The Bolivian Cuisine

Buen Dia Amigos! Greetings from Bolivia!

I just wanted to take some time to tell you all about some of the awesome food that we have been able to enjoy here in Bolivia. Just like the 8 essential amino acids, there are 8 essential rules for Bolivian dining (sorry, but the MCAT is looming ahead). They are as follows:

(WARNING - The Bolivian cuisine is not for the faint of stomach. A good dose of Ciproflaxacin is a necessity for any traveler desiring to get the full Bolivian experience.)

1) DO NOT DRINK THE WATER. Just as in many other countries around the world, Bolivian tap water is not safe to drink. We were reminded of this fact just as we arrived in Bolivia by a thrilling presentation on water borne parasites given by Todd, one of our fellow students from Wheaton College. On the bright side however, Bolivians have a variety of tasty bottled drinks which are a must have with any meal. My personal favorite are the different types of fruit juices. Each type of juice comes in a large, 2 liter glass bottle. There are many different flavors including peach, banana, apple, pineapple, papaya, and mango. The apple juice is especially good and tastes just like chilled apple cider. Additionally, a Bolivian favorite is Fanta. This sparkling orange Coca Cola product is a hit with many of the kids and does a great job of blunting the sting of hot picante peppers. Another unique Bolivian drink is drinkable yogurt which comes in a variety of flavors including blackberry, strawberry, and coconut. Although I wouldn't recommend it with a dense meat dish, it is great as a drinkable desert.

2) BRING A FRIEND. One of the best parts of Bolivian food is the massive portion size of many of the dishes. For only around 50 Bolivianos (7 USD) you can purchase a great dish known as pique, my personal favorite. Essentially, pique consists of massive amounts of meat on top of a bed of fried potatoes and is usually served with ketchup and mustard. There are three different types of meat: large cuts of beef, chorizo sausage, and chicken. Hardboiled eggs, onions and peppers usually adorn the top of the mountainous pile of protein. On the second day that we were here, we ordered two dishes of pique for ten people and still had several to go boxes of food to take home with us. Never eat alone in Bolivia or you are liable to end up carrying more than half of your meal home in a bag.

3) SAVE CHANGE FOR A TASTY SNACK ON THE STREET. The best part of traveling around Bolivia on the 15 passenger buses known as Truffis is the plethora of delicious smells of street stands wafting through the air. (Disclaimer: not all smells on a Truffi are what one might call pleasant. Use caution when breathing through your nose.) One of the best snacks on the street is the Empanada, a delicious combination of melted cheese and baked bread rolled together into a beautifully crimped pastry. A close relative of the Empanada is the Saltena which consists of meat and cheese enclosed in a pocket of baked bread. Both can be purchased on the street for around 2 - 5 Bolivianos (around 50 cents). After a hot snack of meat cheese and bread you may need something to cool off your tongue for the ride back to the hospital. The street vendors have just the remedy. Juanitos are probably my favorite food off the street and can be purchased for 1 Boliviano (15 cents). Basically a Juanito consists of frozen yogurt enclosed inside a plastic package (picture a frozen go-gurt). Juanitos come in a variety of different flavors and colors. Generally, each Juanito has a combination of three successive flavors including mango, peach, orange, lime, bubble gum, grape, chocolate, and pina colada. Juanitos are a great treat for the Truffi ride home and I routinely buy two every time I pass my favorite vendor on the corner. Moral of the story: Always carry loose change for some great street food.

4) WAS THAT SOUP BOILED? Soup is a staple part of the Bolivian diet. At lunch time Bolivians flock to local street stands for chicken, beef, and vegetable soup. Although the locals seem to be immune to the potential gastrointestinal problems associated with parasite ridden water, the traveler must use caution when trying this part of the Bolivian cuisine. Naturally, the most important question is "was that soup boiled?" So far, I have risked trying soup a total of three times this trip and either I have been lucky or I have a great knack for guessing which vendor in traditional Bolivian attire with a baby strapped to her back is most likely to have boiled the water in her soup. Despite the risks involved, I have been generally impressed with Bolivian soup. Chicken soup is very tasty and generally contains potatoes, rice, and carrots in a savory broth with a whole chicken breast plopped in the middle. My personal favorite however is quinoa soup. The Bolivians actually eat a fair amount of quinoa and use it as a substitute for rice in several dishes. Quinoa soup is very filling and makes me feel like I am eating healthy even if the broth probably has enough salt in it to make homeade ice cream.

5) BE COURAGEOUS. One particular delicacy in Bolivia is llama. The primary dish of llama is known as charque and consists of crunchy fried llama meat on a bed of hominy. It is also generally served with a baked potato and hardboiled eggs. Initially, I was very excited about trying llama meat, but after a trip through the llama section in La Cancha, the local market, I was a bit more skeptical. The llama section smelled a bit funky and they even had llama fetuses for sale which were far from appetizing. Despite my misgivings however, at the next restaurant we went to I ordered charque. As I stared at the dried crisps of meat in front of me, I couldn't help but have flashbacks to the smells of the meatmarket and the flies buzzing around overhead. I opened up and put the first bite in. The texture of the meat was very dry, kind of like beef jerky, and I had to crunch on it for a while before I could really taste the flavor. It turned out to be a little bit game-y kind of like deer jerky and on the whole was not to bad. Compared to pique, however, it just could not stand up. It was a great thing to try, but far from a staple food in my Bolivian diet.

