La voluntaria y el profesor

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Things in La Paz are settling down a bit and we've got into a bit of a routine. I've been going to an orphanage for four afternoons a week and helping with the 2-8 year olds... all of the kids are second generation street children, so I think most have parents that are still on the streets. Some of the kids have suffered abuse from their parents and have run away, some of them had been made to work on the streets by their parents... there's a 5 year old who is already an ex-gluesniffer! I mostly sit with them while they eat lunch and then help them with their homework... not an easy task when one's Spanish vocab is rather limited! I'm having to learn how to say words for things like... ok don't stand on the sink, time to wipe your bottom, don't push him off the toilet, who has the eraser? The youngest at the orphanage (a 2 year old) asked me to pick him up and said something in Spanish that I didn't understand so I just said yes... when he dragged me into the bathroom I realised he was telling me he wanted to go poos! So I'm learning a slightly different vocabularly to what I learn in Spanish class! I took James to see the orphanage in the weekend and he was an instant hit... the kids enjoyed being thrown up in the air and having someone to play soccer with. All proof to James' theory that soccer is the global language.

It takes ages to get out to the orphanage... its pretty far south, practically in the middle of nowhere. I'm usually the only gringo in the van and I often get some odd looks. The other day I lost my wallet (yes, again... but this time I just lost it) and only discovered the fact when I was nearly to my destination. Taking into account that no one else on the van-bus spoke any English I was a little worried... mostly about what the driver's reaction would be. I was very grateful to be carrying my handy little dictionary and quickly learnt the word for 'lost'. I first practiced my sentence on an unsuspecting woman next to me, who seemed to understand me (a first!) and this encouraged me to explain to the driver (in front of the whole bus) my lack of cash. I was very relieved when the driver laughed and accepted my 50 centavos (10 cents), a 1/6th of what I should have paid. So just another moment when I feel my lack of blending in.

James (aka el profesor) is enjoying his teaching (most of the time)... he has small classes which he enjoys. I think he is also enjoying the challenge of building the science dept from scratch. Since there are no chemicals in the school's science lab he is making do with vinegar, sugar, coca cola, and other household products. It sounds like the kids are really enjoying the experiments he is doing with them... there was a rumour going around that Mr Bellingham's class is most liked.

The other night we ate cow's heart from a street vendor! It was very tender meat. Needless to say... I got stomach cramps for a few days and James had diarrehea... but you only live once...

And.... we have a South American mouse in our kitchen! Which leads to the task of having to locate a mouse-trap in the black market. And then this morning I discovered a South American type weta in our bathroom! And to top it off - I think something bit me in the night... I sure haven't seen any mosquitos around here. I'm not really appreciating this interaction with Bolivian's wildlife.

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Photos

The orphanage
out in the middle of nowhere...

Comments

[Rachel]

WOW!
I love hearing your stories. I still think of you guys often and pray for you. I am so proud of you having such a sense of adventure. God bless! Rachel Isbell