No photos for today (I thought you´ve probably seen enough pesticide inspection photos). I did, however, finish getting my 40 exposed samples/ interviews today. Coup! Next week I focus on getting control samples.
For now, I proffer some observations about my time here:
1. Tiny napkins (what’s the point, you just use twice as many!)
2. Crossing the street is taking your life into your own hands but, after a month here I’ve found that I agree what’s the point of waiting at a red light if no one’s around?
3. Pronouncing the “ll” like “y-l”, i.e. “ella” sounds more like “ey-la” than “eya.”
4. Pronouncing some “r”s (I’m still how sure how they decide which ones) almost like “z”s. Example: “terrible” sounds like “tezzible.” Apparently this may be due to the Aymara influence.
5. If a cholita’s bowler hat is on straight she is single but if it is slightly crooked then she is married.
6. Teenagers meet on the weekends and dance traditional dances in the park for fun. Can you imagine teenagers in the United States EVER doing this?
7. There is no central heat, but, lest you think people are accustomed to the cold, “me estoy congelando” or “I am freezing” is one of the most common refrains. Me? I use 2 heaters in my bedroom at night.
8. Marches and protests are almost daily occurrences, often accompanied by bloqueos, or road blocks that prevent travel from city to city.
9. Fireworks that sound like gun-shots are commonly shot-off at the daily marches. No one blinks because it is such a common sound.
10. Couples are very touchy-feely here on the streets, someone is always making out with someone.
11. Doughnuts are popular here, though they are often spelled “donas.”
12. Come here and you will hear the words “listo”, “ciao ciao”, “no ve” and “harto” all the time.
13. Watching the news here is interesting because a lot has to do with what the US is up to, and obviously there is not much on US news about Bolivia. It’s interesting to see how the power differential translates into the daily news here.
14. There are also lots of kids working, either pan-handling, or assisting their mothers in their sidewalk businesses. I wonder if they get to go to school.
15. Men wearing headbands appears to be at least somewhat in fashion.
Ciao ciao,
Kim
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3 comments:
I totally forgot about the hat tilt! And I could have swore you met Brian when he was dancing in costume in Grant Park.. or maybe that was someone else. ;-)
Fun notes. And I gotta tellya, I'm with you on the napkin thing. If I can find them here at all they're 3 inches across and tear if a breeze blows by.
Enjoy the next few weeks.
Ciao Ciao!
Kim,
Your Mother Joanie Susie and I had a great time on our little jaunt around Vermont. We watched the glass blowers at Simon Pierce and a potter affix handles to a row of jugs and whick them off to the kiln. Remeber watching the potters and dish painters in Italy? I remember them carrying the long flat boards ladden with bisque fired pieces and weaving around among the the customers.
Eager to learn about your research projects.
Love, Grandma
Hi Kim
Loved to read all your "observations" and NO, I can't imagine American teenagers doing traditional dances in the park for fun! I wonder if the teenage girls kid each other and tip their friends' bowlers if they "like" a boy?
I'm afraid if you come to visit me next winter I am going to hear "me estoy congelanda" all the time!
Love, Mom
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