Hola amigos!
As I’m sure you can imagine, we are crazy busy with
end-of-the-semester activities, preparing to return home, and trying to squeeze
a few more of the sights before we leave in a few weeks. This week, the interns
from Siena College fully participated in English classes. They are certainly a
welcome addition, I only wish they had come sooner! George and Joanna have
truly been a blessing this week, and I’m sure they will continue to be over the
next two weeks as classes wind down.
Last Saturday the Siena students went on a hike to the
Puerta de Viento (Wind Gateway), a high mountaintop about an hour’s hike from
here from which much of this end of the valley can be seen. Several UAC
students went along, as did Jeff and Delaney. Here are a few pictures for your
enjoyment:
Speaking of pictures, here is a link to a new album of
pictures, including the poinsettia tree (yes, they are really trees!) in front
of our building in full bloom, two different street celebrations in La Paz,
snow in the pass and shots along the road to/from La Paz, views from the staff
retreat a couple of weeks ago, more photos from the Siena hike, and pictures
from the student research fair:
https://plus.google.com/photos/110653989940195940305/albums/6019679122574008273
Friday afternoon Jeff and I went to the students’ project
fair. Every student at the UAC must complete a scientific research project for
10% of all their class grades. Today they presented their posters and results,
giving verbal presentations and answer questions in a format somewhat similar
to a high school science fair at home. We found the Agronomy section the most
interesting, what with live animals, growing plants, and a wide variety of very
well-displayed and well-researched projects. We also visited the Education and
Nursing displays. The projects ranged from extremely simplistic – a study of
administrators’ knowledge of the mission statement of the UAC and its meaning –
to extremely complex – a study of the effects of using three different types of
liquid organic fertilizer in potato production. We had a great time mingling
and asking questions, and visiting with the many students we have come to know
and love.
Sunday afternoon we will head to the local wildlife refuge,
famous for its monkeys and its rare Andean spectacled bear, to spend the night
in a cabin and see all there is to see. We promise many photos!
The library project is currently awaiting paint, which we
heard Thursday may not happen until after we leave. So, Jeff is busy doing all
the prep work so that everything is ready to hang or install as soon as the
painting is done, and Ruben has very detailed plans of how it should all go. We
have been promised pictures of the finished product sometime later this summer.
Jeff has also been hard at work finishing designs for a
couple of other projects he has proposed, so that they can be done when the
labor and funds are available later. One is his satellite dish fountain, which
Padre Emilio is very excited about!
We pray all of you are happy and healthy, and we will see
you very soon!
Love,
Susan
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