It's official Santa cruz is the hottest city ever. And with no grass, beach, rivers, or basically any shade, I am officially melting!
I was on the bus to work the other day an thought that the experience I have 4 times a day needed explaining. So to hail the bus, which you can do anywhere, I stand on the side of a main road just out of the way of cars in the patch of sand that replaces need for pavement (beats me how there is sand in a landlocked country with no desserts), the sand is also a real pain when it sprays of a car in your face.. Anyway, so you stick you arm out hard and fast, ignoring all of te beeping cars, which when you are the only blonde in the entire city is frequent, the bus swerves in often straight at you, and you hop on and pass the driver the 1.80b's (about 15p) over his shoulder while he drives, of you need change it'll get passed to you from passenger to passenger about ten minutes later. The bus then hurtles along. Lanes, crossings, breaks and any form of rules are not a big feature on Bolivian roads. When you want to get off you then shout stop, this seems to be the one word I can never remember, so I just shout random Spanish words until he realises; he then swerves in and slows down, the door is already open so you sort of hang on and jump as it is slowing down and then run alongside still hanging on until youve steadied yourself an definitely before he starts speeding back up (I speak from experience). On my route home from work I then cross a very busy main road, a good fair distance to cross is normally when you have 2 cars doing about 40 and they still a good 10 metres away.. Ample time at this point, to go from standing into a sudden sprint to
cross the road. Anyway.. Just setting the scene!
The orphanage is going well. I think for the children who are age 3/4/5 it's quite nice because they are all together an get to play all day in a safe surroundings, unlike a lot of children you see in the city sitting on the streets in the markets, and it's sort of like they have lots of siblings and seek quite happy. It is the babies I feel really sad for because this is the age when you don't need or care for friends, but just need parental care and attention, and whilst they are adequately provided for, they don't get that love. It is very eye opening and really very sad.
Thankfully I am now better, yesterday i walked 6.5 km across the entire city, I stopped at a few cafes along the way as well as in plaza de septiembre, the main square. I really have seen most of the city now, although it's a shame not exploring it with anyone.. Lucky I am amused enough by my own company! I tried to sunbathe on a bench in the square but the sun had heated the bench so much that I actually burnt myself.. last night we went for dinner than just sat
in diegos garden drinking etc. Drinking games in a foreign language is almost a certain loss! We are off go karting now.. In this heat.. Wish me luck! Xxxxx
Saturday, 26 November 2011
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Day 17
The rest of last week at the orphanage was interesting. Some of the women are quite lazy and impatient, they spend the morning watching tv lying on a bed which is supposed to be for the babies to play on and not talking to me or the children much, however the nuns who run the orphanage are very kind which made me feel a lot happier to see. The children are adorable, I spend most of my time just going from baby to baby stopping them crying and playing, apart from this I help with feeding them and cleaning.
On Thursday I also had another Spanish lesson so I'm improving a bit! On Friday I made a fairly spontaneous decision to go to sucre with the other travellers I met in the hostel. There were 2 English guys and 3 Scottish guys, then obviously we met other people in the hostel, like a german girl who had been travelling for 20 months!! We got the bus on Friday afternoon and it was without a doubt the worst bus possible! So after the longest journey through the mountains of Bolivia (obviously I was the only one terrified) we got to sucre on Saturday morning. We spent 2 nights in one hostel which was basically like having our own house and the third night in a really busy hostel run by some crazy Dutch guy. Really liked Sucre, it's smaller and more chilled than Santa cruz, it's supposed to be colder but we were lucky and had sun. So mainly did sightseeing, looked around the markets, sunbathed in the park, big meals and a few nights out. I ten had my first money disaster as my card wouldnt work to book my flight back to Santa cruz so I had to make the first crisis call home! After visiting sucre I've decided I want to do more travelling around so I think I'll head to la Paz in about 2 weeks.
Apart from that I've been just going out for dinners and shopping with Maria, Marcelo jr, Diego, Paola and luis. Unfortunately I'm now bedridden and ill with some kind of infection so I'm pretty bored and feeling rough. I think this weekend we may go gokarting and maybe to aqualand again. The lifestyle here is much more slow pace and chilled out, people don't tend to make plans in advance but I get a bit more restless which is also why I think travelling around a bit more would be a good idea.
Probably will upload some pictures in the next few days.
