Our apartment is located right smack-dab in the middle of Cochabamba. From my window, I have a fairly good view of the Cristo de la Concordia statue, which overlooks much of the city. Public transportation to every imaginable corner of the city passes right by the front door. In order to arrive [...]
Visiting Bolivia in the early 1990s was like leaving earth to arrive on a distant planet. On top of taking nearly 24 hours (accounting for driving to the nearest airport, connecting flights and the long layover in Miami), globalization had not yet hit. In other words, the flood of media, communication, and internet [...]
Someone should officially ban dust. I think if I wanted to sum up Cochabamba in one word, it would be dusty. In the name of progress, when construction begins, then also green areas and trees slowly disappear. In order to pave or build cobblestone roads, usually trees are not spared. All [...]
Arriving on a Sunday, I knew that meant some type of get-together. I was rushed and given thirty minutes to take a shower and get ready. My uncle´s nieces were putting on a parrillada complete with six different types of meat. My cousin was also invited to another parrillada located off Avenida [...]
The blog entry written by Miguel B. regarding corruption in the police ranks got me to thinking of my experiences working with public bureaucracy in Bolivia.
Securing my work permit in Bolivia was a mind-numbing experience. The endless list of requirements often made the whole process seem more trouble than it was worth. Not [...]
The overnight bus usually arrives to La Paz in the wee early morning hours. It was still quite chilly as I made my way down from the terminal to catch public transportation to meet my uncle. The road from the bus terminal is a steep downhill descent that eventually intersects with the main [...]
Time had generally been a straightforward concept to me. Growing up in the United States, everyone seems to preoccupied with meeting deadlines and focusing on time management. It wasn’t until I spent my first full summer in Bolivia with my family, that mastering the subtle art of time became an abstract affair.
Anxious for [...]
My earliest memories of La Paz as a kid were falling victim to bloody noses due to the high altitude. Trying to cross the multi-lane avenue of "El Prado" amidst the whizzing traffice reminded me much too much of the Frogger video game, except that I only had one life to spare. Needless [...]