Meet Marta, AKA “the arepa queen.” You’ll find her on the corner of Barbery Avenue and Alcayá Street from 4-7pm everyday with spatula in hand and a grin from ear to ear. She is, after all, dishing up her daily dose of happiness and lucky for you, she’s sharing with whoever’s in the neighborhood.

A native of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Marta’s life took a curious turn when she visited her sister in the neighboring town of Cotoca 13 years ago.

“My sister was making areaps and I fell in LOVE [with them],” she gushes. In that moment, an entrepreneur was born.

Marta immediately knew that putting down her thread and needle to sell something she loved to make – and eat – would be the start of a better future, even if it wasn’t easy.

“I was very, very nervous at the beginning,” she recalls. “At first it was too expensive and with only one pan made of mud to cook with, people had to wait almost 15 minutes just to make an order. It was frustrating, but with much patience it got better and clients said it was the best part of their day. Patience paid off.”

Still to this day, Marta continues to sell out before her closing hour of 7pm.

The secret to her success? An unfaltering love for the cheesy cornbread.

“I only sell what I like. I try every batch and if it’s not perfect, I toss it and start over. I always maintain high quality.”

While it’s certain her afternoon snack has become a huge success, Marta’s future plans may not be.

“My future isn’t clear. I could continue for 13 more years but who knows? I don’t think much about the future because I love where I am right now. Ohh! It’s ready. Would you like an arepa?”

***

Conozca a Marta, también conocida como “la reina de la arepa.” Se la puede encontrar en la esquina de Avenida Barbery y Calle Alcayá de las 4 a 7pm todos los días con una espátula en la mano y una gran sonrisa de oreja a oreja. Después de todo, ella está sirviendo su dosis diaria de la felicidad y la suerte para usted, que ella está compartiendo con el que hay en el barrio.

Nacido en Santa Cruz de la Sierra, la vida de Marta tomó un giro curioso cuando visitó a su hermana en el pueblo vecino de Cotoca hace 13 años.

“Mi hermana estaba cocinando arepas y yo me enamoré,” ella brota. En ese momento, se nació un empresario.

Inmediatamente Marta supo que dejando su hilo y aguja para vender algo que amaba hacer – y comer – sería el comienzo de un futuro mejor, aunque no fue fácil.

“Yo estaba con muchos, muchos nervios cuando empecé,” ella recuerda. “Al principio era demasiado caro y con una sola plancha hecho de barro para cocinar, la gente tuvo que esperar casi 15 minutos para hacer su pedido. Fue difícil, pero después ya con mucha paciencia y con las sugerencias de mi cliente, me dijeron que era su mejor parte de su día. La paciencia dio sus frutos.”

Aún hasta ahora, ella siga vendiendo todo su lote antes de cerrar a las 7pm.

El secreto de su éxito? Un amor inquebrantable por el pán de maíz y queso.

“Solo vendo lo que me gusta. Probo todo lo que hago cada mañana y si no me gusta y no es perfecto, lo boto y empiezo de nuevo. Siempre mantengo alta calidad.”

Mientras es bien cierto que su snack de la tarde se ha convertido en un gran éxito, los planes de su futuro ya no están tan seguros.

“No está claro el futuro. Puede ser que sigo 13 años más pero quién sabe? No pienso en el futuro mucho por que me encanta donde estoy ahora mismo. Ohh! Ya está. Queres una arepa?”

I Am Bolivia is a series building a photographic census of Bolivia through environmental portraits and short stories. All photos copyright Jessica Janoski Photography 2015, for inquiries contact Jessica at [email protected]

The post I Am Bolivia: Marta Alba appeared first on The Bohemian Diaries.

Meet Selva. She is the mother of one, grandmother of two and caretaker of ten.

Every morning after shuffling kids through a bare doorframe and stowing away mattresses from the night before, she prays among her piglets for yet another quiet and peaceful day. And then, the 64-year-old brushes herself off and gets to work.

