Resources from Pearl Linguistics

BOLIVIAN Facts & Figures

Size: 424,163 square miles

Population: 10,907,778

Capital: Sucre

Currency: Boliviano

Weather / Climate:

The weather in Bolivia can vary drastically from one climatic zone to another. The summer months in Bolivia are November through March. The weather is typically warmer and wetter during these months. April through October, the winter months, are typically colder and drier.

In the highlands, the weather can be very cold and temperatures frequently go below zero at night, especially on the Altiplano. Snow is common in Potosí during the winter months and sometimes also falls on La Paz and Oruro. In contrast, winter in Sucre, Cochabamba and Tarija on the Cordillera Real is a time of blue skies and comfortable temperatures.

The weather in the rainforest is usually very hot and is often very wet. The drier period of the year is May to October. The section of the rainforest that borders the Cordillera Real of the Andes Mountains is a bit cooler, but still very wet. As altitude declines, the temperature rises. Additionally many rivers and aquatic zones will dry up very noticeably in winter and then flood in summer creating an unpredictable landscape.

Taken from:www.wikipedia.com

BOLIVIAN languages

Spanish 60.7% (official), Quechua 21.2% (official), Aymara 14.6% (official), foreign languages 2.4%, other 1.2% (2001 census according to CIA Factbook). According to Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Bolivia 28.1% of the population of Bolivia spoke an indigenous language as a first language in 2007. This had increased to 29.4% in 2008. Approximately 90% of the children attend primary-school but often for a year or less. Until the 2001 census the literacy rate was low in many rural areas, but, according to the CIA, the literacy rate was 87% nationwide, which is similar to Brazil's but below the South American average. Nevertheless in 2008 after the campaign "Yes I can", Bolivia was declared illiteracy-free under the UNESCO standards. "a first language" is questionable as it fails to make a distinction of whether this means only language spoken, or one of multiple learned nearly simultaneously, or one first and then others later (in which case it would be more insightful to put the percentages for "first language" as well as "total speaker" percentages). Also indigenous languages have historically been underrepresented and the 2001 census statistics are too old (especially given Bolivia's recent history) and requires a newer inquiry.

Taken From:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolivia#Language

BOLIVIAN culture

A country of statistical extremes, landlocked Bolivia is the highest and most isolated country in South America. It has the largest proportion of indigenous people, who make up around two-thirds of the population. Bolivia is at the heart of the Andes offering an authentic take on Latin American culture. While upscale hotels and international-standard restaurants do exist, there are also long bus journeys along mountain passes, rough-and-tumble jeep trips across empty landscapes and chilly nights in low-frills hotels under llama-wool blankets. The infrastructure may need some work but the country's innate charm lies in its staggering breadth of contrasts: the clash of indigenous and European culture, the sweep of landscape from jungle to high-altitude mountains and the diversity of activities from adrenaline sports to ancient monuments.

With around two thirds of the population being of indigenous origin, the authentic culture has not been watered down. Native religions, dialects, clothes, music and medicines all form part of the daily life on the street. While the Spanish influence is strong in the colonial architecture, most notably in Sucre, Bolivia has remained close to its roots, electing its first-ever indigenous president, Evo Morales, in December 2005.

Boliviaindigenous inhabitants were the ancient Aymará people, who lived on Lake Titicaca. This civilisation was conquered by the Incas, who were then dominated by the Spanish. Throughout Bolivia’s colonial history, it was known as Upper Peru, until Simon Bolivar led the country to independence in 1825. In its early years, independent Bolivia was ruled by a succession of caudillos (military dictators) and the country suffered from wars with three neighbouring countries. The positive effect of the wars was that the rule of the caudillos was challenged by a rising mercantile class, whose prosperity was rooted in the mining industries. Bolivia entered an era of political stability. In 1992 Peru agreed to allow Bolivia free use of the port of Ilo for 100 years. Evo Morales, a leftist from Bolivia's native community, won a decisive victory in presidential elections in December 2005 and was inaugurated as president in January 2006.

Though rich in minerals and energy resources, Bolivia is one of South America's poorest countries. Wealthy urban elites, who are mostly of Spanish ancestry, have traditionally dominated political and economic life, whereas most Bolivians are low-income subsistence farmers, miners, small traders or artisans.

Boliviais one of the world's largest producers of coca, the raw material for cocaine. A crop-eradication programme, though easing the flow of conditional US aid, has incensed many of Bolivia's poorest farmers for whom coca is often the only source of income.

The country has the second-largest reserves of natural gas in South America, but there have been long-running tensions over the exploitation and export of the resource. Indigenous groups say the country should not relinquish control of the reserves, which they see as Bolivia's sole remaining natural resource. In May 2006 President Morales delighted his supporters but sent shockwaves through the energy world when he put the energy industry under state control. Bolivia underwent further radical change in January 2009, when voters backed President Morales' project for a new constitution that aimed to give greater rights to the indigenous majority population.

