Welcome the NEW adition to the Kilmartin Family!!!

That's right!!! I have gotten my first ameba or parasite!!! I have been sick a dog this whole week. It seems that when making the guacamole, I forgot to wash the cilantro! GRRRR!! This tiny little spice has made Ann and I sick this week. My stomach has been the one not recovering and I am getting it checked out at the doctors on Monday. I actually had to leave school early this week it was so bad?? I have never had pains like this before? My teacher friend says parasite, I say worm for sure!! If you have any name ideas, let us know!! I guess the bonus is I can eat whatever I want, because it just goes right through me! I know, TMI!

I did manage to make back to school for our Open House/ Bake Sale! As the 6th grade teacher, I am responsible for fundraising for 6th grade graduation?? So we had a Bake Sale! HUGE success! We raised a ton of money! One of my kids said he was going to make chocolate fondue! Great idea! The kicker, was that he brought a FONDUE TRUCK...like, a vendor, to our little open house? These are the types of kids i teach. They can get anything they want. Their parents literally run the country, or at least CBBA. Which made telling some of the parents that there kid was failing or a behavior problem, a little nerve-racking. I mean, what if i find a horse head in my bed or some thing later? I'll let you know!

Learning to Relax

People here know how to relax. It is wonderful. We have been running on the weekends up to now, just shopping and stuff, but today we got to relax well. Drew and I played soccer with workers from the school. They all get together- no hurry, sit around always start about an hour late, and just relax. Nobody is really in charge, they just have fun. Not to competitive, just fun. A wife of a worker and her 3 boys were there with us- the boys playing with sticks and old tires. I just loved it. We played around, and then we decided to bet on the game. The loser would by a 2-Liter bottle of Coke. When I played with kids this week, that is what they played for too!! But it was so cool, when we were done, we just all laid around, one guy ran (really ran- no car) to a corner store and grabbed the Coke. We share a communal cup and just hang out. Relax. Laying in the sun, not a cloud in the sky, and not many worries. It just didn't happen in the states like this too much. I am not complaining. I think I can get used to this.

Dogs and my new restaurant plans.

Anyone who knew home much I (John) loved dogs at home- boy oh boy- CBBA is the place for cat-lover, dog-haters like me. There are about 7 billion dogs here in Cochabamba, mmany stray but many are used by people instead of security guards. They do their job to say the least. It is sometime quiet, but more than not there is always a dog barking within earshot.

The government here was going to get rid of the strays but it turns out they eat all the trash! So I am now thinking about opening a Thai/Vietnamese/Chinese restaurant specializing in dog meat. They keep us up at night like crazy!! We couldn't believe it at first. I sleep with earplugs but it is still ridiculous. We have a small balcony, and I kept a pile of rocks to throw at them in the middle of the night. Last week we moved to our third floor to get farther from them It is still loud- last night there was this yapper howling in the middle of the street- but GOOD THING FOR MY ROCKS!!!! He and a second dog, because of my good aim (I missed but it did the trick) high-tailed it from our block surely to wake somebody else up somewhere else.

So I'm getting used to the earplugs every night and our new bedroom farther from the dogs, and planning the opening of my new restaurant.

Baptism and Cow Stomach!

Our neighbor, Marta, invited us to her grandson's baptism this past Sunday. We gladly went. Yes that is a picture of us with the family and little, happy, Nicholas at the church. We were totally welcomed as family. It was a wonderful mass, that I could not understand a word of. After, we headed to there house for a DAY of festivities. First was lunch.

OKAY!! You know the smell of a petting zoo or a barn? Yeah, well that is how COW STOMACH tastes. Yes, you read that correctly.
And yes, we really ate it. How could we not?? They are so wonderful to invite us, it would be a death wish (or just very inconsiderate) if we did not partake. All I can say, is that I was glad they served beer. I thought, "If i drink fast enough, I won't notice the taste as much?" It did not work. John was thankful for the endless supply of Coke. We barely made it through a quarter of the soup. Check out the pics- One of the little girls was slurping the strips of stomach like gummi worms. I loved it- (watching, not eating).

It was a great time. We ate gladly. Drank more. They kept asking John why he did not drink? They could not understand they idea of not liking the taste? You just drink it!?

I checked out of the party pretty early, I had to grade papers. The others stayed for the BAND and Dancing. The band started at about 2 and went until 10:00 PM. Oh, and the cake was AWESOME! Seriously, as we went to bed that night, we could still hear the music. Bolivians know how to party! If that was for a baptism, imagine a wedding?

(note, my favorite thing about this family is they they all work for Coca-Cola. It is as if the whole family is sponsored by Coke. Everything we used: table, chairs, silverware, and cups...all coke. Half their wardrobe is coke paraphernalia as well. Love it!)

Church at our house?? Sure!

We have been blessed with a great home. The 4 of us agreed that we want to use it to really bless the community as well. Our hearts desires were quickly answered.

Drew and Ann went to the church/orphanage 2 blocks from our house on Sunday. When they came back they said we were having church at our house on Tuesday! How cool!

