STEPHANIE MORK

I am quickly learning that Bolivia is a very diverse country. From the cities with colonial roots and winding masses of alleys, to the snow capped mountains, to the rain forest like jungle, to the flat flat desert, to the completely untouched wide open landscape – it has just about everything.

I made a venture to the southern part of Bolivia to see what I thought was just going to be the infamous salt flats, but I got so much more. I guess that’s the beauty of just signing up for a trip with your newfound friends and roommates and showing up with a backpack and some money.

I’ll be honest and say I had some anxiety going into this weekend. Limited communication, long car rides, traveling with new people, cold temps, many unknowns.. but I also have to say it was probably one of the coolest weekends of my life. I’ve never seen anything like the landscape we saw, and although I know I am just scratching the surface for the beauty that this world holds – this part of the world is truly something amazing.

Trip highlights:

• The FOOD. I’m a little food obsessed but it was so beautiful to be served amazing veg meals in the middle of nowhere. Food tastes better when a) you don’t have to cook it and b) when you’ve been traveling all day. One of my favorite meals was lunch on the salt flats. I don’t even remember what I ate – maybe quinoa with some egg and avocado – but it was just the pure experience and memory of sitting down to this meal on top of the biggest chunk of salt in the world.
• The insanity of how far we traveled to reach these middle of nowhere places! I have to appreciate both the 10 hour bus ride from La Paz to Uyuni and the many many hours we spent in the car to see so much in so little time. Also our driver was great, the snacks were great, and I will not forget listening to Miley Cyrus’s, “The Climb”, as we entered the salt flats.
• Laguna Colorada. Aka the red lake. There was something about this lake that blew me away. I remember seeing it in travel guides before I came here and thinking to myself, “Oh, that’s so far from La Paz I definitely won’t get there.” And then had no idea we were going there until we were there. I don’t have the words to describe the feeling that this place gave me, but it was something like freedom and strength and pure awe at the things that exist in this world. So often I try to be a sponge to soak up what I am experiencing, but I don’t have to try that hard to bring this experience back to mind. This one will stay with me forever.
• The rest of the highlights are too many to name so I will just ramble them on in a big long list:

– Biking on the biggest salt flat in the world.
– Bright pink flamingos in a lake with the most perfect reflection of the mountain
and clouds behind it
– Llamas just doing their thing.
– An Island in the salt flats filled with cacti – Isla Incahuas
– Seeing snow capped mountains that were across the border in Chile.
– Soaking in a hot spring under the clearest starry night sky.
– Listening to John Mayer driving through the desert.
– Watching and feeling the snow fly in front of a 7 colored mountain and desert.

I could probably go on forever, but hopefully this gives a glimpse of the uniqueness, wildness, and beauty that this part of the country is home to.

Bolivia. Put it on your bucket list.

One week down and it feels like I have been here forever! Granted my Spanish could use a little a lot (!) of improvement, and I could be more comfortable getting around – but so far so good. I am thankful for my experiences of living in new places and adopting new normals living at camp, moving around in college and my various stays in other countries. It becomes easier to adopt new ways of doing life each time.

This week I spent most of my time learning about the city and being introduced to the work I will be doing as well as learning about Bolivian culture and history. The majority of my work will consist of researching, writing and observing. My tangible takeaways will be a few articles in a newsletter for an organization focused on child sex trafficking and abuse and my research will be about creative and sustainable water solutions as well as information about violence against women in Bolivia. This is probably subject to change as is most public health work, but that is what I know for now 🙂

Here are my favorite things about La Paz so far:

– It’s so chill. Its unlike any other city I have experienced. People are really friendly, public transportation is fairly easy, and I feel safe. Most people also don’t look twice at a white girl or pay much attention to me which is a lovely relief to (for the most part) blend in.

– The public transportation system is basically a gondola cable car type subway system. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen or experienced and it is the biggest transportation system of its kind in the world. Its really smart too – with 11 lines it makes commuting calmer, faster, and cheaper than buses or cars. Since La Paz is really hilly and mountainous, it makes so much sense to travel this way instead of on the ground. The views are just incredible too – mountains and sky and city for as far as you can see.

– My host mom – Olga. She’s the sweetest. She is patient with us learning Spanish and cooks amazing food. Olga is attentive and kind and cares for her students as she would her children. She brought me to the store this week to buy slippers because my feet are always cold 🙂

– This is lame, but accessibility to little luxuries. La Paz is fairly modern. I bought nivea lotion and peanut butter and oreos the other day. There is also a Burger King and a Cinnabon across the street from the apartment building I am living in so first world food cravings can be satisfied at all times. I know I can survive without luxuries but its nice nonetheless.

Overall, I think I’m going to like it here. I am learning a lot about public health in Bolivia and am looking forward to learning more about the culture and history of this unique and beautiful country.

Until next time.

I always feel that bad weather days are perfect for reading and writing. Today is one of those days. I am sitting sipping my soy latte and nibbling on a scone and feeling very comfortable and relaxed which has been a much desired feeling/state of mind in this latest season.

This spring has been full of all the things. For any of you doing life with higher education – I commend you because it’s hard. I fully believe that school is anxiety producing at its core and although I am loving my program – there is always something to be done that will be waiting for me at the end of the day. I think this time in grad school is very valuable for me and I don’t for one second regret doing it, but I will also be happy when it’s over.

Other things that have kept me busy in this season:

• Trip to NYC with my boyfriend, Mike. Highlights were the food, the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset, walking tour of SoHo and Chinatown, fancy rooftop bar at sunset, aaaand the food. Did I mention the food?
• Relearning how to ride a bike. For the longest time, I’ve had this paralyzing fear and anxiety of bikes. I half learned when I was a kid but I had a few embarrassing tumbles and that was enough to stop me from getting back on. Thanks to Mike – who custom built me a bike this winter – I have been able to ride around bits of Minneapolis with him and actually enjoy myself a little. I’m proud of myself for facing this fear and although I’m not confident enough to ride alone yet, I will get there eventually.
• Trip to LA to visit my long time friend Sarah.  Highlights were spending time with Sarah, sailing, beach time, reading for pleasure, and once again the food. Sarah shares my love for food and knows all the best places. Always a great host and I hope I can repay the favor someday.
• Working my first desk job. I have been working at the Minnesota Department of Health this year as a communications associate. It was a contracted job, so unfortunately I’ve wrapped up my time there – but I learned so much and gained a lot of great experiences and friends.
• Last but not least – preparing for my grad school practicum in Bolivia this summer (!). I will be spending 5 weeks in Bolivia and 10 days in Peru. I’ve been working on getting paperwork ready, going to doctors appointments for all the vaccinations, and making the necessary travel arrangements to get there.

I’m feeling all the things about going into the unknown in Bolivia, but I know it will be a good experience regardless. Sometimes the pre departure anxiety is the hardest part, so I am excited to just get there and start the thing.

Next posts will be about my South American experiences and adventures, and about the work I will be doing there – I’m excited to learn about a new culture, improve my Spanish, and do some exploring.

T minus 1 day before take off!

Until next time.