First 3 Weeks

It's been almost 3 weeks in Bolivia... 

So far, the weeks have consisted of Spanish lessons from Mon to Fri, homework, attending a close-by church and the young adults group among other things. We've also got to form some new friendships with 4 other Canadians. 

We haven't started ministry/volunteer work yet as most Bolivians are on their summer vacation right now. We will be starting this Wed at La Casa de Amistad. Based on Bolivian laws, kids of imprisoned parents without any relatives to take them in, must go live in the prison with their parents. La Casa de Amistad is a place for these kids to go after school so that they may spend less time in the difficult environment of the prisons, get help with their school work, get to eat and receive any special attention they would need. This week we met with the director of the centre and he told us about opportunities for involvement. Being that both Kevin and I are Psych majors, we will be able to help out with the Psychologist as she will be doing beginning-of-year evaluations with all the kids. We will also be assisting teachers in tutoring the kids. While we're still enjoying  the language and culture, the vacation feeling has mostly worn off now and we're quite ready to get on more of a schedule with volunteer work. We're so excited to get started! Please be praying that things will go well as we begin at La Casa, that we may make the most of all the opportunities that are presented to us and for all the kids there. 

Funny moments:

1. We went bowling with our Canadian friends and the lane in which we were playing did not function very well. Pins were sometimes missing, gutter balls resulted in a strike score and some people got extra turns. The result: Kevin concludes that the machine is favouring females so he begins to say "Soy una chica!" (I'm a girl!) in a high pitch voice before bowling... We were all laughing so hard and so was the couple bowling next to us.

2. Two nights ago, Kevin decides to go get some food at a little place off the street. He orders the food to go, along with a coke. Since the coke was in a glass bottle, they are generally only served to drink in the restaurant... Not having realized this, Kevin leaves with his food and drink. 3 blocks later, the out-of-breath clerk catches up to Kevin trying to explain that he couldn't take the bottle unless he pays extra... Unable to break Kevin's large bill, the man explains that he'll put the coke in something else for Kevin to bring with him. It seems like a good solution, so Kevin goes back to the restaurant with him and waits for him outside. A few minutes later, the man returns to Kevin with the coke... in a bag :)