Journals
Wednesday,Nov 23 2005, 06:27:40 PMDog of the Month
So check out the dog of the Month. A new section I chose to showcase the fine breeding of Bolivian Street Dogs.
Geoff
Wednesday,Nov 23 2005, 12:38:41 PMNew Journal updates from the Jungle
My new cell number 710-246-74
Monday 21ar of November 2005 3:30 PM San Antonio de Lomerio
Ah the last few days. Well Vanessa and I, my near site mate, finally coordinated to get to Puquio a town about 10 miles from my site. So on Sunday Morning I got on the Micro, it had been raining for a while so the road was feo feo, or in Bad shape. We definately had to get out in 2 feet of mud and push the thing out. Lots of fun. If I can work my picutres out I will post them. So the party in the town was good. I ate lots of food, grilled steak, rice, yuca, that sort of thing. Didn't drink the chicha and then we went and watched a soccer game in town. After that we ate mangos, the best I ever had right off the tree as they were ready to eat and in season and all of that.
So now we come to one of the funniest things I have seen yet in Bolivia. So they take a pole about a foot wide and at least 30 feet tall and grease it up with soy bean oil. Then they put prizes like flip flops, cereal candy and other small things up top. Then they get the young kids in the town to go at it and try and get the prizes at teh top. Kids between 6 and 10 pretty much. Ha Ha Ha. How freaking twisted is this. I mean it was hilarious seeing the 20 + kids try to scale this greased up pole. Man was it a sick form of humour. Subsequently they never got to the top by the time the micro came an hour later going back to my town. So i got in, actually on top of the micro, because it was about 100 degrees inside with about 150 people in a short bus. Horrible. Well I got back in my town in time for more food, more declining chicha and man did everyone in my town get wasted. It was the high school graduation and I think everyone in town was there, Including 50 cent and screw loose, the two crazies in town. 50 cent asks you for 50 cents and if you don't have it then a boliviano . . .he just doesn't get it and screw loose, well he just follows me around and it really kinda creeps me out. Well the party was like prom with the whole town there. Some of the people were drinking puro or rubbing alcohol with water, no thank you. I left at around 11:30 but they partied until three in the morning only to start again at 6 am this morning. At 11 everyone went to bed and the town has been pretty much deserted till then. I don't know from experience, but the chicha, basically corn moonshine and puro gives you a hell of a hangover the next day. Off to Santa cruz tomorrow to buy the rest of my junk and for thanksgiving.
G
19th of November 2005 6:00 Pm S.A. de Lomerio
Today was interesting . . . It has been cooler, 80 degrees at night, due to massive amounts of rain. Today was a perfect example of miscommunication. I decided to go a day early to Vanessas site.
Ok let me start this again. Vanessa is about a 40 minute micro ride from here on the bus that leaves once a day for Santa Cruz at 7am. so I decidedsince were are going to tis town fiesta in a neighboring town where there is a volunteer, called puquio, I would ride the micro today and hang with vanessa when we would walk the hour to puquio and the party.
Well I got on the micro and see another micro pass us on the way. really strange because the only bus going that direction is in the afternoon about 4 oclock. Well I get to here town, San Lorenzo, about 300 people and it turns out she was on that micro and was going to my town for a soccer tournament. I had to walk my happy ass back 3 hours to my town through the jungle, drizzling, raining, hot, full of mud up to my knees and so on. My legs are sore due to all of the hills and my clothes were soaked. First and last time I ever walk to San Lorenzo or Puquio from my site. I need a bicycle pronto. The erst of the day went well as it cooled off after my 3 hour walk.
The soccer tournament was cool and the best part was the dogs and pigs that would occaisoinaly stroll onto the field. I am so in need of a fan, even though we only have electricity 4 hours a day.
Geoff
Thursday 17th of November 2005 8 pm S.A. De Lomerio
I got my room set up today the way I want. I walked around town and discovered that there is a lot more stuff to buy than previously thought and I am not going to starve to death. Wow the sunset was awesome last night here as we are on a hill and it sets in the jungle, and the sunrise this morning was even better. The weather here is hot hot humid hot and hot. Think austin in the summer with no ac or even electricity for a fan. Sweating while you sleep sucks. So buying a fan. So buying a fan.
Wed November 15th 2005 7:45 PM S.A de Lomerio
Home!!!!! at least for the next few years. talk about a day. I went out with this volunteer who is near me, about 2 hours last night in santa cruz till 3:30 and then I got on the 10 hour micro at 7 this morning. It was about 95 degrees with only windows for airflow. That and the 400 baby chickens on the seat behind me. Chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp . . .ah I hate chickens. My room is sweet and the family is realy calm and laid back which is good. That and I am not living like dr. doolitle with a zillion animals like other families.
One thing before I crash out. I want to give a shout out to the thompson family. Who are the thompsons you ask. Well let me tell you. Well I was looking for sheets to buy and ready to drop some cash. Sheets and a nice pillow are clutch here. All the sheets I was coming across here sucked and were polyester and cotton blend and most of the "pure" cotton ones felt like a burlap sack. I came across a pair of decent blue one with a high thread count and all of that from the states. The price was good and I wondered what was up and why they were here. Well it turns out the sheets are monogramed with ThopmsTon. I suppose the thompsons ordered these sheets and then the monogram was messed up so they sent them back and somehow they ended up in the market in santa cruz bolivia. Thank you Thompsons. Tonight even though it is still about 90 degrees with high humidity and no breeze and no powere for a fan I will sleep ok on my nice baby blue ThompsTon sheets.
it is the simple things in life.
Geoff