Monthly Archives: January 2016

Travel

One of the buses we have traveled in, to the Chapare: As we have gone around the country in bus trips, we have a chance to see some of rural life. On the road to Torotoro: On the road to … Continue reading

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Trip to the Chapare: Fun Times

We spent a lot of time thinking about and debating drug policy, political participation and the current predicaments of the Morales administration. But we also spent time hanging out, enjoying the intense heat of the tropico, and the lush grounds … Continue reading

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Trip to the Chapare: the Coca Industrialization Factory

We also had a chance to visit a coca industrialization factory, that makes coca liquor, coca cookies, coca candies, and coca flour. Unfortunately, because of the international prohibition on coca leaf in the UN Single Prohibition on Narcotic Drugs, developing … Continue reading

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Trip to the Chapare: The Cato of Coca

On Monday, we left for the Chapare region, with Kathryn Ledebur, director of the Andean Information Network. We learned about Bolivia’s drug policy, which has legalized the coca leaf and allowed for limited legal coca leaf production. After a five … Continue reading

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Weekend Fun: Sunday

On Sunday, some of us went on a tour of the small towns of the Valle Alto (high valley), learning about local heroes of the independence movement, presidents born in the region, and seeing local sites. The plaza of a … Continue reading

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Weekend Fun: Saturday

For our last weekend in Bolivia, students could choose their activities. Some hung out with their host families (including attending a host sister’s wedding!). On Saturday, some choose a four hour trail ride on horses on the outskirts of town.   … Continue reading

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More pictures from Torotoro

Mia was kind enough to walk with me (the slow pace!) on our first hike — here we are looking overjoyed that we have made it! photo by Emily Sapoch A view of the canyon during the hike on Sunday, … Continue reading

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January 15: First two weeks done!

Today was our first day without a guest speaker. We continued discussing fieldwork projects, and started thinking about final projects that students will present next Friday, before our departure!

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January 14: The Extraction Economy in Bolivia

We discussed international trade agreements and their impact on Bolivian politics, governance and daily life. Jorge Campanini came to visit from CEDIB, a leading Bolivian think tank to discuss extractivism — economies based on extracting monetary value from natural resources … Continue reading

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January 13: Meeting with MAS

On Wednesday, we discussed students’ ongoing ethnographic projects, ranging from observing markets, street vendors, and supermarkets, to visiting Vida y Esperanza and helping out with the horses. We then headed over to the departmental headquarters of the governing MAS party, … Continue reading

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