IT WAS AWESOME!!!!! They just wanted to welcome us to the neighborhood and let us know we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. They provided us with encouragement, us "being strangers in a strange land," they are here for us, and as they read in Isaiah 41, God also says not to fear because he is always with us. (Drew translated for us.) So wonderful. It was about 12 people- so. We sang in Spanish, Quetchwa, and we sang a song in English. It was neat to look around and some were "modern" Bolivians, some were "traditionally dressed", some young and some old. Then we played Bolivian games. To end the night they brought the 4 of us in the middle, laid hands on us and prayed. It felt like home.

The whole time they spoke to us, I (Jenny) cried. I could not comprehend what they were saying, yet, I understood everything?? It was such affirmation that this is where we are supposed to be. They are so passionate about Jesus. I love seeing God's Church in another country. It is so beautiful. We serve such a big God.

Our first real weekend!

Friday night, we headed out for a night on the town, just the 2 of us.  Ate at a really nice restaurant. Paid $3 for huge filet steak, ate our hearts out.  Did we mention that food here is really really cheap?  Then headed off for a nice romantic movie.  Saw some of our kids from school, the Cine is the Big hang out. It was great to be out and see people we know, makes it feel more like home. Never did see a movie as the one we wanted to see was only in Spanish. We really need to learn Spanish soon.

Saturday we went to La Cancha, that largest open aired market in the Eastern Hemisphere! It is unbelievable! It is a blog post of its own.

Saturday night we watched The Motorcycle Diaries. I recommend it. Spanish movie with subtitles- was very cool- movie about much injustice in South America. Two guys on a motorcycle on an adventure. Reminded me a lot of my bike trip 3 years ago. Watch it if you can.  You will then want to come visit us!!!!  I love that Jenny and I are here on this adventure and hope this will be a way we will continue to live. Teaching will allow us to travel and adventure every July and August!!!! WOO HOO!!


Sunday met a bunch of Bolivian guys- I was just walking down the street, and a 25 year old fellow passed kicking a ball. He was cool to me- we tried to talk- and he invited me to hang with him and play with his friends. Each Sunday do sometyhing- volleyball, wallyball, soccer. We went to a place and played walleyball. About 10 guys. It was so cool. They all went to high school together. Most now either work in resturaunts or for Coca-Cola. It was just fun. They are better than me- I am telling you. I am about a foot and a half taller than them all, but they were all darn good. I have an excuse. I was rusty on my wallyball skills. But it was cool to be invited to hang out. They even invited me to play with them this weekend. Soccer this weekend- I know I'll get my butt kicked!!!! It is ridiculous- in soccer my 6th graders can run circles around me!!!!!

When in Bolivia, cook like the Bolivians!

So this week was our first in our new house and it we got off to a great start with our house being center of action in Cochabamba. It was just great. We met a woman, Marta, on the street last week and Jenny and Ann expressed interest in learning how to cook traditional Bolivian meals. Jenny and Ann said, come teach us and invite you family over!! Well- Monday Marta came over taught them how to cook, and brought her family. Her husband, two teenage kids, her nephew, his wife and 2 small children. It was so wonderful. They welcomed us to their neighborhood, and have invited us to a baptism and celebration for the youngest this Sunday. We are excited.

The meal is called Silpancho (google it) cooked with Yuka, rice, flattened/breaded meat, with ensalada and a fried egg on top, I highly recommend it, but it is hard as crap to cook!  When we moved in, we had this HUGE stone cutting board thing built in.  We finally figured out what it is for!  One thing is for sure, when you flatten your meat with a big stone it goes a lot further!

We went up to Cristo, the largest statue of Jesus Christ inn the world (bigger that Buenos Aires)- was darn cool. Our house is directly at Jesus’s right hand- he points right at us. We are seated at the right hand of Christ!!! Not a shabby place to live, that’s for sure.

Bolivian Independence day was last week. Nothing but parades all day. It was great. SO cool to see all the traditional dresses. They all dressed up like their traditional tribes.
And election day was Sunday. Because of threat of rioting, and violence, no cars were allowed on the streets. It was AWESOME. SO peaceful. We should do it in the US too! Violence?? We didn’t even hear who won the election. It is very cool that I was worried about the election before coming here- and it was nothing to worry about.

Note from Jenny-

Two favorite things from Independence day: Ice cream & Foosball!
Ice Cream is not the same here. Rather disappointing. Then we found this truck. They import all of their ingredients from Italy. AMAZING!! For those of you who know my fascination…okay obsession with Gelato, this has been a defining moment in my life. Now if only I could figure out where they park the damn truck everyday??

They set up Foosball tables in the middle of the Prado by the parade. Some of the “shoe shine boys” came and asked if they could shine our shoes. They were probably in the 5th grade and this is what their parents send them out to do for money. The polish stains their hands, so everyone knows what they do and they are considered lowly and dirty. Drew told us they are somewhat like untouchables. We said no thank you. (half of us were in sandals) Then, Drew and John (who both are big kids) asked them if they wanted to play Foosball. Precious! Their faces lit-up they came and we played away. Such joy. For that time, they were kids. Drew told us later they people commented behind us because they could not believe we were playing with them and touching them? I am learning so much about injustices here. People here are very prejudice, even against their own people? I think after working at the Shelter I have become more aware of this then ever before?

