Bilingual International Assistant Services

In Bolivia, an important cultural practice is the traditional clothing worn by people native to the Highlands. Highland women in urban and rural areas wear traditional clothing including multilayered skirts and colorful shawls. These shawls, pictured below, are used for many purposes, such as holding goods, extra clothing, or even a baby! They are tied and balanced on the back to leave the hands free. Another important piece of traditional clothing is the hat, which has different shapes and sizes depending on the region of the country. #WorldWednesday

For our continuation of #WorldWednesday Bolivia, we are featuring important aspects of Bolivian culture! In Bolivia, there is a mixture of culture between indigenous traditions and Iberian (Spanish) traditions. This is expressed through music, dress, festivals, and food! In music, one important instrument is the charango - a hybrid instrument similar to a guitar with double strings and a sound box made from an armadillo shell or gourd. Other favorite instruments are the zampona (panpipes), quena (vertical flute), and the chajchas (type of rattle).

Our #WorldWednesday feature this week is Victoria Barmak! As a refugee from Belarus (in the former Soviet Union), Victoria personally experienced the challenges of being a newcomer and appreciates the value of the services Bilingual International provides. Victoria is responsible for recruiting, screening, and supervising the agency’s team of interpreters and translators. Victoria conducts interpreter training and collaborates with all departments at Bilingual International to ensure contract compliance, successful project management, and quality customer service. Victoria received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Yeshiva University, New York City and is currently an MA candidate in Communications at University of Missouri St. Louis.

Belarus’s Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park, pictured in the bottom middle, is a UNESCO world heritage site. Belovezhskaya Pushcha is famous for its for its ancient oak trees dating back more than 500 years and is home to more than 300 animal and bird species. There is even a song written about it, ВИА "Песняры" - "Беловежская пуща", which you can listen to here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PChKlToPMEE #worldwednesday