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Thu Jan 19, 2017, 05:27 PM

TexasMommaWithAHat (3,212 posts)

Malia Obama's Secret Trip to Bolivia! (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/19/opinion/malia-obamas-secret-trip-to-bolivia-and-peru.html?_r=0

"The Bolivian guides were convinced it was the blonde. It had to be the blonde. American Embassy officials in November had told three brothers who led guided hikes across Bolivia’s majestic Cordillera Real mountain range that they would soon be hosting an important American dignitary. When a group of teenagers and a small band of American bodyguards showed up on Nov. 24, it wasn’t apparent to the guides that it was the president’s eldest daughter, Malia Obama, and not a blond companion, who warranted the extraordinary security measures."

The blonde?

Anyway, what a wonderful opportunity for her! She seems like such a sweet kid.

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20 replies	Author	Time	Post
Malia Obama's Secret Trip to Bolivia! (NY Times) (Original post)	TexasMommaWithAHat	Jan 2017	OP
Being black has advantages everywhere	malaise	Jan 2017	#1
Sounds like she really tried to fit in.	TexasMommaWithAHat	Jan 2017	#3
Remember how many times Oman himself	malaise	Jan 2017	#5
Are you a dad?	TexasMommaWithAHat	Jan 2017	#7
Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaah	malaise	Jan 2017	#10
Yep. Did all that.	TexasMommaWithAHat	Jan 2017	#13
The sister after me used to practice the gymnastics we had at school	malaise	Jan 2017	#14
It's been fun remembering.	TexasMommaWithAHat	Jan 2017	#15
Dad's mom had this lovely guinep tree	malaise	Jan 2017	#16
I'm sure it didn't!	TexasMommaWithAHat	Jan 2017	#17
A product of the family raising	madokie	Jan 2017	#2
Yes.	TexasMommaWithAHat	Jan 2017	#4
Absolutely	malaise	Jan 2017	#6
Just thinking about what we're loosing makes my old dry eyes	madokie	Jan 2017	#8
Like moving from a pleasant dream to a nightmare	malaise	Jan 2017	#11
"The Bolivian guides were convinced it was the blonde. It had to be the blonde." That cracks me up.	Hekate	Jan 2017	#9
Because it can't be	malaise	Jan 2017	#12
Definitely a teachable moment, as President Obama would say.	tenorly	Jan 2017	#18
Good for Her!	Leith	Jan 2017	#19
My daughter lived and worked in Bolivia	murielm99	Jan 2017	#20

Response to TexasMommaWithAHat (Original post)

Thu Jan 19, 2017, 05:41 PM

malaise (250,384 posts)

1. Being black has advantages everywhere

We're invisible to many.

Enjoy your life Malia.

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Response to malaise (Reply #1)

Thu Jan 19, 2017, 05:46 PM

TexasMommaWithAHat (3,212 posts)

3. Sounds like she really tried to fit in.

I would have never in a million years guessed that she went on something like this due to security concerns.

Good for her parents allowing something like this!

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Response to TexasMommaWithAHat (Reply #3)

Thu Jan 19, 2017, 05:48 PM

malaise (250,384 posts)

5. Remember how many times Oman himself

walked into restaurants, spoke with folk in parks etc. It's about not being afraid.
It's a wonderful asset.

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Response to malaise (Reply #5)

Thu Jan 19, 2017, 05:51 PM

TexasMommaWithAHat (3,212 posts)

7. Are you a dad?

Fear for oneself and for one's child are two completely different things!

I remember when my first child started driving, I thought I would have to live on xanax the first few weeks.

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Response to TexasMommaWithAHat (Reply #7)

Thu Jan 19, 2017, 05:57 PM

malaise (250,384 posts)

10. Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

malaise is female

I think our parents gave us more space than our generation and those after us gave and give their children.
We roamed the neighborhood, did stupid things, climbed trees, rode bikes without helmets, etc., etc.

I'm glad the Obamas let their kids escape from the 'Presidential life'.

