Sadly B41 has just left Tarija. This post is a shout out to them: Julia Milne (Chicago, Il), Emelia Hurley (Reston, Va), Winston Harrell (South Boston, Va), Steve Cooper (upstate NY), and Shelby Tracy (Texas). They have mostly lived to the south of Tarija city and collectively have worked on projects including: teaching English, building an internet cafe, building a miniature golf course out of recyclables, building bathrooms, working with orphans, working with womens groups, and working with bees and honey!

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While in Tarija Bernie & Army were nice enough to throw us a costume party complete with fabulous food and an obstacle course!!

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This fall my brother Armstrong (Army) and my father Bernie traveled all the way to Tarija to meet the newest guy in my life: Asterix!

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Once upon a very very sunny day I was headed out to Elke and Arend’s farm when the small bus I was riding on died. Being only 5 miles from the farm I decided to walk, and along the way I happened upon a public works project to build a drainage system along this main road.

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There have been a cascade of birthday parties lately, and I’d like you all to be prepared for the next Bolivian social function that you attend!

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How was your thanksgiving? We Tarija volunteers would have invited you to our river celebration, but we were desperate not to run out of turkey this year!

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Translation – what a rush ! Have you ever tried it? Boy do you feel powerful . . . errrr, I mean, helpful . . . no, really!

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I recently had the chance to visit an orphanage down in Bermejo, Tarija. Bermejo is the Southernmost town in Bolivia – just a few minutes and a river separates Bermejo and Argentina.

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Hola, otra vez de Bolivia !

We are living in the 21st Century, and most of us are used to flying from one place to another. Perhaps we’ve recently become accustomed to griping about security lines, clear plastic bags, checking all liquids, almost every kind of delay –  and who knows what the future will bring . . . right?

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While most of our friends in North America are busy adjusting their air conditioners and car stereos a few of us down south are remembering the nostalgic days of summer when there was actually water around here.

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I’m sorry about the delay in posting these pictures – they were taken during the August 6th celebration of Bolivian Independence day!

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The Nuns of Santa Isabella are truly amazing. They run a soup kitchen, a vocational school, an adult school, and a boarding house / orphanage all on the same small plot of land ! One of the most important components of their service is their steadfast commitment to the soup kitchen that feeds young children from the community on a daily basis. This seemingly innocuous soup kitchen proved the catalyst for an emotional revelation for me – I hope you’ll appreciate my experience.

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We Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) might like to think we’re all qualified to do whatever it is our communities ask of us– but it won’t come as a surprise to most of you that underwater basket weaving and plenty of games of Beirut or *Beer Pong* during college did not exactly prepare us for every rigorous eventuality in the developing world !! 

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Every day is a great day for a celebration – and what more worthy cause to celebrate than the dedication of teachers? (more…)

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Bio-diesel is as cool as his hair !!

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Hola todos !!,

I know how you´ve all been pining away wishing you could send a few text messages down south - below please find the directions !! (more…)

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FYI . . . I´m now addicted to CNN international . . . and this is the comment I just sent in to them . . .they recently put up a comment from a PCV in Peru. The internet is certainly providing all sorts of new and powerful outlets !! (more…)

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Lately, I’ve been receiving a few emails about how many different ‘types’ of volunteers there are in the Peace Corps. Fortunately, the Peace Corps web site has plenty of information – this is just a short ‘cheat sheet’ on PC in Bolivia. 

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Many factors have contributed to the explosive spread of  HIV/AIDS in Africa; sadly some of these Bolivia shares. The macho/patriarchal and heavily religious elements which enjoy such power in Bolivian society contribute heavily to the lack of sexual education. Moreover, goods are transported throughout the country by land – creating a large cadre of (overwhelmingly male) workers who work far from home. Sex and sexual education are still taboo topics here, which unfortunately escalates the danger of Bolivia having a more serious problem with the virus.

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