Wofford College - Study Abroad

Observaciones y lo que estoy aprendiendo... (Observations and What I am Learning)

            Well I am actually doing a blog for two weeks in a row!!! Someone should write this down. This week has been really good. We are now in our ISP period and I have spent the majority of the week trying to obtain interviews and editing video. I think I put this in my last blog but I am not 100% sure. I am creating a documentary about coca and Bolivian and U.S. relations regarding the subject. It should be very interesting and I am enjoying the process of it all. I am actually going to La Paz later this week in order to complete all my interviews.
             Just today I was able to play fútbol for a number of hours in the cancha after the torrential downpour that we had here in Cochabamba. Sometimes I felt like I was playing for the other team because I haven’t touched a soccer ball in so long but it was really fun and made me miss one of the true passions of my heart. I have tried many sports but I do believe soccer possessed a piece of my heart. I managed to score a few goals despite the several inches of barro (mud), rocks, uneven grown, and the makeshift goals. It was a great deal of fun and a great way to spend some time with my host brother and some other Bolivians.  P.S. I’m out of shape!!!
    This week hasn’t been too crazy, but I must say I have been able to observe quite a bit. It has been a week of tears, as I will title it. When riding the micro and going to the SIT office I have seen many women either in cars or on the side of the street with tears streaming down their faces. I think most of it has to do with relationships and what they are going through. I even was able to witness one couple fighting and I felt so helpless. It is so interesting because of the love that I have experienced in this country but it goes to show you that we have no idea what others are going through most of the time. We pass them on the sidewalk and just walk by when in actuality they are crying out for help. It is hard at times because I desire to help them or say a kind word but there is language barrier and it is hard for me to understand their situation completely. I just remember that a smile can make all of the difference in someone’s day. A smile is a universal language that speaks with words that only a heart can understand. I realize how busy I can make myself and just pass people by without smiling. Is it worth taking that extra second to show someone that you care, I do believe so.
               Just today I caught myself being in a hurry. I really didn’t have anywhere to be but I made myself think I had somewhere to be. I think we do this a lot in the states as well. It is great to get things done, but sometimes we do it at the expense of others and we end up missing some of the most wonderful things in life. Such as hanging out with a close friend for five extra minutes to finish a conversation and blessing your day or taking that extra second to give a smile or a hug to someone who needs it or writing a note of encouragement to someone who is going through a hard time. Those are the things that speak so much louder than words. I must say that I have really enjoyed slowing down or learning when it is okay. I wholeheartedly believe it is quite alright to be busy but I do also believe we must take the time to slow down at times that we don’t miss out on life.
    I have learned a great deal this week and I am enjoying just sitting back, observing, analyzing, and comparing. I was even able to talk to my girlfriend and a large number of friends this week on skype and it was so refreshing. I am having to force myself to think about today and experiencing Bolivia because sometimes I get focused on returning and seeing everyone I care about. One of my friends reminded me to truly treasure and appreciate my time here because I know it is limited and I have no idea when or if I will be able to return. We can’t focus on tomorrow because we will miss today. I only have about month before my program ends and that will fly by with all that I have to do with my ISP but everyday is a new adventure and that is what I have to take advantage of. I miss home but I know  this last month is going to be filled with some awesome things. I look forward to writing to you about them.
    I have attached just a few pictures of Bolivia but they are not specifically from this week. Just for your enjoyment! ☺ One more note, in the picture below, our bus had to cross the lake in one of these boats. I was  a little worried I was going to lose my things but as you can see, they do this quite often.

 

He estado ocupado... (I have been busy...)

