October 21, 2009
Location: La Paz, Bolivia
...is saying goodbye to the incredible people I have met along the way. I think that this is one of my challenges of the journey. I feel so lucky to have encountered such amazing friends, but it sure is tough to say goodbye for an indefinite amount of time.
Anyway, lots to update...
1. Last week I spent time in what they call an ¨Escuela Especial,¨which is basically a school that serves kids that cannot attend public schools. These students have severe disabilities, and the students I worked were in one of three classes: deaf, severely mentally retarded, or Down´s Sydrome. Upon entering the school, I was impressed with the facilities, but with each minute I spent in the school, I grew to realize that these kids did not get the same services that children of similar disabilities receive in the US. The hardest partof being in the school is trying not to judge- I did my best to perceive what I could about the school and the students, and am trying to write about the school in an objective manner...For the first hour, there was no teacher. I was in the classroom with 12 children who were deaf-hard of hearing- and there was no teacher. I tried to speak to them, but found it difficult to communicate. The kids were running in and out of the room, locking themselves in the bathroom,and using the wheelchairs and crutches next door to play. Though I tried my best,I didn´t know what to do. Finally, the teacher came and took over. During my time at the school, I saw no academic work-no writing, math, reading, nothing, except the practice that the children did for their daily Friday afternoon performance. Later in the day, the students had recess and a volunteer and myself took the children out to play- allof the children in the school were with us- 40 kids more or less- and after 30 minutes of play, thekids had had enough and were ready for their lunch. They were started to fight and cry, but no teacher picked them up,and so for the next 30 minutes, I took charge of taking responsibility for these kids until I eventually went to get the teachers and tell them the kids needed to be back in the classroom- apparently, the teachers thought that an extra 30 minutes of recess would be fine...that was a tough day.
I am learning more and more that experiencing education must not only involve visiting schools, but also talking to families, children, and mostly, understanding and taking part in the culture. To see a school is to see a tiny part of what helps formulate an individual, and to neglect the culture is to ignore the majority of the experiences of the child...more on that later.
2. Since last week, I have traveled from Cusco to Puno by overnight bus, and then on to Bolivia, crossing the border at Copacabana. I went to Lake Titicaca and stayed two nights on La Isla del Sol, when I met some Irish and English friends. The Lake is half in Bolivia and halfway in Peru, and is an astonishing sight. You can sit outside of the hostal ($3 a night!!!), eat your dinner and watch the sunset over the lake, and listen to the burros he-haw. Incredible.
Sunset on the lake
The path that crosses the island north to south
Sacrifical table!
More ruins on La Isla Del Sol
Hostal in Lago Titicaca, Bolivia
Our driver concentrating (see the floating bus behind!!!)
3. On the way from Copacabana to La Paz, our ¨direct¨bus took an unexpectedc shortcut. The driver told us to get out and pay a small tax before reboarding. After we got off the bus, the bus pulled forward and drove onto a rickety wooden barge which preceeded to waddle its way across the lake. As the bus was making its way across the lake, we were escorted into a tiny broken boat and shuttled across the river as well....just another delightful Bolivian treat! I enjoyed the event very much and was surprised and fascinated that the bus got across in one piece.
Llama fetuses in the Witches Market, La Paz, Bolivia
Trash in La Paz4. La Paz- amazing city, staying right near the ¨Witches market,¨full of llama fetuses and crazy vials that bring good luck. Very entertaining-tomorrow I go into an English-Spanish school.
I wanted to conclude with afterthoughts and reflections of Peru, but my patience in pressing this spacebar twice for every space is wearing me thin, so reflections to come.
One month into my travels, I feel great. So lucky to be on this journey-I treasure everyday, and though I am far away, I am missing and thinking of those at home. Traveling is such a great experience for living in the present.
