June 19th

Today we visited the UAC and heard presentations from the various grad students. We had all been quietly paying attention and all I could think about was how cool this place is. This university provides the young people in the Yungas with skills that they can take back to their community. I could not have been more intrigued by this place. The best part was that all the students were so interested in what they were talking about whether it was coffee growing, education, or chia seeds. That was all we did today, but it was all very interesting and we ate some awesome food prepared at the UAC and even got to hang out with some of the students. All around a great day.

6/22

Today we visited the mayor and then did an hour or so of service work.  The mayor was very nice and inviting, he originally was a van driver who was part of the Mas party.  The Mas parties ideals come from allowing social organizations in the government well also making sure elites aren't assigning position based on self-interest. The job of mayor is tough, he said it's hard to make everyone happy and often if he agrees to something the people often want more. It's not easy being a mayor over the 120 communities in Coroico -a number Sonya said used to be 104.  The growing population gives demand to his addition of two new high schools in the area, a project costing 7 million dollars.  For the schools he has hired a contractor to who hires people from the community to help build the school well teachers are going to be paid by municipal fund.  We also talked about how the community is ran.  Community leaders come to represent the interest of their community's.  Economic prosperity comes from coffee, coca, citrus, pumpkins, tourism, and biking. 

June 21, 2017: Uchumachi

As our time together in Bolivia is wrapping up, people are finalizing post-program travel plans and soaking up our last few moments together. We have been lucky enough to experience Coroico with great weather, and as you all already know, amazing activities and opportunities. Yesterday was another one of those days as we hiked up Uchumachi. Uchumachi is known as a sacred mountain with a lot of energies and spirits living at the top in the cloud forest. Most people don't hike through the cloud forest because of this. We had an early wake-up call at 4:45 AM to start our hike by 5:00 AM. Lucio led the group up the steep incline with a heavy bag full of snacks and our offering for Pachamama. When we finally made it to the top, my hair was wet from the humidity of the clouds and from ducking under wet branches and leaves. We sat around with Pedro and Negra (the local hotel dogs who joined us on the slippery hike) eating snacks and resting for a while before making an offering. The offering was put together by Don Augustin, a yatiri, or shaman, which included a llama fetus, candies, incense, and colorful llama yarn. At the top of Uchumachi we took turns sprinkling alcohol on the offering while asking Pachamama for different things. I made the offering for my family and my new friends here in Bolivia.

Coroico June 17

Hi all! Today was so amazing! We visited Senda Verde animal sanctuary and I have to say it was one of the most amazing experiences. Vicki and Marcelo had not planned to save animals, in fact, Marcelo was previously working with USAID in their Mapas Yungas program. They had opened an eco lodge and Marcelo happened to rescue a monkey who had been destined for the illegal trafficking market. There was no turning back when they rescued a spectacaled Andean bear. I was so inspired by the work that they do, the animals are so happy and well cared for and you can tell how much they truly love Marcelo and all those who have rescued them. They have so much space to wander and be free. The most precious spider monkey actually jumped on my shoulder and hugged my head for a while, it was really amazing, I'm convinced that the monkey healed all the stomach issues that I was having. I was so touched and moved by the experience that we had today that I made arrangements to return to the sanctuary and volunteer for a short time after the program and hopefully I'll be able to return this winter and volunteer for several weeks. I was just in awe of all the amazing work that they do there and desperately want to be a part of it.
We then went to Coca Wasi, the coca museum here in Coroico. The man who runs the museum, Dr Jorge Hurtado, also put together the coca museum in La Paz with his wife. There was a very noticeable difference between the two museums. In La Paz, it's somewhat more reserved while Coca Wasi was extremely 'in your face'. The graphics and imagery did not beat around the bush in any sense. It was meant to jerk you into the reality of the gruesome history of coca and the drug war and the blood-soaked roots of capitalism and globalization. The art there was really amazing too, it was all meant to make one uncomfortable to the point of action and I'm not convinced that there should be a Coca museum of that caliber in every city so that people can be educated on this extremely important topic.
Today was unbelievable inspiring and educational.

