Where are all the Mormons? And when will I ever need a pigs hoof?

So I arrived in Cochabamba last night after 5 different flights, an 8-hour layover in Lima, and a total of 26 hours of traveling. However, I did get some important things accomplished: I read the entire guide book so I know exactly where I want to travel while I'm here, I bought a book I have really wanted to read (Three Cups of Tea), and I got a little bit of sleep in sprawled across four chairs in the Lima airport.

I was driven to a local hostel that is used for groups, but the rest of the interns were out at dinner since I arrived later than the rest of them. I showered and got in my pajamas, and they came back to the hostel right after, so I got back into normal clothes and we went out for a beer to get to know each other a little better.

This morning we woke up for breakfast and travelled to the top of the mountain to see the Christo. We got some history about Cochabamba and the contradictions of the city: north vs. south, poor vs. rich, tradition vs. modern, etc. When the Bolivian government shut down every single mine in the 1980s, about 45,000 Bolivians were out of work and many moved to Cochabamba where they lived in shanty-towns. These towns and people are STILL not recognized by the Cochabambino government, and, therefore, can't access basic public services like sanitation and water. The Christo is the largest one in all of South America (4 meters taller than the one in Rio)... also, Cochabamba has the largest Mormon temple in all of South America, but there is a very tiny Mormon population... hmmm... I was confused too.

We also visited the local market which is the largest market in all of Bolivia and is 3 miles by 5 miles. It has everything you could ever possibly need: furniture, pets, pig hooves, cars, etc. Following the market was lunch, then calling my mother to let her know I was safe, and then we saw the local Cochabamba soccer team, La Aurora, which won 2-0 against El Oriente. YAY!!! Then dinner, then a long search for wireless internet which failed miserably, and ended in me needing to use my flash drive that I fortunately bought right before coming.

My entire life fits into 2 suitcases

It's the day before leaving for Cochabamba, and I am getting a little nervous because I have so much to do. I have finished packing, but I am still trying to figure out how to work my new netbook computer. It is getting really frustrating though since I have been working with a Mac for the past 3 years and now I have to relearn how to work a PC. It's going well, though. I already have my entire iTunes library loaded, a bunch of family photos, and all I have left to do is put some of Ryan's movies on the computer so I will be fully entertained in Bolivia.

I'm also currently hoping that my knee holds up while in Bolivia, and I don't want it to prevent me from doing anything fun and adventurous like hikes, white-water rafting, or possibly hand-gliding through the Andes. It's very frustrating to have a knee problem that is persistent, but I will have to deal with it, and I know that it won't stop me from having an amazing time.

I can't wait to finally meet my host family, start my internship, and meet the other interns. My host family seems amazing. The mom and dad are both retired but were a teacher and a biochemist respectively. One of the daughters (my sister) lives in Mexico and is a doctor. My other sister is 33 and an architect, and she lives at home with her daughter who is 9. I bought the 9 year-old really cute headbands, nail polish, and lip gloss from Claire's that I think she will really love.

Well, I need to finish gathering my life, which happens to fit into two suitcases miraculously, and make sure I have everything I need to get the entry Visa, money in my account, etc. Please continue to read my blog as it will definitely get more interesting as I start loading photos and stories about my time in Bolivia.

I'm now a fourth year... time to get a beer

So I finally finished my finals, and I am now a fourth year UVA student! These next two weeks are going to be a blast hanging out and relaxing with my awesome roommates. Shopping tomorrow, Monticello on Wednesday, Humpback Rock on Thursday, and tubing on the James on Friday.

Tonight will be an awesome time too since two of my other roommates also finished exams today, and the others have already finished. Games and bars and lots of fun.

Starting Finals

I've just finished my last day of classes as a third year UVA student. I've finished all my big group projects, but I'm still attempting to push through the 3 final assignments and 2 more final exams I have in the upcoming week.

I keep getting distracted from my work, though, thinking about how great of a time I will be having in Bolivia this summer. I'm even more excited because I ended up getting two sources of funding for my time in Bolivia which leaves me with some extra spending money to travel throughout the country and experience the culture. I'm so thankful for the UVA Parents Committee Internship Grant and the Harold G. Leggett Scholarship for sponsoring my Bolivian summer. I know it's going to be wonderful.

Now back to my Communications Self-Assessment memo where I will be talking about my strengths and weaknesses with communication and how I would like to use these strengths during my internship this summer. FABULOUS!