There were a few first ever experiences and lessons learned this weekend:
1. Our first big festival. Ann and I went to see the big party celebrating the Virgen de Urkupiña. It is kind of like Bolivia´s version of the Virgen of Guadelupe in Mexico and people come form all over the place. There was lots of traditional dancing, which was fun, and a lot of drunk people, which wasn´t so fun.
2. Our first anticuchos (well, Ann´s first). Mmmmm, delicious grilled cow heart.
3. My first time to get pick-pocketed. They got my phone. It was at the festival in a big crowd. I was being careful, keeping my hands in my pockets, when someone spit the biggest wettest loogie ever on my neck. I reached up to wipe it off, more disgusted than angry, when I realized that I just picked my hand up. I reached back down and the phone was gone. That´s why we bought the cheap one I guess. I think my pride was hurt more than anything else. I didn´t think it could happen to me. Lesson learned: don´t take hands out of pockets no matter what else is going on around you. I guess I would rather get spit on than shot if I had to get robbed though :)
4. Our first visit to the church in the neighborhood. This was a very positive experience. The church is tiny (our living room is the size of the church´s sanctuary) and located in a small orphanage. The people there are so loving and welcoming and have already accepted us. Accepted us is an understatement-- our first time there and they invited us to sing in the evening service (which we did) and they are having their Tuesday house visit/service at our house! This is not a church where you can just sit in the pews every Sunday, which I think I am going to enjoy. The church is also a mix of people, mestizo Bolivians and Quechuas. We even sang in Quechua Sunday! It was really cool. I´m sure there will be more on church later.