Happy New Year!

Its the end of 2007 and I have finished my 27-month Peace Corps Service. It has been a wonderful collection of bold emotions, painted images of the Andean countryside, and experiences of immersion in Bolivian culture. Most of the Volunteers who began with me in August 2005 are now back in the States, adjusting to the idea of customer service, grid-lock traffic, biggie soft drinks, hands-free cell phones, and throwing their toilet paper into the toilet! I, on the other hand, have decided to stay one more year (as most of you already know!), not wanting to give up speaking Spanish daily, eating salteñas on the street corner, being a part of political history, and throwing my toilet paper in the trash can!
I had the pleasure of coming back to Virignia for a month to celebrate Christmas and New Years with my parents, sister, grandparents, and various friends; thank you all for your support the past two years and now, I would not have had such an experience without your letters, phone calls, and general good wishes!
I am now living in Cochabamba, and truly love it! I have a roommate, another Volunteer who is staying a third year, and our house is very central (near the soccer stadium, an outdoor market, a gym, and several dance clubs!)
I begin working next Monday with both Peace Corps and Habitat for Humanity International. I look forward to the new challenges these jobs bring as well as the thrill of living again in a city.
So, I will be continuing (posting more regularly, I promise!) on this blog site: claireinbolivia.blogspot.com/

I wish you all the best for 2008 and look forward to sharing this year with you!