FELIZ NAVIDAD:
Winter is upon us sutherly inhabitants. In most of South America that doesn´t mean much more than an additional long sleeve t-shirt. La Paz is a city where all four seasons happen in one 24-hour period. In winter, these extreme and rapid changes in climate intensify notably.
For example, the occasionally trendy layered-look trascends the capriches of the fashion industry and becomes a consistent practicality and necessity. Hot-water becomes a possibility for most only in the afternoon after water pipes have had enough time to bake in the sun. Domesticated dogs begin to parade around in striped wool sweaters and street dogs begin to permanantley recline on the sidewalk, frozen to death. Not too common, but not uncommon enough to ignore. What I love most about the winter here is the crisp sensation akin to that of touching a piece of an arid ice cube. It burns until you adjust and then it´s invigorating. The sky is almost always blue. The sun becomes so bright that looking at a white-washed wall or the white of the cast I have to temporarily wear, strangles the eyeballs in it´s pure brilliant intensity.
This winter I plan to keep doing work at the NGO I have been involved with, Proyecto Por Un Mundo Mejor. The proyecto is a shelter for high-risk youth. The actual pamphlet they produce uses the term ¨at-risk¨ youth. But I thought about it, and aren´t all youth at-risk? It´s a tumultuous era in anyones life, hormones make a person liable to take any kind of nose-dive, or any kind of miraculous upswing for that matter.
In this case I think ¨high-risk¨ serves best because of the location of the proyecto. The surrounding environment is one with heavy alcohol use, easy access to cocaine and huffing substances, some gang activity, and harsh poverty. There is simply just a greater per square foot opportunity to be offered risky opportunities and develop non-constructive habits. But the proyecto also is looking to move out of the location which is positive. More of the youth are looking to go to school too which is possibly even more positive. This week I will begin teaching basic English there two days a week and Eli teaching basic capoeira there two days a week. Will write more about what we do there later. Deserves it´s own post.
Other than that I´ve started to do yoga at a studio here. I can best describe it as jazzersizesque yoga. I get a damn good workout but sometimes think we´re doing exercises that haven´t been used in the states since back in the day when physical trainers thought drinking water during a workout was a bad idea. We take a cold shower in the middle of the 2 hour class too so we can open our pores, wash out toxins, etc. Found it bizarre at first but am gettting to like the custom. Offers a good opportunity for socialization with mainly 40 and 50 year old women who have begun to exercise for the first time in their lives.
That´s it for now. Dinner awaits. Roasted Veggies made famous amongst my world my mom´s cooking.
Winter is upon us sutherly inhabitants. In most of South America that doesn´t mean much more than an additional long sleeve t-shirt. La Paz is a city where all four seasons happen in one 24-hour period. In winter, these extreme and rapid changes in climate intensify notably.
For example, the occasionally trendy layered-look trascends the capriches of the fashion industry and becomes a consistent practicality and necessity. Hot-water becomes a possibility for most only in the afternoon after water pipes have had enough time to bake in the sun. Domesticated dogs begin to parade around in striped wool sweaters and street dogs begin to permanantley recline on the sidewalk, frozen to death. Not too common, but not uncommon enough to ignore. What I love most about the winter here is the crisp sensation akin to that of touching a piece of an arid ice cube. It burns until you adjust and then it´s invigorating. The sky is almost always blue. The sun becomes so bright that looking at a white-washed wall or the white of the cast I have to temporarily wear, strangles the eyeballs in it´s pure brilliant intensity.
This winter I plan to keep doing work at the NGO I have been involved with, Proyecto Por Un Mundo Mejor. The proyecto is a shelter for high-risk youth. The actual pamphlet they produce uses the term ¨at-risk¨ youth. But I thought about it, and aren´t all youth at-risk? It´s a tumultuous era in anyones life, hormones make a person liable to take any kind of nose-dive, or any kind of miraculous upswing for that matter.
In this case I think ¨high-risk¨ serves best because of the location of the proyecto. The surrounding environment is one with heavy alcohol use, easy access to cocaine and huffing substances, some gang activity, and harsh poverty. There is simply just a greater per square foot opportunity to be offered risky opportunities and develop non-constructive habits. But the proyecto also is looking to move out of the location which is positive. More of the youth are looking to go to school too which is possibly even more positive. This week I will begin teaching basic English there two days a week and Eli teaching basic capoeira there two days a week. Will write more about what we do there later. Deserves it´s own post.
Other than that I´ve started to do yoga at a studio here. I can best describe it as jazzersizesque yoga. I get a damn good workout but sometimes think we´re doing exercises that haven´t been used in the states since back in the day when physical trainers thought drinking water during a workout was a bad idea. We take a cold shower in the middle of the 2 hour class too so we can open our pores, wash out toxins, etc. Found it bizarre at first but am gettting to like the custom. Offers a good opportunity for socialization with mainly 40 and 50 year old women who have begun to exercise for the first time in their lives.
That´s it for now. Dinner awaits. Roasted Veggies made famous amongst my world my mom´s cooking.
posted by Jojo at 4:59 PM
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