Carnival Water Balloon War Zone

Oh, soooooooo Carnival - let me explain the coolest thing I learned today. During Carnival the ENTIRE country turns into a Water Balloon WAR zone. I mean it´s ALL out guerilla warfare . . . ppl hang out of trufis & taxis (trufis are little vans that function as public transport) and do drive by´s . . . favorite targets include Gringos & women. . . so a few of us PC ladies are already strategizing. One pcv just told me how she and two friends made a 3 - man sling shot . . . and their balloons went over a block and a half . . . so yes, we will be prepared . . . we will be armed . . .and NO THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS WILL NOT APPLY !!!! ( and YES they do sell super soakers here. . . !!! the possibilities are endless) I´m soooooooo psyched !!! Apparantly it ¨really gets bad¨when women on the street sell big bags of filled water balloons for 1 boliviano (it´s $1 to the 8 Bolivianos). You MUST come visit during Carnival !!! There´s also a bunch of dancing, drinking, & eating . . . basically I must find a way to spend every carnival here !!!

I´m quite sure there are many more details about this CLEARLY amazing cultural practice of sharing LOVE and AFFECTION with all you see (it´s completely normal for pcv´s [peace corps volunteers . . . i´m only a trainnee at the moment] to recruit 13 yr olds to be on their team because Gringos are so immensely outnumbered) . . . so I´m sure I´ll be writing more about the subject in the future.

Miss you all !!!,
La Sarita

PS. Many thanks go out to my favorite big brother Armstrong, and our mutual Brazilean friend Miguel . . . without whom I doubt I would be ready for this water war of Mamouth proportions !!!

Chez Moi!!!

So we’ve been here a month and I’m sure you’re all just DYING to see how a REAL LIVE PEACE COPRS TRAINEE really lives!?!?!?!

I know I know, the excitement may be too much to bear – but below you’ll find pix of my dwelling.

We have all sorts of containers for food – laundry baskets tend to be used for dried goods . . . and actually I’m very lucky – my ‘mother’ even washes her hands occasionally before she starts cooking !!
Never fear – if you brave the journey – I’ll cook for you myself (I hope that comes across as an incentive !)

The pic below taken from my second floor landing – down into the small courtyard where I live. Oh, and the random lines you see in the picture are clothes lines – where one is welcome to hang their unmentionables at any time ! And the small shack-like structure to the left of Lucy is our kitchen . . . turns out you don’t actually need a Viking stove to produce culinary brilliance !!!

The vista to the left was also taken from my room the house on the other side of the clearing is Susan’s house – we could probably pass a football if either of us could throw one . . . might be a good experiment . . . though the ball might land in cow manure . . . maybe we’ll save that one for later.

Alas, my personal space !!!

I’m actually very lucky – and multiple other trainees are jealous – I have a TABLE, a STOOL, AND . . . I hope you’re sitting down as you read this . . . A CHAIR!!!!
Contrary to popular belief I’m actually not being dramatic for effect – most everyone else has only the Peace Corps provided bed (see pic) and requisite mosquito net.

This is a picture of my ‘motivation’ / “People still love me” wall. Though it be small – it be mighty ! If you really want to be cool please send fun pictures/cards/collages or motivational quotes of any kind.

Oh, and an extra special shout out to Peggy White has contributed 4 out of the 6 cards on the wall !!! (Peggy I WILL find a way to get you a Kir when I get back!).

I hope this finds you all well – happy – and hopefully laughing a bit at my expense !

Miss you daily,
LOVE,
Hawaii 5 – 0 !!!