Starting out

New Zealand is a long way from everywhere, except possibly Australia and the Pacific Islands, so deciding to leave the country for a year was a big deal. In leading up to that decision we tried to read as much as we could about our chosen destination, but found very little has been written about Bolivia. Perhaps because it is the poorest country in South America, and not your usual holiday destination? Whatever the reason, we were fortunate to have some friends living in Bolivia who filled us in on some of the pitfalls and problems to expect. Nevertheless having never been to South America before and not having any mental pictures to go by, we found ourselves flying out over the Pacific into the relatively unknown.
   Why Bolivia, you may be asking? Well as Jehovah's Witnesses we wanted to help people to learn about the Bible, and Bolivia is a place where there is a need for just that. While that was our reason for coming here, this blog is not for the purpose of discussing religion. Why we are writing is to help fill a gap for anyone else intending to visit or move here, who like us cannot find much in print about everyday life in Bolivia. We will hopefully be posting lots of photographs, facts and anecdotes about our year here.
   We have been here just on two weeks, and in our next few posts we will update you on the problems we faced coming into the country, along with some photos, then we will post regularly on life as it happens for us over the next year - a warts and all account of life in Bolivia, by Paul and Lois Clark! we look forward to sharing it with you. To finish our first post, here are SOME things we will really miss while we are away - Photograph 1 - Our son Aaron, our daughter in law Michelle, the ocean, and most of all our granddaughter Bailey! Photograph 2 - Our daughter Carmelita, and our friends the Smiths. Photograph 3 - Gemma Lee. Sorry Kelsens, Lees and Todds I didn't have a photo with me to post!