My favorite foods at home are lasagna and tacos (not at the same time! But then, I’ve never tried it, so it could be good…) and my favorite food here is sil pancho, which I’ll tell you all about. All you have to know is that Cochabamba is the food capital of Bolivia. On my first day here they told me “cochabambinos no comen para vivir, viven para comer,” which means “people from Cochabamba don’t eat to live, they live to eat.” I live with a host family, which has welcomed me into their home. In my Bolivian home, I have a younger sister and brother, a mom, a dad, three dogs, and one wild cat (with one more on the way). We eat a lot together and learn from each other about Bolivia and the U.S.
I wanted to go to Bolivia because I’ve been learning Spanish for a few years and because I think that sometimes the most learning happens when I’m outside of my comfort zone. I’m still learning about Sociology, and we’re learning a lot about recent Bolivian social movements, where people have fought for what they believe is right, like access to water. My first experience learning in a new place, apart from where my family is from, was in Ecuador. I practiced my Spanish, spent time with students, and sometimes helped working in the family field. A lot of what I learned brought me to Bolivia, but this time I came to live in a city for a much longer time and learn much more. I’m so glad I get to share my journey with you all and – ¡nos vemos pronto! – we’ll see each other soon!
