MC
I have to learn Spanish so I´ve bought myself a word association course. The first word I learnt was cow; una vaca. I sat there and imagined a cow vacuum cleaning a field. It stuck, so I carried on, learning more words each day and practicing the rolling of my r´s. Burro, burro, burro.
Preparation was manic. Saying goodbye to my family, horrible. I knew I wouldn´t be seeing them for a whole year; seemed an awfully long time. But soon we were on the plane. Four teammates signed up for a year of “doing some good in the world”. All ready to work and get our hands dirty; linked by a common purpose, if not a common bond.
Hours later we landed at Viru Viru airport, Santa Cruz, Bolivia. That´s one of the first things I thought, “I have to find out what Viru Viru means.”
JC
I completely forgot to get the cash. I spent the weekend with Guapy in the Avion Pirata[1]. He got hold of some thinner, so we mixed that with clefa and petrol to make a killer concoction. We were flying. That plane will never leave the ground again but I tell you, every time I´m in it, I´m flying high. Guapy got bad at one point. He started screaming that he could see the devil. I got the bad laughs. I sat there, looking at the stupid bastard, making demon noises and trying to scare him even more. Fatima arrived with some cocaine, so we added that to the cocktail and I don´t really remember the rest. It was really cold, that I remember, so we slept almost on top of each other. Fatima started pleading for sex. She always does when she´s high. She likes to get hurt. Guapy was out of it so I gave her what she wanted just to shut her up. I think I came inside of her. Flying high.
[1] Avion Pirata- in the centre of Santa Cruz, there is a plane on a roundabout. It stands as a symbol against drug trafficking, seized by police in a massive drug raid. Ironic really that street kids use it as a hideout for drug consumption.
MC
What a vibrant city. Colour and noise everywhere. I liked it immediately. On the way from the airport, Richard, the project leader, gave us a little tour of downtown. It´s chaotic but charming. There´s even a real plane stuck on a roundabout. I spotted someone climbing up into it so maybe it´s a simulator or something.
We are on a tight schedule so have not had much time to explore. Our base is a secure home on the outskirts. Eight guys in a room with only one shower and toilet to share. Great people and they are already beginning to feel familiar.
Every morning is dedicated to Spanish learning. I have to learn it fast otherwise I know it will be a huge frustration for me; not being able to communicate with the kids. The Bolivian leader, Mercedes, came to us today and explained that tomorrow night will be our first contact with the kids. We will be going to the markets to find them and introduce ourselves as the new team. Roger laughed when he said, “Prepare yourselves. I´m sure you´re all ready in your minds but nothing can prepare you for the reality. And don´t take any money. They have really sticky fingers. One of them hooked a note right out of my back pocket just last week.”
I lay in bed wondering how I would feel when I saw them. Then I imagined how they would feel when they saw me.
