Blog Post 1
August 5
Arriving in La Paz has already provided me with so many amazing sights and encounters. My host family has welcomed me in with open arms and after a good deal of rest took me on a tour of the neighborhood (Montículo pictured below). The view from her apartment is mesmerizing (also included in the photographs). I definitely feel the eleven stories as I choose to take the stairs some days. The table depicts a small evening snack filled with conversations between the two of us, a much needed opportunity for me to practice the language.
Beautiful view of the neighborhood
View from my homestay’s apartment
Witches’ Market
I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of my temporary home when I first arrived in La Paz. At 4 am, I wasn’t exactly in the best state to make a first impression on my host family. Since the first night, I’ve been blown away by the hospitality and warmth that I received by my host mom and her extended family. Señora Carola extended not only her home, but her heart as well. She wasted no time making me feel as a part of her family. It’s a two room apartment located on the eleventh floor and it is within a prime location. Centrally located, I am able to maintain my late habits and still make it everywhere relatively on time. WiFi is available, fruits are in abundance, and a stunning view of the city greets me each night. I had to wait a few days before meeting my roommate, but I am utterly amazed by Bryana, a medical student embarking on her second year. It was an unexpected realization, but we all have so much to learn from her. She treats everyone with kindness and together, we enjoy Señora’s company at mealtimes. I am pushed to the edges of my comfort zone by speaking mostly Spanish with my host mom. It is terrific practice and it is really helping me to push myself to learn more. I make a mistake every other sentence no question, but I learn from them and move forward.
In terms of unexpected turns, I was surprised that the host family hires a cook and maid. It is not as much as a luxury in Bolivia as it is in the United States. I was challenged at the beginning by the frigid temperatures of the apartment in the early mornings and late evenings. I am slowly acclimating to these differences and am no longer affected to the same extent. The days are getting warmer, as winter nears its end.
I’ve met Señora’s daughter, aunt, and brother, and I have realized that an abundance of talent is no stranger to the Prudencios. Her daughter is a sought after tattoo artist with over twenty-five tattoos; her aunt is also creatively inclined and paints intricate designs on all sorts of porcelain objects; and her brother is responsible for one of the best meals I’ve had here in Bolivia, and quite possibly elsewhere. All in all, I am incredibly satisfied by the home that I’ve been settling into, and I will make the most of the rest of the month.
Terrific cohort to work and travel with
Tiwanaku Ruins
Arriving in La Paz has already provided me with so many amazing sights and encounters. My host family has welcomed me in with open arms and after a good deal of rest took me on a tour of the neighborhood (Montículo pictured below). The view from her apartment is mesmerizing (also included in the photographs). I definitely feel the eleven stories as I choose to take the stairs some days. The table depicts a small evening snack filled with conversations between the two of us, a much needed opportunity for me to practice the language.
Beautiful view of the neighborhood
View from my homestay’s apartment
Witches’ Market
I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of my temporary home when I first arrived in La Paz. At 4 am, I wasn’t exactly in the best state to make a first impression on my host family. Since the first night, I’ve been blown away by the hospitality and warmth that I received by my host mom and her extended family. Señora Carola extended not only her home, but her heart as well. She wasted no time making me feel as a part of her family. It’s a two room apartment located on the eleventh floor and it is within a prime location. Centrally located, I am able to maintain my late habits and still make it everywhere relatively on time. WiFi is available, fruits are in abundance, and a stunning view of the city greets me each night. I had to wait a few days before meeting my roommate, but I am utterly amazed by Bryana, a medical student embarking on her second year. It was an unexpected realization, but we all have so much to learn from her. She treats everyone with kindness and together, we enjoy Señora’s company at mealtimes. I am pushed to the edges of my comfort zone by speaking mostly Spanish with my host mom. It is terrific practice and it is really helping me to push myself to learn more. I make a mistake every other sentence no question, but I learn from them and move forward.
In terms of unexpected turns, I was surprised that the host family hires a cook and maid. It is not as much as a luxury in Bolivia as it is in the United States. I was challenged at the beginning by the frigid temperatures of the apartment in the early mornings and late evenings. I am slowly acclimating to these differences and am no longer affected to the same extent. The days are getting warmer, as winter nears its end.
I’ve met Señora’s daughter, aunt, and brother, and I have realized that an abundance of talent is no stranger to the Prudencios. Her daughter is a sought after tattoo artist with over twenty-five tattoos; her aunt is also creatively inclined and paints intricate designs on all sorts of porcelain objects; and her brother is responsible for one of the best meals I’ve had here in Bolivia, and quite possibly elsewhere. All in all, I am incredibly satisfied by the home that I’ve been settling into, and I will make the most of the rest of the month.
Terrific cohort to work and travel with
Tiwanaku Ruins
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