The population of Bolivia is primarily Roman Catholic with a Protestant minority and indigenous beliefs. Normal social courtesies in most Bolivian families and respect for traditions should be observed. Rural Bolivians should be referred to as campesinos. Female campesinos still adhere to their traditional dress. A suit and tie for men and dress for women should be worn for smart social occasions. Casual wear is otherwise suitable. Smoking is accepted unless indicated otherwise. Time keeping is poor.

Holidays

· 01 January – New Year's Day

· February/March – Carnival

· April – Good Friday

· 01 May – Labour Day

· June – Corpus Christi

· 06 August – Independence Day

· 01 November – All Saints’ Day

· 25 December – Christmas Day

Taken from:

www.bbc.co.uk

www.world.travelguide.net

BOLIVIAN people

Bolivia's ethnic distribution is estimated to be 30% Quechua-speaking and 25% Aymara-speaking. The largest of the approximately three dozen native groups are the Quechuas (2.5 million), Aymaras (2 million), then Chiquitano (180,000), and Guaraní (125,000). So the full Amerindian population is at 55%; the remaining 30% is mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European), and around 15% are whites.

The white population consists mostly of criollos, which in turn consist of families of relatively unmixed Spanish ancestry, descended from the early Spanish colonists. These have formed much of the aristocracy since independence. Other smaller groups within the white population are Germans, who founded the former national airline Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano, as well as Italians, Basques, Croats, Russians, Poles and other minorities, many of whose members descend from families that have lived in Bolivia for several generations. Some 40,000 German-speaking Mennonites live in eastern Bolivia.

Young miners at work in Potosí

The Afro Bolivian community numbers more than 0.5% of the population, descended from African slaves that were transported to work in Brazil and then migrated westward into Bolivia. They are mostly concentrated in the Yungas region (Nor Yungas and Sud Yungas provinces) in the department of La Paz. There are also Japanese who are concentrated mostly in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, and Middle Easterners who became prosperous in commerce.

Boliviais one of the least developed countries in South America. Almost two-thirds of its people, many of whom are subsistence farmers, live in poverty. Population density ranges from less than one person per square kilometre in the southeastern plains to about ten per square kilometre (25 per sq. mi) in the central highlands. As of 2006, the population is increasing about 1.45% per year.

Major cities are La Paz (administrative capital), Sucre (capital), Santa Cruz de la Sierra (largest population), El Alto, Oruro and Cochabamba.

Taken from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolivia#Demographics

BOLIVIAN food

High and isolated in the Andes mountains, Bolivia has developed its own rich cuisine. Salteñas, humitas, llama meat and more are on the menu!

Like the people of the other nations of the Andean highlands such as Peru, Colombia and Ecuador, Bolivians prefer to eat a good breakfast, a massive lunch and a small dinner. As the main meal of the day, lunch is eaten with family whenever possible and often consists of soup, a main dish, and perhaps dessert. Bolivian meals are heavy on the pork and potatoes, and you’ll also see a lot of chicken, rice and vegetables. Bolivian food is generally mild: if you like a little spice, ask for llajwa, a homemade spicy salsa.

If you’re in Bolivia, be sure to try out some of these local favorites:

Salteña:A salteña is a pastry enjoyed for breakfast. According to legend, they were introduced to Bolivia by the wife of one of the early presidents of Bolivia, who was from the Argentine city of Salta (hence the name). They look a little like a medium-sized, baked turnover, and they are usually filled with any combination of meat and potatoes. They are extremely popular: you can’t miss them for sale on the streets of any Bolivian city.

Humitas: Humitas consist of damp, sweetened corn meal wrapped inside a corn husk or banana leaf and then boiled or steamed. Often, onion, tomatoes and/or green peppers can be added. Humitas are also common in Ecuador, Chile and Peru: Bolivians tend to like theirs a little sweeter than their Andean neighbors.

Fritanga:Unlike Colombian fritanga, which is a mixed plate of various fried pieces of meat, Bolivian fritanga is a thick pork stew. For a Bolivian dish, it is rather spicy and tasty, and often contains any combination of oregano, parsley, cilantro, cumin, garlic, hot peppers and more. It usually is made with onions and tomatoes in addition to the pork.

Charque de llama: In the United States, there are many who think beef jerky is its own food group. In Bolivia, of course, you have...llama jerky. Charque isn’t exactly jerky, and you wouldn’t want to eat it straight, but it’s fairly close. If you see charque de llama on the menu, it’s dried llama meat, fried, and served with corn and cheese.

Chicharrón: Chicharrón consists of fried bits of pork, pork skin and gristle. It’s tasty, as it’s often cooked with peppers and garlic and spiced with cumin and pepper. It’s usually served with chuño, a sort of highland potato, and corn. Not really a meal, chicharrón is more of a snack or something to wash down with a cold beer.

Taken from: christopher-minster.suite101.com

Places to go in BOLIVIA

Bolivia offers a wealth of artisan goods with special purchases including llama and alpaca-wool products, Indian handicrafts, woodcarvings and gold and silver costume jewellery. The streets around the market area, notably Sagarnaga, Linares and Illampu, are full of small vendors offering goods at lower prices but quality can be variable. There are, however, a few places around La Paz where you can buy good-quality goods and be sure that a percentage of your money is directly going back into the hands of artisans.

