One of the things you learn pretty quickly when coming to a place like Santa Cruz is who the rival soccer teams are. In Santa Cruz, the big match up is Oriente vs. Blooming. (If you think it's odd that a Spanish soccer team is called Blooming, then you're not alone. But that's not the point). So, yesterday Santa Cruz hosted the clasico, and I had a friend here who wanted me to go. Aubrey, one of the other Bolivian SALTers who works about 10 hours away from here, was here for her last visit before I leave for Colombia. On top of that, it was Sunday afternoon, and I wanted to go home and rest for a while, instead of going to wait in line for a couple of hours. Maybe I missed out on a big opportunity, but I was glad to relax and spend time with Aubrey. Besides, Oriente lost, and my friend must have been devastated.

Today was actually kind of a rough day. It was Monday, and I was "angsty" as the Abernathy family would say. But, I got through the day knowing that Bob and Denise Friesen (a missionary couple that help at TC) were going to take Dovanna and me out for a nice dinner. Denise is really a life-saver for me at TC. She's always so encouraging and positive and energetic when she comes (Tues, Thurs, Fri), and those days invariable are so much better. Bob, among other things, coaches basketball at the Christian Learner Center here. So, of course, they are pretty into March Madness, and the championship game tonight.

Early on in the dinner, then, they said, "So you know, there's the big game tonight. Do you guys know about the big game?" I game them a genuinely confused look and said to them, "Well, I know last night Oriente and Blooming played."

I wasn't sure if I should think I've been here too long or if I should take it as a sign that I'm integrating well. I decided to go for the latter.

Also, they bought me a new belt. They are amazing.