My Top Ten

Well we have been here for almost 3 months. Unbelievable how time flies. I have been keeping a running list of the 10 items I will miss the most when I leave and the ten things I won't. Now that we are almost one quarter into this adventure I think I can share with some certainty my list. It will be interesting to see what the last list looks like at the end of my trip. Anyway, here it goes.
Things I will definately miss:
1) Maracuya-otherwise known as passion fruit but the ones here are not like the ones in NA. Intense and sour but amazing when mixed with milk and sugar and made into a drink. Heaven on earth.
2) Fresh cheap fruit all year long- You eat what is in season and you eat a lot of it. It goes bad quickly because it has no preservatives and it was picked yesterday. Bolivia is blessed.
3) Weather you can enjoy- Every day is patio season. Cool evenings and hot days. I will be envious within a week of returning.
4) People who aren't busy- Most of the people here work very hard to make a modest living and work long hours yet they always have time to sit down and eat a meal, have a drink or find a way to connect. We have much to learn.
5) Puffed Quinoa- This amazing ancient grain has been harvested here in Bolivia since the days of Christ. It is gluten free and high protein and when you puff it like pop corn and mix it with cane sugar it makes the best breakfast cereal ever.
6) Teaching English- It is a far cry from writing mind-numbing reports. I have always enjoyed teaching and teaching English is lots of fun. I have a committed group that are slowing learning and growing. Besides, who doesn't like being called teacher.
7) Speaking Spanish- It has been 10 weeks of Spanish lessons and although I have a lifetime of learning I know catch myself conversing in Spanish or cracking jokes....on purpose. What a joy to be able to communicate.
8) Football games- We have been to two games. What a hoot. There is no alcohol (legally) at the games yet everyone is insanely passionate about the game and sound like they would kill each other during the game. But at the end they all leave together and get back to their lives. We could learn something here.
9) Saltenas - The Bolivian's answer to the perfect snack food. It is a like a pizza pocket with a stew inside. The dough is sweet and the inside can be normal or spicey with chicken or beef. Healthy, filling and cheap (less than $1). They are so awesome and so South American "que triste" (how sad).
10) Walking - Being car-less can be a drag but it does invite the opportunity to use the mode of transportation God gave us. It is healthy and it gives a person time to think. I will miss my daily walks.
Ten Things I won't miss
1) Car alarms- I don't get it. When they go off all day I think you effectively inoculate the population to ignore thieves.
2)Barking dogs- I didn't like them in Cananda and when you have so many strays who knows who started it. I have learned to sleep through a lot.
3) Not having yellow pages- I can't understand how you people function in a country where you "just know" where stuff is. It is the ultimate land for guys because you need to "have a guy" for everything.
4) Not having a car- like I said, I like walking and cheap taxis but some days a car would be nice.
5) Living in an apartment- Not since 1994 and I will be ready for a house again in 2010.
6) Being able to understand people- Some days you relish the opportunity to learn more Spanish but other days you just want to scream, "speak English already". Trying going to China town and ask for some 1/4" fine thread bolts without your Chinese dictionary. You get the idea.
7) Espensive and slow internet- 256kb/s for how much? Are you kidding?
8) Cable TV- I watched too much TV at home and it comes with the apartment here. Thankfully most of it is in Spanish but I still tend to decompress there. Bad habit I hoped to break it is now a growth opportunity.
9) Dog do-do on the street- It isn't great in Canada. Now multiply it by 10 and add sunshine. Yummy.
10) The smell that comes from drains- 6 months of dry weather tends to not flush out, that which should be flushed. After some corners a nasal transplant is required.
Well, there is another snap shot of Bolivian life. I hope you enjoyed it and I hope you noticed, like I did that the positive list is full of things that matter and the negative list is full of petty things. This describes my life in Canada. I am learing to recognize petty and put it in perspective.
Ciao,
Brian