Cochabambino...

After 2 more weeks, and weekends, in Cochabamba I am finally feeling like more of a Cochabambino! Although at first it felt wierd not to travel on the weekends it has actually been really great to properly experience city life here. We even went to a 'feria' which turned out to be like a music festival with hundreds of Bolivians singing along to 'Americo' like it was Mr Brightside or something in the UK!! Very cool, although freezing at night, and, unprepared me now has no voice thanks to the cold I have to show for it. So now its not only my spanish that makes me incomprehendable here, man alive :)

I've also now settled into my role at the orphanage more. When I can't get over the language barrier now I just dance! Bailar!! It makes the kids laugh, and being a little bit razy suits me fine anyway! Nail polish has also been the best buy of my trip yet... a day doesnt go by without me painting at least 4 chicas nails! Yesterday I organised to take 14 of the older children out to the cinema. It was pretty stressful but so much fun in the end and really worth it as often they don't get to leave on the weekends which is not what you want when you are 15 or 16. So 17 of us squeezed into 3 taxis - yip 3, but that's pretty normal here! for a wee trip. I also surprised myself by managing to negotiate a little discount... in Spanish!
I'm starting to get really attached to some of the children its going to be so hard when I have to leave. My second sleepover was pretty interesting. My casita had no tia at night so some of the girls were up until after 1am, then up for school at 6, definitely an experience. I have 6 weeks left there now and hope there is something more I can do to really help out. We will see.

Another addition to my time here is Maria Christina. This is another orphanage for children and adults with mental disabilities. It is probalbly the place where volunteers are needed most but don't often go so me and 2 others are using some of our free time to help out there. Compared to what I know of such places in the UK this is massively different and also quite a shock at times. But just to be with them, giving them attention and stimulation, is so appreciated and when you get a smile, or a dance, feels so worth while. Every new experience in Bolivia never fails to surprise me!