We're Home!

It's been 7 days since we landed in Seattle. Mark met me at the airport, dressed in a suit and a placard that read "Rock Star Shuttle for O'Malley." He said it's because I was "big in Bolivia" (literally, of course). I'm not sure if it was jet lag or reverse culture shock, but I felt as I were moving in slow motion my first 3 days back. First of all, I have to cook my own meals and clean my own house, do my own laundry, and drive myself to my appointments. Then there's the "work for a living" surprise. How soon we forget, my little chickens, how much reality changes with a plane flight.

After a week to think and review photos, and also the great opportunity to attend Rotary 5030's district conference in Portland, I am ready to share my thoughts on the Bolivia trip. My main interest originally lay with Bolivia's systems of education, but thanks to the varied professions of my teammates I also learned a lot about health care and health education, environmental and community concerns re water/sewer/trash, the plight of orphanages (and the children in them), and the wonderful work of the many non-profit and Non-governmental organizations we visited. Rotary clubs and their members are working in all corners of Bolivia, making a huge difference in the lives of needy individuals as well as whole communities. I wasn't there long enough to know every detail, but I was certainly there long enough to feel inspired and motivated to learn (and do) more.

I'll be posting more photos now that I have a FAST internet connection and invite anyone interested in either Bolivia or Rotary's GSE program to contact me.