                 Well I have been a terrible blogger and I haven’t blogged in about 3 weeks but I do believe that my absence, in itself, portrays a great representation of an overall theme in Bolivia. Anything and everything can change in an instant. I haven’t really had a chance to do anything except work these past three weeks. Our whole schedule this semester has been thrown upside down based on the political and social events that have occurred. We decided to go to Santa Cruz three weeks ago because there was still a little bit of unrest in La Paz. Santa Cruz was amazing, we were able to interact and spend the afternoon with the Guarani people in the rural area of the departamento. This small community doesn’t have electricity but yet it plays a role in one of the fastest rising topics in the world…Biodiesel. The government wants these people to grow corn for biodiesel, which sounds good at first, but it has a detrimental affect on their health and nutrition.
              “Development” is a topic that is very difficult in Bolivia. So many think they can just come in and “develop” whatever they want and wherever. This has happened many times with NGO’s and other organizations. They even believe they can represent politically the people they know pretty much nothing about. We have discussed a great deal about this topic and it is very difficult even to convey in a single blog entry. The people of Bolivia do not have a great deal of money, especially in the campo, but development has the potential to cause great harm to them especially if it doesn’t take into about their cultural and religious beliefs. We have been told by several that the people (Aymara, Quechua, etc) don’t want to live “better” or “developed” but they want to live well. This is all relative but it opens the window of thought about what we believe is a better life and what exactly are the benefits of development. If you have a question about this or would like me to explain more, please don’t hesitate to email me or leave me a facebook message.
                 As a quick overview in Santa Cruz, I was able to eat alligator and llama, a friend and I got  picked up in the Plaza so a girl could practice her English, a man asked me for $1000 as a gift for him, we went to the sand dunes where our bus was stuck for over an hour, and the majority of our group was sick. It was a great excursion and the weather was a lot like SC in the summer. It was a small taste of home.
                 I spent the next week doing a group project on the affects of the local dump on the environment in Cochabamba. It was incredible interesting and we were able to obtain interviews with many top officials in the city. I believe this is something very unique to Bolivia. People seem to be more accessible and willing to talk about what they are doing. When I was in La Paz, I was even able to tour what is equivalent to the Bolivian White House. As we were touring, Evo Morales was in his office 3 floors above and I was able to see him peaking out his window. It was kind of exciting.
                 This past week I spent most of my time in La Paz. The political situation has completely  cooled down and the American travel warning was lifted! This is very exciting!!! Who is up for a visit? The first part of our trip was spent at Lake Titicaca, Tiwanaku, and Copacabana. The people consider the lake sacred and it truly is like jewel that sits amongst the clouds. The water is a deep emerald green that has clarity unlike any water I have seen. As we were driving through the mountains, the sun’s rays kissed the peaks and made them shine with a golden hue. The water glistened as if diamonds were floating by. We could also see snow capped mountains in the distance. I did go swimming in the lake, but it was quite cold.  It was interesting see the ruins on the Isla del Sol. The people of this area thrived from around the time of Christ all the way up to 1200 AD. It is an incredible story of how these people lived and what they  considered sacred. I believe the people of Bolivia have an understanding of nature and the environment that is light-years ahead of our own understanding. That which we take for granted is something we should cherish, respect, and enjoy.
             While in La Paz, I finally solidified my topic for my ISP. I thought I was going to do it on Medicos Cubanos in Bolivia but that was shut down quite fast. I am now planning on creating a documentary on Coca and the US and Bolivian relationship on this subject. It should be quite interesting and I am looking forward to showing it back home.
              My program is flying by and it is coming to an end. Only about on month left. I am still enjoying my time in Bolivia but I must say that I am also ready to return home to see my family and friends. Again, I do apologize for my tardiness in this entry but I have experience a great deal and  learned a lot and it gives a little insight into the way of life here, busy and ever changing. I hope you can get a glimpse of this country and its complexity because it has as great deal of influence in the South American world, which directly affects the United States and our future relations with these nations.

