VOLUNTEER ESSENTIALS
Probably the most popular purchase with the volunteer move-in allowance - not a CD player - but key equipment to copy and make mix tapes.
What is a dual-deck cassette player, boom box?
This dapper training center 'chofer' sported Ray-Ban sunglasses, with a 'must-have' Ray-Ban case on his belt; proudly driving volunteers in his minivan.
Who was Rocky/Roque?
Chose the 'lomo' over the 'tripitas' unless you like eating these.
What are intestines?
This 1993 Counting Crows album was on heavy rotation for many volunteers.
What is August and Everything After?
Shorthand for Los Estados Unidos.
What is EEUU?
It was foolish not to sleep in one of these, unless you were at an altitude above 10,000 feet.
What is a mosquito net?
This painfully shy tech-trainer introduced himself with his back faced to the trainees, uncomfortable and reluctant to face the group.
Who was Bob Brox?
If you made it to the Chaco, it was essential to enjoy one of these deep-fried fish -- so long as you were astute at picking through a million bones.
What is the Sabalo?
This pulpular movie was released in October 1994; most Bolivia volunteers heard the soundtrack before they saw the movie.
What is Pulp Fiction?
In English, this political party would be called the National Revolutionary Movement.
What is MNR?
Every volunteer was given one of these bulky, fragile items to take out to their site, for this critical purpose.
What is a water filter, or water filtration?
If you wanted a burger & fries, and an ice cream sundae at Bambi's, you would need to take a trufi into "Coach" . . . but you could head the other way, and find something to eat on the little plaza in this nearby town.
What is Sacaba?
Lucky for Bolivia #10, the training center had moved from El Alto to Cochabamba, otherwise trainees would almost certainly been eating their fair share of Cuy; otherwise known as this.
What is Guinea Pig?
Bolivia volunteers were certain to read books by these two popular authors; each had a novel hit the NYT bestseller list in 1994, 1995, and 1996.
Who were John Grisham and Michael Crichton? (The Chamber, The Rainmaker, The Runaway Juror -- Disclosure, The Lost World, Airframe)
Like an extra terrestrial, you would need to phone home and let family know you were coming home early, because you had decided to do this.
What is ET?
Volunteers would keep up with current events, with a regular subscription (and irregular mail delivery) of this publication.
What is Newsweek?
This training center training center director, prefaced some of his best declarations with a long draw and exhale from a cigarette.
Who was Bill Green?
If you enjoyed a plate of 'picante de lengua' you would be eating this organ.
What is the tongue?
This 1995 Oscar Best Picture provided ANOTHER soundtrack full of nostalgic 1960s hits that Bolivia volunteers ate up like a box of chocolates.
What is Forrest Gump?
Tech-trainer Brian Riley earnestly schooled us on our future role as Peace Corps volunteers in the world of development; without a hint of irony he called it this.
What is RVD?
Each Peace Corps medical kit was equipped with Pepto-Bismol tablets and a couple dozen of these.
What are condoms?
Few host families had running water, if you wanted to get clean, you needed a couple gallons of water, full day of sunshine, and one of these.
What is a sun shower?
Stomped with bare feet in the morning sunshine and freeze dried over many nights, this did not taste much like potatoes.
What is Chuňo?
This Colombian singer made her way into the US market, and Bolivia volunteers tape collections with her 1995 album "Pies Descalzos."
Who is Shakira?
You needed to go to one of these offices if you wanted to talk with someone back home.
What is ENTEL? (Empresa Nacional Telefónica)