Urban Cholita
| Industry | Communications or Media |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Science Writer |
| Location | Brooklyn, NY, United States |
| Introduction | In 2001, I joined the Peace Corps and moved to a small Bolivian village called Chuqui Chuqui, population 400. After a rocky start, I adapted ... some would say too well. I started making cheese, swearing in Quechua and wearing a pollera, the traditional Bolivian skirt. I abandoned my hiking boots in favor of sandals made out of rough leather and tire rubber. I came as close to becoming a Bolivian campesina -- a cholita -- as a white girl from North Dakota ever can. Today I live in a city of 8 million people. I wear high heels, I drink mojitos, I take the subway. I complain about slow-moving tourists. But I still have my pollera. |