Lots of love xxxxx
On Thursday I also had another Spanish lesson so I'm improving a bit! On Friday I made a fairly spontaneous decision to go to sucre with the other travellers I met in the hostel. There were 2 English guys and 3 Scottish guys, then obviously we met other people in the hostel, like a german girl who had been travelling for 20 months!! We got the bus on Friday afternoon and it was without a doubt the worst bus possible! So after the longest journey through the mountains of Bolivia (obviously I was the only one terrified) we got to sucre on Saturday morning. We spent 2 nights in one hostel which was basically like having our own house and the third night in a really busy hostel run by some crazy Dutch guy. Really liked Sucre, it's smaller and more chilled than Santa cruz, it's supposed to be colder but we were lucky and had sun. So mainly did sightseeing, looked around the markets, sunbathed in the park, big meals and a few nights out. I ten had my first money disaster as my card wouldnt work to book my flight back to Santa cruz so I had to make the first crisis call home! After visiting sucre I've decided I want to do more travelling around so I think I'll head to la Paz in about 2 weeks.
Apart from that I've been just going out for dinners and shopping with Maria, Marcelo jr, Diego, Paola and luis. Unfortunately I'm now bedridden and ill with some kind of infection so I'm pretty bored and feeling rough. I think this weekend we may go gokarting and maybe to aqualand again. The lifestyle here is much more slow pace and chilled out, people don't tend to make plans in advance but I get a bit more restless which is also why I think travelling around a bit more would be a good idea.
Probably will upload some pictures in the next few days.
Lots of love xxxxx
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Day 9
Where to begin?!!
So I had a busy weekend. On friday night I went to the cinema in the Plaza de Septiembre (the main historic square) with Marcelo jnr., maria and Diego (another guy on the street, who speaks fluent english) and after we went for drinks. This is where i discovered their love for tequila.. it is the first thing they want to order! On saturday I went to aqualand with Paola (Marcelos daughter), Macelo jnr, Luiz (marias brother) and julio (maria and luiz´s cousin). On arrival I realised again little cultural differences; I headed straight for the wave pool then the highest slide (such a lad..), which they thought was totally crazy. It was the first day I started to really chill out, and of course, got horifically sunburnt. On saturday night we hit the town; Maria, Paola, Diego, Luiz, marias boyfriend and I. Again, Bolivian clubbing is different to in london or newcastle! People wait to be asked to dance and then dance, very closely, in pairs. No crap throwing your arms around in a group like in england. Obviously I knew I would look a fool if I attempted some latino grinding so instead I taught them the sprinkler, the shopping trolley, the shakey-face game, and of course soldier boy. On Sunday I visited the cemetery with Paola; this was very moving and we bonded a lot, I was pleased she took me with her. Then on sunday evening I went to the cinema with Diego, and on the journey back he gave me some of the history of Santa Cruz.
On Monday morning I started work at the orphange. I am helping to look after the babies. This I have found extremely saddening. There is so much help and money required. The women who look after the babies are maybe just overworked or to them it has become a job, but whilst they look after the babies, they do not coo over them, sometimes they are quite impatient with them. I have made it my job to go around playing with them and showing them some motherly love! And it seems I have found my calling! On arrival to the orphange today there were about 15 babies crying like I´ve never heard. I moved between each working out what was wrong and found I soon had a nearly silent room! There are about 20 in the room, 4 of which are new borns, then about 6 6-8 month olds i.e. gurgling and rolling around and can acknowledge you are there but no real movement or awareness of each other, then 10 who are about a year old, who all buzz around in little baby-movers. Obviously the oprhange has other chldren but I am just with the babies for now (probably because of my crap spanish!). It makes me very sad to see things like they are all getting ill and have a (contageous...) eye infection, that they have flies and mosies buzzing around their faces, the rudimentary accomodation (like 2 of the babies share a cot until they can get another) and what made me really sad was that one of them was wearing a bib that said "i love my mummy"... i know they cant read it but i nearly cried when i saw that. I find it a shame that they will in the future be unaware of me being there and all of the attention and love i give them, but now I have seen them I definitely want to keep doing it regardless of whether they will remember it. When they cry it is so heartbraking because they dont have anyone scooping them up and giving them a kiss or twirling them round like I did as a baby. I do urge anyone who has ever contimplated working or donating to an orphanage to do so.. aside from being nice for oneself, it is so needed.
Yesterday after work I went for a run (determined not to be one of those people who come back from travelling fat!) and then out for dinner with Maria, Marcelo jnr, Diego, Luiz and another friend of theres. Its definitely better now having a group of people to do things with.
Today I went to a hostel which is designed for engish speaking backpackers for a spanish lesson. I then have another on thursday. After the lesson I met a whole load of English and Australian guys who were hilarious. This is the first time I´ve met any travellers or English people. Obviously being with the locals is a much better and real experience, but its good to sometimes talk to people doing similiar things. They´ve invited me out with them, also their hostel regularly throws bbqs plus it has a pool (surprisingly rare in such a hot country!) so will head down there again at some point. They´re heading to Lima next then B.A so it seems i´ll probably bump in to them every step around south america!
