Giving Thanks

Yesterday was just a normal, old workday in Bolivia. I spent the morning here in the office trying to distract myself from thinking too much about what I was missing at home - the annual Turkey Trot, lots of food and good conversation, our circle of thanks, and the always present food coma. I never knew how hard it would be to be away from family and friends for what is the most meaningful holiday of the year for me. I miss you all very much and am very grateful for your friendship and love.

I was able to give my host family small little tokens of thanks at lunch yesterday, so that felt good and I think they liked them. Considering Katie immediately had glitter glue all over her fingers, Bubi was pinching us with his new multitool, and Susi immediately replaced her old cooking mit by hanging her new one in its´ place, I´d consider the gifts that I chose for them before meeting them a resounding success. I spent the remainder of my afternoon inventing a recipe for stuffing since I didn´t have a few of the key ingredients and shopping for just the right kind of potato to try to make mashed potatoes that come close to matching my mom´s. In the end, I bought potatoes meant for french fries (so my host mom informed me as I began boiling them), but after taste testing the finished product this morning with Katie, she approved, so I think I´m set for tonight. Tonight´s the first annual FSD Thanksgiving complete with Turkey and all the dressings! I here we´re expecting 23 guest! We´re aiming to offer it as a thanks to our families which should be neat. Unfortunately, my family can´t make it as the oldest daughter is defending her thesis this afternoon and there is a special dinner at my house for her this very same night. Bummer... but I hope to drag along some co-workers with me:)

We´ll see if the coworkers are up for it, though... It´s just that I´m especially giving thanks after all that happened to us and many others in this very rainy city last night. Basically the streets in the southern zone (poorer, crowded, migrant communities) turned to rivers last night. The sewer system couldn´t handle the rains that fell and neither could many of the hillsides. We drove down many a street that seemed fine until the water became knee or at times almost waste deep. Hundreds of cars like ours were desperately in search of somewhat passable roads. There is no disaster plan in place and few police or firepeople that spring into action in these situations, especially for citizens of the southern zone. People were emptying their houses with buckets as we passed. Small children dressed in plastic bags were playing in the sewage-filled runoff at 11PM at night. Everyone was soaking wet and it was cold. In a way it reminded me of Cincinnati during a heavy snowstorm except most of us have dependable assistance like police and snowplows, weather and road reports, clothes for the weather, home insurance, etc... There´s nothing like that here.

After 2 hours in the car of what should have been a 20 minute trip, we arrived at my dry 4th floor apartment safe and sound. The roads in the northern zone were as normal as any other night. I awoke to the news this morning that two children drowned last night. The environmental racism that I witnessed first hand last night, the desperation of people trying to save their homes, was so shocking I almost feel numb. I didn´t feel scared for my own life, but my heart aches for those who are not as fortunate as me. I will most definitely bring this experience to our circle of thanks this evening in a beautiful home in the northern zone. It is a Thanksgiving that I will certainly never forget.