El Campo

     After returning from the United States, I wasn’t two days in Bolivia when my whole world was completely changed. I got back and found out I would be traveling to the campo (rural Bolivia) the next day. It is pretty much the exact opposite of everything we know in the United States. I had great difficulty the first few days because I could not process anything. I couldn’t get my mind to slow down from its normal 500 mph pace. I couldn’t stop thinking about how much I didn’t want to be there and how bad I really wanted to be back home.  The days were very long because there was a great deal of free time. I had to learn how to be still and how to make my mind stop thinking that there is something I have to be doing or should be doing. It wasn’t until I sat on the side of a mountain and took my focus on myself that I could finally be still.
     There are many things that I did this past week that I didn’t think I would be writing about. This past week, I cut grass for a bed, pulled around big bulls and helped tie them to a plow, planted onions, scaled and crossed mountains (yes that is plural), lived in a dirt floor adobe house, drank water from a hole in the ground where the cows stood and grazed two feet away, ate enough potatoes to kill someone and walked among the clouds. This was probably one of the hardest weeks of my life.  Many of you who know me and know how clean of a person I like to be would be very proud. I wore the same pair of jeans for five days in a row, didn’t bathe nor shave at all, and ate from dirty dishes. I did brush my teeth everyday so no worries there. It was a struggle but I got through it. My host mom cooked on a stone slab and washed all the dishes with the water from the hole.  I just praise God that I never got sick once and stayed healthy the whole entire time. That always makes things better.
     The third day, I went to una posta (a center of health) to spend a little time with the nurse there and see what healthcare in the campo was like. Again, my day was filled with oodles of free time. We only saw two patients and there wasn’t anything else I could really do there. I read every poster in the center and all about SUMI, the Bolivian healthcare program for pregnant mothers and infants. My ride back to my house was supposed to pick me up at 4:00 PM but he didn’t come until 6:00 PM and then we went around to all these other houses where students lived so I didn’t return to my house until around 8:15 PM. It was a very long day but good nonetheless.
     The final days were some of my better days. There was a small abandoned church that I found very near to my house that I would sit on and just admire everything around me. I worshiped, sang, wrote, and just listened to everything around me. The sky was a hue of blue I have never seen. Something Crayola could never come up with. The mountains created a spectacular view with the clouds highlighting the skyline. The clouds covered the mountains like a shawl. The wind was blowing and you could hear the trees joining in the chorus that the birds were singing. The sun was so warm on my face and it was just a beautiful time to enjoy creation. This was my favorite spot where I would sit for hours at a time. I kept coming back here during my last couple of days. I was even able to just sit and watch the sun go down and watch the sky change from colors of blue, to orange, purple, yellow, and red.
        In looking back on everything, that first couples of days were miserable and so incredibly difficult but I believe that if I didn’t go through them I would not have been able to really appreciate the final days of my visit. Sometimes you have to go through the valley to stand on the mountain. It was cold, wet, and windy many days but the days that the sun poked through the clouds were incredible. I wouldn’t trade sitting for a couple of hours on the top of that church for anything. It was an awesome time of just thinking, reflecting, and praying. It is something I wish we understood more in the United States, Just stopping everything and being still. My host brother always told me that “life is normal here” and I realized that I was so far beyond his idea of normal but I liked many parts of his concept. I do hope I can learn from this and take that time to really be still once I return to the states.

