I'm writing this at the same time as trying to ignore High School Musical II which is being played on a nearby computer. (For those who don't know, High School Musical is to date the only film I have ever seen which actually caused me considerable physical pain. The only thing that I could imagine to be worse is it's sequel...).
Anyway, this is just an update to tell everyone that everything is still going well here. Today we visited the river, about 15minutes drive from the Hogar. I was crammed into one of two truck-loads heaving with girls and we headed off. The river was mostly dried up (there's been a drought here for months) and we only went for about an hour, just before dinner. Yet, bizarrely, it was one of the most amazing things that I can remember doing! The girls loved paddling and splashing in the muddy water, posing for photos, playing with a ball… (More ‘Dad moments’ – sorry!) It was a really simple Sunday afternoon activity, but it was special to see everyone enjoying themselves, getting along and playing together. And the sun was just setting too. Perfect.
Before I left the UK, I had the idea that I should put an interesting Bolivian fact at the end of every post, but I forgot. Still, here are some fun facts (interesting or otherwise) which will hopefully introduce you a little more to the country which, for a few weeks more, is home.
Bolivia is one of two landlocked countries in South America (the other being Paraguay). It did used to have a sizable stretch of land which reached the Pacific Ocean but this was taken by Chile in the middle of the 19th century. To this day Bolivians are still bitter.
La Paz is only the administrative capital of Bolivia. It’s official capital is Sucre.
The population of Bolivia is some 9million, which isn’t too far off the number of people living in London alone.
Quechuan is widely spoken in the western mountainous region of Bolivia. Fortunately, I'm in the eastern tropical lowlands of Bolivia and the lingua franca here is very much Spanish. This is, of course, handy because the only word of Quechuan that I know is (or at least sounds like) 'anak anchoo' which means 'I don't want'. Knowing how to refuse things in a language can only get one so far...
1 comment:
"It did used to have a sizable stretch of land which reached the Pacific Ocean but this was taken by Chile in the middle of the 19th century. To this day Bolivians are still bitter."
So it would be fair to say that Bolivians are still a little frosty to those from Chile then? ;) ;) ;)
Glad to hear you're enjoying yourself. Would be great to chat soon if you get a chance. I can phone you, but I'd need to know a number and a GMT time... let me know.
Matty
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