Permanence

Hello there! I am writing from an internet cafe in the town of Oruro, Bolivia. 362 days out of the year Oruro is nothing more than a dusty and povert stricken pit stop on the backpacker´s trail. This weekend, however, this place proudly hosts Carnaval, one of the wildest fiestas known to mankind. Carnaval is, at its core, a parade where people from all corners of the country adorn themselves in colorful costumes and relish in the opportunity to display their local and national pride. In a country where over half of the population lives below the poverty line, this weekend is a representation of hope, comradery, and a chance to prove the relentless nature of the Bolivian spirit. That being said, this is also a chance to drink a whole lot of beer and throw water balloons at whomever you please. I have been sick the last few days, leaving alcohol consumption out the question, but I have thoroughly enjoyed hurling ¨globos de agua¨ at fellow Carnavalers. I realized at one point that I felt just like a kid again, something that seems to happen less and less the further I get into adulthood.
As an American in a shoulder to shoulder sea of South Americans, I have learned a couple things.
1. Globally speaking, I am freakishly tall. At one point I found myself amongst 4000+ people and realized I was the tallest in the entire crowd, towering over the vast majority by at least a head.
2. Because of fact #1, I am a target for theft. Sure enough, I got pickpocketed during my first night here. Luckily, I only lost my drivers license and some money, among a few other wallet related items. It could have been much worse. I took every recommended precaution to avoid this happening, but the pick pockets here are remarkably crafty. LESSON LEARNED.
Overall, despite loss of possessions and a persistent fever, Carnaval has been a very unique and interesting experience. I am very pleased that we rerouted our trip a bit to accomodate being here.

Now, to switch gears completely, I want to tell you about the third souvenier I have acquired in South America. In accordance with a travel tradition I like to maintain with each new country I visit, the first two were futbol jerseys. The third will be with me far longer than any shirt or tangible trinket that I could pick up on the street. It will, in fact, be with me forever. It is not my first tattoo, nor is it likely to be my last, but it is the only one I have that is on a readily visible area of my body. Located on my right forearm I now proudly bear a compass surrounded by the words ¨Explore Dream Discover¨. Gasp! Arent forearm tattoos for thugs, prisoners, and motorcycle gang members? As you know, I am none of those things. For me, having a tattoo for everyone to see serves three purposes. First, I publicly display my deep and passionate love for travel, something that, for me, is the most direct path to happiness, understanding, and fulfillment. Second, I think body art is one of the coolest forms of personal expression available; there is a reason it has been medium for such purposes for thousands of years. Finally, I feel that my new tattoo is a personal endorsement for my generation and the progression towards an era of acceptance. Above all, I feel people have the right to do whatever they please with their bodies and their lives (within proper reason), and should not have to fear reprimand for their decisions. So, for me, this is a little way to announce to the world that I support the right to resist conformity. If I want a tattoo on my forearm, Im going to get it. If you don´t, more power to you my friend. If a gay person wants to marry, who are the rest of us not to allow them that basic human pleasure? Far too often are personal choices met with public objection and resentment. The sooner we all learn to respect each others desires, attitudes, and ideas, the further we will find ourselves from a world filled with war and injustice.
On a side note, I am pleased to say that I am not alone in this decision. Lauren opted to get a beautiful sunflower on her wrist and it looks fantastic. I think she would agree that we both now have permanent souveniers that will forever remind us of a truly remarkable time in our lives.

Tonight, sadly, will be my last with the girls, who have to start making their way back to Lima for their flight home. I have a few more stops in Bolivia, followed by Argentina, then home on March 4th. There are still many adventures that lay ahead... check the blog in a few days for an update! Thanks for reading!