More Adventures in Bolivia

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9 de Julio

Today we had quite an adventure getting ready for church. We did finally get there and mom was very happy to see many old friends. There were many hugs and kisses and “mucho gustos”.

For lunch and tea we went to the house of my mom’s childhood friend. Her mother was a merchant with my grandma. My mom asked many questions about her mom and she got to learn many things about her. One thing that I’ll always remember is how much it was said that I was just like my grandma Pilar. Not only how I looked but also how I acted. It’s kinda of cool and kind of weird at the same to time to be the best source of knowing what your grandma was like.

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Already the Gray’s house has been established as our favorite place to speak English. The kids are very happy to talk to us and ask us if we watch “friends”, to which we answer “no”. It’s funny how so many young people are so excited to meet us and ask us if we like the Goo-Goo dolls or various movies, and we are really less informed than them. It’s sad to disappoint them.

We really need to practice our music because so far we’ve performed twice and both times without our instruments and both times were pretty bad. At least at the Gray’s house we had sheet music.

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Oh yeah, and our suitcases arrived safely and we have all our things! Thank you God!

Already I’m feeling that things like cramming into vans to over-max occupancy and putting toilet paper in the trash can is normal. I’m wondering how going back to the States will be. I’m still pondering the concept of normalcy and trying to get a feel of what it is in Bolivia. The places where we are are definitely above average, I kinda hope we’ll be able to see average Bolivia too.

Though it can get tiring to sit to the fourth hour of listening to straight-Spanish about stuff we have no idea about, it’s been great so far. I’m really picking up Spanish but who knows where my peak is. I tend to take lots of risks and not worry about grammar and so get lots of words out, Eddie is more cautious and thorough. I think he may learn more by the end of the trip. Jonny and Elizabeth have finally memorized “mucho gusto” and we’re hoping they’ll do well.

And to tell ya’ll about Satuday, we were at the Gray’s and there were about 10 of mom’s friends there from a church girl’s group called “las amigas”. It sound like they had tons of adventures together. It’s fun to see mom in her element and lots of things are making more sense.

Well, I think that’s all for now. Again, it’s hit or miss as far as internet, we’re going to the Gray’s on Wednesday so if that’s when this is posted, please know it’s just hard to find internet around here.