SCHOOL

We’re done our first week of school. Went well. I love our director. We are just well supported and he is a positive “coach” type leader. As he addressed all the kids the first day he stole all my lines about success and how he doesn’t like to fail. He will do all he does to help, and how everything is a choice. He chooses to teach, care for each kid, and make every day a great day.

I gave out 6 detentions the first week. None of the kids were bad, 3 were for being late, and the other 3 were to prove points to the class. It is a necessity at the start of the year. Food at school is AWESOME!!! It is an actual restaurant opened from morning until about 5:00. One day I got lunch AGAIN after school to take home for dinner.

A note from Jenny-

Okay, So I did cry once this week. Maybe 2x? being a first year teacher is a big task, especially considering I have had no prior training. Also, they day I got here they asked me to teach 6th instead of 4th! All that I prepared for…out the window! Awesome. Not to mention I have the biggest class at the school and it is considered one of the “tough” classes. GREAT! I cried when I talked to my mom and family. 2 reasons: I was stressed as crap and when ever you talk to your mom it is okay to cry. Then it hit me that vacation was over…we live here! And Here is Great, but will my family ever get to see it and experience all that we tell them about? I don’t know, just makes me sad. And I miss them.

Our Home!

Our first few days we used to find a house, and we considered something- how about sharing a duplex, or maybe getting a house and sharing it with Drew and Ann? They are cool as junk, seek to follow Christ as we do, also desire to learn about Bolivia and its people. SO…..after looking at about 8 places, apartments in the middle of the city, one house in a gated commuity (yuck), we went with this guy to a house that was close to our school and the cheapest house we had been offered by a few different agents. As we started ascending the mountain, we couldn’t believe we kept going up. We weaved through houses, small homefront stores, all on cobblestone roads, and we stopped at our house. It was awesome. It is a great neighborhood where people walk all over. We have a fellow living in the basement, the guy who built the house. The views from the balconies are amazing. The house connected to us has a store, so it is practically in our basement!! And a woman every morning on our blocjk sets up a table and sells meat. Isn’t Bolivia at its best!!!!!!!

And- there are 3 soccer fienlds/basketball courts within 5 minute walk- national park one block away from our home ( up the mountain).

SO>>We were going to move in and have to furnish it all our self. The day after we sign the lease, the landlord calls and says, would you like a refrigerator, Dining room table with 6 chairs, couch and 3 chairs???? Are you kidding?? We are so thankful.

So it took us a day to meet most of the kids in the neighborhood. We had about a 15 kid soccer game going under our streetlight, n the cobbles, using an old ball and rocks piled as goalposts. We desire to love the kids and their families. It only took 1 day for word to spread that there are 4 gringos in the neighborhood. The kids ask for John and Drew by name. Everyone is so friendly. It is customary to always greet people when you see them on the streets. We usually get a double take, when they realize we are gringos. We get made fun of a lot too. It’s great!

Okay, so the down fall to where we live. DOGS!! Packs of them. All over. That like to bark it up every night between 11:30-12:30am and then again about 4:30-6:30am. And a couple of them live RIGHT OUT SIDE OUR WINDOW!! Please pray that we will get use to this cultural difference soon.

-a note from Jenny-

The first week was like vacation. Staying at a hotel, eating every meal out, people watching. We broke every rule, ate from street vendors, used ice, ate at shady restaurants, ate lettuce…okay we never drank the water, we do use bottled. We figured if we are going to get sick we should do it sooner rather then when school starts?? I know. Crazy reasoning. I only almost cried once. I thought for sure it would have been more. I was stressing a little on our way down knowing that the Spanish would depend on me to learn, as I studied it in high school. I wondered how I was going handle speaking for us, finding a house, being a first year teacher, being away from all we know and love and learning a new culture. I just trusted the Lord and knew He would not give us more then we could handle. So he sent Drew and Ann. If it was not for them, John and I would have set in our hotel all week, and I would have cried for sure!

Pretty neat that after knowing each other for only 2 days we started talking about living together for the next 2 years! Another good gift from our amazing God.

BOLIVIA- GET READY FOR JOHN AND JENNY KILMARTIN.

We’re here. WOO. This place is beautiful. Beautiful. Unbelievable. Jenny and I started praying about 6 months ago about what we would do, where we would go, sensing a feeling to try a new thing, have a little adventure before we plan to start a family. Recognizing that both being teachers would really fit our lifestyles, we decided to check out teaching, in the US or overseas. We thought, where in the US would we like to check out? San Diego- beautiful weather year round? Colorado- incredible mountains and laid back lifestyle? Well, we did not think that we would now be teaching internationally here in Cochabamba in a place that is a mix of the two in climate and geography, but obviously A LOT MORE in terms of culture and overall opportunity for experience. Here we go!

John and Jenny in Cochabamba

Here is us looking at our house. Bummer weather, huh? It is like this every day. Not kidding.