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Response to malaise (Reply #10)

Thu Jan 19, 2017, 06:03 PM

TexasMommaWithAHat (3,212 posts)

13. Yep. Did all that.

And lots more. I got a pretty bad concussion playing baseball (not softball) in the field across from our house. My brother hit a line drive right into my head.

No adults around, of course. I do have to admit that my mom did freak out when she saw the lump on my head...a couple of hours later!

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Response to TexasMommaWithAHat (Reply #13)

Thu Jan 19, 2017, 06:17 PM

malaise (250,384 posts)

14. The sister after me used to practice the gymnastics we had at school

We'd all swing on a branch in this tree from the fence and were lucky not to hit the little concrete gutter beyond the fence but then she insisted on walking the damned fence, lost her balance and almost lost her front teeth - we still laugh at that one. We were freaking crazy.

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Response to malaise (Reply #14)

Thu Jan 19, 2017, 06:30 PM

TexasMommaWithAHat (3,212 posts)

15. It's been fun remembering.

My brother broke his arm falling out of a fig tree while picking figs, so my parents tried to keep us out, but we were back in days later. haha

DAMN, I hadn't thought about those figs in years.

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Response to TexasMommaWithAHat (Reply #15)

Thu Jan 19, 2017, 06:34 PM

malaise (250,384 posts)

16. Dad's mom had this lovely guinep tree

(a sort of plum). The tree was also full of hairy worms that stung - that didn't stop us

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Response to malaise (Reply #16)

Thu Jan 19, 2017, 06:47 PM

TexasMommaWithAHat (3,212 posts)

17. I'm sure it didn't!

nt

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Response to TexasMommaWithAHat (Original post)

Thu Jan 19, 2017, 05:42 PM

madokie (51,076 posts)

2. A product of the family raising

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Response to madokie (Reply #2)

Thu Jan 19, 2017, 05:46 PM

TexasMommaWithAHat (3,212 posts)

4. Yes.

No doubt.

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Response to madokie (Reply #2)

Thu Jan 19, 2017, 05:48 PM

malaise (250,384 posts)

6. Absolutely

Obama must have walked and talked with ordinary citizens more than any modern president

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Response to malaise (Reply #6)

Thu Jan 19, 2017, 05:51 PM

madokie (51,076 posts)

8. Just thinking about what we're loosing makes my old dry eyes

well up and stream of tears pour forth

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Response to madokie (Reply #8)

Thu Jan 19, 2017, 05:58 PM

malaise (250,384 posts)

11. Like moving from a pleasant dream to a nightmare

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Response to TexasMommaWithAHat (Original post)

Thu Jan 19, 2017, 05:57 PM

Hekate (80,242 posts)

9. "The Bolivian guides were convinced it was the blonde. It had to be the blonde." That cracks me up.

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Response to Hekate (Reply #9)

Thu Jan 19, 2017, 05:58 PM

malaise (250,384 posts)

12. Because it can't be

the 'black girl'

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Response to Hekate (Reply #9)

Thu Jan 19, 2017, 07:14 PM

tenorly (2,037 posts)

18. Definitely a teachable moment, as President Obama would say.

In their defense though, keep in mind that in Latin America race and status are very closely intertwined.

Thanks to their own often racist TV programming, moreover, the more provincial, uninformed Latin Americans are often of the belief that all important and/or wealthy Americans are themselves blonde or light brunette, with no African or Native American traits.

That said, I'm glad she had a nice time. I've never known an inhospitable Bolivian - on the contrary.

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Response to TexasMommaWithAHat (Original post)

Thu Jan 19, 2017, 07:14 PM

Leith (7,586 posts)

19. Good for Her!

I think that every young person should have the opportunity to go overseas at least once. I myself lived in Japan for 3 years back in the early 80s when I was in my early 20s.

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Response to TexasMommaWithAHat (Original post)

Thu Jan 19, 2017, 07:16 PM

murielm99 (29,310 posts)

20. My daughter lived and worked in Bolivia

for a while. She took college classes there, and worked in an orphanage. A short time after her undergrad education was finished, we financed a trip for her so she could visit Machu Picchu. I am glad we could do that for her.

I don't know why Malia chose Bolivia, but it is a good choice.

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