Bolivia By Leah Cifuentes
Location Bolivia is a landlocked country sandwiched between Brazil and Chile. It also shares short borders with the following: Argentina, Paraguay, and Peru.
Location Continued Bolivia is part of South America It is divided into 3 distinct geographical areas: The high mountains with its high plateau, The intermediate valleys The eastern plains of the Amazon and Plate river system.
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.
Climate Continued April through October, the winter months, are typically colder In the highlands, the weather can be very cold and temperatures frequently go below zero at night Snow is common in Potosi 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 quite mild
Climate Continued 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.
Population Bolivia is the South American country with the highest percentage of indigenous people in its population The population consists of about 9 million people
Ethnicity 30% are Quechua 25% are Aymara Only 25% 30% are Mestizo Between 5% and 15% of the nation's population is of Europeann descent.
Language The Spanish language is the most spoken official language in the country The main indigenous languages, sorted by speaking population, are: Quechua and Aymara.
Language Continued Quechua: it was the official language of the Inca Empire. It is spoken mainly in the departments of Cochabamba, Chuquisaca and Potosí. Aymara: a language spoken prior the establishment of the Inca Empire. It is spoken mainly in the departments of La Paz and Oruro.
Language Continued Guarani is spoken in the department of Santa Cruz and the region of Gran Chaco. English and Portuguese are also spoken by minor porcentages of the population, The latter one mainly in the areas close to Brazil.
Language Continued Native Bolivian languages are divided into 11 linguistic families and more than 31 different tongues, including dialects. At least seven native tongues have died out. Others are on the brink of becoming extinct as the speakers become integrated into the dominant Bolivian society Many Bolivians are bilingual or even trilingual.
Currency The boliviano is the currency of the country Bolivia. It is divided into 100 cents Cents is also known as centavos in Spanish.
Religion From the earliest European influence, Roman Catholicism was the original faith. The clergy represented a number of religious orders: Dominicans, Franciscans, Jesuits, and Mercedarians. Their missionary effort was so successful that today almost all Bolivians are Roman Catholic.
Religion Continued The practices of many Bolivian Catholics (as well as those of other Roman Catholics in Latin America) are often unlike those of traditional North American Catholics. Men,seldom attend church services.
Religion Continued Faced with a decline in attendance the Church has attempted to make religion a more significant force in people's lives. Such attempts have met with limited success. During recent decades, several missionary groups have actively proselytized among remote tribes.
Classes of People Due to Bolivia's history a number of differing ethnic groups have converged which now form a class system. It mainly consists or rich and poor No middle class
Classes of people Continued Small number of whites A more vast group of Mestizos' (intermarriage of whites with indigenous Indians). A majority of native Indians ('Quechua' or 'Aymara').
Classes of People Continued A small number of blacks who are descended from the slaves imported during the Spanish colonial period. Typically the whites minority occupy the top rung on the class ladder.
Family Life The family is the axis of the social life. Families are very tight knit and in rural areas, many generations still often live in one house. The extended family or "familia" serves as a strong support and network system. Roles within the family are very traditional.
Family Life The wife is generally responsible for domestic duties The husband is considered to be the bread winner. Men are considered to be superior.
Meeting & Greeting The handshake is the most common form of greeting. When meeting people will use the most appropriate greeting for the time of day. People with an informal relationship will be warmer and embrace or pat each other on the shoulder. Women will kiss on the cheek.
Meeting & Greeting Continued Unlike Europeans Bolivians use both their maternal and paternal surnames. The father's surname is listed first and is the one used in conversation. When a woman gets married she usually adds her husband's first surname to her first surname with the connector "de.
Gift Giving Gifts are usually given at birthdays, Christmas and New Year. The general rule is by good quality but price is not too important. Gifts are not generally opened when received.
Table Manners At a table the guest is served first. The host generally says "buen provecho" ("enjoy" or "have a good meal") to invite guests to eat. Always use utensils - even fruit is eaten with a knife and fork. Never leave straight after a meal
Table Manners Continued It is considered polite to refuse food the first time it is offered and wait for the host to insist before accepting. Never leave straight after a meal.
Cuisine The difficult climate of the areas where most Bolivians have lived for centuries has made them experts in the cultivation of many varieties of potato, including the purple chuno. Llapingachos; a typical dish consisting of fried mashed potatoes with cheese Peas and a white corn.
Cuisine Continued Stews are typical, including a special stew, asado de chancho en olla, which combines roast pork with aji, potato, and white corn. A locro stew may have any kind of meat; the most traditional recipe contains chicken, rice, potato, onion, parsley, and paprika. A secois a drier kind of stew, again with any kind of meat.
Cuisine Continued Peas, onions, potatoes, and cheese are combined to make arvejada. Meat pastries are called saltenas Usually contain peas, potatoes, raisins, hard-boiled eggs, and olives chopped into the meat filling. Pastries with a sweeter corn filling are known as humitas.
Sports "Fútbol de salon", also know as "fulbito" is a type of soccer normally played in basketball courts fitted with small goals. The ball is smaller than a regular soccer ball. Teams have five or six players.
Sports Continued Another popular sport is "paleta", a racquet sport played in a large outdoor court or "frontón" surrounded by three tall walls. Years ago, "paleta" was played with wooden paddles, hence the name. Nowadays, wooden paddles have been replaced by racquetball racquets
Sports Continued Years ago, "paleta" was played with wooden paddles, hence the name. Nowadays, wooden paddles have been replaced by racquetball racquets Between these sports Soccer is the most popular
Major Holidays Independence Day on August 6. Festival of San Roque Bolivia's annual Festival of San Roque is held every Sunday through September in honor of San Roque, the patron saint of dogs. Each Sunday through the month, a procession takes place Dancers dressed in traditional Amazonian Indian costumes perform at the beginning of the parades and many participants decorate their dogs with colored collars and ribbons during the festivities.
Major Holidays Continued Carnival of Oruro Bolivia's Carnival celebrations are centered in the city of Oruro Takes place in the spring during the week before Lent Singing, dancing, eating, and drinking are the major activities of revelers. Carnival of Oruro is highlighted by a lavish parade that begins with a motorcade in which the vehicles are filled with jewels, silverware, coins, fine cloth, and other riches.
Houses Most of them are made from adobe Some made from stone Others like those of houses in the United States
Bolivian Customs Many Bolivians are still accustomed to taking tea at about 4 or 5 in the afternoon Most tea places are busy during that time of day.
Bolivian Customs Continued Most Bolivian people take naps(or siestas) between 12 and 3 Lunch is the biggest meal of the day The whole family gets together for that meal every day.