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Noviembre 07, 2004
Bringing the States Closer
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 was still some time away.
Usually my trips were in the middle of summer vacation, and that meant being estranged from the happenings of baseball season. The very first thing I did upon returning to Miami International Airport was buy a USA Today. I would flip to the standings and see which teams were now in first place and I would also find out which slugger magically increased his home run totals (I used to hope that the world stood still when I was away).
Any recent newspaper was like gold to me. Sometimes when newly arrived family members would arrive in Bolivia during my stay, I would request that they bring a newspaper. I would devour every square inch of the paper (including the business section). Even my desperation would lead to my uncle asking his friend, who was a pilot on LAB, to do me a big favor and spend 35 cents and bring me back a fresh newspaper.
Television was of no help to me, either. Every channel would seemingly show el Chapulin Colorado 8/7 (no local channel broadcasted around the clock). And the internet? Forget about it, computers was something of los yanquis.
Now more than a decade later, the phenomenon of globalization can make one think that he or she had never left. Now, with the internet (with “cafés as they are known as, on every city block), you can keep up with sporting events as they happen. I once listened online to my alma mater Creighton University play in the NCAA tournament thousands of miles away in Minneapolis. Reading online newspapers, blogs, and other sites is as easy as handing over 3 Bs./hour (40 cents). I even did a little work live from Bolivia on this most recent trip.
Video rental places stock the latest movies, even those “indie” movies, that I am quite fond of. And cable TV, which costs 22 dollars/month, is even better, and cheaper, than cable TV in the states. I caught most of the Boston Red Sox’s magical run through the October playoffs, live. I saw the Vice-Presidential debate, with the help of CNN International. Most channels are commercial-free, who needs Tivo?
Now, there are better reasons to like living in South America, although these things help me miss the United States just a little bit less.
Posted by eduardo at Noviembre 7, 2004 07:07 PM
Comments
Yeah, it's both nice & sad at the same time. I like the convenience, but sometimes I also want to run away and "see Bolivia". Or. At least. Tarija. Ah, Tarija!
Posted by: Miguel Centellas at Noviembre 7, 2004 10:21 PM
I wish Bolivia was a 2 hour plane away, costing a couple hundred bucks. Maybe they'll get Concorde service soon.
Posted by: eduardo at Noviembre 8, 2004 12:00 PM
Cheer up! you might just be even further. I wish Bolivia would be just 7 hours by plane.
I have to cross the Atlantic and then head south. Total of about 15 hours.
Considering there are no Bolivian restaurants in Hamburg, I have to wait until my next visit to the US to savor a juicy saltena.
Cheer up, I say!
Posted by: MB at Noviembre 9, 2004 10:12 AM
You are right, relatively speaking, Bolivia is not that far away. No time zone crossing for me from here.
Posted by: eduardo at Noviembre 9, 2004 10:50 AM