primer día de clases // first day of classes

Today was my first day of school! After a delicious breakfast of cereal and a cafecito, my host mother, Sandra, showed me how to ride the bus. My classes take place in the more central part of the city, in one of the social sciences buildings of the Universidad Mayor de San Simon. It takes about 30-40 minutes to get there by micro, or mini bus.

The commute was quite eventful this morning! All was well until we were about two thirds of the way there. Barely noticeable at first, the bus started to slow down and lurch. The engine cuoughed and sputtered, and the bus slowed to a crawl. As we neared the intersection of Las Heroinas and Ayacucho, the bus barely moved forward when the driver hit the gas pedal. Finally, with one last roar, the micro came to a wheezing stop and refused to budge.

Sandra and I sprinted across the street to catch another bus going the right direction. After getting off that bus, we walked quickly to the UMSS building. I made it just in time for class at 9:00.

Class today was mostly an introduction to the syllabus, course structure, assignments, and other important information. I'm going to be taking Historical and Contemporary Social Change in Bolivia, Vivir Bien: Sumak Kawsay and Well-Being in Amazonian Communities, Research Methods and Ethics, and beginning Quechua.

I'll write some more about classes once they get going!

With love and gratitude,

Theresa