I'm a bit back and forth considering how I can bring in as a blog entry order and 've decided to refrain from any order, and simply write down what ever comes straight to mind and seems worthy of mention. So I do without it every day and every week to tell you exactly what I did, but more telling of funny experiences or interesting phenomena.
There is also nothing new in itself: I still every morning language course at noon after eating too much usually a short siesta, then free time. English is better soon, meanwhile I laber also increasingly easy for people and have a chat to be better in English. But as I anyway think I have learned that my available range of projects all Quechua, regions, I learn even important words in Quechua (one of 27 languages in Bolivia, that there is and I think to English the most spoken): for example : Chaqui means-as much as hangover (the hangover), an important word here.
always noon time. That is chilling in a cafe on a hillside overlooking Sucre, in the Plaza de Mayo 25 chill or go round on the markets. eat
evening after much too much (but good), read after then something (to my family: it is the truth, I have thus begun to totally voluntary;) do you think non-ne), or chatting with the family? , play with the children or ...
Sun gelabert enough, it goes the next two weeks, once more, stop on the weekend for a couple of trips or other program with the other volunteers.
For you Germans good news: you are totally environmentally friendly, since the following happened here after my first impression: almost anywhere public trash can, in some places Just big garbage heap. Fast-absorbing only fuel cars, some even from England, where the speedometer is still right and the steering wheel and pedals have been converted to left, but only in passing. Well today I had at any rate a little culture shock at the following experience:
I am sitting in the micro (bus), next to me a father and his two children about 2 years old. The children here often drink out of plastic bags juice, milk, yoghurt drinks, etc. But without straw, but just straight from the bag, which I do not think so hygienic, because the chewing on it ever since rum. In any case, the two boys on the bus so parts as they were empty then, has an older lady was sitting in the ever-open door, the father of the parts kindly removed and they just threw into the street. Maybe I'm wrong, but in Germany that would be funny or not?
The next problem is that I myself also throw everything on the floor. At first I was still trying to find trash, but usually without success. Clever as I am of course I had there was the idea with the trash bag, but I have no desire to run around from morning to night with garbage.
is the nearest small culture shock that the children here've been playing with a few years all sorts of PC games that are in Germany aged 16 or over 18. Just as I was told it is probably the Movies. Only somehow it seems the kids here in contrast to the Germans not to hurt my feeling.
goes after the course with me then so on: 13-September 18 From
I'm going to visit four available projects, as well as other projects of the other Fundacion Treveris. After that, I'm beginning to think one more week and then I work. The projects are (for Google Earth enthusiasts who want to look for it): El Chaco (45 min of Sucre), Poroma (2 hours from Sucre), and Tarwita Azurduy (do not know exactly how to write those last two do I removed 8 and 10 hours from Sucre).
Since I had stopped at this point to continue writing, I had a real culture shock. On the weekend we were in Yotala and had a short seminar on the health aspects, etc. In the city I met a man who looked at me with a grin and asked where I come for. On the answer Alemania "I got a question answered if I was for the son of Hitler, and whether we had come on foot to Bolivia. I think this older man has never left his village right in his life and has asked whether we had come on foot, not meaningless. Then it can also easily check if these people are informed in any way, and know little or nothing about the story (or as it now looks elsewhere in the world). About the Nazi period, I also have often talked to taxi drivers, some people want me to give pleasure by speaking with me to Hitler. But not any more so you are informed of Bolivia, as the people here about Germany, I'll write a little bit about what the country, but really very little, if you want to know more, buy the best, "Robert Lessmann: The new Bolivia ". At this point, so all who have no desire to read info on Bolivia to stop.
Bolivia is therefore at the heart of South America and since the Pacific War, the only one without sea. On the Human Development Index it is ranked 113, the last-placed South American. Bolivia is on the area three times the size of Germany, but only about 10 million people live. Namely from 36 different ethnic groups with 27 different languages, most speak English, Quichua or Aymara. Since Evo Morales in power, Bolivia is also defined as a plurinational state. It consists of 9 departments, whereby Bolivia can be divided into three geographic zones: Altiplano of the Andes (with the departments of La Paz, Oruro and Potosi), the high country, the exact name's on the tongue, but they do not want to get out. These include the departments (Cochabamba, Chuquisaca and Tarija where I am). Finally, the lowlands with the departments of Pando, Beni and Santa Cruz. In Bolivia, there are 98 provinces, only 329 municipalities. Major cities are Santa Cruz (1.6 million), El Alto (a higher level slums of La Paz, but actually a separate city with 910 000 inhabitants. Only then is the government seat La Paz, 877 000. My city of Sucre, the capital, has only 281 000 inhabitants. Bolivia has many resources: natural gas, zinc, crude oil, gold, silver, soybeans, tin, and of course the largest lithium reserves in the world at the Salar de Uyuni, but which is not exported in large quantities, however, all industrial countries behind these lithium deposits. because who knows which drive the cars of the future or managed.
Many people think Bolivia is an Andean country. That may agree, but the lowlands share is more than twice as large. We are already on politics. For political differences are similar to the geographical differences. By and large there are two political camps: the highlands to the lowlands and Media Luna (half moon form the States Pando, Beni and Santa Cruz). So practically a East-West conflict. Since 2005, Evo Morales, former coca grower, was elected as president. After years of suppression of neo-liberal politicians, the great hope of the locals. The electoral victory of Morales is the extent to which locals have something positive, because they have gained by more recognition. Morales success can certainly emulate the following aspects: participation of the indigenous Population about democracy, poverty and the definition of a plurilateral State. Negative other hand, appear far, the reactions in education. Whether the strategy behind it, the people on purpose to keep "stupid" I do not know. Morales in 2009 was re-elected with large majority (60 percent). However, he has set, the Constitutional Court suspended, and since he is in power, the Coca cultivation is increasing enormously. Contradictions are severe penalties for drug abuse and the funding of public funds by drug money. Corruption is another thing here, of course, I'm sure that will happen to me that too. Morales has polarized the country enormously. The opposition exists de did not, or has withdrawn facto. Nevertheless, there is an enormous country split between the rural and the urban population and between low and high country. In the three media luna departments attended the richer part of the population, because there is oil. Morales has up to now, however, clearly placed on the side of the Andean population and therefore is not president of all Bolivians. That it is not hard enough to govern peacefully to 36 ethnic groups, further polarized Morales. Some even talk of megalomania or claim to be preparing a dictatorship from 2015, when he may no longer govern before. Clearly, however, also currently there is no alternative to Morales. And a democracy without Opposition can not function properly. Either the people are for or against Morales, what else is not. The economic situation: Morales has nationalized companies and was able to profit, that Bolivia receives for the raw materials increase. Inflation is at 20 percent, but not as often reported at 2-3%. Whether the overall economic situation has improved or deteriorated so rather, I can say that. Inflation is getting the poor people here feel enormously in prices. Bolivia has previously been declared as failed state, that is as ungovernable country. So that is not the truth, must allow Morales, the opposition to put the responsibility on the shoulders and wider establish quasi in Germany as a federal state. In addition, he needs a functioning communication to its base.
The situation is still very opaque to me and I do not know what to believe. Festival, the country is divided is very deep and there are always clashes. Morales big task it is the country not more, to separate. It might work or end in a civil war.
So now had enough of politics, so all in all it is exciting times here and I am trying to create an online photo album, so you see what you can from it.
Chau
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