Un remolino

      The real question is “where do I even begin?” I haven’t been able to write for the past two weeks but that is because I haven’t exactly slowed down enough to even begin to reflect on what has been happening . Two weeks ago, I headed to Potosí, Bolivia. It was a beautiful town seated at about 14,000 ft. At one point in time, it was the richest and most populated city in the world, but time has taken its toll on this exploited city.  There is a mountain in Potosí called Cerro Rico, it is known as the mountain that eats men. It is estimated that over 8 million people have died in the mines at Potosí. The tragedy that really struck me was that there are children working in these mines. Currently it is estimated at approximately 500. Working in the mines equals a life with no future. The only future is early death. Most miners die at the age of 35 or 40 from a disease called Silicosis or earlier from an accident. There are children who are 12 years old taking on the roles of their fathers. Even their brothers and sisters call them Papá. I don’t believe any 12 year old should be forced to take on the responsibilities of an entire family.  He should be in the cancha playing fútbol with his friends or in a classroom learning math, science, and literature.  The only reason these kids work in the mines is because there is no other work. They barely make ends meet on mining impure silver, zinc, tin, and other minerals. Most of it has been picked over and not much is left.  I wish there was something I could do, but for now understanding will have to suffice. The government is going to have to do some radical things if it wants to ensure the future of its people in this paradoxical city of beauty and ugliness.
    Towards the end of my trip to Potosí was able to relax in an Incan hotspring. I covered myself in mud and swam where the Incan emperor would have come and bathed. It was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen because as I was swimming, I looked out under a vast canopy of endless clear blue skies, and a majestic skyline of nothing but mountains. The mountains do not possess the beauty that we would expect, but it is something very different. The dirt, rock, and clay reflected the harsh sunlight to give off a reddish color. Every mountain had layers of different colors like that of an earth-made rainbow. As I gazed out over the horizon, I realized I was swimming in history. It was incredible to experience something so beautiful.
    As I returned to Potosí to travel to Sucre, I received a phone call that was anything but good news. I found out my grandfather had died somewhat suddenly. I was incredibly stressed to figure out how in the world I was going to get back home and make it to the funeral in time. We called the airlines and there were no flights directly out of Bolivia but the SIT secretary worked her magic and found one. First, I had to take an eleven-hour bus ride (and that is not a mistype) from Sucre to Cochabamba. I have never been shaken that much at one time, I thought I was going to come apart at the seams.  I didn’t sleep at all because no matter what position I found myself in, I was shaken out of comfort. Once I arrived in Cochabamba my flight took me to Santa Cruz, then to Asuncion, Paraguay, then to Sao Paulo, Brazil, then to Miami, and finally to Charlotte. My trip totaled around 40 continuous hours. My parents came to pick me up and we headed to little Clinton, SC. I must say it was very sad but looking back on it all, I know I made the right decision. Jesus took care of me every step of the way. The bus ride may have been awful but it was there that God let me know that I was going to have to speak at my grandfather’s funeral. I wasn’t 10 minutes in Miami when I called my mom and she told me that the pastor had asked her if I wanted to speak. I knew my answer. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life, but I knew it was something I had to do.  I must also add that I do believe I have some of the greatest friends in the world. At the funeral, there was a whole row of them sitting there. They even came to the house to eat afterwards and it did wonders for my heart and spirit. Some even drove down from Wofford to Columbia just to sit and visit. It was incredible and I can’t thank them enough. During my whole time at home, words often failed to express the true feelings and emotions that I was experiencing. Sometimes, I wonder if they are really meant to be expressed in words. It kind of takes away from what they really are and how powerful they can be. I just know I had some awesome people giving me all their support to help keep me up in this hard time. It was great to see my family and sleep in my own bed for a few days, but I knew that I had to get back. My trip back to Cochabamba was the same at getting home, minus the eleven-hour bus ride. I had a lot of trouble with my Visa because it expired the day before I got back but I am here now and back to busy. I get to spend the next week in the campo (rural area of the city) and learn a ton more there. That should make for an interesting blog.
    All in all, these past two weeks have been a whirlwind of emotions, experiences, and trials that one blog entry could never contain. I have discovered what true friendship is and how to cope with the sudden tribulations that life throws our way.  I am still processing a great deal and it may be sometime before I truly understand everything that I have been through, but I guess that will just make for another blog entry. ☺ Life is what it is, but Jesus has been with me every step of the way.  Returning home to be with my family was the right thing to do and I don’t regret it in the least. It was sad but an incredible experience nonetheless. It makes coming back a little difficult, but there is no time for sitting down, there is a whole country to explore!

A Witness to a Nation Divided

If any of you have been watching the news, you have seen some crazy things happening in Bolivia right now. A few days ago, Evo Morales, the president of Bolivia, part of MAS (Movimiento al Socialismo) asked the ambassador of the United States to leave Bolivia because there was evidence that he had arranged secret meetings with the leaders of the opposition, the MNR (Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario). This prompted the United States to ask the Bolivian ambassador to leave the United States. Also, Hugo Chavez then made the United States ambassador leave Venezuela and of course the United States asked the Venezuelan ambassador to leave as well.  This is a huge move by Bolivia because it is the first time that a Bolivian president has exercised his right as president and truly decided to run this country on his own. The ex-president of Bolivia even made the comment that the real president of Bolivia is the United States ambassador. President Morales took a very large step in Bolivia becoming its own sovereign country. 

Furthermore, there is a great deal of unrest in La Paz and Santa Cruz. El Prefector (the governor) of Santa Cruz has been throwing insults at Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales calling them ugly monkeys. This is more of a battle between political parties.  The unrest in La Paz is a very complicated issue and has nothing to do with political parties.  There are people who are for Evo Morales and his new constitution, which will be voted on in December, and there are others that are for an older constitution and seek autonomy. These two political entities have been butting heads for quite sometime and the situation has recently escalated. Hugo Chavez has further complicated the issue by sending Venezuelan troops to calm the people in La Paz. This just further angered the people and Bolivianias want nothing to do with foreign troops. There is a meeting with the presidents of 10 South American countries on Monday in order to hopefully resolve the issue.

