Getting Un-Lost Part 1

The sad truth of the matter is, I get lost – a lot. Its not so bad in the states, usually, but put me in a new city with no street signs, where everything looks the same and I’m pretty much a lost cause. This really doesn’t bother me that much. I figure I’ve gotten lost plenty of times in my life and I’ve always been able to get un-lost again. I’ve never been lost forever and there is no reason to think that the next time I get lost will be any different.

Last week I was invited to have supper at my friend Emily’s house. I double checked with a couple people which bus I needed to take after work and was confident I could get there. Things were going well until we went past an ‘Hipermaxi’. Hipermaxi’s are the Bolivian equivalent of Wal-mart and not the kind of thing you would leave out if you were giving directions. Emily definitely didn’t mention an Hipermaxi. 

I gave her a call. Thank goodness she knew where I was and was able to give me new directions. By now it was 6:30 and dark out and I was waiting on the side of a busy road for a bus I was beginning to suspect didn’t really exist. I saw three 44’s, 23’s and an assortment of other number. I felt like I was in Vegas, hoping the next number would be the one I was betting on. 

It finally drove by and as I flagged it down, I was glad to see it wasn’t so full that I would have to stand. Bolivain buses are made for short people. Inspite of my family’s claim that I am a shorty, statistics say I am above average by two inches. In Bolivia, I’m above average by at least a head on most people. Therefore, when I stand on a bus, not only do I have to do the uncomfortable head tilt to fit, but I can’t see anything out the windows except the curb and an occasional pair of standing feet. This does nothing in helping me get unlost.

Emily gave me very clear instructions: “Once you get on the 50, you’ll be on a tar road for a while, then “dirt, when you get back to the second tar road, give me a call. I’ll be outside waiting for you so you can get off when you see me.”