Carnaval

The month of February in Bolivia is the month of Carnaval. Historically, Carnaval (similar to our Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans) is a festival leading up to the month of Lent, the 40 days before the Holy Week (Easter) on the Catholic calendar. In South America, it’s a chance to revert to your childhood ways (in other words, soak each other with water balloons), or unfortunately, indulge in ‘adult’ appetites (in other words, get drunk very often). However, Bolivia is one of the countries well known for their Carnaval celebrations. In Oruro, there is a day long parade with elaborate costumes and floats. Unfortunately, it’s not an outing recommended for small children, as it’s cold, packed with people, and noisy. But we were able to watch the festivities on national TV, and we celebrated with our Bolivian family: eating the traditional food, having a water balloon fight, and going to see the Parade of Children.

Meet Our Puppies

Meet Daisy and Chazca (which means star in Quechua), our new boxer puppies. Last weekend we went to the Parade of Children in celebration of Carnaval, and on the way home, just ‘happened’ to walk by the market where people sell dogs on Sunday. And so we bought Daisy (for a great price) and our family grew once more. The next week, we bought Chazca, so Daisy could have a friend. They are very playful puppies, and now that we are in our own house, we are enjoying having pets once more.

We’re moved!

The past 2 weeks have been a flurry of activity. We found out that we were going to be able to move into our house a little sooner than expected, and so we’ve been shopping like crazy, trying to get the essentials before we moved in. We managed to buy a fridge, a stove, a mattress, and a washer before arriving at our house, and our landlady has been gracious to loan us a table and chairs. We are so thankful to be settled at last in our own place. The last few months have been wonderful in some ways, and difficult in others, but we feel that we’ve made our last transition into a permanent state. I’m enjoying cooking (and even cleaning). And as our furniture is being delivered, and we get cable and internet, it’s beginning to feel even more like home. We are now looking forward to the arrival of our container with anticipation, because then we’ll have our pictures and the things that will really make our house a home.

My new nephew!

On Februrary 28th, Alexander John Campbell made his entrance into the world after a very long labor! He was born in Japan to my sister and brother-in-law. We are so thankful that he’s here, and that mom and baby are doing fine. My parents are there right now, meeting their new grandson, and we only wish we could see them too! What a handsome baby!