You dont need spanish to dance

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  Cochabamba, Bolivia
Monday, July 14, 2008

Well, I havent written for a bit cause I didnt have much to say. Last week was a spanish struggle, school everyday, and hanging out with too many english speakers, but having a good time nonetheless. This weekend, there was a birthday party of one of the family members in my large bolivian family here, and I learned quite a few things. First, drink slowly.  They served a huge meal, (of which you really have to eat all of it) Have i mentioned that mutiple kinds of potatos are served for every meal, and I dont really like potatos. So after the meal, the children of all the families put on performances with old spanish songs and dressed up and pretended to sing, Oh my it was so funny, and every one drank and had a good time. The drink of the night was chufly, singani mixed with sprite (maybe thats popular in the states, I have no idea since I dont drink much).  The men in the family were constantly watching the glasses and they toast constantly, and if you finish it is refilled instantly. I didnt really know how to get around this. I knew there was dancing coming, and I was so nervious, cause I never dance, and just the thought freaks me out. Thats probably why I kept drinking, well anyways it was not possible to avoid it, and once I started i didnt want to stop. I was laughing so hard at times I couldnt breathe, it was so much fun. And actually it wasnt that hard, there are a ton of different kind of dances, but pretty simple steps and I picked it up okay. I think they were all glad that I was figuring it out and having a good time. The party was still going at 1, but my particular family cut out a bit early.
The next day I ditched my english speaking friends (which I felt bad about) but I had an invitation to lunch with my bolivian family (family of my friend Lalo, in the US) and I decided it was more important. We went (15 people) to a restaurant on a hill over a lake and had fresh fried fish. It was great food, and the family is super intentional about talking to me. It took all my concentration for most of 9 hours, talking and listening to the stories. They love to just sit and talk which is perfect for my learning spanish, and for getting to know eachother. My spanish sucks, but they all say it is getting better, so I guess I will push on. I am definetly understanding more, sometimes surprising myself. But I know I sound like a caveman when I talk. I keep thinking its about to get easier, but it doesnt. The more embarressing moments are when I have to act out the word pig, or when I get riped off in the market cause I cant bargin, and dont know the real prices. Oh well, such is the cost of becoming bilingual.

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