I arrived here in Cochabamba on June 19. I’ll be here for nearly three months, doing research for my master’s thesis. I was attracted to Proyecto Horizonte partially because I am very interested in Andean culture and in becoming fluent in Spanish, but also because I really liked what I had heard and read about the work that PH is doing.
When I arrived, my main concern (especially as an American) was that getting my visa would be a hassle. I brought all the necessary documents, proof of income, passport photos, etc. My worries were unwarranted. I spent no more than two minutes at the immigration window, was given my 90 day tourist visa, and waved along.
I live in a house on the outskirts of the city with a Bolivian family. I was very nervous about living with a family, because the last time I did a homestay in a foreign country I had a pretty bad experience. This is the total opposite. My Bolivian mom is so great. She is tries really hard to include me in her activities, but also is very lenient as far as letting me go out and coming home late. She has given me tons of valuable advice, and cooks really delicious Bolivian food for me! The house is nice, with a cute backyard and all of the comforts of home (wi-fi included!). If you have the opportunity to live with her while you’re here, I would highly recommend it! She doesn’t speak English, which is really good if you’re trying to immerse yourself in the Spanish language. Her daughter, who lives in an attached apartment, does speak English, though, so in case of linguistic troubles, she can help J I live about a 20 minute drive or 45 minute walk to the center of town. It can be a bit of a hassle, especially at night when I have to take a taxi to meet people downtown. Still, there are lots of shops and restaurants near me so it’s not like I’m secluded at all. Plus, the great time I’m having with my Bolivian family more than makes up for the distance from the city center.
I was immediately impressed by the size and scope of Proyecto Horizonte’s projects. They are tackling so many issues! It’s awesome because you can get involved in just about any sector that interests you. It’s also great because you get to discover things that you might not have known you were interested in! It’s important to note that PH functions for the good of the community, rather than for the egos of its employees and volunteers. Three days a week, I work with the 3-4 year old kids in the guardaria. It’s challenging, but a lot of fun. The rest of the time I do my research. It should be very interesting because I’ll be talking to people from all of the different projects within PH. If you’re considering doing volunteer work, PH really is a great place because there is something for everyone.
I came at an exciting but funny time of year. We had 2 holidays in my first week, and the next three weeks are winter vacation for all of the students at the school. There is still plenty of work to be done, though. Plus, the kids in the guardaria only get one week off, so we’ll still be able to work with them. I’m sure the other blogs have mentioned, last weekend was the anniversary of the community. There was a parade on Saturday and dance performances were held on Sunday. It was so exciting, and really interesting to see the display of culture. We had a great time!
Cochabamba itself is really interesting. There are tons of restaurants and things to do. My first week we went to an art show and took a day trip to a nearby town! There is also a huge market where you can buy anything you could ever need. The weather so far has been a bit chilly in the mornings, then pretty hot in the afternoons. In case you have parents that worry as much as mine do, you should know that for the most part, I feel really safe here. Of course, Cochabamba has the same problems as any other city in South America, like petty theft. Even so, as long as you heed the advice the people who know (i.e. Eliza and your Bolivian family), you should be totally fine.
Some advice that I would give to anyone planning on coming here, no matter how short a time, is to learn at least a little Spanish before you come. You will definitely learn a lot once you’re here, but I think it is SO helpful to know enough to get by.
I’m looking forward to the remaining two months of my stay here in Cochabamba!
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