Almuerzo (lunch)!

In Bolivia, lunch is the main meal of the day. Almuerzo is the largest meal of the day and serves as time for families to spend together -- many Bolivians are able to go home from their jobs for almuerzo and even a brief siesta! As Senora explained, Americans are overweight because we eat large meals for dinner then go right to bed! Haha!!! – But sadly, she is correct.

For my first almuerzo, I was served a large bowl of sopa (soup), which I graciously slurped down, thinking that was the menu for the day. However, after finishing the sopa, the family brings out a full plats of rice, beef, fried plantains, and tomatoes – ack! I was pretty satisfied after the bowl of soup, but of course, this is my first meal with the family, so I eat every bit of it to avoid bad impressions.

I’m going to have to learn a polite way to kindly turn down offered food as I am not accustomed to eating that much midday!