Rachel Hoffmann -- Bolivia

Monday, March 17, 2008

Hey Everyone!

I guess it is about time for me to write my March letter, I will really try hard to not make it a novel like the last one. It´s just there is always so much going on here.

It´s almost my 7th month anniversary here. Today is Saint Patty´s day which really isnt a holiday here, but there is an Irish Pub in the plaza so all of the exchange students are going there to hang out. I might even wear green. Last night was Palm Sunday and it was really cool to see. My family doesnt go to mass here, but I went to the plaza last night, which is in the center of town, and there were women all lined up along the streets with palm branches making crosses and other figures. There were men with carts loaded with big chocolate eggs. And the plaza was full of families and people that were going to the mass at the cathedral. This coming week is Semana Santa, Holy week, and I might travel with my family.

So I changed families about a month ago, just to see something else, a different way of life and what not, and to get to know more people. I absolutely love them. I live with my mom, Martha, my dad, Fernando, and my sister Marty(also named Martha). I also have two older sisters Claudia and Fabiola, but they married the past fall. I was lucky to go to the wedding of Fabiola. So they dont live here anymore, but I see them often when they visit the house. I love having another sister close to my age. Marty just came back from her exchange from Virginia. We have a great time talking. She talks probably twice as much as me, but we get along great and its fun to have her around. We go shopping and go out, its been so much fun with her. Plus it is nice because she goes to the highschool that I used to go to, so I know all of her friends, and it is nice to get back in touch with them after the summer.

I live a lot closer to the center now, only 7 blocks from the plaza, where we usually meet, so Its nice to be walking everywhere and to get to know the streets better. Before I lived in the 3rd ring around the city, and was always taking taxis, so I am also saving money! I have a maid named Vikki, and I love her so much. She has been with this family for a long time and is more a friend than a maid. Her daughter just got married. Before lunch while I wait for the family to get home from work, I sit in the kitchen and help her make juice or we just talk.

Now I am going to a University called Domingo Savio. I take a micro(bus that drives extremely crazy) to school every morning. I have class from 8 until 11:15. I am loving it so much more than highschool here. I understand everything that the professor is saying. Right now I am taking the class of Bolivian Culture. Before I took political science, and it was really interesting to get a different point of view on politics in the world. I have made a lot of friends in the U, so after class sometimes we just hang out or go to lunch. Today I took my first test, and I think I did pretty well. Wednesday I have to help present with my group about the second Bolivian president. It will be a test of how good my spanish really is.

Nothing new is really happening. I am still having a great time but am realizing that it is coming to a close and that time is flying by faster than I could ever imagine.

My other project is that I am helping with a school thats a few blocks away to make an English CD. I have to record my voice saying really simple phrases like ¨This is a bed¨ its a little boring, but its kind of cool to know that Im going to be the voice that all those cute little Bolivian kids here when they are learning english. I kind of feel bad for them now that I think about it. Its just another cool opportunity that came up.

One of my favorite things here that I started doing again is my salsa class. I absolutely love it. There has not been one time that I have gone and not had a good time. Even if my day is bad and I dont have energy to go, I show up and I always have an amazing time. Ive made a lot of friends in the class, by the way Im in the best level now. I remember when we attempted to learn in Spanish class, and I had to be the man. Well when I come back I will have to give some lessons. Its so great though, the guys are really nice to me and my friend Lucy, from Albany, because sometimes we can be disasters, but they help us learn and they are patient. The only problem is that half of the men are shorter than me so when it comes time for them to dance with me you see them get a look on their face like ¨oh no not the tall gringo girl again¨ because we end up twisting arms and its just kind of awkward. Its still so much fun though.

Well I hope that everyone at home is doing great. I heard that its finally feeling like spring there. Here its feeling like ¨fall¨ I guess you could say. Really hot in the day still, but it cools off a lot at night.

I miss you tons and love you all so much!

Love,
Raquel