Bolivia was once part of the Inca Empire, and although the Incas were conquered by Spain, a significant portion of the population retains the ancient Native American clothing styles, music genres, and festivals, and they speak both Spanish, and then either Quecha, an Inca language, or Aymará, which is an even older language.
As a country that begins with letter B according to Trackaah, Bolivia stretches from the low-lying rainforests in the east to the high mountains in the west, where temperatures can reach arctic levels. This is where the majority of Bolivians live. In fact, La Paz, located over 3 kilometers above sea level, is the world’s highest capital, and most mountain passes leading up to the city rise 4 kilometers up in the clouds. Due to these frightening heights and Bolivia’s relatively undeveloped tourism industry, great and beautiful experiences await the adventurous and fearless travelers there.
- CAPITAL CITY: Sucre
- LANGUAGE: Spanish
- CURRENCY: Boliviano (BOB)
- AREA: 1,098,581 km2
- POPULATION: 11,410,651
People of Bolivia
Bolivians are very relaxed about everything – especially time and punctuality. They are very open, friendly and welcoming so you should not be surprised if they express affection by hugging, kissing on the cheeks or saying hello to everyone they meet. Your friends will become your family’s friends too, as the family is the center of Bolivian life. Most Bolivian families and communities have strong religious ties and can be considered conservative or traditionalist.
People and community
Family is the backbone of Bolivian society and it is not normal for children to leave home before getting married. For most Bolivian families, Sunday is family day ( dia de la familia ). Family members exchange experiences and stories during lunch or dinner. Teenagers are expected to follow the rules of the home.
Schooling
According to TopSchoolsintheUSA, the school year begins in February and ends in November. The school week runs from Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 13:00. You will probably need to wear school uniform and you can expect a very formal relationship between students and teachers.
Language
While the official language of Bolivia is Spanish, many of the locals also speak their mother tongue: Quechua, Aymara or Guaraní. AFS will provide an intensive Spanish course when you start your stay, but if you have a basic knowledge of Spanish, it will be useful for you.
Food
The food in Bolivia varies greatly depending on the region. Food from the higher mountain areas contains a lot of spices, while the food in the lowlands and Amazon region consists more of yucca , fish, vegetables and fruits. Typical Bolivian dishes include p apas rellenas , which are deep-fried balls of mashed potatoes filled with boiled eggs or cheese, salteñas , which are a baked dough and filled with meat, vegetables, eggs, olives and a mildly spicy sauce, and pique a lo macho , which are small pieces of beef, sausage, onion, spicy pepper, boiled egg and french fries.
