Last week :(

I’ve been here for 2 1/2 months now, with only one week to go! Everyone says it, but time really does fly here.

I’ve never been much of a blogger, so I’m not too sure what to say. Everything is still going well. I adore the kids I work with and will be heartbroken when I have to leave. I’m really going to miss my Bolivian family and all of the great friends I’ve made here, too.

One of my only problems is that there are too many fun and interesting things to do here! I have seriously been neglecting the work I came here to do (write a thesis!). I don’t mind, though. I’m here for the experience and to become truly involved in the lives of the people here, not to be the stereotypical standoffish researcher ;) Some of my best memories so far have been things I never expected to do- baking massive quantities of bread with some of the teachers, teaching a group of 14 year old girls how to dance the Electric Slide, dressing up in traditional clothes for a miniferia. Every experience has been so exciting and so totally Bolivian.

My last few weeks have been awesome. In August, we celebrated the festival of Urkupiña, where we, along with thousands of other people, made an all-night pilgrimage to the pueblo of Quillacollo. One of the main attractions of this festival, apart from the wonderful dance performances, is that you can purchase miniature versions of whatever you would like to have in your life. We had the uniquely South American experience of first having our purchased "desires" blessed by a Catholic priest, then having them blessed by an indigenous man in a traditional ceremony. A few weeks later we climbed a nearby mountain. We got a little lost in the process, but ended up having an amazing time! Then a few of us went to Salar de Uyuni for a three day adventure. Anyone who comes to Bolivia has to make this trip- it is absolutely mindblowing! From the rugged mountains to the flocks of flamingos to the vast emptiness of the salt flats, every minute was unbelievable. It is absolutely freezing there in the winter, though, so come prepared with warm clothes!

My last week is going to be incredibly busy, but I think it’s better that way. I would rather not have time to think about my impending departure. I am already planning my return to Cochabamba- I love it too much not to come back!

P.S. I'm having trouble uploading photos to this blog, so check out http://www.facebook.com/ProyectoHorizonte for some visuals!