Sunday, January 22, 2006
Adios, North America...
In 5 hours I will begin my long, gruelling transit to La Paz. It is currently 3:19 AM...I've been playing my little cousin Sam's Game Cube for about 3 hours, determined to keep winning in Mario Kart...for the past few days I've been sucking up as much Western "culture" as I can while I still have access to it. Napoleon Dynamite, Godzilla vs. Mothra and King Giadora, Power Rangers (Sam's choice), fast food, lattes, pizza, sushi, Mario Dance Dance Revolution, and Mario Kart...soon I shall be drinking Chicha and eating rice, beans, and potatoes.

It's been good hanging out with my relatives for the past few days. I hardly ever get to see them, so it's always a pleasure. Hanging out with the little ones Sam and Gavin was enjoyable, though often very taxing...Southern culture is a huge shock, though. Today when were were driving in downtown Macon there were young soldiers in the streets in their fatigues selling Crispy Cream doughnuts to raise money for the Marines. Oooookay. There are also McDonalds in the FREAKING HOSPITALS!!! I could go on and on about the anomalies and stark contrasts to Canada, but I won't, because it's 3:30 in the morning and I have to get up in 3 hours.

Despite the good times here with my extended fam, this whole week I've been very excited about getting on that plane to South America (naturally). When I leave this house at 8 am I will have approximately 23 hours in transit to La Paz. I have a 4.5 hour layover in Dalas, Texas (horrah) and a 2 hour layover in Miami. Lots of time to watch football with everyone else. w00t w00t!!!

I, unfortunately, will not likely be going to the World Social Forum in Caracas. I got all the info from my friend Mike and I was going to hook up with the Vancouver chapter of Hands Off Venezuela (www.handsoffvenezuela.org) but it turns out that the WSF starts one day after I arrive in Bolivia, leaving me one day to get accross the continent. So, unless I find some backpackers in my hostel that will be traveling to the WSF from La Paz, I'll have to wait a year or two before I can go :) Too bad, but at least I tried!!!

Hope everything is well with you all. I have no idea how long it will be before I have a chance to (or feel like) updating this, but it shall likely be in a few days.

¡Hablaré con usted todo pronto!
posted by Ben @ 12:17 AM  
1 Comments:
  • At 10:41 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Technically I think Godzila is Japanese culture, but the dubbing is decidedly north american! Good choice.

    - Conor

     
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Ben Martin's log of his 6-month journey to the South American Andean nation of Bolivia.
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