6) LOOKS ARE DECEIVING. Another common food in Bolivia is known as Silpancho. At first, this traditional Bolivian food is a bit alarming. It comes in two different varieties: chicken and beef. The catch is that the two different meats are nearly indistinguishable from one another. Both are ground up and fried in to a pancake sized patty. Staring at the flat pancake of mystery meat on my plate was enough to make me at first question this Bolivian concoction, but it turns out I was mistaken. The saving grace of Silpancho is that its is served over rice and is topped off with several fried eggs. Mixed together with some picante salsa, the lifeless patty of meat is transformed into a delicious dish that I strongly recommend.

7) DON'T BE AFRAID TO BUY AMERICAN. Normally, I wouldn't suggest eating American food in a foreign country, but in this case I must say the unthinkable, "in Bolivia, order a hamburger". Yep that's right.
Here in Bolivia they are known as hamburguesas and are actually quite different than their counterpart in the United States. The best way that I can describe Bolivian hambeguesas is as a patty of taco meat on a ciabatta. The taco seasoning flavor of the meat gives the hamberguesa a very distinctive taste and it is a must try for any norteamericano traveling in Bolivia.

8) PURGE WITH FRUITS AND NUTS. This is an essential step in successfully navigating Bolivian food. Without fiber, the Bolivian diet of meat, bread, and fried food can leave you struggling for air. Fresh fruit of the streets is a great way to get some essential nutrients and help prepare your body for the next round of pique. The only precaution with fruit off the street is that it must be adequately cleaned using a rinse of bleach followed by purified water. There are a variety of different fruits in the markets ranging from apples, bananas and oranges to kiwis and papayas. The bananas are extremely cheap. I once tried to buy 5 Bolivianos (80 cents) worth and ended up getting 20 whole bananas. The apples here are also really good although you have to watch out for the occasional rotten one. Oranges are a great way to get some vitamin C which is in high demand while working in the hospitals and trying to combat the general lack of hygiene in the city. My personal favorite are the kiwis which I cut in half and eat with a spoon. They are a great snack and actually have twice the potassium of a banana which has been great in fighting off soreness since I have been trying to run here in the high altitude. Additionally, peanuts and a variety of other nuts that I don't know the name of can be purchased on the street. They are a great snack and a good break from Empanadas and Saltenas. I definitely recommend mixing in a good variety of fruits and nuts to maintain the longevity of your appetite while in Bolivia. And remember: trying new food is a marathon not a sprint so buckle up for the long haul.

Well, I hope that you have been able to get a taste of the many different components of the Bolivian cuisine through this brief overview. May your spoon be ever shiny and your steak knife ever sharp!

As they say in Bolivia

Provecho!! (Good Eating)

Jake

Lago Titicaca

Hola! Hope you all are doing well! I can't believe we're onto our last week in Bolivia. Time has flown, and we've become quite the veterans at the trufi system, eating street food (especially Annika - who's quite the pro!), and holding basic conversations with the Bolivians! Believe it or not, by this time next week, most of us will be home, but in the meantime, we're soaking in the experiences, bonding closer with each other, and discerning God's will for our present and future through this trip.

 This past weekend, we visited the world's highest navigable lake - Lake Titicaca! Our journey started bright and early at 4:15 am on Saturday. When we arrived, there were vendors everywhere selling us tickets to places we weren't even trying to head to! Now, speaking English at 5 am is quite difficult, but trying to understand and speak Spanish is even harder! Somehow we managed to get ourselves - and our loaded backpacks - onto a bus to La Paz. Bolivian traveling was definitely interesting! While we bought tickets for 5:30, the bus didn't actually leave until 6! And when you take the bus, it definitely doesn't mean a nonstop trip! We had vendors boarding the bus and selling us coffee, gum, bread, and even charque! There were stops to pick up people and drop them off. Jake and I got to meet this sweet little girl name Luz who was in one of the seats right in front of us. She was shy at first but ended up hanging out with us for most of the ride. It was especially funny when she would ask for the names of other people in our group and would yell it out through the bus until he/she woke up. She even walked down the aisle and would wake individual people up, especially Ben! Finally, after a 7 hour bus ride, we made it to La Paz around 1 pm, just in time to catch our next bus.

 La Paz is a beautiful city settled in a valley with brick buildings adorning the mountain sides and the valley itself. We quickly learned on this trip that cameras cannot capture the true beauty of the country we're in. At the La Paz bus terminal, we bought another ticket to Copacabana - which is located on the southern shore of Lake Titicaca. The ride to Copacabana was beautiful, and we could see the lake for a duration of the trip! We finally arrived in Copacabana in the late afternoon, checked into a sweet hotel right by the lake, and bought our boat tickets to the island for the following day. We arrived at the perfect time, with the sun setting right on the lake and the boats providing the perfect silhouettes. We also went out for one of our favorite Bolivian meals, pique macho. Sadly, we were quite disappointed by our meal and went out for dinner round 2! We found a great cafe that quickly became a favorite of ours and ate a nice second dinner before retiring to our hotel rooms. Fun fact: Bolivian hot chocolate, at least at this cafe is awesome! Danica and I can attest to this fact! It's pretty much hot milk with chunks of chocolate at the bottom that you have to stir to melt into your drink! Yum!

