Job Discussion Forums

[ithos]

Anyone living in Bolivia care to shed some light on what the ESL situation is like there?

I play the Charango so I have a vested interest in Bolivia over other South American countries, though I'd also like to hear from people in Columbia particularly Cali on what the ESL situation is like there.

I'm an ESL newb with a sociology degree and masters in environmental planning, I'll be doing a CELTA and I'm 23 yr old Irish male. Any advice greatly appreciated!

Last thing has anyone heard of these recruiters?

http://www.teachabroad.com/listingsp3.cfm/listing/44093

says they've been around since 1983 and no experience required for their teaching positions?!

[Justin Trullinger]

Don't know teach abroad.

For Bolivia info, search Gambasbo, a poster here, and find him on myspace or spacebook or whatever those *beep* websites are called... (he doesn't actually visit the forum much anymore, but was always a willing source for BoliNewbies.)

But why Bolivia? It is't the country with a long and rich history of Andean music. The charango, the quena, all your big Andean sounds are available in Ecuador and Peru!


Best,
Justin

[ithos]

Cheers for the info Justin, much appreciated, I'll have a look for Gambasbo and see what he can tell me.

Ah but Bolivia is THE place for Charangos, the Peruvian charango is somewhat different to the Bolivian one.

The traditional Peruvian body is like a mini guitar not the armadillo shell shape of the Bolivian charango.

Also I think the birth place of the charango is in a part of the Andes which is in Bolivia though I'm not sure of this.

Aiquile in the Cochabamba area of Bolivia is known as having some of the best charango makers in the world. I believe they hold an annual charango festival there which I would very much like to go to.

There is a family I think in La Paz who are very famous, Orosco I think is the name, though there are many in the family (the old man is a bit of legend and had... I can't remember how many children but somewhere between 30-60!) many of them carry on the family tradition and are charango makers, Eddie Orosco being one of the most famous at the moment. I hope I got all that right!

So you see that is why Bolivia =)

[Justin Trullinger]

You seem to know your stringy thingies. Hope that the Bolivia guy I mentioned is around some where. If I remember right, he's in cochabamba.


I think you'll find that the armadillo charango is the "traditional" one throughout the andes- they're quite common here, with the caveat that they're high end, professional instruments.

The tourist versions here tend to be all wood construction, but even the best of these still follow the shape of the traditional armadillo.

By the way- you don't want to buy one made of a real animal. When last I knew, they were classed as endangered, which means it would be pretty reprehensible, and could carry serious penalties for trafficking into the US. (There's a confiscated one, with a list of the laws that its importation violated, in an Atlanta airport display on endangered species trafficking...)

I love the sound of a charango- but wouldn't want to do time for it!

Best,
Justin

[ithos]

Yes you're right that the Armadillo shape is the traditional one I should have said there is a modern school of Peruvian shape is flat backed like a mini guitar.

I disagree on the real shell ones being better or higher end than wooden construction, though maybe on the ground out there it is different. From what I've seen and heard the wooden construction ones are far better in terms of tone (shell is too brittle sounding, though some like that of course) as they are usually made from a solid piece of tone wood so the weight of the neck and headstock will contribute to better resonance (like the difference in through and bolt on neck guitars) and longevity (the shell ones are the most likely to implode!).

A lot of it is just preference, similarly with nylon or steel strings. I've never played a steel string as they are hard to come by outside of SA, yet another reason to go!

I haven't had a chance to look for Gambaso yet, I'll have to sign up to some of those social network sites I think haven't seen any recent posts by him here.

Check out the music of Jaime Torres or Hektor Soto for some amazing charango playing. Yup sure do love the stringy thingies! =)

Here's some links to good Charango sites http://www.charangobolivia.org/

http://www.aicharango.org/portal/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=38

If you look at the Peruvian luthiers in the second link you'll see the flat backed shape I was talking about.

[Justin Trullinger]

Cool stuff- another "inovation" common around here is a very slim bodied electric charango. I keep meaning to pick one up to play with...

(I'm not a serious charango guy- but all music is good if it's good.)


Best,
Justin