cherry coke and taxi soccer and German music

As I sit in an internet cafe (4.60 bolivianos for an hour... that´s like 50 cents) off of Circumvalacion next to a teenager (shouldn´t he be in school?) listening to a little Red Hot Chili Pepper stuff, but mostly German racket (the only thing I´ve understood is "we all live in america... America is wunderbar!!!!!") I´m struck by how very similar Bolivia, and, presumably, the rest of the world, is to my world. Perhaps because humans are fundamentally very similar. Created by the same God, entering the world the same way, requiring the same basic needs, and finding enjoyment in very similar activities.

Globalization has aided in much of this. For example, my very first day here, hearing Stairway to Heaven as well as You Got it Bad and watchin Friends with Spanish subtitles. Bolivians want to be like Americans because of the entertainment industry... What do you think of this? Personally, I´m slightly worried. I mean, Joey, ross, chandler, rachel, monica, and phoebe are alright, I guess. As far as sitcom characters go. But not real people to aspire to.

Anyways, after telling you how very similar Bolivia is to home, allow me to list a few differences I have observed as of yet.

• Men dancing with men is ok. Admirable, in fact.
• Faking injuries in soccer is part of the game, and a wise strategic move, I´m told.
• "littering" in America is recycling here. (My professor was explaining this to me as he crushed a can and threw it on the ground. He said, "watch". Honestly, not 3 seconds later a young boy picked it up and added it to his already large collection of cans. That could be considered a tax-deductable charitable donation in America.)
• Leaving a restaurant quickly after eating is not a favor to the waiter but an isult of the food.
• Toilet paper does not go in the toilet.
• Lunch is the big meal of the day. Work stops, children leave school, and everyone (including extended family) gathers for a grand meal, and, afterwards, a siesta. (my new favorite tradition)
• Burger King is truly expensive. Same prices as in US, so for a Bolivian it is similar to planning on going out to a big steak dinner for Americans.
• Red light means turn left.
• An 8-sided red sign screaming "alto" in fact, means yeild.
• Seat-belt wearing is strongly discouraged--there are none in the back at all.
• "meat" means beef, steak, cow, etc.
• climate control consists of open or closed windows. And works much better than our air conditioners.
• soccer players must be protected by police with shields when making a corner kick on the field of the home team. (otherwise, the 2liter bottles, firecrackers, and glass bottles being thrown at them might distract them... or hurt them)

Speaking of which, I had the pleasure of attending a true South American futball game this past Sunday afternoon. It was super crowded because it was the semi-finals of the current National cup. I sat on some stairs and witnessed the full glory of a GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLL!!!!No recording could ever do it justice.

I realized while at the game how much we truly take for granted in our common language. For example, introducing yourself to the person sitting next to you, or eavesdropping on the exciting-sounding conversation taking place just behind you. (yes, I miss eavesdropping). I imagine that when I return to the US many previously awkward situations will come much easier because, at least we´ll have a language in common. (Forgive me, if, when I return, I use over-exaggerated hand gestures.)

I finally had a cherry coke last night. I had to ask for a shirley temple, without sprite, with coke. This order took about 5 minutes. Again, something that will be much easier with a common native language.

We started classes yesterday. Spanish in the morning (during which I learned gringita is a term of endearment, not a condescending insult). Lunch and siesta. History (during which I learned I cannot draw Bolivia and have it not look like a potato [they have over 600 different kinds of potatoes here, btw. I ate a purple one yesterday. No lie.]) and Pol.Sci in the afternoon. We´ll start volunteering next week, which I´m very excited about. I´ll be working at a baby orphanage for the first half of the semster. I hope I don´t cry my first day there. I wouldn´t be able to explain in Spanish my reason. Perhaps I couldn´t in English either.

I´d like to write all about Carnaval from this past Saturday, but that will have to wait for another post with more time and pictures.
For now, I´ll just tell you that on the way back from Spanish this morning I got to watch a soccer game that, from the looks of the surrounding parked cars, consisted mainly of taxi drivers. :)

I like it here a lot.