Early Sunday morning, we grabbed a quick breakfast at the hotel and then headed for our boat to Isla del Sol at 8 am. Our boat had an upper deck area that our team definitely took advantage of despite the somewhat cold air of the Bolivian winter. The view from the top was great, and I can't wait for you all to see the photos! Out on the lake, you can see the different islands and the perfect deep blue of the lake contrasts the white clouds, light blue sky, and green-brown mountains. After 2.5 hours on the boat, where we made friends with the other travelers from South Africa, Colorado, Luxembourg, and Switzerland, we finally docked. When we stopped on the northern part of Isla del Sol, we had to dodge the guide who wanted us to go to the island's musuem and other sights for a lovely fee, of course. We decided to take the 8 km hike to the southern part of the island to catch our boat on its way back. The hike was gorgeous as we could see the lake on both sides of us, and the trail was a fairly easy (though not so easy because of the altitude)! We finished with time to spare and caught a leisurely lunch at a restaurant that looks out onto the lake. What was super cool about this island and just Bolivia in general was all the animals hanging around! As we hiked, we saw pigs, donkeys, llamas, and dogs everywhere! Jake and Anna got some pretty epic pictures with this llama that was definitely posing for the camera! When we finally got back to Copacabana, we managed to get rooms at the same hotel as the previous night, which was awesome, though we all definitely wished we had known it was possible before we hiked 8 km with our backpacks full of clothes and food! For dinner, we stopped by a different restaurant where the men of our group plus Rachel got their taste of the infamous Lake Titicaca trout or trucha! The rest of us tried pizza, chicken fajitas, and quinoa soup which was all delicious! But of course, we had to stop by our favorite cafe before bed for some hot chocolate and a burger for Todd.

Our journey back was similar to the trip to the lake. We went from Copacabana to La Paz and from La Paz to Cochabamba. It took all day Monday. On our trip from La Paz to Copacabana though, we managed to take a double decker bus (awesome!) and sit right in front (even more awesome!). Though, to be honest, that made it kind of scary because we got to witness Bolivian driving at its finest! Don't worry though, we all made it home safely! Around 9:30 or so, we finally made it back to the guesthouse! It was such an incredible trip, and for 70 bucks, we got to be tourists for a weekend. With sights like Lake Titicaca, La Paz, and even Vinto where we have been living, it's tough to see how someone could look at all these people and places and not come to the conclusion that there has to be a Creator. It's time to soak in these experiences and continue to love on these people and this country up until the last minute we're here! Until next time!

 Dios le bendiga, Myvy :)

A day in the life...

Alright, so for those of you who may still be a little confused as to what a day/week in the life looks like for us here in Bolivia... I am here to solve that problem!

Generally, Monday through Friday we are all on a random, rotating schedule.  There are various places that we could possibly be, so I am going to take the time to tell you about each of the different places! 

1. HOH (Hospitals of Hope): this is the hospital located on our property (a short 100 yards away from our house). When we work at the hospital, we usually shadow the doctors, watch surgeries, or help out in the ER.

2. CBA (Clinica Boliviana Americana): This is a hospital in Cochabamba (the nearest large city, we are in Vinto - a smaller town outside of Cochabamba). When we go there we also shadow doctors, help the nurses tend to patients, and watch surgeries... very similar to HOH! But generally, we are able to do more at this hospital which is exciting.

3. CDA 1 (Casa de Amor): This is an orphanage for babies and small infants ages around 0-3. A typical morning here includes feeding the kids breakfast, playing with them, helping the "tias" (the ladies who give up most of their lives to live at the house and take care of all of the children), discovering poopy diapers, and wiping their "moquitos" (boogies!).

4. CDA 2 (Casa de Amor): This is an orphanage for older kids around ages 4-12. Usually we help them with their chores, help them with "tarea" (homework!), and play games. 

5. MS (Movimiento Sonrisas): This is another hospital in the city! but this one is a children's hospital. Most of the children here are either recovering from surgery, healing in the burn unit, being treated for long term illness, or they are babies needing some love.

6. The Plaza: Amidst the bustling city life, Plaza Principal houses over 30 people.  The plaza is an open "park" where many homeless people live and become addicts to sniffing "glue." Every Friday afternoon, we bring sandwiches, drinks, wound care, Vitamin B shots, our Bibles, and love.  Their lifestyle is different than anything we have ever seen before, but our time with the people who live their is extremely rewarding. We laugh, sing, pray, and really just get to know them by giving them the time of day. The people who live there are the outcasts of society and are considered animals.  People ask us why we spend so much time with them, when really what we should be doing is lining up and shooting them.  For many the plaza is MUCH better than their home - where they are beaten, raped, stabbed, abused, for others it is where they were born, and for the rest it is the only place they have friends. They use their "glue" to numb the pain in their lives. As Shelly and Rachel (the wonderful women who started this ministry) would say, these are the people that Jesus would be with if He were here today. **BIG PRAISE: Shelly and Rachel are nurses and intend on living in Bolivia longterm, helping the people of the plaza transition their lives and come to know God's grace and mercy.

7. Clinics: We will set up makeshift clinics at local churches and orphanages every once and a while! These tend to be some of the highlights of my week, taking vitals, checking for cavities, etc.

On Saturdays, we tend to relax, hike, and explore Cochabamba.  In the afternoons, we go to a different plaza and bathe children, giving them fresh clothes and braided hair for the girls. On Sundays, we attend church and spend the day relaxing!

