Hellooo!
A local walks his horse down the mountain; Descending the path to the waterfall
It seems like an eternity since I last did an entry - all of our days have been filled to the brim with classes, service, excursions, family functions, homework, and an hour or so to relax or get a coffee. Needless to say I´ve been a little busy, and have a tooon to write about. I´ll just cover the basics of what´s been going on lately.
A short-term (older adult, not college-aged) Amizade group was here for two weeks (most are leaving today, 
and last night we had an awesome going away party complete with all you can eat fresh seafood, a private room at a Karaoke bar, and dancing salsa, merengue, and samba with some Bolivian friends), and were working on construction of an orphanage called Hogar de Niños in a small town about 20 minutes outside of Cochbamba called Vinto. We had the pleasure of being able to join them for a few days of work, and got down a diry painting, stucco-ing (which is extremely difficult), plastering, tiling, and the like. Amizade has been working on the orphanage for many years, and have expanded it two-fold. Some of the volunteers had been here before, and were back for more. One couple in perticular, Marty and Marvin from Missouri, have been coming to Cochabamba off and on for 10 years, and cçhave built a very strong relationship with the people here. Marvin is even the godfather of one of the local mason´s sons. 
and last night we had an awesome going away party complete with all you can eat fresh seafood, a private room at a Karaoke bar, and dancing salsa, merengue, and samba with some Bolivian friends), and were working on construction of an orphanage called Hogar de Niños in a small town about 20 minutes outside of Cochbamba called Vinto. We had the pleasure of being able to join them for a few days of work, and got down a diry painting, stucco-ing (which is extremely difficult), plastering, tiling, and the like. Amizade has been working on the orphanage for many years, and have expanded it two-fold. Some of the volunteers had been here before, and were back for more. One couple in perticular, Marty and Marvin from Missouri, have been coming to Cochabamba off and on for 10 years, and cçhave built a very strong relationship with the people here. Marvin is even the godfather of one of the local mason´s sons. 
However, last week we all got a big shock, when about ten armed policemen showed up at the orphanage when the others were working (we weren´t there), and began an investigation of the premises. We came to volunteer the next day, and found out that the news was reporting that the orphanage was being shut down due to abuse, and in the following days the story began to unfold. We were still able to work, eventought the kids had been taken to different facilities, although reporters were streaming in and out all day. Now, our professor did make clear to us that we are unsure of what the situation is, exactly, and that the Latin American media tends to overexagerrate and jump to conclusions, so do consider that. Anyway, according to the media the nuns running the orphanage were not real nuns, and there were various reported cases of abuse by them, other employees, and older children to younger children.
I hesitated to even include this in my blog, but I think it´s important to give a realistic account of what´s going o
n here. Amizade of course has no fault at all in the matter, and is not involved in any way, we are fairly certain that the facitlity itself will be re-opened under different management, and that all the hard work that has been put in over the years by many generous individuals will not go to waste. Our overall experience at Hogar de Niños was positive, and we were able to interact with the kids one day after work. They even made birthday cards for two of our volunteers, and we had a little party with cake and playtime. I can only hope that they are able to return to their home with the care they deserve, and are not put out in the street. I´ll go into a little further detail about this system a little later.
n here. Amizade of course has no fault at all in the matter, and is not involved in any way, we are fairly certain that the facitlity itself will be re-opened under different management, and that all the hard work that has been put in over the years by many generous individuals will not go to waste. Our overall experience at Hogar de Niños was positive, and we were able to interact with the kids one day after work. They even made birthday cards for two of our volunteers, and we had a little party with cake and playtime. I can only hope that they are able to return to their home with the care they deserve, and are not put out in the street. I´ll go into a little further detail about this system a little later.Last Saturday I went to a baptism with my host family at a church in a nearby town, 
which was very interesting. The church is famous for its alter to the virgin, and once a year draws people from all over South America to pay tribute to her. It is apparently a strong center of faith, and thus a popular place for baptisms and weddings. When we arrived a newlywed couple was just pulling away, and when we were leaving they were setting up for the next wedding. The baptism itself was for 90 kids, most from the surrounding countryside. We were there for my host uncle´s (who lives with us) granddaughter, Velesca.