Tomorrow I am doing a full day at the orphanage then I think we´re heading to an Irish pub where they have live music in the evening.
Still undecided when to go to La Paz, and where to be for Xmas!
So much love to everyone, please please keep in contact etc! xxxxxxx
So I had a busy weekend. On friday night I went to the cinema in the Plaza de Septiembre (the main historic square) with Marcelo jnr., maria and Diego (another guy on the street, who speaks fluent english) and after we went for drinks. This is where i discovered their love for tequila.. it is the first thing they want to order! On saturday I went to aqualand with Paola (Marcelos daughter), Macelo jnr, Luiz (marias brother) and julio (maria and luiz´s cousin). On arrival I realised again little cultural differences; I headed straight for the wave pool then the highest slide (such a lad..), which they thought was totally crazy. It was the first day I started to really chill out, and of course, got horifically sunburnt. On saturday night we hit the town; Maria, Paola, Diego, Luiz, marias boyfriend and I. Again, Bolivian clubbing is different to in london or newcastle! People wait to be asked to dance and then dance, very closely, in pairs. No crap throwing your arms around in a group like in england. Obviously I knew I would look a fool if I attempted some latino grinding so instead I taught them the sprinkler, the shopping trolley, the shakey-face game, and of course soldier boy. On Sunday I visited the cemetery with Paola; this was very moving and we bonded a lot, I was pleased she took me with her. Then on sunday evening I went to the cinema with Diego, and on the journey back he gave me some of the history of Santa Cruz.
On Monday morning I started work at the orphange. I am helping to look after the babies. This I have found extremely saddening. There is so much help and money required. The women who look after the babies are maybe just overworked or to them it has become a job, but whilst they look after the babies, they do not coo over them, sometimes they are quite impatient with them. I have made it my job to go around playing with them and showing them some motherly love! And it seems I have found my calling! On arrival to the orphange today there were about 15 babies crying like I´ve never heard. I moved between each working out what was wrong and found I soon had a nearly silent room! There are about 20 in the room, 4 of which are new borns, then about 6 6-8 month olds i.e. gurgling and rolling around and can acknowledge you are there but no real movement or awareness of each other, then 10 who are about a year old, who all buzz around in little baby-movers. Obviously the oprhange has other chldren but I am just with the babies for now (probably because of my crap spanish!). It makes me very sad to see things like they are all getting ill and have a (contageous...) eye infection, that they have flies and mosies buzzing around their faces, the rudimentary accomodation (like 2 of the babies share a cot until they can get another) and what made me really sad was that one of them was wearing a bib that said "i love my mummy"... i know they cant read it but i nearly cried when i saw that. I find it a shame that they will in the future be unaware of me being there and all of the attention and love i give them, but now I have seen them I definitely want to keep doing it regardless of whether they will remember it. When they cry it is so heartbraking because they dont have anyone scooping them up and giving them a kiss or twirling them round like I did as a baby. I do urge anyone who has ever contimplated working or donating to an orphanage to do so.. aside from being nice for oneself, it is so needed.
Yesterday after work I went for a run (determined not to be one of those people who come back from travelling fat!) and then out for dinner with Maria, Marcelo jnr, Diego, Luiz and another friend of theres. Its definitely better now having a group of people to do things with.
Today I went to a hostel which is designed for engish speaking backpackers for a spanish lesson. I then have another on thursday. After the lesson I met a whole load of English and Australian guys who were hilarious. This is the first time I´ve met any travellers or English people. Obviously being with the locals is a much better and real experience, but its good to sometimes talk to people doing similiar things. They´ve invited me out with them, also their hostel regularly throws bbqs plus it has a pool (surprisingly rare in such a hot country!) so will head down there again at some point. They´re heading to Lima next then B.A so it seems i´ll probably bump in to them every step around south america!
Tomorrow I am doing a full day at the orphanage then I think we´re heading to an Irish pub where they have live music in the evening.
Still undecided when to go to La Paz, and where to be for Xmas!
So much love to everyone, please please keep in contact etc! xxxxxxx
Friday, 11 November 2011
Day 6
So I still have not started work.. There is admin needed and it seems the Bolivians take things at a more leisurely pace!! However I have decided that first I will work at an orphanage for young boys and girls which is a bus ride away (I'm a pro on the buses, and that's saying something!) because that is was I always intended to do plus they need the most help. To think.. A week ago I was deciding between embargo and maremoto and now I'm deciding this!! Maybe after I will work at the other places though. I have also been trying to convince some of the young generation here to join me!
