Before you read this, let me just say that 100 words does not do this post justice. Just 100 words will barely begin to describe the beauty of Bolivia and the warmth of its people. Just 100 words isn’t enough.
But please, please take these 100 words to heart. Understand they represent a fraction of a deeper story we’re desperate to tell — a story about survival and faith, sacrifice and family, difference and commonality. I hope these 100 words paint for you a picture as vivid as the memories in our minds and as resilient as the love in our hearts.
This list was created out of the words from and expressions of the families and individuals we met, those who translated for us all week, and our own feelings. It is a combination of words that describe Bolivia — the country, the people, the experience, the food, the faces, and the moments we’ll never forget.
Love,
The Bolivia bloggers team
100. Breathtaking
99. Colorful
98. Rich (in love and family). I asked one of our translators before we left if Bolivians considered their country poor or in poverty. She said to me, “Well, that depends on what you mean by the word poverty. Bolivia is rich in culture, love, and family. By those measures, we are not poor at all.” Amen.
97. Abandonment
96. Survivors
95. Eyes
94. Freedom
93. Culture
92. Valor
91. Warm
90. Beautiful
89. Ninos — meaning children
88. Chants
87. Giving
86. Sacrifice
85. Con gas — In Bolivia, unless you specify, your bottled water comes carbonated or con gas (meaning with gas)
84. Family
83. Work
82. Light
81. Justice
80. Fascinating
79. Faith
78. Dusty
77. Forgiveness
76. Abuse
75. Music
74. Faces
73. Poverty
72. Women
71. Peace-driven
70. Difference
69. Jesus
68. Opportunity
67. Dancing
66. Happiness
65. Celebration
64. Family
63. Diversity
62. Food security
61. Proud
60. Struggle
59. Prayer
58. Blessing
57. Ben diga cuyes — meaning guinea pigs, which are raised and eaten by many in Bolivia since they are high in protein and low in fat. World Vision helps to build guinea pig houses for families. The pigs can be sold at the local market for extra income. We met one mother that raises guinea pigs, trades them at the market to get milk, salt, and butter, then makes her own cheese. And it was delicious!
56. Bricks
55. Sponsorship
54. Mountains
53. Health
52. Resilience
51. Smile
50. Welcoming
49. Superstition
48. Hats
47. Vulnerable
46. Amore, or love
45. Gifts
44. Braids
43. Joyful
42. Unashamed
41. Sorojchi — meaning headaches. It’s easy for visitors to get headaches since the altitude in Bolivia is very high.
40. yama — meaning llama, one of the many animals raised in Bolivia.
39. Inspiring
38. Chicharron — The Bolivian equivalent of pulled pork.
37. Kindness
36. Mothers
35. Buses
34. Community
33. Fanta — Ask Matthew Paul Turner about this one. He loves the Bolivian Fanta drinks.
32. Roosters
31. Friendship
30. Shy
29. Arminda
28. Winding roads
27. Laughter
26. Gracias
25. Quiet
24. Effort
23. Evolving
22. Potatoes — As we visited World Vision ADP’s, the women in the communities almost always served us the yummiest red potatoes. Their secret? They grow and cook them themselves.
21. Instability
20. Gratitude
19. Dry
18. Help
17. Coffee
16. Corruption
15. Dams
14. Language
13. Chauvinism
12. Change
11. Heavenly
10. Conservative
9. War (the Mommy-war, that is)
8. Humble
7. Our treasure — This was a statement I heard over and over again from the families I met. I would ask them “what does Bolivia mean to you.” Each one of them replied with this same statement, “Bolivia is our treasure.”
6. History
5. Youth
4. Modest
3. Unforgettable
2. Hard-working
1. Viva Bolivia! — The favorite Bolivian statement of all, meaning long live Bolivia!
Comments