Oil-Spill Alley

March 22, 2008

We woke up at about 5:00 in the morning, which is about 2:30 in the morning PST. I was kinda grumpy, and apparently I snore loud enough to disturb the dead. The food is SOO rich here. The cheese we had this morning tasted like it had just been made, and the cow was still nearby. The milk is somewhat the same, and whether it’s being in a different country or just a better outlook, it tastes better than it does in the states. I love the music that plays. It a perfect narrative for the scenes you see as you drive down the roads, past housing both formal and informal, poor and middle class, even some moderately rich. It’s so interesting to hear the people speak, to us and to other people. It’s so fluid and easy, and sometimes I try to imitate them in the hopes of learning something new. My knowledge of the language has expanded ten-fold in a day, and I have acquired what I like to refer to as an accent.

There is so much positive energy here, and even though we’re considered gringos, we are treated well. The car rides are interesting with the music, sights, smells, and when we get pit-stops, the tastes. There is a never-ending supply of intrigue here, and insight to be found. In only 2 days here learned more than I could have imagined. This is what I was hoping for. Right now we are on our way to Barquisimeto, and spelling that was just as difficult as the million-hour bus ride there. Surprises and adventures are afoot.

-Eric