My Spanish is slowly getting there. I am learning simply by having people talk to me in Spanish and having to attempt to understand and reply, and wheneet I learn a new word I write it in my little pocket notebook (thank you Janie Lou!!) however obviously conversations I have are still very slow and probably painful for them! I had been trying to show enthusiasm to everything by saying I love it, so anything I am given, see, eat or people ask about I was saying 'si, te amo!'..... I then found out I'd actually been telling everyone 'i love you'.. Which is, by and large, really embaressing.
Maria, a friend of the family who is my age an lives opposite, took me yesterday with her to university for the afternoon, obviously not into lectures (why only start going to them now!!) but to see and meet her friends. And this morning I went with Marcelo and Marcelo jnr. To the huge, out-of-town market, which was crazy! Its good as these are things the usual tourist often would not see.
The weather is not so sunny now, more just muggy!! So I am not tanned but still looking sweaty and vile!!
Texts, emails, facebooks, letters all welcome!! Missing everyone xx
My Spanish is slowly getting there. I am learning simply by having people talk to me in Spanish and having to attempt to understand and reply, and wheneet I learn a new word I write it in my little pocket notebook (thank you Janie Lou!!) however obviously conversations I have are still very slow and probably painful for them! I had been trying to show enthusiasm to everything by saying I love it, so anything I am given, see, eat or people ask about I was saying 'si, te amo!'..... I then found out I'd actually been telling everyone 'i love you'.. Which is, by and large, really embaressing.
Maria, a friend of the family who is my age an lives opposite, took me yesterday with her to university for the afternoon, obviously not into lectures (why only start going to them now!!) but to see and meet her friends. And this morning I went with Marcelo and Marcelo jnr. To the huge, out-of-town market, which was crazy! Its good as these are things the usual tourist often would not see.
The weather is not so sunny now, more just muggy!! So I am not tanned but still looking sweaty and vile!!
Texts, emails, facebooks, letters all welcome!! Missing everyone xx
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
Day 4
Hola mis amigos y mi familia. After a very stressful transfer which included so much turbulence I grabbed the old argentian woman in the night and woke her, sitting in the jump seat for land so I could sprint to the gate for my follow on flight and discovering the stupidity in not packing a book, I made it to Santa cruz!
The family are lovely, however I am rapidly learning Spanish as only Marcelo and his son speak English. I am sharing the daughters bedroom but we have a giggle attempting to chat!
Yesterday I met with the governors wife and we visited a home for malnourished children; here they said there is a siniliar but bigger home in the countryside I could live and work at. we then visited a home run by nuns for girls up to age 18 who have been abandoned or abused, I also could work here and it is very close to marcelos home. Then today we visited another orphanage simply for children with no parents; I think I will be working here first and then maybe at the other places.
Today I went to the wildlife park with marcelos son; Marcelo and then with marcelos daughter, Paola, to her friends house, where I had my first wine of the trip!! This evening I am going with Marcelo (jr) and his friends for dinner. Although speaking with people is tough I feel happier today feeling more part of the action!!
I have been eating fresh fruit for breakfast, meat and veg for lunch and no wine or fags!!! What a healthy, virtuous lifestyle I now have!! The weather is scorching but being in a city there's not much sunbathing! On Saturday I think we're headed to a pool (my idea!!) to soak up the rays!!
I'm missing everyone terribly, please email me all news!!!! xxxxxxxx
The family are lovely, however I am rapidly learning Spanish as only Marcelo and his son speak English. I am sharing the daughters bedroom but we have a giggle attempting to chat!
Yesterday I met with the governors wife and we visited a home for malnourished children; here they said there is a siniliar but bigger home in the countryside I could live and work at. we then visited a home run by nuns for girls up to age 18 who have been abandoned or abused, I also could work here and it is very close to marcelos home. Then today we visited another orphanage simply for children with no parents; I think I will be working here first and then maybe at the other places.
Today I went to the wildlife park with marcelos son; Marcelo and then with marcelos daughter, Paola, to her friends house, where I had my first wine of the trip!! This evening I am going with Marcelo (jr) and his friends for dinner. Although speaking with people is tough I feel happier today feeling more part of the action!!
I have been eating fresh fruit for breakfast, meat and veg for lunch and no wine or fags!!! What a healthy, virtuous lifestyle I now have!! The weather is scorching but being in a city there's not much sunbathing! On Saturday I think we're headed to a pool (my idea!!) to soak up the rays!!
I'm missing everyone terribly, please email me all news!!!! xxxxxxxx
Sunday, 6 November 2011
Day 1
I am in the process of finishing my packing before we head to the airport... My flight departs at 9 this evening directly to Buenes Aires, so I can only hope BA decide to upgrade me!
I should be with Marcelo and his family in Santa Cruz by midday tomorrow.
I should be with Marcelo and his family in Santa Cruz by midday tomorrow.
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