strange? you say that like it is a bad word... I am more an acquired taste.. if you do not like me.. well get some taste..

I have had many interesting adventures in my life. In 1997, I was invited to a party at a small community in a rural area in Bolivia. The town Chuma, Bolivia to be specific with old houses and lovely views of mountains. I was told to show up and have a bear's costume. Which I did have and did show up. For the next two weeks I sang, dance, and ate throughout the town.

It was the town's party in the year. Everyone showed up and being a grengo in the 1990s the party was a blast. Everyone was friendly and being invited by the mayor's niece to attend I was accepted as an outsider, and since I brought my own costume, I got to dance more than most. Meaning there were twenty one groups of dancers, and I got to dance with all of them at one point or another via switching streets, staying at homes where the food was being served, or being introduced to people or shown off to the older ladies of the town that loved being twirled by a bear which was not part of their dance routine.

The old ladies enjoyed being invited by the grengo and danced with me throughout the town, and of course I got invited to eat at more homes. I recall 50 homes were my last count in that two-week period. The bands were full of drums, flutes, and trumpet. The rhyme of the dance is somewhat like Lame Deer, Montana Sundance beat and the dance step sort of like a waltz with a deep dip tilt side to side. Normally, the bear just gets to wander the sidelines and shake people's hands. I, being a grengo and shaking hands with an older lady, I grabbed her and well waltzed her through half a song before changing for her neighbor. Since, no one said no. I did that throughout the two weeks and had a lovely time being chatted with several of the older ladies and getting the better deal of the meals which were Now, the food was culturally Bolivian fried pork, and other items of potatoes, yams, and lots of bread. However, they also like to play a drinking game while eating. Now, the drinking game was the server would offer, and then you point to the next person to drink with. At some point, people started to keep on pointing to me. Now, I would say chicha is not the drink to do this too. I had prior experience of how they made the drink in Cochabomba, Bolivia at a Chicharia. You see to make chicha usually requires a local lady to chew the corn, and spit it into the large jar and then add pure alcohol. So, being the pitcher I decided if they were going to try to out drink me, well I would have fun as well. When they would point to me as a server to drink one with them, skillfully I poured one more for myself and after that offered them again. Meaning twofold shot, and then require the player a double shot. Well, they could only handle that for four houses before they brought out the real stuff to drink. Triago. Now, heated three time drink is a double passionate evaporated pure liquor drink. Triago is a third time heated drink. Meaning the home which I had danced to the second day was trying to impress the town and well. That drink started me on the wildest dance party I have had a chance to be at and then it happened. For the next 12 days and nights, I danced. From a little before 6 AM until 3 AM usually the following morning. You say nuts, and when did you sleep. You say nuts to you. Well, I remember dancing with all 21 groups, throughout 50 homes, day and night into weeks without sleep. It was a lovely time. Chuma, Bolivia in a bear costume one beautiful summer in 1997.