Hello everyone from the sleepy town of Mairana, Santa Cruz, Bolivia, which will be my new home for two years. It is on the highway between two large cities, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba. There are about 10,000 people living in the town, which is LARGE for Peace Corps-Bolivia, where as some people have only 40 families in their site. I also have an internet café (It charges outrageous prices for slow internet.), a pool, an alternative high school, two high schools and a child care center, a lot of elementary schools, an outdoor market and a national park which extends to the town. They also have a few NGOs working here to promote environmental management.
I met a few of the school directors today. They were told by my work partner that I need to have projects to do when I move here in two weeks. So, they are doing all my work for me, which is actually a positive as a volunteer because I am supposed to promote this, which promotes sustainability. So they want me to implement a district-wide garbage/recycling program. I think that I’ll try to take it a few steps further and start a community-wide program.
So I walked around the town today, and it really hit me…I’m going to live here. I don’t know anyone. I have no friends or family. I don’t know where I’m going to live. The closest volunteer is a half hour away. It’s just me. My Spanish is improving, but it’s not something I’m comfortable with. I won’t lie, I got scared, but I’ll take it one day at a time, right?
I did find a home to live in, but it’s a little out of budget. The lady wants me to pay $54USD a month for a two room apartment and then electricity. She will give me all of my furniture except a stove and a mattress. I was looking to spend no more than $40USD because my monthly budget is about $265USD a month, which is about 20% of my income each month. That’s a lot because I have to go to the regional city every month to get out my money and receive technical assistance.
Speaking of Spanish, I sound really good, almost natural. I’m trying to pick up the accent in my town, which is like Puerto Rican accent. It’s going to be a fun time trying to do it.
Well, in two weeks, I’ll be a sworn-in Peace Corps Volunteer living here in Mairana.
|