In saying all of this, everything in Cochabamba is calm and all is well. Nothing has really happened hear and everyone is okay. They only thing that has happened here is that there is neither natural gas nor gasoline. It has made traveling around the city a little difficult. It is an absolutely incredible experience to be here in the midst of change. It is history in the making for this country and I am able to be apart of it and see it first hand. Many of the problems that Bolivia has are due to unresolved issues that have occurred over the ages and during the times of the dictators. My time here may be limited, I am not sure yet, but nonetheless, it is a privilege to be here is such times of change. I have learned what it means to have passion for something. I watch people everyday fight for their rights and fight for their freedom.  They fight against oppression and racism, in which they have long endured.  I watch people stand up for what they believe in no matter what the cost, even to the point of death. The concept of community here takes on a whole new definition. It is like nothing I have ever experienced or seen in the United States. I have learned what it means to “love my neighbor” and place his or her needs before my own.  The love that is here is incredible and what a joy it is to experience it. Of course there are problems, but there are people like my family and so many more, who are so filled with love and actually care about me and will do whatever they can in order to ensure that I’m okay and well. This country has taught me so much. It is a country with pride and love and for the first time it is beginning to rise and walk as an established sovereign nation. It has a long way to go, but the crisis of change has begun and hopefully I will be able to stay and see it come to fruition.

¡Estoy aquí!

So I have been in Bolivia for about a week now and let’s just say it has been a trip like no other.  I believe “normal” flew out the window when my plane left the ground in Miami.  I now have a new idea of what it means to be flexible.  I had a seat number but it really didn’t mean anything. As people got on the plane the flight attendants just sat people wherever space was available. As we began our 7 hour and 45 minute flight, it was about 80 degrees in the cabin.  I had just met everyone in my group and we were still getting acquainted and sweating together. It was a good bonding experience. After about 3 hours an announcement came over the loud speaker and said that we were going to land in Panama. No one had any idea! While we were on the plane, the temperature in the cabin rose to around 93 degrees. It was unbearable but an adventure together nonetheless.
After arriving in Cochabamba, Bolivia we went straight into orientation. I was exhausted because I only got three hours of sleep the night before and I couldn’t sleep on the plane because I was in between two other people.  Our program directors met us at the airport and it was a beautiful sight to see my luggage come across the baggage claim. I didn’t lose a thing. I must say that my program directors, Heidi and Ismael, are incredible. They truly care about the students and are all about supporting us however they can. 
During orientation, all 20 of us stayed at a hotel called Centro Palestro. We also were dropped off at one of the highest points in Cochabamba, at El Cristo, told to find a certain location, and then return to the hotel. My partner and I had to find la Cancha de San Antonio. (a market) We found it and then couldn’t figure out how to get back. I think we walked over 10 miles.  I didn’t experience the culture shock that I thought I would. I really enjoy Cochabamba. I have dodged micros (bus taxis), taxis, cars, trucks, and so much more. The people are so nice, the weather is absolutely perfect everyday, and I get to speak Spanish 24/7! My Spanish is improving quickly and something in my head clicked this weekend where I can understand people a lot better. This was very difficult in the end and I was struggling with it when I got here. I was a little worried it would become a hindrance but everything is working out. I have learned more in a week than I could have ever imagined and I can’t wait for what is in store.
During orientation, I had to take a Spanish placement test. It was actually kind of fun. I ended up scoring high enough that I don’t have to take Spanish classes while I am here.  I have opted to participate in an internship in a hospital and study medicine for a while. I am ecstatic because this is what I want to do in the future.  I’m not exactly sure when it is going to start but most likely this week.
Amongst all that is going on, I have also moved in with my homestay family. I have three brothers, 23, 19, and 12. One is studying physical therapy, another law, and the youngest is in the seventh grade. If I could describe them in one word it would have to be incredible. In a foreign country, I have never felt so close to home. They are so loving and willing to help me anyway they can. I never knew I could have so much fun just hanging out, chatting, and eating. They have already told me that this house is my house from now and forever more. It reminds me of my own home.
I have shared some of the good things, challenges, and difficulties I have had but I must share one thing that has brought me great joy. As many of you know I am an only child.  Here, I am blessed with three brothers.  I never knew truly how much joy I could have sitting down with my little Bolivian brother, Cristian, watching tennis or fútbol, watching a movie, talking, exploring the neighborhood, working on my Spanish, looking at pictures, or just finding something to eat. It has reminded me of my other three “adopted” brothers from my church in Spartanburg, Chase, Carson, and Cooper. It reminds me of the times we are able to just hang out, talk, or play to our hearts content. I rejoice in the face that I am able to have brothers in both countries and that there are other families in this world that are willing to make room for another. We may not be related by blood, but I will always call them my brothers and will always love them like so. I end on this not but more adventures are soon to come… Get excited!!!  (and hopefully pictures!!!)

