SPRING BREAK!

These first two pictures aren't from Spring Break, but just before. Every Wednesday night, we are able to have anywhere from 5-15 women in our house for our women's co-op. While the women are hard at work, we get to play! So, here are some pictures of our friends I decided to sneak in this post, because they are too cute. They run into our house with big smiles and lots of energy!

OK- Now for Spring Break:

Drew and I, despite our differences in schedules, were able to spend a few days out and about in Bolivia with some friends during my spring break. Friday after school we left for Potosi, the highest city in the world at 4,090 meters. Potosi is a very historic city. It has old streets with many old cathedrals and sites.

Perhaps the reason they are most known is for their mines. They have been excavating silver since the 1500s. So, we went to visit a mine. We learned very quickly that mining is not an easy job. The life expectancy of these miners, after they begin working in the mines is only another 10-15 years. Not only that, when you are down there, its really hard work. Being that we are in Bolivia, we got to do and see many things that would never be allowed in the States. We walked down in the mine and got to chew coca leaves and talk with some of the miners. We talked with the miners, and saw them doing what they do every day. We walked past walls of asbestos, and felt the heat of the mines (it was awful, I almost passed out). We visited "El Tio" (the Uncle) who is representative of the devil (the lord of the underworld). We gave him coca leaves and alcohol and a cigarette. When we left the mines, we left with a much deeper respect for people who do this kind of work. These particular mines are some of the most dangerous places on earth to work. These people have been living and dying in these mines now for 500 years, and they are still pulling out silver.

After the mines, we walked around the city. We saw a famous face sent to Potosi from France, the old minting machines for the silver coins, and we got to eat a soup that came to us bubbling. Apparently, its a specialty of the area. It is a traditional soup with a hot rock in it that keeps the soup warm, and bubbling at you as you eat it. Yum!