Keeping up with the Joneses

Serving in Bolivia

through

SIM

Brandon and Jamie Jones.

Jamie's Blog

August 14th, 2007

We made it!

We made it to Bolivia finally and we have learned so much in the few short days we have been here. We got here about nine days ago and we have already been going all over Cochabamba. We have so much around us where we live here at the SIM Guesthouse. We can walk to get everything we need pretty much. But let me start at the beginning.

When we first arrived in Bolivia, it was in Santa Cruz. We had to stay over night there because we arrived late and we had a flight to Coch (Cochabamba). We had a bus to our hotel waiting and when we arrived at Hotel Buganvillas, we realized what a sweet deal it was. Like a resort kind of. Too bad its winter here in Bolivia, because the pool looked great.

We caught our flight to Coch the next morning (Sunday)and when we arrived and were getting off the plane, there was a bunch of people who we didn't know waving their arms around from the viewing deck of the airport at us. Jenni (Jenni Good who will be teaching math like Brandon came down from the States with us) and I were like, " Are they waving to us?" Sure enough, it was the SIM welcoming team. Great folks.

I don't remember much about the first day, but that we saw our apartment (check out the photo gallery) and we went to a place called Globos for dinner. John and Bronwyn Bain, Crystal Strasburg, and Becky Dudenhofer took the three of us out. Food is cheap, cheap, cheap. We also made phone calls home through Skype.

The Bains were assigned Brandon's and my older brother and sister to get us acclimated to the field. They have done such a great job. Monday was Bolivia's independence day so they took us out to see Carachipampa for the first time to see our classrooms, and then they fed us the rest of the day. We have been spoilt. They also really gave us a hardcore information session on getting around in Bolivia on Google Earth. In fact, my knowledge after talking to them was so thorough, that when we started the SIM Bolivia orientation, I impressed people with what I already knew about where places were and how to get around. There are four main ways to get around here in Cochabamba. Trufi, micro, taxi, and friends with cars. All the trufis and micros have numbers and letters based on where they are going, and Brandon and I are starting to get used to the system.

The Bains also took us out to see "la virgen de Urkupina" (check out the photos). This week there is a celebration in Quillacollo, which is just outside of Coch, that attracts many Bolivians to come and receive blessings from the "virgen." We went last week because its jam packed this week. It was quite ..... interesting to say the least, but it was good to see. It gave us a feel for the religious struggle going on here in Bolivia.

Tuesday through Thursday of that week was SIM Bolivia Orientation. It was so great to see all the mission work being done here in Bolivia through the other SIMers. And we learned a lot about cooking, shopping, and eating here. We also learned about Bolivian customs, greetings, etc. Pickpocketing is a big thing here though so we learned to be cautious and alert when out in places too crowded or too deserted.

The weekend was spent getting around, registering with Interpol and getting our paperwork together for a visa. We also went shopping at the Saturday "feria" market (check out photos). It was fun, but its best to get up early to get the freshest stuff.

We went to church with the Bains and it was quite good. I am having a little trouble picking up the Spanish. I have never heard so much of it in my life, but its good practice. The Bains also too us out to see "el Cristo de la Concordia." It was beautiful. We drove up, but there are a few stairs at the top and they wiped us out. I can't imagine climbing the whole hill like some people do.

And here we are this week, going through orientation at Carachi. Its a little tiring and Brandon and I have been wiped out at the end of each day, but we wake up renewed each day to keep going. We start school on Monday. Ready or not, here come the students!