Monday, November 18, 2013

Sorojchi - La Paz



What better way to start this post off than to share with everyone how my arrival in La Paz was one of my most dramatic arrivals in a foreign country for me yet!

I have been to La Paz in the past, which sits at more than 4,000 meters above sea level. I have also been to another high-standing capital: Quito, Ecuador at a far less 2,800 meters, with neither of them giving me any serious problem regarding altitude sickness. That being said, my previous trip through La Paz was arriving by land from Cuzco, Peru, which already sits at around 3,400 meters, having allowed me some time to acclimatize prior to reaching the daunting 4,000 meter mark.

Arriving this time was a little bit of a learning experience as to how important these midway altitude stopovers are in working your way towards a goal. It makes a big difference when you allow your body to adapt little by little, and not take off in Miami one night and land in La Paz the next morning at 5:30 am, only to walk out the plane doors and to be kicked in the face with the infamous Sorojchi - aka: Soroche, MAM (mal de montana), mal de altura, etc. I think you get the picture. The initial minutes clambering off the plane with little sleep from the cramped and brief flight down from MIA did not leave me much time to grasp the reality of what was about to come next. I stumbled down that little portable hallway that brings you into the terminal where every crams together and waits to forfeit their little declaration cards and receive their immigration stamps. Even coming down the hallway these first few steps was quite the experience, as I was not totally sure if it was my vision swaying or the people walking ahead of me. I waited for Nicholas to gather his things and catch up with me, as we began our crawl towards the little boxed people who collect cards and stamp passports.

Some nifty little anti-altitude sickness pills
that are supposed to help...
Every step I took I realized things were definitely not improving. I continually felt the need to bend down and put my hands on my knees as if I had just finished a marathon; I was not catching my breathe and the symptoms proceeded. To make matters more interesting, my feeling of heat and strange sweats had taken a timely reversal to a very cold feeling that run across my face. Now we were up to the front and Nicholas was called up next, moving to one of the immigration booths.... It was at this exact point in time that I define as my low-light to my first day in Bolivia: As I waited to see someone wave me over, I suddenly realized that I was no longer able to see anyone wave, or anyone at all for that matter, or the floor... I struggled to maintain consciousness as I knew what was happening, I was on the verge of blacking out and I was not going to let that happen. I concentrated as hard as I could while gasping for the thin, fleeting O2 molecules that floated around me. I managed to make out a women working with the immigration process next to me and explained my not so pleasant situation; she ever so kindly led me to a chair a mere ten feet away and helped me sit down.


I spent another good fifteen minutes here as my vision came back and a slightly better grasp on coping with my new environment in which I would not escape for at least another week. I then took note of the sharp taste of blood coming from somewhere within my... mouth? It could have been some veins at the back of my sinuses for all I know but it never got to the point of escaping to the outside thankfully. Nicholas had turned back and asked if all was okay, and then grinned and exclaimed: "I thought you were looking a little whiter than normal in the face before". It was after I was back on my feet that we noticed an oxygen supply bar only another 20-30 feet away. Much to my dismay it was still closed as our arrival was too early...


The oxygen bar we spotted after the fact :(

All said and done, we made it out of the airport, suitcases and bags in hand and found our taxi driver waiting patiently to guide us on our descent down the crater into La Paz and the South of the city where we would be staying (almost an entire kilometer drop in altitude from "El Alto" where the airport is situated). The sun was out and the air was fresh, the perfect mix to help me feel a little better, along with taking a few photos while I did so.

















We arrived at our hotel, which was beautiful, and opted for a much needed short nap before some brunch and a little exploring of the city. However, this nap and the previous night were not quite enough so I will be heading in a little early tonight to prepare for our orientation tomorrow with the Cuso team here in La Paz.

View looking out over our garden
View from our stairwell




















I wish you all goodnight as I drift off into a slumber of red blood-cell building. Wish me luck!

-Adrien

Monday, November 11, 2013

Abuela Grillo - Water privatization in Bolivia

A short film shedding light on the water privatization issues in Bolivia.


An animated short-film produced in The Animation Workshop in Viborg, Denmark. The Animation Workshop included: Nicobis, Escorzo, and the entire Community of Bolivians Animators and is supported by the Danish Government. Animation work by eight Bolivians, French-directed, music by the Bolivian ambassador in France, and, composed by another French collaborator.



The film contains the odd word in Spanish but maintains a silent film approach as to interpret the metaphors being presented.

The original video can be found on Vimeo here, with another highly relevant theatrical production from Spain called Tambien La Lluvia (Even the Rain), one that I personally enjoyed and would recommend. The film stars Gael Garcia Bernal (Amores Perros, Y Tu Mama Tambien, Babel) for those of you familiar with this actor.


Feel free to share any other media productions or resources touching on the issues of water privatization in Bolivia in the comments section below.




Monday, November 4, 2013

Pre-Departure

Saludos a todos / Greetings to all
Firstly I would like to introduce myself. My name is Adrien Friesen and I am going to be moving to Sucre, Bolivia this mid November of 2013, working alongside the FCM (Federation of Canadian Municipalities) on placement with Cuso International, within the position of Local Economic Development Adviser.
Backing up a little I can provide a brief insight as to what led me this opportunity. During the latter half of my life I have placed great importance on seeing as much of the world as was possible given the resources I had. Interspersed between my undergrad courses at the University of Waterloo I took every opportune moment to embark on another life-changing journey through whichever corner of the world would take me at that point in time.
Ever since my first taste of the adventure lifestyle in 2006 - when I went to Southeast Asia in search of something new and exciting - I have not been able to shake this fundamental component of my life. The feeling of the wheels touching the tarmac of yet another runway in another foreign land, with millions of local (yet foreign to me) people, all curious as to whom I might be and where I come from. This feeling of complete and utter adventure only seems to further catalyze one's sense of curiosity and exploration, and it is still through these means that I manage to continually satiate my hunger for the unknown by embarking on as many journeys as possible.
My most recent adventure was an opportunity I found through MEDA in Nicaragua, where I worked with local farmers and small to medium-sized enterprises to increase their market linkages and improve their agricultural technologies. Since this time I have been back in Toronto working towards, well, finding work. Sometime in September I was received a pleasant phone call from Cuso International, thus commencing the interview and training process for the position of Economic Development Adviser in Sucre, Bolivia. This brings me up until today, as I frantically tie up any loose ends and prepare myself for life on the other side.
As the complete details of my work are also still fairly unknown, I am told I am working with the local government association of AMDECH (Asociacion de Municipios de Chuquisaca / Association of the Municipalities of the department of Chuquisaca). The FCM in Canada provides human resources to AMDECH in Bolivia to further their economic development objectives. I will be working in and around the city of Sucre, aiming to strengthen institutional capacity and work towards more effective leadership and governance structures, leading to sustainable and equitable economic development.
Living and working overseas is a life changing experience, one where you often learn just as much about yourself as you do of the place you are living in. The new language, people, cuisine, and cultural mannerisms are all of equal excitement and bring about constant learning. I have made many close friends while traveling, working, and living overseas, and I am eager to continue doing so in Bolivia.
I will be trying to post as frequently as possible, although I know that the realities of a new place, job, and culture can sometimes make this difficult. At the least, I will try to share some of photos and stories as they occur until a proper post/update of my placement is deemed possible. Feel free to leave comments and suggestions on my blog as well, as I would love to hear everyone's thoughts.
All the best and God bless,
Adrien