Everyday life in Bolivia

Now I’m here for almost three months.

A few weeks ago it was the anniversary of Proyecto Horizonte. There were 32 groups from the school and guardaria. It started with the two year olds and went up to the evening school. They danced traditional dances (you can see the pictures on Facebook). The volunteers organised a little play for SODIS, the sun-method to kill the bacteria in the water. We had amazing costumes and I played the bacteria who was killed by the sun. It was very interesting for me and so nice to see all the people in their lovely dresses. I’m really looking forward now to the upcoming weekend where we’ll have the anniversary of “Mineros San Juan”, which is the whole community where PH is settled. The volunteers are going to dance there too.

In the guardaria I’m working with the 1 ½ year olds and the 5 year olds. Now all of the very little ones can walk and some children I even got to help with their first steps. The 5 year olds now know me and they really stole my heart. I feel great when they say “Hola Miriam” and really seem to be happy that I’m helping out there. Because I’m studying psychology back home I also observed kids for the psychologists and we discussed ideas to help them. In the next weeks I’d like to develop the work with the psychologists more and maybe start my own projects because my Spanish is a lot better now.

Bolivia is still so interesting and lovely and there’s always some activity happening. I now have seen a lot more of the country and I would recommend to take time in the beginning or in the end just to travel, because there’s so much to see! You can go away for a weekend but then you are always in a hurry to be back in Ushpa as soon as possible.

On the other hand there are always many holidays like „Dia de la madre“, „Dia de maestros“ etc.

After I started with the visa „objeto determinado“ I finally got a tourist visa by going out of the country and coming back again. It was a nice trip but I still would tell everybody not to get the OD-visa, but come in with the tourist visa directly.

Four weeks ago I moved together with a girl from Bolivia with a beautiful view out of my window and I love to speak Spanish now as much as possible. On the other hand I still think it’s kind of nice to live with a lot of other people, when you arrive. I started to live in a Volunteer house but I never spoke Spanish there and I always had the feeling that I’m just a tourist who travels through and missed being able to really experience the local culture.

I still struggle sometimes with stomach problems like all of us, but more or less you know what you should avoid to eat. But still I really look forward to the food when I come back although I probably will be shocked when I see the European restaurant prices again.

I’m so happy, that I still have two more months and I definitely would recommend that you come as long as possible. If you’ve got any questions just write me, I’m open for everything.