La Paz - mi nueva hogar

So I am situated. I have friends. I have quite the happenin social life. I am happy. And I am leaving in a week. Asi es la vida.

Meanwhile. As I am conciously creating memories, knowing that the end is coming far too soon, I am still having new experience after new experience. The past week I have been part of a trio. I, my roomie Alex and this remarkable woman, Romina, have been practiacally inseperable. The time includes much sun bathing and writing on the roofterrace of Rominas apartment, blasting Joss Stone or Bob Marley, having sleepovers. Waking up before work to get the BBC World news. Making creative lunches out of the scraps in our refrigerator. Talking about life, love and international development with other friends at a cuban resturant. Drinking tea until all hours of the night. Looking forward to the 4 pm 'bread and tea' snack break at work. Constantly churning over ideas for a new nonprofit. Dancing until 5 am before going to work at 9 am. Tea Parties with fancy pasteries and fresh flowers. Rehashing the night before with friends over a fresh glass of juice at the bolivian equivalent of starbucks: Alexanders. Overall, with a rhythm and support system, a good handle on the city and the language, I feel at home. I feel like a Pacena. (La Paz local)

So, my birthday was Thursday. And I didnt have very high expectations for festivities, since I had only been here little over a month. However, boy does this office enjoying celebrating birthdays! There is a list of the month's birthdays in the kitcen ,and everyone knows and anticipate, with: so your birthday is this thurdsday, no? And then on the day of.. there was a suprise Saltena party (delicious empanadas) with Happy Birthday in both spanish and english. and later we had a mini ice cream party with the two bosses. I took the opportunity (since i had been trying to have meeting with the two of them all week about a partnership plan) to steer the conversation, not so subtley to: "So, since I have you both in the same room"... and proceeded to pitch my NGO ideas. They were well recieve - a birthday gift in and of itself. I got ballons and my first day working on my birthday was not half bad. After work Alex, Romina and I got dressed up and went to the most amazing steak place you can imagine. Defintely in the top three best steaks I have had in my 22 years of life. And the night had just begun, as we danced until 5:30 am. I had my faced stuffed in a birthday cake (apparently a cultural experience) and still had dulce de leche in my hair the next day at work. With 2 bottles of champagne, great company, and awesome music we danced the night away.

And then proceed to roll out of bed 2 hours later to get to work on friday... not the most productive work day. Continuing to make the most of my time here, and now not wanting to leave the city, we went to a work party (my guacamole was a hit) where everyone sang Karaoke. And then went out and sang more Kareoke the next night. This country likes its Karaoke. But it is a sit in your chair, and the microphone comes to you type of Karaoke. Must admit, I do enjoy the audience aspect of US karaoke a little better. (shocking, I know).

Life is filled with little pleasures. Like getting my favorite Bolivian chocolate: Sublime. (pronounced suubleemaay). Having your dirty underwear countered out on the table at the laundry service. Dashing across the street, scared for your life. Thinking someone is honking at you, but really, they are just honking to warn they are coming to an intersection and not slowing down. Bargaining for everything. And on the street you can buy the most amazing delicacy: Salchipapas. French fries. Sliced Hot Dogs. Mayonesa. Salsa. mmmmmmm.

Asi es la vida... en Bolivia.