In order to reach all of these wonderful destinations, our day here consists of riding "trufis," which are vans full of people.  Trufi drivers put a sign in their windshield telling people alongside the road where they are headed, and then we flag them down. It's a makeshift bus/taxi that definitely makes for an awesome experience.  

This past weekend was a Bolivian holiday ("feriado") Thursday-Sunday. We learned that the President determines how long holidays are... based on how he feels? which seems very interesting. But, with this, there was extra help needed at the orphanages because the tias were celebrating with family and friends.  So, Friday morning Jake, Andrew (a student from Messiah College in PA), Kyle (another student), and I arrived around 7:45 to begin assisting at CDA 1 - the baby orphanage. When we arrived, the kids were just waking up and we were there to greet them in their bedrooms.  After getting shoes on all of them, we carted all 15-20 kids down to breakfast in their high chairs. It was quite a task feeding over 15 babies/infants eggs and bread with the four of us and only 1 tia! Somehow we managed and played with them all morning until we came back to our house for lunch. Because of the holiday, they had asked us to come back later that night again because their was a celebration happening.  Jake, Andrew, and I all went back to the orphanage from 6-11 PM! Let's just say, Jake and Andrew had enough baby time for the day... so many overwhelming poopy diapers, loud obnoxious crying and screaming, hitting, pulling hair, whining, and the list goes on.  But at the end of the day, walking away from the orphanage dead tired, we were all so happy that we could give the tias a day of rest. We were amazed that those women dedicate so much time into the children, even when they have their own families/children back at home. What definitely struck me most that day at the orphanage were the few stories that we heard about the children who lived there. One girl, Ruth, had just been placed in the orphanage because her mom attempted to sell her multiple times and was finally turned into the police. Another girl, Jhoselin, who was born blind, lives at the orphanage because her dad has AIDS and is unable to care for her various needs.  Another little boy, Gillermo, has burn scars covering the right side of his face. He obtained these scars when he was very little. His mom was cooking in the kitchen with him strapped on her back and the stove somehow blew, killing his mother and leaving him scarred. The stories are endless... As I go about the rest of my time here in Bolivia and even when I return to the states, I see/meet/encounter so many different people from day-to-day.  It's so easy to forget that everyone has a "story," God has uniquely designed each and every one of us all as His children through different experiences. Those little children need LOVE and we are there to provide that. My favorite moments here in Bolivia are showering the endless orphans with kisses, hugs, and "I love you's," and in return, getting to see their smiling faces. If only they could understand how much I love them, but even more, how much God loves them. The innocence and purity of these children and the love required to raise these children is such a good example of how we should live our everyday lives. If only I could take all of them home with me........ Cliver, Giovanni, Maria, Jhoselin, Ruth, Gillermo, Camila, Mindy, Pablo, Samuel, Fernanda......

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." - James 1:27.

Love always, 

Brittany (with help and additions from the lovely Annika!)

Scrubbing In

One thing I was looking forward to in Bolivia was observing surgeries. My first week in Cochabamba was wonderful - riding trufis (a Bolivian form of transportation that is like a combination of a taxi and a bus), playing with sweet children in the orphanage, and sitting in on consultations - but it was somewhat lacking in medical procedures. Yesterday I finally got a good dose of blood and guts. This week there is a group of physicians from Knoxville, TN volunteering at the hospital, so there are more opportunities to scrub in on surgeries. I had the opportunity to observe two hysterectomies (removal of the uterus). 

The first surgery was performed because the woman had an ovarian cyst. The thing looked like a small balloon, thin-walled and so full it might burst any second. For most of the procedure I stood behind the patient by the anesthesiologist. I am interested in pursuing a career in anesthesiology so I enjoyed talking to him about the field. I learned that many Bolivian patients prefer regional instead of general anesthesia, mostly for safety concerns. I noticed that some of the Bolivian medical staff were taking pictures of the surgery, so I made sure to bring my camera for the second procedure. 

The second hysterectomy was done because the woman had a cyst on her Fallopian tube and myomas (balls of muscle tissue) in her uterus. Her uterus was very enlarged and I snapped a few good pictures. During this procedure I talked a lot to Karen the PA. She has assisted many surgeons and is currently going back to school to get her medical degree. She was helpful in answering my questions about the procedure and I enjoyed hearing about her experience as a PA and a medical student. I also asked her if she was worried about being a good mom and a good doctor. She said of course she was, but she felt that God was calling her to go back to medical school and if it His will, He will provide a way for her to balance her career and family. It was comforting to hear that someone else had my same concern and was trusting in God to find a way for her to do both well. 

I loved everything about observing the surgeries - the scrubbing in, the cutting, the suturing, and the vast knowledge required to do all this. I am fascinated by how much the human body can handle. 

Thank you for keeping me and my team in your prayers. Feel free to email me at rteranishi@westmont.edu if you have any other questions!

-Rachel

Visiting El Cristo

 

This past weekend, our Westmont in Bolivia team decided to visit El Cristo, which is located right here in Bolivia! After a long trufi ride, we made it to the foot of the hill on which El Cristo is located and began the long trek up the stairs. The altitude made the journey quite difficult but in the end, we all made it! Here are some photos (credit to Danica)!

 

A fun team picture with the (smoggy) city in the background. A breathtaking view nevertheless!

The great view from the top! And Mali from Wheaton is pretty great too :)

The entire group of hikers, consisting of Westmonsters, Wheaton, and Messiah College peeps.