Bolivia Only a Week Away...

    I don't know if I know exactly where to begin. This summer has gone by so fast. Three months is nothing in the scheme of things, but I have watched over 120 hours of cardiothoracic surgery, studied for and taken an MCAT, gone on vacation with my family, and that is just the beginning. Now, it is all winding down and only about five days of summer remain before my plane leaves for Cochabamba, Bolivia. When did it happen that I became an adult, and how do I stop it?
     To give a little history for those who don't know me, my name is Matt Low and I am a rising Senior at Wofford. I am from Lexington, SC and a triple major in Biology, Spanish, and Ultimate Frisbee.  Ok so the latter isn't officially recognized by the college but it is by the students and even some professors. One must recognize the disc! My passions in life (Jesus, Spanish, and Medicine) have lead me to pursue a career in medicine, and in particular, cardiothoracic surgery.  Ultimately I would love to participate in medical missions in Spanish-speaking countries. This is  my goal for right now but if something happens to change, I am ok with that.
    These past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind of emotions and events. For starters, it was difficult saying goodbye to my friends and girlfriend. I say three months goes by fast, but when you are looking at it head on, it looks like a substantial chunk of your life. My family agrees with me on this one adamantly. Getting everything ready to leave is always fun. It never ceases to amaze me that no matter how many times I go to Walmart, I always end up forgetting something and having to go back. Vaccines were a chore. I never knew that a Rabies vaccine could cost so much and fortunately I got it before the nation decided that it wouldn't be producing it anymore in large quantities. I definitely don't want a dog getting excited to see me in Bolivia and wanting a better taste of an American. In the midst of all of my efforts to prepare myself for my trip, I was studying for my MCAT. I don't think we will ever become good friends and it is especially difficult to spend numerous hours of everyday at the library studying chemistry, physics, organic chemistry, and all the biology that I have learned at Wofford for the past 3 years. Those times are meant to be spent in Acorn Cafe, late at night, with your friends, over a nice hot cup of joe! Another thing that put the icing on the cake was that my visa application materials were sent to the wrong place and I almost didn't get my application in on time. For those of you that know me, I am usually ahead things and don't like things done at the last minute. (I like organization!) This event and my anal retentiveness participated in a nice evenly matched dual, but in hind sight, I know it was all just preparing me for the months to come. Our study abroad coordinators always tell us to be flexible and that is what I had to do. SIT worked with me and I got my visa in plenty of time. I feel really official now! I just didn't know I was going to have to start so soon.
    Everything in these next few months will probably rock my world. From eating llamas and guinea pigs, speaking Spanish every waking moment of the day, living with a family that I won't meet until I get there, being dropped off in the middle of a city and told to get back, sleeping in the Amazon jungle, to creating a documentary about whatever I choose. These next four month are going to have a huge impact on me and I can't wait to see what's in store. If I told you I wasn't nervous, I would be telling a lie and if I told you I wasn't excited I would be sitting on a throne of lies. I am ridiculously excited about going to Bolivia, experiencing a new culture, living in a new way of daily life, understanding a people, loving a people, meeting and making new friends, and speaking more Spanish than I ever thought possible. When I started Wofford, my last thought or expectation was that I would be studying Spanish is Bolivia for four months. Now... let the adventures begin, I'm ready to learn! My next blog will be from Cochabamba, Bolivia at an altitude that surpasses the number of fingers and toes on my body. ¡Hasta pronto!