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