Coroico, Bolivia: Day 5

This morning, I got to read from my journal of the weekend in La Paz. The experience sharing my thoughts was amazing. We went to Tocana today, and it was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! In Tocana is where the Afro-Bolivians live, and I immediately felt like I was home. It felt like I had a family in Bolivia, because they looked exactly like me, except they spoke Spanish. Todos mi esposos es bonito!!!!!! LOL

We did a tour of the area, and they have a sense of community every where you turn your head. The church, the clinic, the spring for the main source of water, the priest.

The culture, food, etc., is so different from African Americans in America now, however, not too different from our ancestors.

What was very interesting was that there were only 10-12 students in the elementary school that they had. It is like this because, there are no children in the community. One of the women said that everyone in the town stays single. She says that it is easier to stay single, because having children is a lot of work and responsibility. The people of Tocana don’t have a problem with healthcare. The coca leaf helps a lot with stomach aches, headaches, and diahhrea, and also so much more. The coca leaf is great to use medicinally. For headaches, one of the women of Tocana said that you can also put the coca leaves on your head for headaches. They say that coca cures the heart. Coca is the base of the family economy. ***COCA IS NOT COCAINE***

If cocaine was the base for the family economy and not coca, do you think that the Afro-Bolivians would be living in the environment the way they do, wearing the clothes they wear, etc.? NO. Get a grip. These people would be living in a mansion, and have extremely nice cars!!!!      If you think coca is cocaine, you are generalizing base off of what you hear from other people which completely negates the notion of Anthropology.

In this community, they cook dinner in the ground.

The secretary of relations handles everything and is the leader in the community. I thought it was interesting that there was also a man who seems more like a grandfather of the community.

There is a “sidnicato” in every community. In this specific community, they don’t just dance, because they think it’s cool, but it’s because they value identity, culture, and persistence. They don’t just dance and sing to have fun. “Siya” is a method of struggle. This is amazing. They believe that “siya” is born within.

An interesting fact learned is that there is indeed racism and discrimination in Bolivia. It is interesting to see that racism is indeed NOT dead or “over”. Racism not only happens in the United States, but in other countries as well. The city discriminates widely against the Afro-Bolivian people because of their skin color and how they reside on the countryside; “You’re darker than us, and we are better than you, because we live in the city and we are modern.”. This is so not OK; this actually made me tear up a little. However, the Aymara people don’t discriminate against them. The Aymara and the Afro-Bolivians had to come together when being enslaved by the Spanish people. The Aymara people taught the Afro-Bolivians how to cultivate; they had to both form alliances.

One hope one fear and one curiosity

One hope one fear and one curiosity 

One hope I have is that I will feel a deeper connection to nature though being in Bolivia and experiencing the coca leaf in the cultural environment. One fear is that it will be hard for me to communicate and connect with people due to language barriers.  One curiosity I have is I would like to look into some of the different arts and see what different styles the people of Bolivia bring about.

-Anna Awad

I can't wait to visit Bolivia and get to know the people and the culture. Im so happy to be taking this course with Carol and I know it will be a fantastic trip. I've been planning to go on this trip since freshman year so I can't believe it's finally here! My one biggest fear has to be the plane rides- I've been having nightmares about them which is no fun and I don't like planes or flying over water in general. I'm also slightly nervous about the language barrier because I only have 2 years of Spanish under my belt. As for something I'm curious about, I'm curious to see how well the coca tea helps with the altitude. I usually struggle with altitude so it will be interesting to see if the tea helps and I am able to run at the pace I normally run at! 

-Casey Haas 

Fears, Hopes and Curiousities

I'm so excited about getting our program started! I've been looking forward to this trip since freshman year and can't wait to explore with all of you.
My biggest fear is how much I'll miss my cat. He's like my safety blanket and it going to be weird being without him. I hope he misses me as much as I miss him but not enough to hate me forever for leaving for a month.
I'm very curious about how my research will pan out, I feel like its so dependent on my actual experiences in Bolivia than what I'm thinking about before I'll get there. I'm also very curious about the food, I usually eat vegan and gluten-free so I know I'll most likely have to make some adjustments. I'm curious rather than nervous about tackling the language barrier. It will be interesting to see how I cope with it and if my middle and high school Spanish are still in my head somewhere. I'm most looking forward to getting out of the US for awhile and experiencing a different culture, a different language, different foods, etc. I'm excited about being in such a small group, I think it gives us more opportunity to create close relationships and explore. I hope this culture shock, both in Bolivia and back in the US will broaden my perspective in new and long-lasting ways.

