Regalos

I just bought some gifts for my host family.  It was a little hard to pick them bc I was not sure what they would like. I settled on a stuffed elephant for Sofia, lotions and soaps for Zulema and Alejandra, and a book of Boston with new and old pictures in it for Rodolfo and Zulema.  I was also told that bringing maple syrup is a nice treat so I will bring that along with some pancake mix.  good stuff.

The Digs

Received my homestay info yesterday. Definitely becoming a reality now that I have names and a phone number. “It’s all happening!” Below is my info:

 Zulema (Housewife), husband/ Rodolfo (Engineer), daughter/ Zulema (1980) daughter/Alejandra (1984), daughter/ Sofia (2006).

Other: Non-smoking. No pets. The family enjoys tennis, basketball, baking, and vollyball.

Address: Avaroa #472 between Grau and Dalence/ Telephone: +(591-4) 6462932

Shots… not the good kind

I had the rest of my shots today. I already got my typhoid, hep A, and renewed my tetanus for Colombia so I only needed the big YF. Yellow Fever hurt! Not sure whether it was the med student’s needlework or the shot itself that made me cringe.

Nicole, the PA, whom I saw in the travel clinic at HVMA has family in Bolivia said she thought I could do w/o the rabbies vac. “4 americans a year die from the deadly disease known as rabies” according to Michael Scott. Oh well, I will just have to be extra careful and carry rocks in my pocket as Nicole suggested to ward off the stray dogs that roam the streets of Bolivia in packs. However, the dogs with the green collars are already vaccinated so I guess I can spare them my Beckett arm!

The last big decision to make was about Malaria pills. Since I plan on doing some camping trips while in Bolivia, the PA suggested I get Malaria pills. I had three very appealing choices:

Pill #1: cant remember the name. side effects: %.005 can end up with psychosis that can be permanent.

Pill #2: side effects can cause sun burn and yeast infections. No fun to deal with when you are camping in Bolivia

Pill #3: Malarone: (The pill I opted to take) has only been on the market 7 yrs so it is a baby drug. No side effects reported but that is not nearly enough time to tell. Oh well, if my head falls off in 5 years at least I went to Bolivia!

Click here to read more about shots for Bolivia

Ticket. Check!

I bought my ticket last night. No turning back now! I leave sat nov 3rd. ahhhhhhhh. I fly out of Logan at 6:55, then arrive in Miami around 10am, depart at 1 and arrive in La Paz, Bolivia at 7:30pm. From there Amerispan is gonna pick me up, put me up in a hotel, and fly me to Sucre. I bought a round trip instead of a one way so that immigration wouldn’t think I was a total sketchball (I will change the return date later).

As for a visa? Turns out the Bolivian consulate in Boston does not beleive in answering the phone and the Embassy in DC refers you back to Boston no matter how much you try and explain that no one picks up the phones. After calling for a week straight I decided to go another route. A coworker, who is married to a Bolivian, suggested I take care of it at the airport. I go as a tourist and ask for the 90 day visa. Then I can either renew while in Bolivia, or I leave the country for 48 hrs and get another 90 day visa. Definitely going to take a little weekend trip in Jan. Machu Picchu perhaps?

Bolivia or Bust!

So it’s finally official. I am going to Bolivia. My short lived adventure to Colombia was amazing and enforced further my decision to spend more time abroad in South America.

I have been accepted into Amerispan’s volunteer program and leave for Sucre, Bolivia Nov 3rd. I will volunteer for 6 months in a local hospital that focuses on helping impaired children and will be staying with a Bolivian family.

So, to the point: If any of you are interested in visiting me I would love to plan something. I know that some of you are in school and have winter/ spring breaks etc. Others are teaching so you, too, have winter, spring and summer breaks. Still others (Ahem* Andi, Annie, Chessin) have expressed interest in planning an adventure cause come on, how often do people you know go to live in South American countries !?

If you are sitting at your computer, in your cube pondering why you should take a trip to this random country you have never heard anything about maybe some fun facts about Bolivia can persuade you.

1. Bolivia is home to the world’s largest Kyoto Protocol rainforest experiment. Chessin and other nature lovers- that’s for you! (Whispering in the Giant’s Ear by William Powers)

2. Although Bolivia is one of the poorest South American countries, it is one of the safest countries in the world. (Culture Shock: Bolivia by Mark Cramer)

3. Bolivia is the most affordable country in South America: bus rides cost 10 cents, one can eat for under $2.00. Need I say more? ( Whispering in the Giant’s Ear by William Powers)

4. Bolivia has one of the largest indigeneous populations in South America with its Aymara (Pre- Incan) and Quechua (Incan) cultures. ( Culture Shock: Bolivia by Mark Cramer)

5. Bolivians love to have fun! There are festivals year round, filled with dancing, drinking, and water fights! ( Culture Shock: Bolivia by Mark Cramer)

Aside from all this, Bolivia borders Brazil, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Paraguay (all countries I am interested in visiting). So if you have an itch to travel, a couple weeks vaca, and some money to throw down, why not?