Time for another blog!

Hi Everyone!

It has been a few weeks since I last posted...and a lot has happened since!  After a whirlwind weekend following our arrival, the following Monday brought us to school.  Rachel and I are both teaching at this point (although the first week we just observed) and have been teaching for two weeks so far.  Rachel is teaching 3rd grade in the mornings, and I am teaching 7th and 8th grade science and math.  I am enjoying my new job as a teacher so far, and it has been a pretty smooth transition, which I appreciate!  My 7th graders seem so little, and they are a great group.  My 8th graders are completely different from the 7th graders and it is so crazy how much one grade changes students attitudes!  They are not as "motivated' as the 7th graders, so trying to get them excited about what we are learning has been a challenge.

Life in Bolivia has been good so far.  We have learned all about public transportation, and Rachel and I have even taken a taxi and a trufi (a 14 passenger van with a set route) by ourselves at this point...something which we are quite proud of.  I have begun weekly Spanish lessons with a tutor at our school so hopefully my Spanish will improve.  It helps living with a Bolivian, because Hadit barely speaks English. So I generally resort to broken (and incorrect I am sure!) Spanish.  But at least I am practicing right?

I have also really enjoyed getting to know my co-workers.  Every Friday we typically go out for dinner, and I am having fun getting to know them, as well as new restaurants in Cochabamba.  Last week we went out to a Chinese food place, and despite my worries about a Chinese restaurant in Bolivia, the food was great.  The chicken spring rolls were amazing!  The food in general here is fantastic.  We have gotten to try a few Bolivia dishes, and so far my favorite is Sillpancho.  It is basically really thin, breaded meat, which is fried, placed over rice and french fries, and topped with a fried egg.  It is delicious, and something about it reminds me of steak and eggs back home.

Overall, life down here is good.  Please pray for my students, and that I would be able to connect with them and be able to be an effective teacher.  Also, please pray for continued health.  Yesterday I was out of commission with some stomach issues and a fever.  I am feeling slightly better today, but pray that we would not get anything too bad while we are here.  Pray for the continued health of my co-workers...a few of them are recovering from parasite infections and other sickness. 

Thanks for reading and keep in touch!

-Sarah