New Digs, Dogs & Broken Furniture

Gradually getting used to heat and pace of life here  - either dead or frantic.

Accompanying photo shows the health & safety conscious amongst you the interesting shower arrangements. Though the intermittent zap helps wake you up in the morning.

Yesterday we tried to get Den a coffee again and were thwarted by the weekly school march. We walked into the local square and it was like a scene from Invasion of the Body Snatchers, as everyone was stood still honouring the interminable national anthem.

We then moved to our salubrious new digs, which houses a massive german shepherd dog, Bruno,  that likes to jump up at you and bark. Den is in hell, but coping well. Lou sat on the bed and it collapsed, then the sofa, ditto. No more salteñas for her! The house is a big 1930´s place with modernised exterior. We are opposite the uni, so the streets are full of young students - no sign of a Millbank moment as yet.

Had a birthday brekkie yesterday and opèned fab set of bioculars, which helped in spotting the wildlife and the comotose locals at the lagoon. No pics as not picturesque.

Went to main volunteering base for dinner with the others, so got an international rendition of "Happy Birthday". All the volunteers and staff are accomplished intense young things. So we fitted in well! All very friendly and eating there again tonight.

Today we awoke to a steaming hot day and Lou had Bolivian belly, probably due to altitude and heat. This meant that Denis faced his greatest challenge yet of manouvering past Bruno alone. This afternoon we went to the project we will be working at. It is about 45mins by trufi and then a short walk. We will be working with 0-5yr olds in the mornings and older kids in the afternoons, apart from Tues & Thurs pm, when Lou will learn Spanish and Den will read and drink real coffee which he has now located. We will do 25.5 hrs a week, 9-12 & 1.30-4pm, mostly helping in activity groups, though we have been invited to introduce projects. They are currently doing stuff around culture, so lots of opportunity to sing My Old Man´s a Dustman and introduce the joys of cheese rolling to the unsuspecting niños.

We just went to the local square, which is like speakers corner, meets street theatre, meets family rendezvous. Foolishly stopping at one group, we got pulled into a conversation with a mad maoist who despite our protestations announced to the many gathered, that we were imperialists by virtue of simply living in the UK. He waved a picture of Princess Di at us and suggested we liked her - in her current state yes!

So, off home now, to cool off and prepare for working life tomorrow.

Will post some photos of area and general chaos that is Cochabamba soon, including one of the massive statue of Jesus that stands above the city. Mmm sacrelecious.
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