Potosí and Sucre tomorrow!

My mom and Lucia and I were going to make oatmeal chocolate chip cookies this afternoon but Lucia had too much homework so it's going to have to wait until I get back from Potosí and Sucre on Friday. Bummer. We leave tomorrow around noon for the ancient mining city and what was once the capital of Bolivia (it might still be the legal capital of the country, although the government is now in La Paz). I'm excited for another excursion! This time, I'm not at all reluctant to leave Cocha because I know I'll be back next weekend.

I interviewed a children's book author on Thursday night for an assignment for our field study seminar class (essentially an applied anthropology course--how to interview, how to ethically research human subjects, etc.) and it was so excellent! Her name is Gaby Vallejo and she was a famous adult author, having won a national prize for one of her novels, for years before she even thought of writing for children. She was struck by the lack of children's literature in the country and decided she'd do something about it, and has since written something like 15 books for children, opened up the only children's library in Cochabamba, and started all sorts of literature programs around the country. Her NGO even has a "sister library" at Appalachian State University in North Carolina. In other words, she's one of the coolest people I've met, and she's a terrific resource for my final project. I can't wait to meet with her again.

Last night I met up with Kirsten, a girl who did this same program a year and a half ago, for dinner and drinks (okay, dad, dinner and one drink, don't worry). She's now working in Punata, a town just outside Cochabamba, in a maternity home where women can go to give birth using traditional methods that are often not honored in hospitals here. I love meeting people who did this program and came back to Bolivia. It's so encouraging and indicative that living here really is a life-changing experience.

I'll probably write from the hotel sometime this week but if not, hasta viernes!