In order to get the entire statue of El Cristo into our picture, we got to get a nice Bolivian family in our shot as well! What's a picture in Bolivia without a Bolivian family?

The gondolas taking people up to El Cristo. Look at that amazing view from up top with the mountains in the background! The hike was quite steep!

We got to stop for ice cream after our hard work climbing El Cristo! Que delicioso!

Thanks for visiting our blog! Everyone's got a busy schedule this week, and it's hard to believe we're already a week into it. We will be sure to update on some of the highlights of this trip! It's been a blast so far!

Dios le bendiga!

Annika, Ben, Brittany, Danica, Jake, Myvy, and Rachel

A Night With the Paramedics

Hola from Bolivia!!! Yesterday Jake and I had the chance to spend the night shadowing the on-call paramedic team that is stationed a little way down the road from hospitals of hope. It was a great chance to practice our Spanish when they picked us up. We found out that Jose and Jimmy are two twenty-year olds who have been working as paramedics for a little over a year. We brought our sleeping stuff and Captain America in Spanish, planning on having a relaxing night, watching a movie they liked, sleeping and waiting for a call. But as soon as we stepped into their little waiting room the radio buzzed to life and a voice came over through the static in hurried Spanish describing the situation. There had been a car crash in the city, truck vs. taxi. We quickly rushed out the door, hopped into the back of the ambulance and sped down the road with sirens blaring and lights flashing. The first thing I noticed was that no one pulled over off the road for the ambulance. Thus we found ourselves swerving in and out through traffic rushing to the scene. The firemen had already arrived and were taking a Bolivian husband and wife back to the hospital due to their more serious injuries. We picked up the taxi driver who only had a few minor scrapes and cuts and took him back to the hospital. As soon as we walked in to the emergency room I was a little bit shocked, it was my first time seeing such a traumatic scene. They already had the woman stabilized and it looked like she had a broken leg and 6 inch gash on the back of her head. The man however commanded the majority of our attention. He had been drinking and driving and was being very loud and hard to constrain. He had suffered multiple fractures in both legs, along with lacerations, and a shattered knee cap. The skin on the heel of his right foot was barely hanging on and he had also hit his head hard and had a huge gash to show for it. We helped to hold him down to the bed while the doctors and nurses helped to get him stabilized with blood, fluids and a catheter. Once he had been stabilized and sedated he was loaded onto a stretcher and rushed back into the ambulance. We took him down father into Cochabamba to another hospital that had a radiografia machine that would give an MRI showing any potential damage to his head. On the way there however we encountered one of the most shocking experiences of the night. We were speeding down the left lane when Jimmy suddenly swerved. There had been a man laying sprawled out in the middle of the road that we almost hit. We didn't even stop to check his condition, take him to the hospital or at least move him off the road and check for identification. After the MRI had been examined by a radiologist, it was determined that there was no serious damage to the head and we took him back for surgery on his legs. A doctor named Trish, who we had become friends with, asked us to come scrub in for the surgery. This was the first time that either of us had seen a surgery so we were super excited. Once they had examined and cleaned the wounds they started to tie off blood vessels and prepare to stitch him up. It ended up being a huge mess as they ended up using over 30 stitches. Another interesting thing was that throughout the entire procedure the doctors and nurses were taking pictures of everything on their cell phones. Jake and I had a hard time understanding much of what they were saying due to the fact that most things had to do with medical terminology that we were unfamiliar with in Spanish. Finally around 3:30 in the morning the surgery was done and jake and I washed up and went back to the volunteer house where we stay. As I lay in bed physically exhausted, my mind was wide awake racing, trying to process all that had just happened. I realized that all the blood and gore that I had just seen didn't phase me at all. The thing that was hard for me to watch was the family as the three children were told that their parents were hurt. Also listening as the extended family talked about how they are going to be able to scrape up enough money for the medical bills. It was also inspiring to see how quickly and efficiently the surgeons worked in analyzing the situation and acting on it. I realized how excited I am for that day far in the future when I might be able to help some one in a similar way if the Lord is willing. This memory of our night with the paramedics will help to serve as a motivation for me when I'm up late next year studying O-Chem, reminding me that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that there is a good reason to work diligently in school. ¡Dios les bendiga! Ben

Photos! Finally!

Here are some photos from our journey so far! They're out of chronological order, but at least they're up and running!

Here's part of our crew helping out in the kitchen - washing dishes, drying, and putting them back to their proper place.

Benjamin: Ben-HA-min (en espanol)
Proof that he's alive and well!

"Helping" out in the kitchen; whereas, Annika - the creeper in the background - is washing the dishes!

Jake is chipping in as well!

Ben and Myvy know how to rock it in the kitchen while also doing hard work.

Finally landed in Cochabamba! Our first trufi ride to the hospital guesthouse.

Layover in La Paz - Can you find everyone passed out on the floor? [Hint: West brothers are still in DC, and Myvy is the photographer.]

The view outside the airport in La Paz.

Another look outside the window at the airport in La Paz.

Jake is clearly enjoying his time here in Cochabamba!

Bathroom in the girls' room - the guesthouse used to be an orphanage.

A look at the sinks in the girls' bathroom! Look at all that shampoo and conditioner!

The back view of Hospitals of Hope.

A frontal view of the guesthouse! Those mountains are awesome!