La Paz has many nightclubs, which generally get going around midnight. There are also numerous bars, while other major cities boast a growing number of discos and bars. A popular night out is a visit to a peña, a folk music and dancing shows, often accompanied by a late dinner of traditional Andean food. International visitors may also be interested in events, shows and performances arranged by local cultural centres.

Street party at the annual Carnival is worth seeing. It is the most faithful expressions of folklore in South America, especially visible in Oruro with its historic Entrada and Diablada procession. It is often viewed as one of the world's last 'authentic' cultural celebrations.

If you are interested in Che Guevara, you can follow in the footsteps of the iconic figure and visit the place where he died by taking the Che Guevara Trail from Santa Cruz through the southeast lowlands of Bolivia to La Higuera.

Discover the garden city, Cochabamba, with its excellent local cuisine, warm climate and imposing statue of Christ.

Climb the Cordillera Real, which has several peaks above 5,000m (14,500ft). Climbing excursions (complete with mules, porters and guides) can also be booked in Sorata, an Alpine-style village. Seek out the café Pete's Place for the latest news on routes and access.

Admire the striking churches along the Jesuits Missions Trail, built in the 17th-century and rescued from disrepair in the 1950s onwards by Latter-Day Jesuits. The sites are now UNESCO-protected and home to a bi-annual sacred music festival.

Explore the street life in the world's highest capital city - La Paz. It is situated 3,632m (11,910ft) above sea level and is overlooked by Mount Illimani.

Admire some of Bolivia's spectacular mountain scenery on a day hike or horse ride around the Zona Sur region of La Paz.

Gotrekking through ancient Inca trails. Most treks start from La Paz and Sorata, and the most popular trek is the moderate three-day Choros Trail from La Paz to Coroico. The three-day Taquesi Trail is a moderate hike from La Paz, while the Illampus Circuit from Sorata is a rewarding but demanding six-day trek.

Venture into the Amazon and stay at a jungle eco lodge. Typical jungle trips include motorised canoe trips, guided rainforest walks with a local guide who knows the indigenous plants and wildlife, and rustic lodge accommodation.

Hurtle down 'the world's most dangerous road' on a mountain bike. Starting from the Bolivian Andes outside of La Paz, descend rapidly down twisting mountain roads into the Yungas jungle.

Explore historic Potosí, once the most important city on the continent. Situated at the foot of Rich Mountain, it was famed for its mineral wealth, especially silver. Today guided tours visit the mines and the former Royal Mint, Casa de la Moneda.

Travel around the Salar de Uyuni and marvel at Laguna Colorado, its fiery-red waters illuminating wandering flamingos that criss-cross the terrain, framed by copper mountains, and Laguna Verde with its conical volcano on the Chilean border. Soak up the unique atmosphere and revel in the exotic wildlife on a tour of the Salar de Uyuni, the world's highest salt flats. Agencies in Uyuni will arrange a two-night excursion with basic accommodation and guides.

Marvel at the colonial facades of Sucre, 'the white city', with its UNESCO-listed architecture and tranquil central square for strolling and chatting with the locals.

Ponder the mysteries of ancient history at Tiahuanaco, believed to be the capital of the Pre-Inca civilisation. The site is dominated by a series of evocative temples and a compelling museum of ancient artefacts.

Taken from: worldtravelguide.net

Doing business in BOLIVIA

Meeting & Greeting

. Bolivians tend to be formal in their business dealings.
. It is always best to maintain a level of professionalism.
. Shake hands when meeting and leaving.
. Wait for a woman to extend her hand.
. Eye contact is important.
. Professional or academic titles with the surname are used in business. Common titles are "Doctor" (medical doctor or Ph.D.), "Ingeniero" (engineer), and "Licenciado" (lawyer or university degree).
. If someone does not have a title, the honorific titles Señor or Señora are used with the surname.

Business Cards

. Business cards are exchanged during the initial introductions.
. Try and have one side of your business card translated into Spanish.
. Make sure to include any academic qualifications on your card.

Meetings

. Relationship building is important in Bolivia so initial meetings should always be about establishing trust and learning a little about each other.
. Wait for the other party to move the conversation on to business.
. Meetings are generally relaxed affairs but there is always a sense of formality that should be adhered to.
. Meeting schedules are not very structured in Bolivia. There may be an agenda and a starting time, but they serve as guidelines only and may act as a springboard to other related business ideas and further discussion.
. Time is not considered more important than completing a meeting satisfactorily, therefore meetings will continue until the discussion is completed.
. Be careful not to be too direct in your communication style - negative responses should be diplomatically put so as not to cause a loss of face or dignity.
. Most business is conducted in Spanish so try and arrange for your own interpreter.
. Similarly have any materials translated into Spanish.
. Do not rush meetings or show impatience.
. Decisions are not generally reached at meetings - don't pressure people into making them.
. Meetings are simply for discussion and to exchange ideas.

Taken from wikipedia