all, in my opinion, the tias and volunteers get 22 good morning and goodbye hugs and kisses! And, just like any sibling group, there are quarrels and fights. But, at the end of the day, the girls are a family–they support and love each other unconditionally. They understand that they have many sisters to share life with.

At Pedacitio del Cielo, the older ones help the little ones and teach them important lessons–how “to cook,” how “to read,” and how “to shop.” Birthday celebrations are a big deal–each child wears dress clothes and knows exactly whose big day it is. The big milestones-first steps and first words-are celebrated by all. The littlest ones are sometimes even fed by the older ones. The staff of Pedacito make sure all the kids understand and appreciate that they are all brothers and sisters.

After my time in Bolivia and working with Ninos con Valor, I have come to realize that one cannot simply define a family by the members, but by the love and connection between the people within the group. The children of Ninos con Valor may not have the same mother and father, and may not even come from the same place, but they all share a connection and have immense love for each other. Many of the children have similar pasts, and from this negative has come something positive–a special bond that will last forever and siblings who will always have your back .

This is what defines a family.

Passion and Heart

The Little Moments...

Yesterday I was genuinely frustrated with things in life that are out of my control, including the long, unorganized process to get my second year visa. But, there were numerous little moments throughout the day where I realized how lucky I am to live in Bolivia and to work with children who remind me how important it is to stay forever young.

While washing the dishes with Johana, we shared stories about our lives. Although she and her sisters did not have the most positive childhood, she has so much love and kindness in her, something that inspires me!

I walked to pick-up Zamora from kindergarten in the afternoon, and was greeted with the biggest, most amazing hug ever! (Her little brother, Alarico, definitely takes after her hugging skills!) She has a smile and personality big enough to light up a room, and her laugh is contagious!

Lourdes and I bonded over her math homework! I have never liked math, but helping Lourdes gave me a new appreciation for it! We shared laughs over completely wrong answers, and eventually finished all the problems between the two of us!

Evelyn and I colored for most of the morning, and I can’t remember the last time I sat down to color and draw!

Lunch time conversations are always a highlight of my day! I get to ask the girls about school and life, and always hear hilarious stories! Sometimes, we just laugh and laugh and laugh–something that is so important for a healthy, happy life.

These are the little, seemingly insignificant, moments that have made my time in Bolivia amazingly beautiful! Seeing smiling and laughing faces, encouraging the kids to keep trying and seeing their faces light up with success, watching Alarico and Mateo take their first steps, and the list goes on and on.

Here’s to many more little, insignificant moments that add up to something amazing, something unique!

And, It Continues...

So, with moving the baby home and helping the team, things have been a bit chaotic down here. But, everything is beginning to wind down and return to normal. The three girls from Pedacito--Raeka, Lily, and Victoria--have moved in to Corazon del Pastor with the other girls. They are adjusting well, and are getting all tons of attention from the older girls! And, the all the boys have moved into the new house, and absolutely love it! The teams and the decorators did a wonderful job painting the bedrooms, classrooms, and bathrooms! Each of the bedrooms has a theme--one has airplanes and clouds, another has monkeys, birds, and elephants, and the other has a city theme. The yard is huge so there is plenty of room to run, jump, and play!

While moving, a group of us were discussing the two extremes--poverty and abundance. Because of the extreme poverty in Bolivia, throwing stuff away is unheard of. People take broken furniture to shops to get it repaired, children play with toys when they are broken and old, containers and wrappers are saved for future use. At both homes, the tias are extremely reluctant to throw anything away. Things are always salvageable and can be put to use again--an attitude rooted in poverty. The other extreme, wealth and plentifulness was seen during the move with a team who came down to specifically paint the new house. Paola, who was in charge of buying everything needed to fix up the house, bought some new buckets. These colorful, plastic buckets cost $2.50 USD/17.25 Bolivianos. This may not seem like a lot, but majority of Bolivians cannot afford just one of these buckets (Many Bolivians make under $1 USD/6.9 Bolivianos per day). Paola and Kimber explained to the team that these buckets were not to be used for paint or anything that could stain them. However, majority of the buckets were used to mix paint ad never washed out. Once we found them a week later, the paint had dried and ruined the buckets. Coming from a culture of excess and abundance, the team most likely thought that the buckets are cheap and more can be purchased. Being a small, non-profit, buying more buckets because the others were not taken care of is not part of the budget. It is definitely interesting to see the two extremes in play down here--the Bolivians who are afraid to toss anything due to poverty and the North Americans that use and abuse things because more can always be purchased.

Yesterday, I worked at the boys home (So weird to say because Pedacito used to be the baby home, but now it only houses boys) and one of the little girls who attends daycare with us, but is not a resident, was in the bathroom washing her hands with me. And, I asked her how mom was, and she responded with "Bien." Then, she went on to say, "Mi papa esta en cielo" (My dad is in heaven/the sky). I wasn't sure if I heard correctly, so I asked one of the other tias if that is what she said. The tia explained to me that this little 2 year-olds dad had died a while back. This broke my heart that a 2 year-old could say that her dad was in heaven. My dad was such an important part of my life, and I wish that all children, but especially girls, could have a wonderful, positive, supportive, constant male figures in their lives.