To Selva, happiness doesn’t come from the few sales of honey each week that provide a much needed income boost. It doesn’t come in the form of rainwater she manages to collect that is the envy of many neighbors. Nor is it promises from government that conditions will soon improve in the small indigenous town of Ibiato where she lives.

“Happiness is living peacefully with your spouse and children. It is having everything under one roof and not living divided.”

And that is exactly what she has. Seven people live in her single room shack, which also doubles as a soda, a snack shop, where she sells cold Coca Cola and sugar cane sweets. And while it may be due to the fact her community is split between those speaking Spanish and those that preserve their native language Sirionó, or the fact that she lived years away from her family while they tried their hand at life in a larger city, Selva is determined to keep unity in the household.

“To be even happier I need a bigger house to keep them here as they grow!” she laughs.

Just twenty more jars of honey to sell and her tacuara (bamboo) house renovation will be underway.

I Am Bolivia is a series building a photographic census of Bolivia through environmental portraits and short stories. All photos copyright Jessica Janoski Photography 2014, for inquiries contact Jessica at [email protected]

The post I Am Bolivia: Selva Lecaro Rivera appeared first on The Bohemian Diaries.

“The key to happiness is actually quiet simple. The love and care you have for everyone is the same love and care you also receive. Be open and friendly to everyone, not only to friends and family, and you’ll see happiness in life.”

Meet Marcial. As a tour guide in his hometown of Uyuni, he is a man who does what he says, showing kindness and caring for tourists day in and day out through the world’s largest salt flats. It does, after all, bring him closer to realizing his dream.

“I like the opportunity to learn new things and meet new people, but my dream above all is to learn English. And to have a nice car.”

And with reason. The 43-year-old has spent the better half of his behind the wheel, moving from the cold highlands at the age of sixteen to the tropical city of Santa Cruz working as a chauffeur. Twenty-five years later he “finally” realized his wheels belong back on the dusty trails winding through deserts and mountains closer to his family where he hopes to start his own.

“My advice to everyone is to come and see the best part of Bolivia. My country, my Bolivia.”

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“Te cuento que, en realidad, la clave para felicidad es simple. A tener cariño y amor a todos es el mismo amor y cariño que  recibirías también. Ser amable y abierto a todos, no solo a la familia y a tus amigos, pero todos y vas a ver felicidad en la vida.”

Conozca a Marcial. Como un guía turístico en su ciudad natal de Uyuni, él es un hombre que hace lo que dice, mostrando la amabilidad y el cuidado para turistas de día a día a través de las salinas más grandes del mundo. Lo hace, después de todo, traerlo más cerca de realizar su sueño.

“A mí me gusta la oportunidad de aprender cosas nuevas y conocer gente, pero sobre todo mi sueño es aprender Inglés. Y para tener un buen coche.”

Y con razón. El 43-años de edad, ha pasado la mayor media de su vida detrás de la rueda, moviéndose desde el altiplano frío en la edad de dieciséis años a la ciudad tropical de Santa Cruz trabajando como chofer. Veinticinco años después, “por fin” se dio cuenta de sus llantas pertenecen vuelta por los senderos polvorientos manejando a través de desiertos y montañas cerca de su familia en la espera iniciar su propio.

“El consejo que tengo para todo el mundo es que venir a ver y conocer lo mejor parte de Bolivia. Mi país, mi Bolivia.” 

I Am Bolivia is a series building a photographic census of Bolivia through environmental portraits and short stories. All photos copyright Jessica Janoski Photography 2015, for inquiries contact Jessica at [email protected]

The post I Am Bolivia: Marcial Morales Moreira appeared first on The Bohemian Diaries.

Liliana Flores Burgo

Meet Liliana. She lives off a stretch of highway connecting the bustling cities of Santa Cruz and Cochabamba in the roadside town of Sugal. This isn’t, however, the center of her world. At nine years old Liliana has another place in mind she would one day like to call home.

“Every night I dream of France,” she says. “To become a doctor and then come back to Bolivia and help kids.”

Her motivation? “No one here is a doctor, so I want to be one.”

