Protests, Strikes, No hay agua...just another week here in Caracas

First of all, sorry for not being very timely in my posts lately! I've had a lot of difficulties with various aspects of life down here (mainly school-related) and haven't had much time or energy to write. As I'm writing this I'm thinking about when I had to get up for a 7AM video conference and that tomorrow I'm getting up early to go visit a center for young people with cancer. I was worried about being able to "attend" the video conference and was thinking I wouldn't be able to if internet went down, my roommate's puppy chewed through the internet cable, power went off or my alarm didn't go off (the second two have happened already). As I keep reiterating, here in Venezuela, anything is possible.

But luckily, being able to write this post means a few things: Terry the cute little ball of fur has not chewed through any cords, the water is back on (even though it was off most of the day), the hot water tank is fixed (oh didn't I mention the switchplate melted and there was almost a fire?), and I'm getting caught up on schoolwork.

It hasn't been easy and I haven't always done things the right way, I'll be the first to admit that (and my friends and family will remind me of it whenever necessary!). But I feel like I'm finally getting somewhere. I've been able to get my opinion heard in class (it's not like at YSU, where you raised your hand- it's a free-for-all debate, which sometimes means that if I'm not on top of things, I don't get a word in edgewise) and have even been asked for my views on certain topics that have to do with the USA. I was surprised at the amount of readings we were assigned in English. On that note, one day in class we were discussing an article on decision-making units by Margaret Hermann from OSU, and I had understood it perfectly because it was in English and straight-forward. I could relate to the examples. Then I found out that some of the points she made didn't apply in the Venezuelan context. That class was one of the most interesting I've had so far, because my classmates helped me to understand some of the key differences between the USA and Venezuela in that subject and I realized that just because it made sense to me didn't mean it was going to make sense to others.

I've been asking everyone questions about everything here. Luckily, I have some really awesome friends who don't mind. "What does this mean?" "Is a girl looked down upon for taking the pill/contraceptives?" "Can I walk here by myself?" "What's a 'totuma'?" (I will explain this one later, it has to do with something funny President Chavez said today with regards to saving water) "Wait, is that really a taxi?!" (They put stickers that said "taxi" on the windshield of these awful, old, cars and I'm supposed to get in? NO WAY!) "Are classes going to be cancelled again because of the protests?" "IS THIS NORMAL?!" etc

The answers to my questions have been both surprising and at times unbelievable. I hope to post more frequently now that I have things under control because my life here has been anything but boring. I want the people reading this blog to get a better understanding of Venezuelan life, that it's not all like what is shown on the news in the US! I have had some breathtaking moments already here, and am sure that they aren't over yet!

For now, I leave you with some recent pictures. Next time I'll update more on some specific activities I've been involved in. :)

Me, my friend Goldsmitd and my apartment mate, Idalmis in El Hatillo, a little town on the outskirts of Caracas. We were in a chocolate store-yum!

Terry the puppy!! He's a teacup poodle mix and weighs less than 2 pounds, and probably won't weigh more than 4 fully grown. He's a pistol....



Andrea, the president of Rotaract Avila (in formation) and I the day we visited a center for kids with special needs in Catia de la Mar (updates on this soon).


Free outdoor concert sponsored by the government, we saw Calle 13, a Puerto Rican group. Awesome energy! Orlando, Susan, me and another new friend, Jesus (I met him while at the workshop at the Peace Monument).

Arepa success!! I finally started using the "tostiarepas" (like a waffle maker for arepas) and my arepas are turning out wonderfully. Thanks for the lessons, Idalmis!