Ethnic Origins and Language

More than half of the population of Bolivia consists of indigenous Native Americans which come from the ethnic groups of Quechua (30%) and Aymara (25%).  The rest are mestizos and some have a mix of European and African descent.  Because this country is located in South America, it is expected that Spanish is their main language.  There are, however, native dialects still being spoken here by about 70 percent of its current population.

Religious Affiliations

About 95 percent of Bolivians are affiliated with Roman Catholicism.  Most of the public holidays being celebrated in this country are Catholic-related feasts and commemorations.  Although Bolivians attend church and follow the Catholic doctrines, they are still greatly influenced by native beliefs and rituals.  The other 5 percent have converted into Evangelical Methodist religious groups as they became available to them.

Family Orientation

Just like other less fortunate countries, Bolivian families are very tightly knit.  It is a common sight to see extended families still living together.  They are also very traditional with regards to male and female roles in the society.  Men are still regarded as the more dominant gender being the breadwinner and women are tied to domestic tasks like taking care of the children and doing household chores.

Bolivian Etiquette

There are a lot of customs and etiquette practiced in Bolivia that may be different but rather interesting to most visitors.  Here are some of them:

- The most common greeting in Bolivia is the handshake.  For people who are more acquainted, an embrace or a pat on the back will most likely be seen.  Women, on the other hand, kiss each other’s cheek.

- When a woman in Bolivia gets married, they start to use their husband’s surname with “de” added before it.  For example, after Maria Cruz marries Juan Lopez, she becomes Maria de Lopez.

- Bolivians would accept any gift except yellow and purple flowers and knives or scissors.  The colors yellow and purple quite have a negative meaning for them and sharp objects means severing a relationship.

Food and Drinks

Bolivians are very fond of eating.  This is apparent as you see the numerous street food stands found in most commercial areas.  Their cuisine consists mostly of pork, potatoes, and corn.  Even their drinks, such as the Chicha and Tojori, are made of corn.  Unlike Mexican food, Bolivians are not very fond of hot and spicy food.  You may find a little spice here and there but expect your meal to be a little bland.

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Among the brightest stars of the 1994 FIFA team was midfielder Romiro “Chocolatin” Casillo, who is considered to be one of the greatest Bolivian footballers stars ever to take the field. Although Casillo was not a frequent scorer, he made an amazing number of assists. His career began in 1985 and he played for a long time in Argentina for a variety of teams, but came back to Boliva in 1993. After leading his team past Brazil to gain the World Cup competition in 1994, Casillo also turned in spectacular performances in the 1997 Copa America.

Another great of the 1994 FIFA team was Marco Antonio Etcheverry. Like his teammate Casillo, Etcheverry is considered to be among the greatest of the greats in Bolivian soccer history. He scored a key goal to beat Brazil in the qualifying round that launched Bolivia into the World Cup competition. He led his team to three MLS Cups. He was named the MVP of MLS in 1998.

Erwin Sánchez was another bright star for at the 1994 FIFA. In fact, he was the only Bolivian to score during the tournament, when the team lost to Spain 3-1. He was also the first Bolivian player to play professionally in Europe. Although he spent most of his career in Portugal, Sánchez gained wide admiration for his play as a midfielder to propel his native land onto the world stage of MLS soccer.

The once all-time leading scorer in all  of Major League Soccer history was Jamie Moreno, who held that distinction until he retired in 2010. Moreno, who played forward, was the first player to achieve 100 goals and 100 assists during a single career. He was a regular for the Bolivian national team through most of the 1990s.

One of the older players to play for the Bolivian 1994 FIFA team was Álvaro Peña. He was a striker, and played in more than 40 games for the Bolivian national team, scoring 4 goals. When he played for the San Jose club team, he was top scorer in 1992.

To this day, the Bolivian 1994 FIFA team is a source of national pride for the country, despite placing 21st in the tournament, and scoring just one goal. The only other years the Bolivian footballers gained a prescence in the World Cup competition was in 1930 and 1950. Simply getting to this event is an enormous accomplishment, and the footballers of the 1994 team who made it happen will never be forgotten among the Bolivian faithful.

