You Can’t Learn That In A Book

Two Aymara women, overlooking southern La Paz & the Altiplano
from the heights of El Alto.

Spent the evening with Alan, who learned Quechua over the years so (finally) he could

talk with his grandmother.

Alan who visited Vermont in an international exchange, and took a side trip to the Apple (the big one)

Waiting underground for a friend to recharge his metro card, a Columbian approached him: "Do you need to use my metro card?"

"No, thank you" said Alan.  He had a card; he had enough to get by.

But what blew him away was the brotherhood

Like the LA taxi drivers who wouldn't accept payment from their Latino brother.

The Columbian stranger in New York's underworld took Alan for a immigrant, 

fresh off the boat of trying to survive.

"You can't learn that in book

about South America"

said Alan.

"The people here don't read much" said Alan

but if you want to understand politics

you don't need a newspaper

or the newest hardback

get in a taxi

ask the driver

You will find 1000 articles and endless op-eds

talk to someone

Eliana and I on the Choro Trek--from high mountains to jungle