Rachel and Alfredo at the Bogota airport in Colombia.

Some Bolivian natives!

Annika is having fun while Myvy acts as papparazzi!

Myvy working on her artistic abilities while waiting at the Bogota airport!

Left & Below: More shots from the ride to the guesthouse.

Danica was also a victim of Myvy's papparazzi tendencies.

Catching up at the dinner table after Ben and Jake are reunited with the rest of the team :)

More pictures and posts to come! We'll keep in touch!

Dios le bendiga!

Myvy, Danica, Annika, Jake, Ben, Brittany, and Rachel

We're finally in Bolivia!

Bienvenidos a Cochabamba! After much difficulty getting to our final destination (including but not limited to canceled flights, lost luggage, altitude sickness, and sleep deprivation), we finally made it! We got all our team members, all our luggage, and most of our sleep and settled in.

Day One:

 Jake - Arrived at the Hospitals of Hope guesthouse. Unpacked, surveyed the water damage to his suitcase (Bibles and underwear included). Prepared a schoolroom to be painted tomorrow.

 Ben - see Jake. Minus the water stuff. Resisted temptation to drink water from the tap. Blushed when Bolivian guy complimented his facial hair and thought he was older than Jake. Got defensive when Brittany commented she couldn't see it.

 Brittany - Slept in and recovered from being ill. Randomly saw the West brothers in the hall. Ate rice! Kept it in! Went to the airport and picked up found luggage. Lost her favorite shirt, a pair of shorts, and a knife. Ate an apple with Annika. Showered for the first time in five days! Took out the trash.

Rachel - Worked at Casa de Amor 2 for the morning and afternoon shifts. Was told she looks like a Canadian and Mulan. Ate delicious homemade Bolivian bread. Almost didn't make it home because we missed the trufi stop. Ate some great homemade cookies - chocolate chips are hard to come by!

 Myvy - Worked at Casa de Amor 1 in the morning and Casa de Amor 2 in the afternoon. Had a Bolivian salteña for the first time. Had a little girl say "estás loca" to her within 5 minutes of meeting her and a boy said she look like a "grito/grifo de suerte" which either means "faucet or voice of luck". And found her way through Bolivia through the trufi system!

 Danica - Went to Clinica Boliviana Americana for both the morning and afternoon shifts. Saw two C sections, learned how to take blood pressure and take patients' vitals. Tried Bolivian frozen yogurt. Ate lots of cookies.

Annika - Went to Casa de Amor 2. Was greeted and fell in love with a little boy named Daniel. Played with the kids, tried to give them a cold shower, and tried to get them to sleep. Spent the afternoon with Brittany to get their lost luggage from the airport. Took out all the trash. Took the position along with Danica as the team official photographer!

 Key: Casa de Amor 1 (CDA 1) = an orphanage for toddlers and babies, at orphanages, volunteers are called tías and tíos (aunt or uncle), as volunteers, we play with the kids and feed them Casa de Amor 2 (CDA 2) = an orphanage for kids who are too old for CDA 1, we play with the children, feed them, bathe them, and help the other tías Clinica Boliviana American (CBA) = a medical clinic where we get to shadow doctors and do some hands on work with the patients taking vitals, watching surgeries, etc. Make sure to check out some pictures from our adventure thus far, we'll be posting them on our blog within the next day! 

Hasta luego!
Jake, Ben, Annika, Brittany, Danica, Rachel, and Myvy

Interview Questions!

Hey everybody! Thanks for checking out our blog. We are all excited for our upcoming trip and are so appreciative and blessed by your support. We thought it would be a great idea to get to know each other better and give you the opportunity to get to know us a little better through mini-interviews that we did on each other. We each picked a name from a hat and got to ask the other person 5 questions. So here we go! *Warning: It just so happens that when you ask pre-med/pre-health students questions, they tend to give extensive answers!*


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Annika Utgaard '15 
     Interviewer: Brittany

Q: Where are you from? Tell us about your family/pets.

A: I am from Star Prairie, Wisconsin.  I live with my beautiful mom (Kim) and 3 younger sisters (Antje, Alexandra, and Abrianna), but I have 7 siblings total: 3 older brothers (Chris, Steven, and Jason), 1 older sister (Erica), and the 3 younger ones.  I also have 2 nieces (Izzy and Sammy) and one nephew (Daeton) whom I absolutely adore =).  We definitely have a big family but I wouldn't have it any other way...not only do we love and support each other, but we also share a lot of laughs...and you can imagine how crazy the holidays are when we all get together haha. 

Q: What is your favorite animal?

A: I love sea turtles because they are the wisest of all the animals in the animal kingdom and they are very intuitive.  I also like golden labs because they are loyal, protective, loving and understanding.  They truly are mankind's best friend! haha

Q: What is your favorite bible verse and why?

A: This is a tough question....partly because I am not as well versed in my Bible as I would like to be (and I keep discovering new verses all the time!) and also because it varies based on what is going on in my life at the time.  That being said, at present, I have two favorite verses:

"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off."
                              Matthew 18: 12-13

I like this verse because it reassures us as Christians that God does not abandon his followers, but He does zealously seek the lost.  This means so much when I feel like I have failed in some aspect of my life.  I am so grateful that our God is so forgiving and loving.  He sent his only son to be broken by the cross so that every living soul on this earth would know that they are loved, no matter what sort of grief they are dealing with.  And it is this verse that reminds me that I owe it to my Father in Heaven to share His love with others, selflessly, and it is in my unending desire to please Him that gives me all the strength that I need to go on. 

