April 9
We’ve had a very full and adventurous week, from hiking in Torotoro National Park to exploring the city of Sucre to traveling to La Paz! All of our ninth graders are gaining so much confidence with their language and travel skills, it’s hard to believe that our time in Bolivia is already 2/3rds over!
We had an amazing time in Torotoro, a national park famous for its dinosaur footprints and fossils as well as stunning Andean vistas and incredible canyons and caverns. We hiked for two days, exploring a canyon which led us to a beautiful natural swimming hole, appreciating the opportunity to literally walk in the footsteps of dinosaurs, and exploring Bolivia’s largest cave. Slayde impressed us all with his dinosaur knowledge, while Lily, Sloane, Ollie, and Will relished the opportunity to swim, eager to explore unfamiliar waters. Bennett and Grayson proved to be particularly adept cavers, showing no fear in pushing deeper into the Bolivian underground. It was hard to leave the tranquility of the park, but with Sucre awaiting us, everyone was excited to continue the journey.
We spent 4 days in Sucre, a relatively calm city with lots of colonial charm. We had the opportunity to meet with environmental activists, visit the indigenous art museum, participate in art workshops, and explore the city. Liv, Logan, and Kelsey led the group with their artistic enthusiasm, producing lovely creations in clay, paint, and collage during our two afternoon art classes. Our students especially appreciated nightly visits to the Plaza, where we spent time walking and chatting just like locals. We also visited a local craft market, where Truman led the charge in helping his peers to purchase colorful ponchos. Unforeseen transportation challenges meant we had an extra day in Sucre, which gave us the opportunity to visit the history museum to learn about Bolivian independence and to try local dishes at the market. Charley and Lily eagerly tried api, a local breakfast specialty consisting of a hot drink brewed with purple corn.
After a long day of air travel, we have arrived in La Paz! Enjoy the students’ shoutouts to parents below.
Shoutouts
Mom, Dad, Socal, Stell. Bring Chocolate Milk. -Will
Hi Mom, Dad, Des and Jake. Love you, Bolivia is Beautiful xoxo -Kelsey
Hi mom, Dad, and Rex. I’m having a lot of fun! -Sloane
Hi mom Hi dad love you -Bennett
Happy Birthday -Love Lily
Missing mom, Dad, Micah, Rosie, friends/team, and calm nights. Love you all! -Charley
having fun in bolivia miss you all also in need of choccy milk -Oliver
Hi mom Hi Dad having lots of fun in Bolivia with everybody. -Grayson
Hi mom and dad I hope you had an epic easter. Cant wait to come home, love you guys -Ocean
Hey Mommy, Momma, Cassian, and the dogs. I miss you all! Bolivia has been amazing, and so beautiful! By the way, I have been craving a cinnamon sugar dessert pizza. Hope you can find one for me! Also Happy Birthday Mommy, so sad I am missing it. Love Truman
Hi guys, welcome back to a day in the life of me. I’m sure you guys can’t wait to have me back. But I miss yall and I’m having a lot of fun (wink emoji) . I love you all. #Potato Spider (see picture) -Logan
Mom, dad, never make me go to an airport again. (Also this trip aint so bad) -Slayde
give lela some pets from mee!! and it’s so fun here. miss you guys! -Liv
April 2
In Panama City, we rallied after a red eye flight to head to the Panama Canal. After a breakfast of empanadas, we got to see a giant tanker make its way through the locks, we all felt so lucky to get to see one of the wonders of the modern world on our layover!
We headed back to the airport for dinner and our flight to Bolivia. Arriving in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, everyone was tired but excited to meet our instructors from Where There Be Dragons and begin the adventure! After a good night of sleep, we headed to Cochabamba for our first adventure: homestays! Students stayed in groups of 2 and 3 in local homes in the Quechua community of Tiquipaya, where they practiced Spanish, learned how to hand-wash laundry, and enjoyed many home cooked dishes. We also took advantage of our week in the Cochabamba region to explore the historic city center, take a class about indigenous history, and learn how to make salteñas, a Bolivian empanada beloved by all. We are now on our way to Toro Toro National Park and are excited to hike and explore the natural environment.
Logan: Has become very interested in learning more about the religious and spiritual beliefs of indigenous peoples in Bolivia. Also planning on convincing his family to visit Bolivia for their next family trip.
Lilly: Has enjoyed trying new foods and exploring the Andean cuisine. Her and Sloane have also made a short film while at their homestay together.
Liv: Has been busy exploring and learning about the Flora of Bolivia. Every day she has collected and pressed new flowers.
Ocean: Has been doing pull-ups on random bars and public infrastructure whenever he can squeeze a set it and is taking epic pictures with his camera.
Kelsey: Loves appreciating all the cats, dogs, and llamas from a safe distance and has successfully resisted the urge to pet them.
Bennett: Loves exploring all of the new foods and fresh juices, his favorite food so far has been saltenas – a savory Bolivian pastry that students learned to make from scratch.
Ollie: Has enjoyed exploring the historic city center of Cochabamba and has quickly developed the skill to calculate exchange rates with impressive precision.
Slayde: Was the first to volunteer and learn how to make saltenas during our cooking class and has also enjoyed learning about indigenous cosmology and natural medicinal practices in Bolivia.
Charley: Has been a translation rock star and is enjoying the challenge of upping her Spanish and hacky sack game even more.
Truman: Also a translator rockstar for the entire group who is gaining more confidence every day in his Spanish skills. Has really enjoyed sampling all the different homemade juices at his homestay.
Will: Another strong translator for the group during city excursions and homestays. Will also embraced his daily role as “water wizard” to make sure peers were hydrating appropriately.
Sloane: Has been a super adventurous sampler of Bolivian cuisine and wants to continue to learn more about indigenous medicine and plant knowledge in Bolivia.
Grayson: While the entire group has caught the hacky sack fever, Grayson has distinguished himself as the undisputed hacky sack whisperer.
March 17
This year, our 9th graders will travel to Bolivia which promises powerful experiences and meaningful connections.
With its rich indigenous heritage, striking landscapes, and complex history, Bolivia offers a unique opportunity for students to step into a context that is both unfamiliar and deeply instructive. As they engage with local communities and explore the country, students will be challenged to think critically, listen closely, and reflect on their role as global citizens.
This blog will document the journey as it unfolds, sharing stories, photos, and reflections from the field.
Come back often to see where the journey leads.