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Published: September 6th 2006
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The view from the School
The view from the school where James works. Not bad eh, Mt Illamni in all its 6,470 metre glory. My spanish teacher would be proud of that one.
My days are gradually getting busier and busier which is good. Yesterday was busy from early on. I have been trying to buy a cell phone so that I can stay in touch with very important people (read Sarah) and the people I’m meeting. So much is happening but if they can’t contact me or me them I will just miss out.
So spent a good part of the morning looking for mobiles, there is definitely not a shortage, but there in lies the problem. What to buy, stolen, second hand or new. Which network, prepay or contract, then there’s the problem of not speaking Spanish. Hmmm.. Have to be careful as James and Julie and a few others have paid for bad phones.
After that was more Spanish, wont go into that. Mi Español classes es muy difícil y aburridísimo.
Alter Spanish I was off to the Highlands school again for Ultimate Frisbee against the kids and more Youth for Christ volunteers. I’m way better with the plate then I am with the ball. Check out the photos for pictures of the school and the games. After
More soccer, more kids
Playing soccer with the kids from the school and some Youth for Christ volunteers. The school is a converted brick factory on land gifted to them. that was more soccer, still no goals, but I’m improving, played games for about 2 hours so I was pretty exhausted and sore the next day.
Got home about 8ish and decided to explore the city at night, not the touristy part or el Centro, but the real La Paz. So out the back of my house I just started walking up the canyon. As you know the higher you get the poorer it gets. Soon the roads turned to gravel and rock and my only company was the dogs that would sometimes chase me. Not really, but they barked like I was about to steal their bones and insult their mothers. About 500 metres later and 60 minutes I crested the canyon rim and was in for the most spectacular sight.
La Paz truly is a beautiful city. Because of the altitude, the lights don’t flicker and because the canyon almost surrounds you it feels like you are in your own little Christmas tree or private galaxy. I don’t think the shots actually do the scene justice.
One thing you don’t see is stars. The lights here just flood them out. I have however heard that
My Street
Yep, This is the street I live on. Its at about 3,550 Meters and a 20 min walk into el Centro for truly amazing star gazing, I short trip onto the Altiplano and a little distance between yourself and La Paz and it’s the best in the world. Climb one of the many mountains and it gets better still. But as far as cities at night go, it can’t be bet, and ironically the poorer you are the better view you have. Auckland, learn a few things.
Tomorrow is looking packed. Breakfast with the youth for Christ guys, then up to El Alto to help fix a house where some shoe shiners live, my many hours hiding from Daniel on the building site will come in handy here. After that, Spanish class, then after that off to the school again. This time to inventory their computers, they have 10 very old PC´s (P2´s) and I will look at upgrading them if I can while I’m here. I even get a budget for that one. Then dinner, then a bible study group thing with some more Shoe shiners. I haven’t really had much contact with these guys so will let you know how everything gets on.
My home stay family has been awesome. They are really good. Spent 2 hours
A night time stroll in La Paz
I went for a stroll through the poorer parts of La Paz. From my street straight up to just over 4,000 metres. Here are some shots from that journey. I hope they are not that dark. They look ok on the computer here. last night talking to Louis, the father, and even though he knows only a little Spanish and I know un poco Español, with the help of some paper and a dictionary we covered every topic. I know heaps more about Bolivia, stuff which really surprised me, stuff about their wars and governments and about living and working here.
He makes good money for a Bolivian and it amounts to only $7,000 NZD a year. While this is enough to live on here as things are so cheap and more or less usually great quality, not everyone has it so good. The minimum wage here is only $1,200 a year. Crazy isn´t it.
One of the sad consequences of this is that Bolivians find it almost impossible to travel out side off their country or take the family for a holiday. They are surrounded by hugely more expensive countries. Even Peru is significantly more expensive and to change their money to the local currency virtually wipes all value. I mean the cost of my flight to La Paz, amounts to half a year’s salary for Louis.
Still for all this, Bolivians (La Pazians) are very nice and friendly.
A night time stroll in La Paz 2
Further up the canyon, the roads turn to gravel and dirt and the dogs become less friendly. You can walk the streets in relative safety and you don’t get bugged too much or hassled. They are a laid back and mellow people, probably because this helps when living at this altitude. They love their sport (soccer) and to have a bust a grove… All in all they are pretty cool. They know their circumstances but just get on with what needs doing.
Word for the day tengo I have
Sentence Creo que Chile es mas caro que Bolivia
I think Chile is more expensive then Bolivia
Miss and love you all.
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Dad
non-member comment
Hi Raz...awesome that you are keeping up the blogging to the level you are. Each entry represents a huge commitment to stay in touch which I really appreciate. The irony of the "view" issue had me thinking...Trips like this are good for the soul. Well done!!