Waffle Haus

       So today we had a meeting with our Rotary Youth Exchange Counselor. We were all going to his office for a discussion on the rules of the exchange. We were a little confused seeing as we are already 3 (or 4 in some cases) months into our exchange, it was strange they were only now telling us the rules. We didn't question it. Before the meeting six out of eight of us went to a place called Crepes and Waffles for somebreakfast after all meeting up at my house. We walked form my house a few blocks, caught a bus, got off at the back where we split into two groups, people who needed to get money from the bank and the people didn't need money. Then we all met up at Crepes and Waffles. We were the only customers for this small breakfast joint. Three of us ordered Waffles, and three of ordered, you guessed it...CREPES!! We sat around while the one person working made all our orders. Then we all ate delicious Waffles and Crepes topped with nutella, strawberries, applesauce, whipped cream, chocolate chips and more. We stuffed our little tummies with the most delicious crepes and filled our appetites with scrumcious waffles. Downing it with strawberry milk shakes or just milk. We were thoroughly satisfied when we left to get to our meeting.\
       At the meeting we talked about everything from rules about boyfriends (we're all girls) to caution when taking taxi's at night. After that I went home, walked two blacks home, and ate a delicious lunch with my family of chicken, potatoes and rice. Then I took a little cieasta time to relax and download some music. Then Kirsten from Canada came over and we went to the market, me looking to buy hairspray and her looking for a swimsuit as she's leaving for Brazil with her family tomorrow. We took the bus, paid only 1 Boliviano (around 20 cents). Arriving at the market we observed it was awfully quiet and many shops were closed. We found this to be suspicious as it was only 2:30. We assumed it was because many people owning these small shops were indigenous people and we had seen a protest for indigenous people earlier on our way back form breakfast. Although most of the shops on the outside were closed, most of the more popular shops that sell fancy dresses, toys, watches, cell phones, personal hygene products, were open. Hairspray was rather expensive everywhere we looked, I figure I'll just go to the supermarket. Kirsten purchased a nice bathing suit from a young lady with an adorable baby, and i got some delicious juice mix. The Market is one of the dirtiest places I have seen in Santa Cruz. Cockroaches skuttle before your feet, people beg for spare change with faces sad and covered in dirt, children play near unsanitized floor where hundreds of people walk everyday, little streams of who knows what trickle through alleys in the very heart of the enormous market, filling the air with the stench of a thousand discusting things. After walking through the markets winding maze-like alleys and around hunks of meat hanging, waiting to be chopped, I feel the need to bathe in a tub of hand sanitizer. Yes, this market is the low of the low, but they do have many incredible things at incredible prices, and you can't beat that.
       Tomorrow I will visit orphans at a home and deliver gifts, candy, toys, clothes and most importantly companionship to children without parents. More on that later.