Do you remember when the family was everything?

Do you remember when the family was everything?  Bolivia 2014

            Sight seeing, touring and hiking have made this trip very fun and exciting. What makes this trip the most memorable is the time we spent with the family of our group leader Kathy. On Sunday, we were fortunate enough to celebrate the birthday of Kathy's daughter in law, Pingy, and her family. Everybody in her family welcomed us with open arms. Even though there was a language barrier, their communication of how they felt about us coming to visit them was clear. They made sure that we were fed and well hydrated. We even had a chance to sing some karaoke with them and dance in the living room. 

            We also spent today with them and it was more of the same. One of the uncles even bought one of my trip mates a drink that he recommended that she must not leave without. There was even more family here today and I talked to several of them that spoke english. They told me that they usually have family gatherings like the two we attended once a week, preferably on the weekends. I know that in the United States that most family gatherings are saved for major holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving, and special birthdays. It was great to see a family that enjoyed being around each other and that seeing each other every week is not considered a task. 

            In our large meetings leading up to this trip we talked about how individualism seems to be the way in the United States. It's quite refreshing to the group, seeing that family is so important here in Bolivia. This is something that I hope that I can establish with my siblings if we are all in the same relative area.

Samuel Fasanmi