Hi all!

Fourth day in Bolivia. I´m sooo excited to be here. We´ve left the rather idillic, if a little cultish, commune where we had orrientation to start homestays in the city of Cochabamba (sp?). My family is wonderful! I´m living with an extended family, grandmother, children, nephews, housekeeper. The house is quite large (by Bolivian standards) and has a hotish indoor shower! I´m not sure that I have seen all of it yet. So far food has been good. (only one lunch but the vegetable soup was splendid). The neighborhood for the homestays is ¨muy tranquillo¨ upper middle class, very safe feeling.

I´ve been practicing spanish. I had a long conversation with my host brother/uncle and did quite well.

News on coca leaves. Not very exciting. Some people claim that they are a miracle cure all (anything from altitiude, to staying awake, to falling asleep). In my experience its pretty similar to what i would imagine chewing a bunch of maple leaves would be like, though the tea is quite soothing.

The next week will consist of time with my family, language classes, and excursions with the group. I should be able to have regular internet access and may even be able to make a call home (mom!) Its posslible I´ll even figure out how to upload a photo.

Love getting emails and comments. Hope all is well back in the US!

p.s. story to come when i have some more time: the bus ride to Quillacolla (sp?) and the boy who peed in a bottle