Internet

So,
The internets aren't working so hot right now. I've got a glut of other pictures I'd like to put up, but for whatever reason it ain't happening today. Instead I'll tell write a little on the racism that plagues Copa.

This town is a very closed off and strange place, where anything less than 5 generations here makes you a foreigner. So under these pretenses the locals stir up a large pot of xenophobia and racism they hurl towards anyone not specifically from Copa. That includes all other Bolivians as well.

They make up vicious rumors and sexually laced stories about the expat population, painting them as lurid drug addicts who do nothing but indulge in indecency. Which couldn't be further from the truth. Most of the foreigners who stay here for an extended period are friendly, helpful and goofy, three words I would never use to describe the local Aymara.

Recently, there was a march, after two local boys were caught stealing license plates, blaming and protesting foreign businesses for the teenaged troublemakers. People streamed the streets chanting ¨Death to Foreigners¨all in response to their own problems. Drunkenesss, alcoholism and abuse are massive problems amongst locals here yet they point the fingers squarely on the dreaded Argentines minding their own business.

Just the other day Caitilin and I repeatedly (twice) went to one woman's stand trying to buy some rice for dinner. She refused to acknowledge us, turned her back and then finally, after we persisted, said the rice was not for sale. We mentioned that she owned and store and it seemed inherently counterintuitive not to want to sell your wares, but alas. Scorn and hatred like this are far too common here. It's discouraging in so far as Caitlin and I were both very excited to involve ourselves heavily in the community, learn aymara, teach, work at the hospital, but with such an icy reception there is no desire to give back.

It does not taint our time here, however. The people who are kind and exceptionally kind and we have a great job and house to bide the time. The surroundings are certainly condusive to creativity and bettering our spanish is a joy. Not to mention the trips and visitors we have to look forward to in the coming months. If anything the divide just furthers the juicy intrigue that lays low over this town like one of the few clouds that hover over the lake.