Back from the dead

It's been a long time since I've had time to sit down and reflect on all the amazing, fun, tiring things that I've done in the past weeks.

A quick update on all the activities before I go into more detail...

• Fiesta Aniversario de Arterias (Aniversary party)
• A week of planning for the upcoming Ciclo de Cine
• A weekend in bed 
• Multiple trips to Los Pozos (the market)
• Ciclo de Cine! 
• More planning

Well, to start off in chronological order of things, I started writing about the Anniversary Party we held for ARTErias. ARTErias Urbanas exists as a group of artists since 4 years. The objective of the "colectivo" is to spread art and culture throughout the city, society, and age groups. 

For the party I and Vero baked bread with a cheese-parsley topping and Brownies. We sold wine and beer and gave away free popcorn. I had the impression that people enjoyed themselves. We had multiple performances for example drummers, dancers, and acrobats. Because the party was held in the building of TESAPE, a school of photography that works together with ARTErias, we also offered free photos by a professional photographer. 

At first I was a bit afraid because I wasn't sure what the party was like and that people wouldn't like my food, but everything went well, we sold almost all the food, and the majority of the people loved my bread!! After selling food for a few hours and walking around to make people eat popcorn (:D) I took a break to dance for a few hours.

I went home without a single breath of energy left and with aching feet, but it was worth it. I had a really good time.

The next few days we spent taking down the exposition in the "Casa de Cutura" (Culture House). The exposition consisted of 50 works of art by various artists in ARTErias, accompanied with a whole hallway of Graffiti. It was easier said than done to restore the gallery to its original state. 

We painted, scrubbed, painted, painted, painted, carried chairs and tables, scrubbed, pealed and teared newspaper down the walls of a room COMPLETELY covered in newspaper, and took breaks in between. 

***I also sat down with my mentor David. He does a lot with photography and video, so he showed me how to edit videos--or a small part of editing videos :)***

Apart from the work in the Casa de Cultura, we also had to plan our upcoming event, our first Ciclo de Cine. Every two weeks, ARTErias plans a movie night about a specific topic, for example Photography. Additional to the movie, we invite guest speaker related to the topic to talk about his or her work. 

The past week, our topic was documentary photography, because we organized the Ciclo de Cine with TESAPE. Our guest speaker was a Spanish Photographer who led a course of documentary photography here in Santa Cruz. ( I wanted to attend the course but was afraid that it would be boring for me, since I know how to use a camera, now I regret that I didn't just go for it!! ;( ) 

Anyway, once again we prepared the food. 

*** I caught a cold the weekend after the party and stayed in bed all of Sunday and most of Monday. I'm almost over my cold now, it took me way too long to get well again.***

The Ciclo de Cine was this past Saturday. We put up Posters, made a Facebook page, and GAVE AN INTERVIEW ON TV all by ourselves!!!!!!!!!! WAAAA Vero almost died of nervousness, and I was just a bit calmer because I'd been to the TV studio before for the Fiesta, but I was really nervous, too. 

***Props to you, Mom that you talk so calmly on TV!!!***

I went to Los Pozos, one of the markets here, at least five times last week, to buy food, a guitar with my friend, lamps, light bulbs, and color to paint... I still get lost :D but it's always an adventure.

With all the preparation,  Saturday came quickly. 

And..................................................hardly anyone came:( In total, we were probably 10 people max.

What a disappointment!! We had so much food and the movie was great! 

But oh well, this Saturday for sure will be better. 

Oh. By the way: I'm enjoying the Bolivian BBQs! The meat here is delicious.

For the next three days the agenda is to give another interview, write to the newspaper, buy food, and cook. 

From the few books I could find in my house, I selected The Story of a Horse by Leo Tolstoy to read at night before going to bed. Any comments on the book??? Is it good/worth reading?

***Mom, Daddy, guess what I found on the Computer of ARTErias. 5 complete Bob Dylan CD's :D hehehehe***

I hope everyone is doing fine, Send me emails!! I'm as happy to hear from you as you are to hear from me!!!

Hugs,

Lena