The Monkey Next Door

A fountain in the Recolecta Area

As one adjusts to living in any new surrounding, there are many new sounds to which one must become accustomed all of a sudden. Often, it is a squeak in a floorboard, traffic, or music from a neighbour up late at night. Some of these sounds have been new for me in Bolivia, however the traffic noise is from honking vehicles as well as those of fire crackers (which I originally thought were machine guns!) at all hours of the day and night. There have been new sounds because of living with a two year old: crying, and screaming in the middle of the night for instance. I have become accustomed to the sounds of the homing pigeons next door, too. But quite unexpectedly one evening last week, I heard the strangest noise of my life: screaming from what I later found out was the monkey next door!! As if there weren’t enough other signs to heighten my awareness that I am not in Canada anymore, the screaming monkey next door did it.... “Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore!” is all I could think of in that moment.

Other than the astonishing realization that a monkey lives next door, my third and now fourth weeks in Bolivia have been quite “normal” whatever that term means in South America. There have been the usual protests and bloqueos, a prefector (governor of one of the local states) was arrested and charged with ordering the murder of 30 people, the US Ambassador was asked to leave the country, the costs of gas and meat continue to rise, the President (Evo Morales) and representatives from around the world met to discuss the recent violence and its impact (and hopefully what to do about it),and American Airlines cancelled flights to several cities including Santa Cruz. Tensions in many parts of Bolivia continue while life here in Cochabamba remains peaceful. We are affected, of course, by the rising costs of products that cannot get here because of the blockades and at family gatherings there are passionate discussions about politics, but things remains consistent for me and those of us studying at the Institute. Pictured here, are Amalia, Robbie and I, at Lai Lai, a Chifa (Chinese Restaurant) in Cochabamba.

In my “normal” couple of weeks: I was sick only a couple of days, no doubt something I ate, and from which I quickly recovered, I had three cold showers because apparently the water had been turned off the night before (still can’t figure out why), Spanish classes continue to go well, my Latino Americana dance classes are fun, wonderful exercise and a great diversion!, and I began to take Zampona lessons.....

This is a zampona, an indigeneous instrument that is common to Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador. A professor at the Institute also teaches music lessons....

Last weekend there was a “Fiesta” at the school to celebrate 21 September, which is the day of love, the day of students, the day of mystery, the first day of Spring, and the day of Doctors. We ate food that students brought for a "potluck" style meal, there was dancing, concha (a dice game), a talent show, and a volleyball tournament! A full day of celebrating!! Pictured here are Joni, Patricia and I at our little Fiesta.

Some professors who danced at the Fiesta at the school wearing colourful, traditional outfits!

And so, life is eventful here, colorful and diverse. There is always something new, different and unexpected happening. At first it was disconcerting to not be in the "loop" so to speak, to know what was going to be happening, howeer now, I can sit back and enjoy the adventure!! The monkey next door is a reminder that, just like Dorothy in the "Wizard of Oz", I am not in my home country any longer and many unexpected things will happen. But the monkey perhaps symbolizes something even more profound: that even while life and surroundings change, we are still who we were created to be, people of God, no matter where we find ourselves. Whether we have a monkey next door or not, our God promises to be and is with us! Gracias a Dios for such incredible love and grace in the midst of all of life's changes!!!

As I close, family, friends and supporters, know that you are held in my heart, in prayer and in God's grace:

"I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that th eone who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God's grace..." Philippians 1:3-7a

Amen.

Fran.

The Gap...

More than a brand name, the widening “gap” is apparent, here, every day. As I walk to the Maryknoll Misionero Instituto for my language education, there is a mother and her son who beg for money, the local car washers who use water from a local creek, the family who sell fruit and baked goods, and the many more families who live close to the Institute in simple tin sheds for homes. Even having sold ¾ of my belongings and with the student loan debt that looms heavy, I am still in a privileged situation. One cannot visit or live in a developing country for too long before noticing this gap.This photo shows simple homes in one of the poorer areas near Cochabamba.

My first gap, however, was my lost suitcase...it finally came a week later! Thanks for the interest and concern, it went all the way to Budapest and didn't even send a postcard! However, I hear that the mail takes up to three months to get here and at least three months to get anywhere else, too! Maybe my postcard is in the mail???

There is the gap here between the beautiful landscapes, plants,and flowers and the ugliness of slums and crowded, dirty streets....because of this there have been some difficult days as I adjust and adapt to my new, albeit, temporary home. The language, of course, is another gap. Classes have gone very well, though, and my professors are surprised by how well my pronunciation is for only studying a short time in Canada. I am happy with my progress, too, and this is in largest part because of my host family who correct and help me a great deal. In addition, because of the two year old grandson (and his mom) who live with us, we watch many children's shows and these help me, too. The immersion experience has exponentially increased my comprehension and pronunciation of castellano (Spanish). Being a singer and musician has likewise influenced and coached my language along, of course, so we'll see how the next few weeks go...

