I am consistently called "La Misses Esteele." They know I'm not married, but it is much too natural for them to throw "e" sounds in front of the "s" and apply the Bolivian way of defining that I for sure a woman by using the article "la". Often, the tides are turned from my correcting them to their laughing at my own pronunciation of words like "bocadillo"....a pronunciation they claim is too much from the European continent and should be readjusted in order to be truly "boliviana."
Sometimes, things don't have to do with only pronunciation. In fact, I might change a letter or an entire word to misplace what I am trying to express. The other day, my roommates and I were in the bakery. I wanted to order two small jelly cookies names "ojitos"-meaning little eyes. Yet, in wanting to speed up my order, I ignored the normal wisdom of actually thinking about what I was saying and spoke the word I read on the notecard in front of them, "Quisiera dos ositos"-or better said, "I would like two little bears." The lady at the bakery had a priceless face while trying to make out in her mind how exactly she could complete this order. I still was processing that which I had said.
I'm enjoying these little things of acclimation that happen each day. Of course, I can throw the "cultural quirks" in this category too. For example, a recent addition to our teaching staff did not know that taxi etiquette requires entering and sliding all the way over as quickly as possibly to encourage safe and rapid travel. Therefore, in trying to be a gentleman, he let me in and shut the door to go around. The taxi driver couldn't figure out what was going on as our new staff member chases behind it yelling and smacking the trunk.
At futbol games, such as the one I went to the other day, being "viva" is a needed trait. No one cares about you or your ticket, so you yourself have to care and be aggressive to get your place. More so, the streets are lined with food stand after food stand...a very Bolivian thing. I became acquainted with my first "anticucho" (cow heart) and currently am continuing in that knowledge with my stomach on a few hour cycle. It's safe to say that cow and I are not friends anymore.
And today, my friends, is election day. This means everything is once again shut down and transportation is all done on foot. We walked from the 5th street of my city to the 60th street to get our full taste of another pedestrian day. I did not know that seeking out a patch of green grass in one of the richest neighborhoods (nestled by the poverty of the campo) and then proceeding to lay down in it would make my heart so happy.
All this to say, acclimating hasn't been so bad....in fact, it has been quite amusing. These little moments keep life here fresh and exciting....bring it on.
