Sun 7 March

Today I woke up around 12pm and had a big breakfast. About an hour later, Freddy brought a close family friend home and told us we were going out to eat. We went to a really good restaurant that specialized in meat. After lunch, we hung out at the house. Later, we made empanadas with the friend and it was so much fun. We made ones with ham and cheese, cheese and onions, and for desserts ones with apples cinnamon and raisins. They were delicious and I couldn’t wait to make them in the states. Later I talked to friends on Skype and then went to bed.

Sat 6 March

This morning I went to FUSINDO to help clean the building. I worked with the staff by mopping and sweeping until 12pm. Later I chilled at home and went swimming with the dogs in the pool. Later that night, I hung out with Pablo and his friends and we went to a club. I was the youngest person in the club and it wasn’t my scene. We got home around 5am and I was ready to go to sleep.

Fri 5 March

Today I helped make bread and we sold it to the market again. Later in the day, I ate lunch with the students and then had nap time. After I helped Camelo with the ceramics and sanded the sculptures that had just come out of the molds and sand them until they were smooth. Later I went to the gym, then watched a movie called Rock and Rolla, then went to bed.

Thurs 4 March

Today I worked in the bakery again and we made a lot of bread for the parents and also for the market. While we were baking, we listened to my CD and danced the whole time. After selling some of the bread to the parents, I ate lunch with the students. After, Charito and I walked to the market with the bread on a huge pan that I had to carry on my shoulder like a waiter. When we got to the market, we sold the bread to a store and then they would sell it later in the day. When I got back to FUSINDO, I played basketball with the students and participated in the game. After basketball, I went to the sculpting classroom to help my friend Camelo with his projects. Camelo and other staff make different pieces of artwork from molds, paint then, and then sell them. The money goes towards the institution. Later I went to the gym and had the hardest work out of the week. When I got home, I ate a lot and then went to bed.

Wed 3 March

Today I woke up at 7am, ate breakfast, and then got a ride to the institution. When I arrived at FUSINDO, I went start to the bakery. I met a woman named Charito and she told me I could help by starting to roll pieces of dough into small balls. There was a certain technique to rolling the dough so they would become perfectly round and small balls. You had to use the palms of your hands and finger to keep the dough under your hands and roll them in a circular motion. After rolling all of the dough, we put cheese on the top and also sugar and flour on the others, then put them into the oven. After putting the rolls in, Lindsey a student and I helped by making empanadas. This was a bit harder to learn because there was a process. First we would put the dough through a flattener until there were small flat circles. Then we put cheese on top of the flat dough. After we folded them in half and the last part was the hardest. To close them you had to fold the outer edge to make little folds in a small pattern. The first day in the bakery was super fun and I learned a lot. After the bread was ready, we sold some to the parents when they came to pick up there children for lunch. After, I went home to eat lunch with my family, and then I got a ride back to FUSINDO for the second half of the day. I worked outside with the students for gym class. We first ran and jumped into the sand, then played basketball. Most of the students could play better than me and I was super impressed. The gym teacher was trained to teach kids for the Special Olympics and was super nice. After school, I chilled in the kitchen and met some of the staff. After, I went to the gym again. Then I ate dinner with the family, played Ping Pong with Pablo, then watched a soccer game with Freddy and drank Baileys.

Tues 2 March

This morning I went with Rosie and Freddy to visit an institute for children with Downs’ Syndrome. The building was beautiful and all the people seemed extremely nice. I was going to work there for the next month and start my mornings by working in the bakery. After, we went to Freddy´s office for a bit, and then I went with Javier and Pablo to get a gym membership for myself. Soon after I went home, got changed, and then headed for the gym. I worked with a personal trainer whose name was Alfredo and he had a good work out plan for me. After I felt great and was hungry. Later I had dinner with the family, played Ping Pong with Pablo, and then went to bed.

Mon 1 March

Today we woke up around 630am and got ready to go to the refuge. 15 of us volunteers hitched a ride from a trucker going in the direction toward the refuge. It was fun because this was the first time I had ever hitched a ride in my life and it was even better jamming 15 volunteers into the cab of this truck. Once we made it to the refuge, the people told us that we wouldn’t be able to help with anything of ever get to work with a cat because there were too many people. I decided I would return in a month or so because I had time. I hitched a ride back to Santa Maria, packed my things, hitched a ride to the bus station, and then was on my way back to Santa Cruz. When I arrived into Santa Cruz, I got picked up by Freddy and Pablo. I was super happy to see them after the long trip and felt at home again. When we arrived at the house, I ate dinner and then went to bed.

Sun 28 Feb

Today I woke up around 720am and got ready to go. Freddy and I left by 8am and made a quick stop to change dollars to Boliviano on the street (the black market), then made it to the terminal just in time as the bus was getting ready to leave. Freddy got me all set on the bus, then he was on his way. The bus left shortly after and I got to the park around 230pm. As I walked into the park, Spider Monkeys ran across the trail and at that moment I knew I had arrived at the right place. I met a man named Rob and he told me I could start by working in the quarantine for monkeys. When I got there, I started by helping dig out a small pool for the turtle cage. Other people were helping by laying bricks on the ground to make it easier for the turtles to get around in the rainy season. After work, the new people and I got a tour of the whole place which was helpful. Then we had a candle lit dinner because there is no power in the camp. After dinner, the new people and I had to leave to go to Santa Maria because there were too many volunteers in the park and there wasn’t enough room to sleep. When we arrived, we searched around the town for awhile until we found a shack that was the extra volunteer house. We got settled in and then chilled and went to bed.

Sat 27 Feb

Today I went with Freddy again to run some errands and check out the city. We went to a Saltenas restaurant for lunch and talked about business and Freddy`s upcoming business ideas. It was very fun and I had a great time. After we went and bought my ticket for the refuge. After, we went home and I chilled the rest of the day.

Fri 26 Feb

This morning I woke up later than usual because I had a good night sleep. I went down stairs and had breakfast with the family. After, I volunteered to wash the dogs because they were due for a good shampoo. That was fun and the dogs loved it. Then, Freddy and I then went grocery shopping and picked up some of my money for my trip to come. Then, we went to the bus terminal to check when the buses were leaving for the refuge and how much it cost. After, we went home for lunch and then I chilled. Later in the night, I went out with the daughter and her friends to a movie called Valentine’s Day. I liked the movie a lot and thought it was well done. After we got home around 2am and I went to bed.

Thurs 25 Feb

This morning I ate breakfast and got ready to go. While I was getting ready, Teo, the house nanny, told me that if I wanted good sound to come out of my Quenas, then I would have to find a deserted place, put the Quenas there over night, and then the devil would come and put sound into it by playing it all night. Then the next morning I could pick it up and there would be sound. I promised her I would do that when I got to Santa Cruz. Around 11am a taxi came and brought me to the airport. Once I walked into the airport, I finally got to meet Freddy. He was standing in the check in line and I spotted him before he spotted me. We waved at one another and then he waited while I got checked in. After, we walked to the terminal and waited for the plane to arrive. While we were waiting, we caught up and I showed him my Charango. Then it was time to leave. He was in the front of the plane and my seat was in the back so I had to walk to the back of the plane on the ground and then walk up the stairway in the back. It was so cool and I had never walked to the back of the plane from the outside before. The plane ride was about 55min and then we were in a small airport of Santa Cruz. When we got off, Freddy and I caught a taxi to his house and there I met my new family. The house was beautiful and there were two big black dogs to greet me. They showed me my room and then I got unpacked. We ate and caught up, and then later I went to bed.