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

                             Ephesians 3:16-19

I absolutely love this verse! Every time I read it, I feel like God is speaking to a crowd of thousands of people, myself included, inspiring/encouraging us to follow in His footsteps and show others the same love and compassion that He has shown us.  I always find myself asking the question, 'God, how do I become a light amongst lights?'  and I think that this verse has some pretty good insight into the answer to that question.  I believe that when God calls you to serve Him, it is both a blessing and an honor.  It's undoubtedly scary, but if you take a leap of faith and give it your all, you'll benefit from it.  You can either accept His offer or walk away disappointed. 

Q: What's your favorite food?

A: hmmm.....good question.  I like any kind of red meat--steak, BBQ ribs, burgers--I'm totally guilty of being a carnivore haha

Q: Where do you see yourself in the future? (where do you want to live, what do you want to be doing?)

A: I want to become a medical missionary and travel the world--never staying in one place for too long--sharing Christ's love with others and learning from them as well.  I want to spend my life walking where Jesus walked...and then I want to retire and buy a house somewhere quiet and relaxing and open up an apple orchard.

Q: What is the "#1 thing on your bucket list"?

A: ...to travel the world make a difference in other people's lives.  I want every day to be an adventure. 

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Danica Ito '14

     Interviewer: Ben

Q: If you could talk with anyone in the world, past or present, for 30 minutes who would it be? and why?

A: I would have to say Derek Fisher because he is my favorite basketball player and I have always wanted to meet him.  Seriously, my life would be complete if I could meet him. haha =]

Q: Would you rather sky dive or bungee jump?

A: Honestly, I am terrified of heights.  Just thinking about doing either of those things gives me anxiety.  I would probably have a panic attack and pass out if someone told me I had to do either one.

Q: What is the one thing in the world that you are most scared of?

A: So this question is pretty much answered in question 2.  I really do not like heights, so its a good thing that I'm short. haha

Q: What is your dream job?

A: I would love, love, love to be an athletic trainer for the Lakers.

Q: What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

A: Okay, so this is going to sound very ridiculous, but the accomplishment I am most proud of is being 5 feet tall.  For the longest time, I was 4 feet and 11 and 3/4 inches tall.  I was very determined to reach 5 feet (not that there was much I could do to reach it), but I finally made it. =P

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Brittany Buschor '15

     Interviewer: Jake

Q: Where are you from/ what is your family like/ any pets?

A: I am from San Diego, California. I have one brother, Chase Bushor, who is going to be a Junior in high school next year; he is my BEST friend and a stud athlete (baseball, football, basketball, soccer, you name it). My family is chaotic, spontaneous, and funny but at the center of it all is love and Jesus... what we always come back to.  We have one dog (lemon Beagle) named Roxy, who sadly is nearing death.. as my friends would chant: "Put her down! put her down!" But I still love her regardless of her awful smells!

Q: Favorite memory from Freshman Year

A: This question is nearly impossible to answer.  Spring formal dance (even though I'm not much of a dance person) was so much fun, or my Biology Independent mouse lab, or endless rounds of frisbee golf, or following the Westmont baseball team to Playoffs during finals week (they got 3rd in GSAC tournament!), or ice cream bowling in Page hall, or working at a homeless shelter, Casa Esperanza, every Saturday. So many good memories!

Q: Other mission trips/ countries you have been to

A: I have been to Uganda, Africa twice now on medical missions trips.  I also have been to the Dominican Republic twice: one trip we installed a clean water well into a garbage dump village, and the other trip we worked in an old folks home reconstructing it and did baseball sports ministry.

I have been to Mexico of course.  As well, I went to Israel with my mama. 

Next stop, BOLIVIA!

Q: If you were an animal, what would you be and why?

A: Easy, an elephant. I LOVE elephants; I have ALWAYS loved elephants just ask my parents. Every summer I begged them to let me ride the elephants at the County Fair and I did even when I was in high school! Dumbo was my favorite movie when i was younger, and I even was an elephant for Halloween! (costume custom made by my mother, I don't know how she let me out of the house in that thing!). Seeing them in Africa, in their wild state, was amazing. To say the least, elephants are my favorite animal. 

Q: Favorite Bible verse and significance to you

A: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

This verse has been my sight through tough times in my life... our struggles, big or small, are MOMENTARY; God has something so much better for us and we just have to trust in Him.  It is hard not to get caught up in the "evil" that surrounds us in this world, but we just have to continue to rejoice, praise, and follow our Lord when the going gets tough.  We can't lose heart: He loves us SO MUCH! even when we are so unworthy.  

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Jake West '14

     Interviewer: Myvy

Q: If you could be any animal for a day, which animal would you pick and why?

A: If I could be any type of animal for a day, I would like to be an eagle. Since I was little, I have always been jealous watching eagles soar in the sky and I would love to experience the feeling of effortlessly riding thermals over the rugged terrain. Additionally, I love looking at maps and figuring out the geography and relation of the terrain around me. Being an eagle would be awesome because the whole world would be spread out under the scrutiny of my piercing eyes. 

Q: What's your go-to song? 

A: My go to song is flow gently Sweet Afton by Nickel Creek. I used to fall asleep to it. It is just so peaceful and soothing. 

