25 Random Things About Bolivia

There was a facebook application going around a month or so ago entitled "25 Random Things". The idea was that you wrote 25 random things about yourself and then posted it for all your friends to see. While I was tempted to do it, I didn't. But I had the thought today that I should try to come up with 25 random, or not so random, things about Santa Cruz so that y'all can get a glimpse of what life is like here. So here goes....
1. Vegetables and fruits are dirt cheap here.
2. I had to slam on the breaks the other day on the way to pick up the kids from school b/c a pig ran in front of the car. Before that, a cow crossed the 4 lane paved road in front of me.
3. I've seen a sheep in the parking lot of the grocery store.
4. We have 2 Burger Kings, but no other American restuarants or coffee shops.
5. The people here are generally very friendly.
6. Except when they are driving.
7. The driving here is the craziest thing you have ever seen. No rules!
8. This year the dengue epedimic has been the worst in 22 years.
9. We have a great grocery store, like what we are used to in the states.
10. Most Bolivians go to the market and not the grocery store. Our maid has only been in the grocery store one time. For us gringos though, it sure is nice! (plus, in the markets they hike up prices for the gringos)
11. The city of Santa Cruz is built with a plaza in the city center and then is surrounded by 8 concentric rings with spokes connecting the rings. We live between the 2nd and 3rd ring. The kids' school is between the 6th and 7th ring. (it takes us about 15 minutes to get there)
12. Events always start at least an hour later than the time stated on the invitation. Even weddings and college graduations.
13. All Latin women wear bikins - that are one size fits all.
14. Many stores still close from 12 -3 for lunch/siesta.
15. Lunch is the biggest meal of the day.
16. All middle class and up families have maids, most have nannies, and the richer ones often have one for each child.
17. Many neighborhoods consist of dirt roads.
18. Santa Cruz is a dirty city (people from here will admit this as well).
19. There are no zoning laws, that I can tell. We could open up our front gate and sell hamburgers if we wanted.
20. There is a great coffee shop, thank you Lord!
21. People from Santa Cruz are called Cambas or Cruceños.
22. There's a lot of racism between the Cruceños and Paceños (or people from La Paz, generally indigenous)
23. There is a pizza restuarant that is fabulous, Sahara Pizza.
24. Bolivians, well Latins in general I think, are very family oriented.
25. Did I mention how crazy the driving is? INSANE