It's been a busy month...Work - Retreat at Jim's new house out in the campo (see photo); distributing our magazine, Jallalla, to the four corners of the globe; giving my first-ever presentation in Spanish; a new project to bring voices from Latin America into the debate over US foreign policy; helping out with grant proposals (know anyone who wants to give us money?); finishing up the Spanish version of the book; writing and more writing...
Outside of work - I'm finally learning Quechua, the language of the Incas! Millions of speakers, mostly in the Andean countries, though I've heard it spoken in the Target near Seven Corners too... An hour and a half daily, Monday thru Friday. Imaynalla kachkanki?
Summer - Spent an entire morning harvesting pacay fruit at my house, then shared with friends. (See photos below of the pacay - and my house, long overdue, I know). It's raining once every 3-4 days now that the rainy season is winding down, as opposed to going entire weeks without seeing the sun. The flooding in the eastern lowlands is still awful, leaving people without houses, without crops, and in some cases, losing their lives or their loved ones.
Comadres - Ladies' night out with Eva and her many friends. Dice games and dancing, dancing, and more dancing! No photos, sorry.
Carnaval - Noon to midnight on a Sunday out in the country with a group of Andres' friends from forever. Water fights, yummy food, a band AND a DJ, and my first ever "Carnaval toda la vida" shirt. With any luck, I'll snag some photos from other folks that were there.
Ch'allando - Streamers, balloons, confetti, sugar candy confites in every corner of the house. People don't just do spring cleaning here, they do a midsummer harvest blessing too for the year to come. (See photos below.)
El Corso - Parade-viewing from the office balcony. Lots of guests, Jim out of town, and the neverending parade of traditional Bolivian dancers. Photos coming...
Party at my house - Alex (gringo roommate) and Luis (Bolivian roommate) organized a get-together at our house and were kind enough to invite me. I've never seen that many people at the house before. But fun. When I went inside to go to sleep (well after midnight), the drum circle didn't even keep me up. (Photos below)
Quechua words of the day!
Yachakuq - Student
Yachachiq - Teacher
Misi - Cat
Allqu (pronounced algo with the g way at the back of your throat) - Dog
Wasi - House
Wasiy - My house
Ayllu - Family
Masikuna - Friends
Raymi - Party
Warmi - Woman
Tusuy - To dance
Llamk'ay - To work
Qhillqay - To write
Asiy - To laugh
Pacay on the trees
Pacay I harvested
...and ate
My house from the entrance
(Notice the hammock)
My room.
It's all decorated for the Ch'alla
The main patio area and door to the living room, decorated for Carnaval!
L-R
Alex (roommate)
Raul (friend)
Luis (roommate)
Me & Andres
The drum circle I had to walk around to get into my room!
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