which was very interesting. The church is famous for its alter to the virgin, and once a year draws people from all over South America to pay tribute to her. It is apparently a strong center of faith, and thus a popular place for baptisms and weddings. When we arrived a newlywed couple was just pulling away, and when we were leaving they were setting up for the next wedding. The baptism itself was for 90 kids, most from the surrounding countryside. We were there for my host uncle´s (who lives with us) granddaughter, Velesca. 
The service itself was a little nuts because there were so many people in attendance. You really couldn´t hear anything the priest was saying, and there were photographers and camera crews all around trying to capture the moment to sell to participating families. My host mom explained to me that it is unusual for people from the city ot baptise their children under those circumstances, but her great niece had been born with a birth defect, and her parents had prayed to the virgen, promising to baptise her there if they were able to get is fixed through surgeries, etc. Valesca is now totally healthy, to my knowledge. This photo is of my host uncle with his 3 daughers. The one holding Valesca is her godmother, who lives in Miami, and came in for surgery. It´s cheaper for her to fly both ways and get two surgeries and dental work done here than to get them in the U.S. Talk about a need for healthcare reform.
On Sunday our group travelled with the short term group and three ot
her travelers Eric met at his hostel to a site called Incallajta, which is the location of an Incan fort and small city. The whole trip was extremely interesting, and the 3-hour drive through the mountains taught us a good bit about the country just from looking out the windows. When you get outside the city you begin to see the life of the majority of the world - mud huts with straw roofs, outhouses, small plots, sometimes at an incredibly steep grade on the side of the mountain, and essentially no more than the ingredients for a life of subsistence.
her travelers Eric met at his hostel to a site called Incallajta, which is the location of an Incan fort and small city. The whole trip was extremely interesting, and the 3-hour drive through the mountains taught us a good bit about the country just from looking out the windows. When you get outside the city you begin to see the life of the majority of the world - mud huts with straw roofs, outhouses, small plots, sometimes at an incredibly steep grade on the side of the mountain, and essentially no more than the ingredients for a life of subsistence. The site itself was gorgeous, and we had a very good guide. We took about a 2 hour hike around the ruins, and had a lovely time. There´s really not too much to say about it, but I got some nice photos, so you can get a little bit of an idea for yourself. It was a cool day with high wind and, as always, the strong Bolivian sun.
A local walks his horse down the mountain; Descending the path to the waterfall
Last week I started my service work at Millennium orphanage in Cochabamba (not to be confused with the one in Vinto that was shut down), which is about 4
blocks from my house. I´ll be working there two days out of the week, and with another organization called CEOLI, which provides services, classes, etc for children with disabilities. I haven´t had the chance to go there yet, though. Millennium is home to 22 kids, aged 6 months to 6 yrs old. After they turn six they are no longer allowed to get state funding, so if they aren´t adopted or placed in a different facility they are put out on the street, which is very upsetting to me. There are many street children around the city, many will juggle or wash your windshield at a stoplight for change or come around outdoor restaurants begging. This photo is one I took walking to Spanish class one morning. Can you imagine? Or do any of us really want to?
