Father´s Day in Bolivia

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Como estas? It´s my lovely break getting to write in English and I told my teacher it´s like ice cream when I get to speak in English after all day of Spanish. So, I was thinking that coming here like this and getting to know people means that Bolivia doesn´t have to be this country that is associated with fear. I don´t have to spend time thinking about the drug stuff here, any civil unrest, that it might not be safe. I can be here and see that no matter how people live they strive to live good lives with their families and all of the emotions that we experience at home are here as well. Not sure if I´m explaining this correctly but from there, maybe Bolivia seems a bit wild or unsafe but from here it is people with families, with problems, with difficult politicians and with a desire for happiness.

This weekend I´ll get to go to some of the wonderful museums they have here in Sucre and learn about their history. There is a comedy act in town as well that I´ll go to and see how much I can understand. I might also go to a nearby town with my school to see a pueblo and a celebration. So, it should be a good weekend full of local culture.

Meanwhile, back here I cracked up my teacher yesterday. She asked me in Spanish of course, What was I going to do when I got home. I replied. Voy a embrazacar Paul. Well, the word I should have said was embrazar Paul. What I said was......Get Paul pregnant!!! You can understand how hysterical that was for her. I´m still laughing about that one. Nothing like getting close to the right word, eh?

The radio station is as always a wonderful place to learn. As today is Dia del Padre ,,,Father´s Day and a BIG deal throughout the city, we celebrated by reading the notes that kids had sent in about their dads. I got to be a bit involved helping to pick the winning letters out of the bag ...woohoo. Well, when it was all done...Ivan, the announcer, shocked me and put the microphone in my face and told me to say something. Well, my oh my, I kinda froze said something in Spanish and then he said speak English so I got to say a bit more but I was so frozen that I didn´t even say Happy Father´s Day. So much for my radio career. too funny. Afterwards the radio staff celebrated with these yummy empenadas and coke. These empanadas are delicious, Such a great snack. I´m looking for a cookbook that I can understand to take home.

Before this celebration, Ivan had been talking about why the 2 female reporters were a bit lacking in energy today. It´s noticeable that they are but as in all work places it´s not always easy to sort it out. He´s very professional and will figure it out I´m sure. Just like home I think. And the jokes are the same....why the women aren´t happy,etc. Whether being single is easier than being married. So we had an intersting discussion about sex in a relationship. If there is a lot of news that is recorded, we have more time to talk. I really enjoy the atmosphere at the station...intense and fun! I am a happy observer hoping to understand more each day. It´s sooo slow though.

The shrink came in again today to talk about responsibilities of a father...and it´s the same ideals that we have. She´s like our Jennifer James. I really like listening to her. All the same ways to speak to kids and all the same issues.

The current mayor came in to talk about what it takes to be a good dad and then the funniest thing happened while he was being interviewed. The engineer passed me an earphone and told me to listen...it said go to the principal...I looked at him and he said yes. So I went to the head guys office...he´s the one who accepted my request to come¨here...and he showed me this lovely email that my high school buddy Claude had sent him about me. It was sooooo sweet. How fun. If you want to listen to the station it is www.radioloyola.com and my time is with Ivan Ramos but we are 4 hours ahead of Seattle and I´m there from 8 30 to 11 30. So, the time at the station is great for my Spanish, great to learn about people here in Sucre and the main issues and great to know that laughter and fun are here in the workplace. I have so much to be thankful for.

Okay, time to head home and see how my family celebrates Father´s Day and then class this afternoon. I have good days and bad days learning this language but I´ll stay with it. I ended up moving my room up to the top of the house now and it´s quite glamous, I have a lovely view of the city and get sunshine in my room. What a great change from the basement room. It´s a single, has a desk which makes studying better and I can even see myself in my hand mirror. It´s very different to live without mirrors. Now to figure out the barking dog that lives on the deck upstairs. Enjoy your life in America. By the way, the word on Americans now is not that they are ugly but rather fat and only eat fast food. Of course, here imagine...everyone goes home for lunch for 2 hours. Isn´t that the way it´s supposed to be...more civilized? You can´t believe the stories I am hearing about how much we eat...and what can I say? However, word is that Aussies are now fatter than us. take care......................love, Joyce

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