20/6/2011

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    It is Monday June 20th, 2011 and the very first LPF Camp has commenced! Since we did not do too much outside the hotel today I thought I would post this photo which I have named "My rendition of the ultimate gringa tourist." Yes, your eyes are not fooling you, that is a vest, fanny pack, and peace sign...however I only walked around with two out of three items listed above the entire day.
    The day began with a 7:30am training session at an local futsal court. We took it pretty easy considering we are all still adapting to the altitude, however all in all it was a productive session.
    After breakfast we spent the rest of the day in the classroom, aside from a short break in the afternoon in which most of us whose immune systems are rejecting South America chose to sleep rather than venture. In our meetings we began preparing for what our next two weeks in El Alto will involve. Our first lesson was extremely informative discussing the concept of international development and how that concerns Bolivia's economy, as well as the disturbing problem of gender inequality here. Although the country as a whole has made huge strides in a positive direction, it was still very hard to hear the alarming statistics, more specifically the high rates of violence against women, physical and sexual. 
    After our second meeting, where we decided on the core themes and concepts that we wanted to emulate and encourage for the Bolivian girls, we had our first Spanish lesson! A local professor, Sona, was kind enough to offer her time 2 hours a day for the entire week to help prepare us for the interactions we will have throughout our time here.
   

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 Universally domestic and sexual violence against women is so prevalent, including trafficking and forced prostitution, and all of these are present in Bolivia right now. I am aware that in two weeks we are not going to change the world, but I am so fortunate to be in the company of such beautiful, selfless people that are willing  to  forfeit almost a month of their summer to travel to a foreign country  and take action against "gendercide," however small those steps may be, they are in the right direction!