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Working in Bolivia

Due to its diverse geography, there are a lot of farmers and miners in the country. There are various business establishments, though. On the other hand, there are teaching opportunities for those workers who are reliable to teach the English language. Teaching English opens wonderful opportunities for overseas workers who wish to land a job in Bolivia. Putting up a business also entails great profit and success. Just make sure you are going the right way with everything you do in terms of your career or business in Bolivia. Proper knowledge and determination are necessary. Bolivia also offers nursing, management, and hotel jobs to all its residents and immigrants.

Learning Spanish in Bolivia

Having multiple ethnicity and various indigenous languages, Bolivia’s official language is Spanish. For immigrants who find it difficult to speak the language, there are various Spanish Language Schools in Bolivia to choose from. Of course, living and retiring in Bolivia requires ample knowledge and skills to be able to speak and write the common language being used by the locals in order to be more efficient in an everyday routine.

Affordable Cost of Living with Low Cost Real Estate

Bolivia is a wonderful place which offers an inexpensive cost of living. It is one of the least developing countries in South America, which is why the cost of living in the country is pretty low. But cheap doesn’t mean it’s not quality living. It only means people in Bolivia are able to survive because prices of goods and services can be purchased at low rates. The products and services are cheaper compared to other countries in South America. Also, real estate and homes come in affordable rates in Bolivia. In fact, you can buy properties or houses which are half the price of the ones in the United States or in Europe.

Wonderful Retirement with Cheap Medical Care

Bolivia offers wonderful retirement to its people with very affordable general medical care and surgeries. Compared to the total cost of a dental or medical service in the US or in European countries, one can find very affordable yet reliable services in Bolivia.

Every country has its own advantages and disadvantages, but living and retiring in Bolivia is definitely an option where the advantages or benefits outweigh the possible disadvantages. With friendly people, diverse geography, wonderful nature, a low cost of living, and nice tourist spots to go to, Bolivia is a haven for peaceful living and happy retirement.

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When visiting Bolivia, you should not miss these places:

La Paz

Dubbed as “the city that touches the sky,” you can explore the country’s capital city with amazement. With high elevation that ranges from 9,840 to 13,450 feet, you can explore the city’s nightlife with magnificent lights illuminating the city. There are copious bars and clubs in the city, as well as folk music and dancing shows. You may also be interested to dine at Peña Restaurant Huari and Peña Restaurant Marka Tambo. These restaurants offer traditional arrays of food along with the performance of local musicians. During the day, explore the city by visiting and shopping at local markets. International travelers can purchase traditional goods such as wonderfully made hats and scarves from alpaca and llama wool, rugs, textiles, and jewelries. You can go shopping and visit the museums, as well.

Lake Titicaca

Don’t forget to visit the world’s highest navigable lake. With majestic scenery, you can enjoy island hopping with your friends or loved ones on Lake Titicaca. This famous lake is known to be sacred with its mythological history.

Madidi National Park

Enjoy nature with the most bio-diverse national park in the world. You can see various arrays of flora and fauna within the park. Thousands of species of plants, birds, and reptiles are inhabiting this wonderful tourist spot.

Potosi

Visiting Potosi is also considered a highlight among the various ways to enjoy Bolivia. It is a home to wonderful museums, grand churches, colonial buildings and other types of architecture, and hardworking miners.

Tiwanaku

Explore Bolivia’s cultural and archeological site with the mysterious ruins of the ancient Tiwanaku agrarian civilization. Situated near Lake Titicaca, be amazed with the site’s wonders during a day tour. You will be able to see amazing monumental architecture and carved stone tenon-heads which are embedded in the wall of the temple.

The Churches of Sucre

Being the constitutional capital of Bolivia, Sucre houses wonderful and historical churches as well as religious buildings. These churches were built during the colonial times, and most of them have preserved their genuine structural features. Daily mass is held everyday in most of these churches. One of the most famous is the Iglesia de San Lazaro, being one of the oldest churches in Sucre. Others are the Jesuit temple of San Miguel, Iglesia de San Sebastian, The convent of San Agustín, Santa Bárbara chapel, and La Rotonda chapel.

Indeed, there is a long list of great ways to enjoy Bolivia. As more travelers and visitors discover its wonders, Bolivia is truly a beautiful country with diverse geography, interesting history, and colorful ethnicity.

Before we discuss volunteering in Boliva in more depth, let’s first make clear what the concept of working as a volunteer is all about.

