Culture & Identity of Bolivia
Introduction
Bolivia is an incredibly diverse country in nearly every aspect of the word. The geography is diverse, the food, the clothing, the languages, the cultures, and the ethnicities are diverse, everything. Bolivia is also home to more indigenous people than any other South American country and these indigenous people and their cultures dominate the country, but not without substantial Spanish influences, much of which has become a part of the many indigenous cultures.
Exotic images of colorfully dressed people walking llamas in the Andes may not truly represent everyday life for many people in Bolivia, but this stereotype was probably based in the mountains of Bolivia and somewhat fittingly so as Bolivia is very rural; in fact many people still live off the land as farmers and fishers. The opposite is also true in that Bolivia is home to some huge cities and the capital of La Paz has a growing financial district. This transition in work and lifestyle is a slow process that doesn't affect as much of the country's population as it does the capital's skyline.
The Bolivians tend to have a couple different daily schedules based on where they live and their individual culture. Many people with significant Spanish ancestry, and those who live in a more European-styled method, tend to have a fairly common daily schedule to much of South America. Days start somewhat early as work and school begins at about 8:00 or 9:00 am, a long lunch break is taken in the afternoon, then work continues until the evening hours, after which time most families gather for a small and late evening meal. However, this schedule isn't the norm in Bolivia as some jobs in international companies have working hours that better reflect that of North America as they work from about 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. For the large rural population the schedule also varies, most commonly due to farmers changing with seasonal variations.