Edu “Messi” Cabriza Vizron

This is Edu, Liliana’s neighborhood friend. He too, dreams big, of an aspiration that mirrors many throughout the world.

“I’m the second Messi of the world!” he states. “It’s true! Everyone calls me that.”

The future futoblolista says if given the chance to play soccer professionally anywhere in the world, he would play for Brazil. And not just because they’re good, he adds, but its close enough to home that he can still play basketball with his friends on the weekends.

Edu, pictured above left and center right, practices his autograph with his friends of Sugal, Bolivia. 

I Am Bolivia is a series building a photographic census of Bolivia through environmental portraits and short stories. All photos copyright Jessica Janoski Photography 2013. For inquiries contact Jessica at [email protected].

The post I Am Bolivia: Liliana Flores appeared first on The Bohemian Diaries.

Marcelo Alvares

Meet Marcelo. At 30 years old he’s found what most people spend lifetimes looking for – happiness. Little did he know ten years ago when he fumbled with his first embroidery that sequins would eventually become the key to his success. While Marcelo sews and designs at his “studio,” Bordados Imperial, he considers himself much more than a tailor.

“I’m camba! (from Santa Cruz). The most local you can get, let’s say! I create [these costumes] for the tradition of dance and music, to preserve the spirit of my city. Que viva Santa Cruz!”

As a costumer, carnaval is undoubtedly his favorite time of year – when the dancers parade about in his designs and bright ensembles. Every year his goal is to outdo himself, to shine brighter and make something more brilliant.

“I’ve never going to leave this, I love this job, this life. This is what life is – color, dance and happiness.”

I Am Bolivia is a series building a photographic census of Bolivia through environmental portraits and short stories. All photos copyright Jessica Janoski Photography 2013, for inquiries contact Jessica at [email protected]

The post I Am Bolivia: Marcelo Alvares appeared first on The Bohemian Diaries.

Nicolasa Zerán

Meet Nicolasa. Her national ID claims she is 51 but she could really be 52. She doesn’t exactly know in what year her April 12 birthday falls and so, she chose the later for the record. She can, however, recount spending the last 25 years selling strawberries and other fruit on the same corner, of the same market, for ten hours of everyday. A native of Potosí, Nicolasa moved with her mother when she was eight years old to the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra where a bigger economy and better work awaited. She’s pretty much been here ever since. And though the market is all she knows, Nicolasa’s weathered face and chapped hands keep her dreaming of the chance to trade her wheelbarrow for a proper shop, to own a car, and to move her six children, the youngest of which is 12, out of their shared home and into one she can call her own.

“But what am I going to do? I work to eat and to live today. Y eso es.”

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Conozca a Nicolasa. Su carnet dice que ella tiene 51 años, pero realmente ella podría tener 52. No sabe exactamente en qué año cae su cumpleaños de 12 de abril y por eso decidió por ser más joven para el registro. Sin embargo, ella puede contar los últimos 25 años que han pasado vendiendo frutillas y otras frutas en la misma esquina, del mismo mercado, por diez horas de todos los días. Nativa de Potosí, Nicolasa se mudó con su madre cuando tenía ocho años a la ciudad de Santa Cruz de la Sierra, donde las esperaban una economía más grande y mejor trabajo. Se ha quedado aquí desde entonces. Y aunque el mercado es todo lo que sabe, Nicolasa con su cara desgastada y las manos agrietadas mantiene su sueño de la oportunidad de cambiar su carretilla por una tienda apropiada, ser dueña de un auto, y mudar a sus seis hijos, de los cuales el menor tiene 12 años, de su vivienda común a una que pueda llamar suya.

“Pero ¿qué voy a hacer? Yo trabajo para comer y vivir hoy. Y eso es.”

I Am Bolivia is a series building a photographic census of Bolivia through environmental portraits and short stories. All photos copyright Jessica Janoski Photography 2015, for inquiries contact Jessica at [email protected]

The post I Am Bolivia: Nicolasa Zerán appeared first on The Bohemian Diaries.