Most people have heard of the Peace Corps, which is a U.S. Government program that sends volunteers to various points around the globe. Peace Corps workers are paid a small “subsistence stipend” for their services. But the volunteer programs we are talking about involve the volunteer paying his or her own way, and also their own expenses while on site in their country of choice. The host is usually a private, non-profit aid organization.

The first question many people ask is: “Why should I not only volunteer my work and talents for free – but also pay a fee besides?”

Well, first of all, the fees are not high; usually just a few hundred dollars per month. In exchange you get a place to stay, a place to work, you become part of an organized effort and you gain work experience – not to mention the incredible experience of being immersed in a different language and culture. It’s a tremendous journey of personal development. Second, you are providing aid and assistance to make the lives of other people better – you are doing something wonderfully selfless and good for the world.

Many people choose Boliva for a volunteer mission because the need is great in some areas, and the Bolivian culture is one of the richest, and most vibrant in the world. Bolivia is a Spanish-speaking country, and even those who speak no Spanish can return fluent in this language once the volunteer service is completed.

Bolivia also offers stunning landscapes – magnificent mountainous regions and rain forests – and when you are not working in your volunteer program, there is ample opportunity to explore both the isolated rural areas, and the large cities.

Bolivia volunteers make new friends and connections – including both personal and professional connections – that often last for the rest of their lives. Volunteers who return from Bolivia come back enriched with a superior level of professional development and connections that make them highly valuable to employers, or with the advanced skills they need to become successful self-employed entrepreneurs.

The key to finding a volunteer mission is to do a lot of research and planning. Search out an organization that works in Bolivia, and which offers a deal and situation which fits your budget and skill set. Whatever your profession — from carpenter to teacher, to nurse or plumber, to English instructor or expert gardener – you will be able to find a volunteer host organization that will get you busy doing good work in Bolivia.

Remember, the choices are many, and it is only wise to investigate carefully. It’s possible that some volunteer hosts are not as scrupulous as others. As in any situation, where there is money to be made, there are people who will seek to take advantage. Check references, or better yet, talk to someone who has personally worked as a Bolivia volunteer with a specific organization. There are many high-quality, well-administered programs that host volunteers and put them to work on above board use in areas where help is sorely needed, and some of the organizations in Bolivia are the best in the world.

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Bolivia Spanish Language Schools

There are various Spanish language schools in Bolivia. These schools offer courses which make learning Spanish easier, depending on the categories of learners. Since learners could be categorized as beginners, intermediate learners, and advanced students; the type of Spanish lessons that are given are modified according to the said categories. You can search online for the list of the best Spanish schools in Bolivia.

Cultural Immersion

There are already proven evidences of a cultural immersion technique. Cultural immersion is an effective way of learning a country’s culture by living in the country of destination. Since culture is highly equated with language, learning Bolivia’s culture also means learning its language. You can do a series of activities during the immersion.

1. Converse with the Locals

A daily conversation with the local people in Bolivia can help you a lot. One word a day can really make a difference. By just learning one or two words and phrases everyday, it will help you widen your vocabulary. You can go to local restaurants and patiently converse with the people there and jot down notes of new words you have learned through out the whole conversation.

2. Watch TV shows or read the newspaper

Listening to a foreign language everyday helps a lot in learning it faster. You can watch TV shows in Spanish and if ever you come across words you are not well-acquainted with, write them down and look for the meaning of them in a dictionary or ask a friend in Bolivia about the words.

3. Make use of self-study books and Spanish-English dictionaries

You can attain a more solid foundation of the Spanish language by reading books about how to speak Spanish. In addition, you may also bring a pocket-size Spanish-English dictionary wherever you may go. Once you come across a new word, you may seek the help of a dictionary.

Learn Spanish in Bolivia Online

With the advent of high technology, learning Spanish in Bolivia is possible online. The great thing is, you can learn the language from the comforts of your home. You can search online for possible choices of reliable online classes for Spanish at reasonable rates.

Whether you come for a great vacation or an opportunity to work, learning Spanish in Bolivia is open for everyone. You can choose the particular way of learning the language you are comfortable with.