Avenida America, some of the many merchants who

sell things on the streets and on corners, well,

everywhere actually...

Exploration of the city has been fun. So far, I have been to: El Centro (the downtown area), La Plaza Principal (the main plaza with is colonial buildings and cathedral), El Prado (large park with cafes and restaurants), La Cancha (the super large market center), and the Mercado (market for fruits, vegetables, and plants), to several local restaurants, a hospital (where my host father had surgery two weeks ago), to several areas of the city for family gatherings (meaning a mininum of 30 to 50 people!), and with a couple of other students for classe de baile latinoamericana (Latin American dance class). What a great adventure every day has been, as I never quite know what to expect or what will happen next!!

The time here has been filled with ups and downs as my body and my heart adjust to being so far away from all of my family and friends in Canada. Another “gap” as it were. As one can imagine, it has not always been easy, but thanks to the internet, msn messenger, and soon skype, we will all be connected again. My host family has been helpful, supportive, and gracious in welcoming me into their very large, extended family! This has been wonderful and I am so grateful for Elva (sitting beside me) and Fayez (next to her) and their entire family for their warm welcome of this sojourning Canadian.

Students come to the Institute to learn and study Spanish for all kinds of mission service. Many students are preparing for work in South America but most study here and will go back to congregations in the U.S.A who have immigrants or refugees who speak Spanish. There are several Koreans and Europeans, an Australian, and another Canadian who are preparing for work in South American, some even in Lima! It’s exciting to make connections with those who will live in the same city eventually!!!

Some have asked about the food. My host mother tells me to eat more all the time. Like my mother, she says I eat like a bird! How funny to hear this in another language and several thousand miles from home...the food is prepared in various ways, always large portions, but familiar mostly. We eat rice, potatoes, lots of bread, beef, chicken, and broccoli, cauliflower, salads and sopas (soups), as well as fruita (fruit) which, in our household, are normally papayas, apples, mandarinas and oranges (apparently they are different!), and sometimes plantanas (bananas). I have recently added Raisin Bran to add some fibre to an otherwise starchy diet. There is another grain, Trigo, which seems like wheat, and I hope to try it in salad, as one of the professors said it was very healthy.

The weather here has been lovely and mostly sunny. For the nearly three weeks I've been here, there have only been two days of scattered clouds. We hoped they might contain rain, however, the rain passed by us. It is spring here, and the rains do not come until summer, which will be in December, January and February. How strange to wake up to sunshine every morning and I often wonder if it will get boring after several years. When my family say that the morning or evening is cold, I remind them that it is not cold for me, chilly perhaps, but the memory of thirty-eight years of Canadian winters are still very clear in my memory! Flowers are beginning to bloom now because it is spring (two springs in one year for me!) Every bush and shrub seems to have buds ready to bloom. In our house, Elva has calla lillies and one bud has opened and it is spectacular. At the market the other day, a vendor was trying to sell me a dozen calla lillies for ten Bolivianos, or $1.50!! Since we have them at home, I declined, but I am still stunned by the cost!

There are times of gaps, times of challenges and changes, all around us, but in the park on Sunday, children were playing and running, sliding on the slides, playing in the water. Parents were still parents yelling for their kids to be careful, waiting for them at the bottom of the slide. Smiling faces, laughing, talking...rich and poor, Canadian and Bolivian, in the same place with similar concerns. On a day of no driving in Cochabamba...no buses or taxis, people were out in the streets, walking or cycling. The gap was still apparent but as family gathered at my host family’s home for the day, people are people. Politics was of great concern today, as well as how to create a better future for the children. And is this not the concern of all of us?

Gaps are difficult because they challenge us out of our comfort zones and comfortable lives. They turn our simple, predictable lives upside down and we are changed in ways we might never have wanted. This is my experience this first two weeks in Bolivia. It is difficult to see people who earn only one dollar a day to support a family. I am challenged with what it is that I think I “need” and at the same time having bills of my own to pay. The Gospels remind us to care for the poor, the elderly, the widow, and the sick, to reach out to others with the love of Christ. In what ways to do this and when, become critical questions. This is my gap.

May God continue to challenge, guide, enlighten and empower us in the gaps in which we find ourselves. May we be continually be strengthened by the God who journeys with us in these gaps!

Gracias a Dios!

With love,

Fran.