Q: If you could only do one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

A: I think that if I could do one thing for the rest of my life it would be chopping down trees with a chainsaw. There is nothing better than sawing through a large trunk and hearing the resounding crash as the tree falls to the floor. I haven't cut down that many trees, but the feeling was so satisfying that I am sure I could never get tired of it.

Q: If there were to be a movie made about your life, what would it be called and who would you want to play you?

A: The movie would be called Wild and Free and would probably star my brother. It would be a western about a young man who heads out west to start his life on the frontier admits the struggles of rugged western life. All of this would of course be symbolic for my struggles as pre-med student to conquer the treacherous perils of aromatic substitution reactions and physics problems. 

Q: If you could be a superhero, who would you be and why?

A: I would definitely be Batman. He doesn't have any special power, but uses his wealth and ingenuity for the good of the world. He is also a self sacrificing character even sacrificing his own reputation when needed. Also, he has a cool voice, "Where's Rachel?!!!!"

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Myvy Ngo '15

     Interviewer: Annika

Q: What’s the #1 most played song on your iPod?

A: The #1 most played song on my iPod is "Ships in the Night" by Mat Kearney. In general though, I'll listen to almost anything with good lyrics and a nice beat. 

Q: If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

A: If I could learn to do anything, I would want to learn everything. Haha. One thing I'd probably want to learn is how to pick up languages instantaneously. It's how we communicate, and I'd love to be able to communicate to everyone and anyone. From there, it'd be pretty cool to just be able to truly experience different cultures through language. 

Q: When you have 30 minutes of free-time, how do you pass the time?

A: When I have 30 minutes of free-time, I typically spend it reading, listening to music, or hanging out with my friends and family. Recently though, since I've been home, I've been working on starting my own garden in the backyard. 

Q: What's your motto in life?

A: My motto in life is "to be a better person today than I was yesterday" and "to serve and love others unconditionally." Though I really do like Albert Einstein's quote as a guideline for life as well: "Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity." We do a really great job making things complicated that we forget to appreciate the simpler things. 

Q: Were you named after anyone? / What's the story behind your name?

A: So... funny story. Up until the moment I was born, my parents and the doctors were convinced that I was going to be a boy, so they didn't have a name for me when I was born. If I were to be a boy, I'd have my brother's name right now, Kalvyn. In Vietnamese, my name is two words "My" and "Vy." Separately, the two are pretty common - my mom's first starts with "My". While everyone was trying to figure out a name, my grandma was reading the newspaper and saw someone with the name "Vy". Put two and two together and voila! Myvy!

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Ben West '15

     Interviewer: Rachel 

Q: If you could be a character from any movie, who would you be and why?

A: Jason Bourne. Is there any better existence than fighting evil, saving lives and blowing things up? Having Matt Damon's looks wouldnt be too shabby either.

Q: What kind of doctor do you want to be?

A: I can see myself being an orthopedic surgeon, working with a college's sports medicine program. I love college kids and doing surgeries to help student athletes get back out on the field would be rewarding work.

Q: Most embarrassing moment?

A: Missing a penalty kick in a soccer tournament is definitely an embarrassing and humiliating experience.

Q: Describe your toothbrush (in as much detail as possible).

A: My toothbrush happens to be pink... and frayed... and calcified. Hopefully that doesnt say alot about my personality.

Q: What are three goals you have for the Bolivia trip?

A: My primary goal for Bolivia is to surrender completely to God and to be willing to allow his plan to take over all my actions and desires. I want to be used by him in a way in which I can show his love through my interactions with the people I encounter. I would like this time to be full of spiritual challenges and ultimately growth. Secondly I want to see how medicine can be used as a tool to help people and to reach those in need. This includes experiencing a different type of healthcare system as well as the hands on practical knowledge gained from helping in the hospital and witnessing medical procedures. Finally, I want to fall in love with the culture. I want to be bold with the friendships I make, the food I taste and the Spanish I speak (or try to speak). The best way to understand your own heritage and culture is by spending time away, immersed in a foreign setting. I don't want to hold back, but rather jump in and get my feet wet.

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Rachel Teranishi '12

     Interviewer: Danica

Q: If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go and why?

A: It is extremely hard to choose only one place, but if I had to, I would travel to Greece. I think it is absolutely beautiful and ancient Greek culture fascinates me. 

Q: What was one of your favorite things to do when you were growing up?

A: When I was little I loved to read. I would read my favorite books over and over again: Mr. Popper's Penguins, Dr. Doolittle, and Island of the Blue Dolphins. 

Q: If it were possible would you rather live on the moon or underwater?

A: Underwater for sure. When I was little I would pretend to be a mermaid in the pool. 

Q: What is one of your favorite memories from your time at Westmont?

A: Spring Sing my freshman year was a very memorable moment. Clark women did OK, but our men were fantastic. Their dances were so perfectly in sync that it gave me chills. I was so proud of them when they won, and it was fun to celebrate together at Taffy's.

Q: What will you miss most when you are in Bolivia?

A: I may end up missing something completely different when I am there, but if I had to guess it will probably be my good friends from Westmont. I recently graduated, but I have been preoccupied with orchestra tour, medical school applications, and preparing for this trip. Thus, the fact that I graduated hasn't really hit me yet. Sometimes being in a foreign country can be lonely, and I think in those times I will really start to miss Westmont and the people I have become close with over my four years there.