Racism and the Denial of Immigration Reciprocity
I have an especially experienced perspective on the reality of how Latin American countries treat the immigration issue. I am a victim of immigration fraud. In 2009 I was approached by Bolivian immigration officials because of the color of my skin and was later detained due to a lack of documentation resulting from the fraud committed against me. Racial profiling? Papers please? Been there, done that. The Story: Part One ; Part Two ; Part Three. Bolivian law was changed in December 2007 to require new, complicated, applied-and-paid-for...
Read MoreHow to Register with Aduana in Bolivia
Bolivian Law now requires all importers to register with Aduana. An importer is defined as anyone receiving an international delivery/package, and is further defined by habitual importer and occasional importer. Habitual importers will require a fundempresa registration. The following step-by-step process applies to occasional importers living in Cochabamba, Bolivia. The registration process should be very similar regardless of city, but all geographical references are specific to Cochabamba. The deadline for this...
Read MoreFailing at Fondue
The Daily Mail has published an article about yet another retro-living woman who has spent a week pretending to live with the resource limitations of another era. We’ve seen women of the 1930s and 1940s, and couples of the 1950s… today, however, we are graced with the attempt by one woman to live in the 1970s of Britain. Not the full range of retro elements, mind you — no bell-bottomed leisure suits for her! Just the cooking. The woman in question bemoans the loss of her microwave, her bread maker, her coffee maker, her electric scales… and even her food...
Read MoreThe Katherine Card
I’ve decided that Katherine is not allowed to come to Bolivia. This is a significant change in plans, since Katherine is scheduled to arrive in Bolivia on Friday and she intends to stay through August. Here’s the problem. I will lose the Katherine Card. The Katherine Card works all manner of magic. Observe: Convincing Teenage Sister to Accept Medicine Lorien: “Staton, you have to take this medicine.“ Staton: “Um, no. It does nothing for me.“ Lorien: “It doesn’t matter if you think it does nothing for your symptoms, because it’ll stop you from being...
Read MoreHope and Halloween
Western culture can often translate in strange ways when brought to Bolivia. Halloween, for instance. Tonight is the 3rd of November, and this is when Bolivia celebrates Halloween. I’m sure there’s a very sensible reason for this, and I’m just not in the know — even if it’s as simple as bumping it to Monday night lets us all have an extra night off of work. What does puzzle me is the horn honking. Cars are honking their horns like mad tonight, and for all I can tell they’re trying to honk “Jingle Bells”. Jingle Bells for Halloween. Meanwhile, Tyson...
Read MoreAbout Lorien
I vote as a libertarian constitutionalist influenced by Hayek and Burke, and I think as an anarchist guided by the biblical principles of liberty. My government is strictly bound by the U.S. Constitution. I have fenced foil in a diaper-suit and run for political office in a skirt-suit, but my shoes were always fabulous. Both dreadful politics and inspiring design are likely to make me teary. and yes. I’m a tshirt ninja.
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