blocks from my house. I´ll be working there two days out of the week, and with another organization called CEOLI, which provides services, classes, etc for children with disabilities. I haven´t had the chance to go there yet, though. Millennium is home to 22 kids, aged 6 months to 6 yrs old. After they turn six they are no longer allowed to get state funding, so if they aren´t adopted or placed in a different facility they are put out on the street, which is very upsetting to me. There are many street children around the city, many will juggle or wash your windshield at a stoplight for change or come around outdoor restaurants begging. This photo is one I took walking to Spanish class one morning. Can you imagine? Or do any of us really want to?Anyway, Millennium is run by a woman named Virginia who has a very obvious committment to providing the best home she can for the kids. Although they only get $.43 a day from the government for each child, at least they have food, clothing, and a bed to sleep in. Still, the conditions are a little hard to accept. All of the kids have runny noses and coughs, and most have lice. There are 2 nurses on staff and various volunteers in and our, but they have to be somewhat stern due to the lack of staff. For instance, we aren´t allowed to pick the kids up because then they´ll cry to be held all the time, and if one falls and is crying they´re essetially just told to get over it and left on the floor. As volunteers we help feed and cloth them, etc, but also just give them as much individual attention as possible. We took turns holding Pablo, the 6 month old baby (who can barely hold his head up), and talking to the others, rubbing their backs, tickling them, etc. It´s as depressing as it is fulfilling, but hopefully over the course of a few months it´ll make a little difference.
Adoptions to American families from Bolivia has apprently never been legal, but traditionally 
they have been allowed with Europe. Now, though, Presidente Morales isn´t renewing the adoption agreements, and according to my information the only foreign adoptions that are still allowed are to The Netherlands. His stance is generally quite anti-Westrn "Developed World" (which has actually been well-earned, but is not necessarily the best attitude) as far as I can tell, and he says that Bolivia´s children are not for export. A nice theory that results in an ever increasing population of street children. According to my Spanish teacher they had some issues with children being adopted and sold into slavery or used in the organ sales black market, which is very hard to believe, but may be true. Still, it seems to me if you´re that crooked and evil it would be easier and cheaper to just take them off the street and smuggle them out of the country.
they have been allowed with Europe. Now, though, Presidente Morales isn´t renewing the adoption agreements, and according to my information the only foreign adoptions that are still allowed are to The Netherlands. His stance is generally quite anti-Westrn "Developed World" (which has actually been well-earned, but is not necessarily the best attitude) as far as I can tell, and he says that Bolivia´s children are not for export. A nice theory that results in an ever increasing population of street children. According to my Spanish teacher they had some issues with children being adopted and sold into slavery or used in the organ sales black market, which is very hard to believe, but may be true. Still, it seems to me if you´re that crooked and evil it would be easier and cheaper to just take them off the street and smuggle them out of the country. As much as I do love it here, there are plenty of things to make you angry and ashamed of the lavish lifestyle we lead in comparison to so many in the world. Yet at the same time, it´s natural to think of yourself first, is it not? I know when I get back my career and my happiness will be at the top of the priority list, not ending world hunger. Still, the fact that I´m very much hoping to enter a career that will make at least a small impact in this area helps to reconcile a little of that guilt.
Eric posted a few quotes from our journals on his blog, and they are all worth checking out. It´s interesting to see everyone else´s reaponses to the trip thus far. Mine was in response to a quote we read in class, which is as follows:
"Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome by the actions of human beings. And overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life."
Nelson Mandela
My response to that was this: When you think of ending poverty as an act of justice rather than an act of charity it places an individual responsibility on each of us to act in ways that are more just rather than just nice.
It´s just something to think about. I do believe that there could be an end to poverty, but unless there are fundamental changes made in our lifestyles. There was a very good article we read called "What Should a Billionaire Give and What Should You?" that breaks down the amount that the super-rich would have to give to substantially increase the quality of life of millions. It´s not that much. If you´re interested you can read the article at http://www.utilitarian.net/singer/by/20061217.htm.
That´s all for now. This week we´ll be staying with rural families for 3 days and working on furthering construction of a school in the country with a group that´s here called Youth International. That should be very interesting. I´m also going to start having essays due every week, so I don´t know how much time I´ll have to write. I´ll try to keep up as best I can.
Here´s my song of the day. I´m sure you´ve all heard it, but there´s no harm in a little reminder.
"You may say I´m a dreamer, but I´m not the only one..."
Yours,
Alanna
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