In other news, in a week and a half I will be traveling to Sucre and Potosi with Kait, a fellow volunteer who will be returning to Canada shortly after our adventure. I will miss her and am so glad I got to know her. It is so hard being down here because you make friends, and then sooner or later they leave. There are always sad, tearful goodbyes--this is just part of life here, but something I will never get used to. Because we are all missing family and friends from home and are experiencing similar frustrations and occurrences while living in a foreign country, bonding with those down here is quite easy, and getting used to seeing these people everyday is not uncommon.

But, life continues and sooner or later I will have to say my tearful, sad goodbyes to those I will leave behind here in Bolivia. But, until that day, I will continue to enjoy my work, enjoy life as a Cochabambina, and enjoy my friends I have met here.

Che Guevara's Wise Words

Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, Argentinian Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, guerrilla leader, major figure of the Cuban Revolution, and strong believer of freedom, equality, and justice, once said, "What do we leave behind when we cross each frontier? Each moment seems split in two; melancholy for what was left behind and the excitement of entering a new land." This quote puts my feelings about living in Bolivia perfectly! It is difficult to leave behind such wonderful friends and family, however, at the same time, feelings of excitement--beginning a new phase of life in an entirely different culture, learning a different language, and discovering what is truly important and just how strong you are--linger. Leaving behind the comforts of the States has allowed me to grow and mature, develop my own beliefs and find my place in the world as a global citizen. I am currently sitting and watching a beautiful sunset from my apartment in Cochabamba, realizing how lucky I am to be here, but also missing everyone from home!

This week has been quite the week! Extra work with a team here and painting and cleaning the new house. And on top of all the work stress, having some type of amoeba or parasite yet again. Needless to say, I am quite exhausted and worn-out. But, again, there are the little moments that make everything better--seeing the little faces smile and laugh, bonding with people who have the same outlook on life and love for Bolivia, and creating a special bond with the girls. After three days of working and feeling awful, I had the day off today. I slept in a little, had a delicious breakfast of coffee and homemade bagels (Thanks to Tierra a Tierra! If you are in the CBBA area, let me know if you would like the information to order bagels and other amazingly delicious products!) and headed to a feria (a craft fair) in a plaza. We perused the tents with jewelry and handbags, natural products and Bolivian artesian gifts. I love these ferias! I am feeling a little better today, but still stuck with stomach pains and nausea. I did, however, take a sample into the lab, so on Tuesday morning I will know exactly what I have--hoping it's not e. coli!

That's all for now. This week will be extremely busy with the move of Pedacito and all the activities with the team. Also, I am turning in my paperwork for my second year visa, so I am hoping and praying all goes well, there are no complications, and everything gets processed quickly!

Hope all is well with everyone, sending lots of love!

The Little Faces That Bring So Much Joy!

After being sick all day yesterday, the last thing I wanted to do today was go to work. With very little sleep, a very upset stomach, and a bad headache, I got up and got ready for work-begrudingly. Brushing my teeth and washing my face, putting on clothes and packing up my bag took so much energy, and before I even left for work, I was drained!

But, once I got to work, everything felt better! I looked at the little, smiling, happy faces and realized there are more important things than my sick stomach and achy head. They make me forget the small, trivial happenings that we have no control over, and make me realize and appreciate all the people and little gifts that have been placed in our life to bring happiness, joy, and love.

These little faces bring so much joy and happiness to my life, even when I am under the weather and homesick.

The Commons Team

For the last two weeks, a team from The Commons Church in Hamilton, Canada has been here working with the organization. It is wonderful to have teams come down and see what we are doing, especially since many of the teams have been supporting us for years. While here, the team from Canada did wonderful activities with the girls of Corazon del Pastor and the little ones at Pedacito de Cielo, including trips to the park and decorating the cement soccer field with chalk, tie-dye shirts and a photo shoot party, making kites and a pinata. Although everyone did not speak the same language,we were all able to communicate well through hand movements, smiles, and of course, a lot of laughter.

It is fun for the volunteers when teams come to visit because they bring with them a little piece of home, something we are missing. And, majority of the time, we all become friends through the activities, the shopping, the outrageousness of everyday Bolivian occurrences, and the trips to rural areas like Mizque. However, it is even more fun and exciting for the girls and the little ones because they are introduced to new people and new cultures. Those who come down are interested in the children and want to help them, as well as have fun, play, and laugh with our amazing kids . The kids always have a thousand questions for the visitors–what their lives are like, do they have pets, their favorite foods, their favorite music, what Canada looks like, what famous people they have seen, do they like chicken, and the list goes on.

Along with the numerous art projects and fun outings, we went to Mizque with the team. I think it is wonderful that visitors can visit a very rural, traditional area like Mizque because this is the reality of majority of Bolivians. A good number of Bolivians live under the poverty line and in small, rural towns. We visited Pantipampa, a community Ninos con Valor has worked with for a few years, and painted two classrooms that are used to educate children in the area. We also played soccer and parachute games with the kids, and the community members sang, marched, and danced to show their Bolivian pride right before August 6th, Bolivian independence day. The following day we sliced and diced vegetables for the solar oven workshop. It was wonderful to see how excited the women of the daycares were about using and experimenting with the solar ovens. I always enjoy these trips to Mizque because it is a wonderful break from city life, and gives us a new perspective on what is important. Not to mention, the children of these small communities are absolutely beautiful and amazingly appreciative of everything. Many of the kids are apprehensive and shy, but slowly begin to warm-up, especially sitting in the back of a dump truck playing hand games and laughing so hard!

So, thank you Commons Team for the wonderful memories! We miss you already! Come back soon!