El Uno Por Ciento

So when I thought of coming to Bolivia, I had my ideal life in mind- slow, pacified, and most of all simple- washing clothes in a sink, hanging them to dry, cooking on the stove, settling into bed early.  Living like the people.

As before, our friend Omar graciously wanted to help us find an apartment he deemed safe for us.  Which eliminated, well, most all of the city except for a few pockets.  Dappled around are “mercados” or markets where people set up cheap stands and bargain, creating dangerous pockets at night.  And no where outside the second ring was safe enough.  And definitely no small houses for us, since we are too easy targets.

We found an apt for $700/mo, a little more than we had budgeted ($650/month).  And it was a dream apartment for anyone.  Pool, grill, and playground outside.  Gorgeous furniture, huge kitchen with a microwave.  Three bathrooms, two bedrooms, washing machine.  Living room the size of a NYC apartment.  And beyond safe, in possibly the poshest area of town that looks like any modern day strip.

I can’t complain.  I really can’t.  But there is a more than a twinge of guilt when you realize a month’s rent is over twice the normal salary of an average office worker here.  I am “el uno por ciento”, literally "the one for hundred", or as our friends at OWS have popularized, "The 1%".