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Strange and Interesting Bolivian Weather

When they say it is summer in Bolivia, it is important to be guided accordingly before packing your sunglasses and floral mini-dresses with you, lest you want to get soaked in the rain.  Summer, or verano, in Bolivia is all about rainfall.  This season falls on November through March.  Their summer season is pronounced by a lot of rain making traveling on roads very difficult.  Because Bolivia is one of the least developed countries in this part of South America, expect a lot of mud during this rainy season.  Aside from the mud and floods that happens almost everywhere, the heat and humidity of the air is at its worst.  However, this is the perfect time to see the mountains covered in lush greenery and exotic flowers.

Winter, on the other hand, is considered as the best time to visit and explore Bolivia.  This is the time when the sun is up and the skies are clear.  This falls on May through October.  The days are warm but the nights are colder than usual.  Visitors would find this extreme weather interestingly strange but they would surely enjoy climbing the high peaks and trekking in the highlands during this time of the year.

Public Transportation in Bolivia

Due to the lack of infrastructure in this country, getting around can be quite a challenge.  There are, however, many modes of public transportation that tourists would surely find comfortable and enjoyable:

- Flotas or buses
- Airplanes
- Taxis, moto-taxis (motorcycle cabs), and micros (mini-vans)
- Camiones or Lorries
- Trains
- Car rentals
- Bicycles

Entering Bolivia

Usually, a visa is not required to be able to enter this country; however, changes may be applied so it is highly recommended to inquire at your local embassy before traveling to Bolivia.  A tarjeta de turismo, or a tourist card, is issued to every tourist.  There are tourist cards valid for up to 30 days and there are those that are valid for 90 days, depending on the eligibility of the visitor.

The Boliviano

Monetary currency in Bolivia is the peso boliviano, most often referred to as the boliviano.  Although most hotels and commercial businesses prefer US dollars, there are still other services that will only accept boliviano.  Their paper bills come in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 denominations while coins come in 1 and 2 boliviano, and 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents.  The boliviano is written as “B/”.  It is highly recommended to at least have both boliviano and US dollars to avoid any hassles and delays when availing certain services.

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Dining Etiquette

When in Bolivia, there is a certain dining etiquette to remember. You will be able to enjoy your food and drinks more when you show respect for the people’s custom at the dining table. The most important of the dining etiquette includes:

• Although punctuality is not expected, arrive on time just to show respect for your host. Or to be a Bolivian for a day, arrive 20 minutes late.
• You are, however, expected to stay for at least 30 minutes after the meal is finished as a sign of courtesy for the host and his guests.
• Guests are served first. Wait for the host to say “Buen provecho” as your cue for an invitation to eat at his table.
• Refuse the food when it is first offered because this is a custom in the country. Wait for the host to insist, which you should then accept or risk insulting your host.
• Always use utensils even on fruits.
• Wait for the host to make a toast before you make one of your own.

The main rule when being merry by eating and drinking in Bolivia is to treat the dining experience as a social event. Business matters should not be discussed, ever.

Eat and be Merry

Look beyond Bolivia’s reputation as having the original meat-and-potatoes cuisine. You will find that its people love good food just as much as the next gourmand albeit using local ingredients.

Vegetarians may have difficulty finding good food here, however, as Bolivians love meat and plenty of it, too. The most commonly used meat in dishes is beef followed by pork, chicken and llama with the most favorite way of preparing these meats being deep frying. Yes, Bolivian cuisine is not exactly heart-friendly but it is definitely tongue-friendly so much so that the risk may well be worth it.

Street food is a cheap but filling option in Bolivia. Go for the anticucho (beef hearts grilled and then served with potatoes drizzled with a spicy corn sauce) and salchipapa (sausage fried with potatoes). Breakfast is a happy affair with salteña, tucumana and empanada while the health-conscious can start the day with ensalada de frutas (fruit salad).

Drink and Be Merry

What is food without drinks? In Bolivia, almost every market has stalls offering juice bars, shakes and Vitaminico (whole egg with its shell, beer and sugar mixed with coca leaves). Mocochinchi is also a popular drink, which is made by brewing spices, peaches and water. The api is made from corn and it is so good that you will want to drink it every day.

Alcoholic drinks in Bolivia are also common. Try the chichi, which is made from fermented resulting to a whitish, sour and alcoholic brew. Be sure to spill a little on the soil as an offering to the Incan earth goddess.

So, prepare your palate for the delights of Bolivia!

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