Hopes, Fears and Curiosities

I can't believe that I leave tomorrow for Bolivia, it's been such a long time coming! In embarking upon my travels, I hope to to gain a better understanding of what it means to be a member of pachamama, and I also hope to grow a lot as a person. While the literal translation of pachamama from the Aymara language is 'Mother Earth' I don't think the same appreciation for Mother Earth exists here in the U.S and I'm really excited to discover how the people in Bolivia connect with the land, the mountains and their history. One fear that I have is that there will be so much going on, and so many new things to adjust to that I'll find myself overwhelmed. I speak Spanish pretty well so that should help with not being so overwhelmed -- I also try to keep in mind that all the stress and emotion is all part of the adventure! Finally one thing I'm curious about is how well I packed. I'm staying in South America for another 4 and a half weeks after the class and of course I left all of the packing until the last day so I'm very curious to see if I forgot something super obvious. Oh well, guess I'll just have to wait and see! :D

See you all soon!

Hopes, Fears and Curiosities

I am so excited to soon be in the beautiful and vibrant country of Bolivia! One hope that I have for this trip is that I can really create connections with the people and environment there. The mountains create such a unique environment and I hope I get to really experience the true and real life of the people living there. One fear I have is that I won't be able to create meaningful connections because of the language barrier. I know ver little Spanish and I fear it could interfere with my research. The curiosities I have is how the Bolivian people perceive Americans and how their culture is both similar and different from American/European cultures. I am curious to hear what the true Bolivian view on America is and how my research will reflect that. Overall I am nervous and excited at the same time, but I am ready to make some new friends and truly experience Bolivian culture!

Hopes, Fears, and Curiosities

I am so excited to soon be in Bolivia with all of you exploring new sites and taking in all the incredible experiences! Over the duration of this trip I hope to gain a deep understanding of the people of Bolivia. I hope to be open enough to fully immerse myself in the culture even in the short period of time I have there. One fear I have is balancing the work part of this trip with the "fun" part. The entire trip will be so much fun, but I am worried I will get sucked up in something interesting and forget to keep myself accountable for the work I also should be doing. One curiosity I have, separate from my research, is how Bolivians perceive Americans, especially in our political climate today, and if they keep up with American news at all.
See you soon!

-Perrine

Hopes, Fears and Curiosities

I am leaving beautiful Boulder and heading to Bolivia tomorrow and couldn't be more excited. This trip has been a long time coming and I am ready to jump into this experience. One of my hopes is that this experience influences my future and effects my on a level that will be part of my life for some time to come. One of my fears is not having enough time. I don't have too long in Bolivia and want to see and do as much as possible while also being present and soaking in as much as I can. One thing that I am curious about is just what the feeling of the country will be; the sights, smells and vibes that you can describe as much as you want but you have to experience to truly understand. Here is to safe traveling for all my fellow travelers and see in Bolivia!

-Kaila

One Hope, One Fear, and One Curiosity

One Hope is that I have is to truly explore independence (in a totally different country), culture, and the travel aficionado experience at it's finest. I hope to explore what it is like to be a Bolivian, and truly be grateful for the life I live here in the United States. I want to have fun, conquer fears, and develop a sense of understanding.

One Fear is the plane ride to La Paz, Bolivia. Why, you may ask? BECAUSE I HATE THE OCEAN. I'm TERRIFIED of the ocean to be quite open. I can't swim either. So, what is left for me? Sea creatures the size of the Empire State building, that's what. But let's hope this doesn't happen...

One Curiosity is the health aspect of Bolivia. What are the medicinal usages of the coca leaf? What is the water sanitation like in Bolivia, and why is this? What is the access to health care like in the Yungas?

-Christel Benjamin, Junior, University of Colorado Boulder