Field Report First Name Name Host University Thi Pham Universidad Privada de Santa Cruz de la Sierra After spending one year in Spain I had the dream to go to South America for some time. So I was looking for a possibility to spend a semester abroad. At the same time I had a friend in Bolivia. She was volunteering there and told me a lot about the hospitality of the people and the beautiful landscapes. She made me very curious about this country because at this time I actually didn t know anything about it and so I started some research about my possibilities going there. I was very lucky that CUAS has an agreement with UPSA in Bolivia. After receiving the confirmation that I could spend a semester there I contacted the UPSA s coordinator for exchange students. They informed me about the visa regulations and the needed documents. You will need to do many paper works, in advance in Germany, so start as soon as possible (medical attest, Führungszeugnis and its certified translation). You will also need some vaccinations, especially for yellow fever. There are several medical centers which will inform you about the needed vaccinations. The visa which you will receive from the Bolivian embassy in Berlin is just a pre-visa for 60 days that means that you will have to do everything again after arriving in Bolivia. For that you will need a lot of patience, if you have to do it. But watch out if you will be really much more than 90 days in the country because if not, it won t be necessary! In my judgment, obtaining the visa was the worst experience in Bolivia. Be prepared for waiting hours while it is very hot until it s your turn. The university also helped me to find an accommodation as there are no students residences because they nearly all still live with their families. I lived with a professor of the university. She is a really nice person and I felt very comfortable at her house. On the day I arrived in Santa Cruz she came and picked me up from the airport. She also showed me where and how to get the buses to university and helped me on the first days with everything I needed. I personally love the markets in Bolivia. There you can find everything you need and buying food there is much cheaper than in the supermarket. There is also a better quality and more variety of fruits and vegetables than at the Hipermaxi (a big supermarket chain in Bolivia). I also enjoyed having a snack or drink, like an empanada or a delicious fresh orange juice on the streets. You can find them in nearly every corner of the city center or on the markets. The bus-system takes a little bit to get used to, but I personally liked it. There are few bus stations and most of the people don t use them. Actually you only need to know the bus s route and then you can hop on or off wherever it passes through. If you are taller than 1,75m you could have problems standing in the bus because they are very tiny.
Reviewing the semester I can just say that it was a very enriching and great experience which is nearly indescribable. For me everything was totally different to what I knew before. The professors and the university staff are very nice and patient. They offered me a lot of help in everyday tasks, but also when I had to write an essay about the university s informatics system I received a great support. The professors are very competent and their courses were very interesting and we had a lot of discussions and practices in classes. People here are in general very nice and helpful so this will facilitate you to get used to your new surroundings quickly. Whenever you ask somebody on the street for directions or other help, they will try to help you as good as they can. If you have any concerns in university topics don t hesitate to ask people there. They will be glad to help you and care you well. Nothing is impossible here. Even if the problem seams unsolvable, Bolivians will find a way to solve the matter. Further, you will find friends in university very quick as Bolivians are very communicative and curious about other countries and cultures. It could happen that you will be invited to a birthday party earlier than you thought. Even if they just got to know to you they don t hesitate to invite and integrate you. Everyone who is thinking about doing a semester at the UPSA in Bolivia I can just highly recommend it. I had a wonderful and unforgettable time here. For sure I will miss the kindness of people (their warmth and friendliness) and the breathtaking nature here. Laguna Colorada
Lagune at the Salar de Uyuni Llamas and a dog.
On Isla del Pescado at Salar de Uyuni. Salar de Uyuni
A mine in Potosi. A parade in Potosi.
View onto Sucre (the capital).