Bolivia situation guide
Calm reporting, decisions always routed onward
This chapter is entirely about calm, factual communication, describing what's observed ("está con fiebre", "le duele el estómago") without ever naming a diagnosis, and keeping every medical decision, medication, treatment, whether to see a doctor, with the parents and a medical professional. "Eso lo tienen que ver con la mamá o el médico" is the load-bearing line of the whole chapter: it's never awkward or unhelpful to say, and it protects everyone. Asking what the school needs ("¿necesitan justificativo?") rather than guessing avoids extra back-and-forth later. And when something more serious-sounding happens (a call about a minor incident) the calm sequence of questions (what happened, is he safe, who else knows, what's next) keeps the moment steady rather than alarmed.
Essential vocabulary
- asistir: to attend The core verb for reporting an absence simply and directly.
- la fiebre: the fever A simple, descriptive symptom word, never a diagnosis, just what's observed.
- doler: to hurt "Le duele el estómago" describes a symptom plainly, without naming an illness.
- el justificativo: the justification/doctor's note The document some schools require to formally record an absence.
- consultar: to consult Every medical decision routes through this verb, consulting the doctor, never deciding alone.
- avisar: to let know, to notify The core action of the whole chapter: keeping the right people informed, calmly.
- el incidente: the incident The neutral word for a minor school event (a fall, a bump) that needs calm reporting, not alarm.
Bolivian Spanish terms
- el pediatra: the pediatrician The specialist Bolivian families commonly consult for a child's health, always the correct routing point, never the family contact.
- no es nada grave: it's nothing serious A warm, common reassurance phrase used both by schools and families to keep a small scare calm.
- estar pendiente: to keep an eye on, to stay attentive A common way to promise ongoing attention without overpromising an action.
Useful phrases
- Hoy Santi no va a poder asistir, está con fiebre.: Today Santi won't be able to attend, he has a fever. The complete, calm absence report with a simple symptom description.
- ¿Necesitan justificativo?: Do you need a doctor's note? Checking the school's own requirement rather than assuming one.
- Eso lo tienen que ver con la mamá o el médico.: That's something you need to see with the mom or the doctor. The load-bearing line that routes any medical question away from the family contact.
- ¿Qué pasó exactamente? ¿Está bien?: What exactly happened? Is he okay? The calm, first two questions when a school calls about an incident.
- Vamos a estar pendientes del teléfono por si necesitan algo más.: We'll be keeping an eye on the phone in case you need anything else. Closing an incident call with calm, ongoing availability.
Learn this in the app
Children, School and Family Logistics in Bolivia, Spanish