Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Peacefully blocked

Companeras companeros saludos,

In my last entry i alerted you that today would be Paro Civico throughout the country. We have a few hours left of Paro, and in such a weird way, I must say WOW what a great day. Paro Civico ( when your city is not directly involved in physical unrest) equates to the sweetest snow day ever. Last night my bro and his friends had a little reunion of joyousness to celebrate the eve of a birthday. everyone was able to celebrate care’free cuz knowing the snow day was to come. The night was full of guitars and singing and young shenanigans, not exactly what I was thinking would precede the doom the news was fortelling, but in Bolivia life is this funny mix. The eve passed in much the same way that Paro did today. I awoke today to my happy busy family downstairs spraying down every inch of their outside patios. I suppose if crazyness outside unfolds, you best be keeping your inside surroundings spic and span.

Anyways, Cochas Paro civico for the Cuba Bordas consisted of: futbol with little kids in the tranquil streets (although attitudes in Cocha are delightfully ¨tranquilo¨´ streets are NEVER so), basketball, popsicles after basketball, Almuerzo Pariallda (grilled meat meal eaten outside with friends,which my fam only has for special occasions…apparently snow days count), several games of cards, ún descanso rest time (which led to the nap I just woke from), joining my sis and mama´s Xmas sewing project, and now it´s almost 6 and Paro in Cocha will have passed peacefully. Oh yeah and literal Paro consisted of really pretty tree branches thrown across all major road ways and bridges to prevent any movement that doesn´t involve popsicles and happy sports game playing people. Since Paro is a political demand of a certain group of people (right now with greater mobilization in different parts of the country), the people not so involved get to enjoy a crazy lax day of biking in the streets and playing as if a generation younger than you actually are.

Hopefully this subsides any worry some of you may have had for me. Sadly, Cocha is an exception. I haven´t gone to watch the news yet but imagine that Sucre and possibly Santa Cruz continued to be quite the violent mess today. I described a bit of my very lame and very new understanding of what has been happening here in Bolivia in the last week. For a much better update, please read today´s entry of the Democracy Center´s blog (in ENGLISH) http://www.democracyctr.org/blog/2007/11/constitutional-reform-in-boliviaand-now.html. These are foreign and native journalists based in Cocha who have been following the unrest in Bolivia since the Water War of 2001. They have a left leaning stance and when I was here last were very much in support of Evo. I see now that with this last report indigenous Evo has lost some of his appeal. They do a great job of explaining what the latest bloody mess in Bolivia is all about. It is good for me to have this to contrast the words of my host family which follow the more conservative (and always economic) side. My dad fears the country is turning more socialist eveyday and this it is. But even now the socialists don´t seem to be representing anyone but their own narrow interests, and there lies the protest on every end. Evo, who has been fighting the way the media has covered the latest unrest, has gone as far to say that he will socialize the modes of communication at any cost. He wishes to not have one corporation or family running/corrupting the sources of information but like his other moves of socialist nationalization, the results will be mixed at best. In Santa Cruz (the city where I´ll be living for half my time with the clinic) offical offices were taken over on Saturday by protestors, but again this seems minor disturbance and not unusual for business here.

I´m not sure as an American I´ll ever truly understand Paro Civico. What I see through the news is a lot of angry looking faces fighting whatever and whoever they can. Evo doesn´t seem as strong and hopeful as when I was here last and the country is more divided than ever. It was a nice day, but Oye chicos …. to enjoy a real snow day ya gotta have some snow!

Oh yeah tonight I also met with Hanna, my friend from our original study abroad program in Cochabamba. She has also returned to Bolivia (funded by a grant) and is currently living in Mizque an outlying village of Cochabamba. She´s been here three months already, seems strong, accustomed and happy. It´s pretty amazing that we have both returned, able and wanting, to know how it actually is to live and work here. Oh yeah, and speaking English was a joy. Hearing about what a horror it is to procure a work visa, not such joy... pero lo que sea.

All the best guys. Keep me on my toes with what´s happening in all of your lives and what´s what in that amazingly stable country of ours:)

Monday, November 26, 2007

para MAS

Hi guys,
I write this post in my first real moment of repose since getting here. My days thus far have been a whirling dervish like movement filled with words rapidly spoken that I half understand, places, people and games that I half remember, and the reality of my transcontinental move that has only half sunken in.

I represented you all today (in beautiful La Gringita appearance) in my walk through the streets of Cochabamba. It was fun to retrace my study abroad steps. I nonchalantly waltzed into the office to surprise and warmly greet Heidi and Patti directors of my program. Both my old friends and the city seem well --happy in their place and always anticipating the constantly changing horizon.

Heidi, the only non-Bolivian of the program seemed a bit pre-occupied with the state of the State here. Seeing that this is pretty much exactly as I left her, I wasn´t too surprised. Just so you know, yes the balancing act that is Bolivian politics and economy seems to be teetering towards unrest once again. The issue seems the same as I left it more than a year ago. In 2006 Evo Morales, the first Indigenous president of Bolivia was triumphantly elected. He promised to represent change for the good (for the many versus the few) and set the steps in motion for a new Constituente Asymblea, an assembly of el pueblo to rewrite Bolivia´s constitution. The struggle since is over representation.

Ironically in the time that I left Bolivia, all has been relatively calm. Said very simply, in conjunction with the Constituente in full swing, tension is rising. The easiest fight to explain is between the richest region of Santa Cruz (the area where I will be living) and the rest of the country. The rich region with their gold silver and natural gas wish to not be brought down by what they deem to be the rest of Bolivia´s not very profitable, not too presentable and not so civilized self. The capitalists of Brazil, Venzeula, the USA, all have interest in this region. Again in lamens term individualized interests and and monetary success vs. equality, anti-racism and the betterment of common good. Anyways “en Bolivia todo es protesta.” Bolivians, from every sector, never fear mobilizing in hope to change the future history of their tortured country. My meager explanation is better summed up in political action in pretty much every city when the pressure is at its most. In the past view days most of the protest have been centered in Sucre and right now in Santa Cruz people are really into the burning of Venezuela and Cuba´s flag. The news channels announced today there will be national Paro Civico on Wed. This happens a lot, not always nationally though (and again ironically will be first in a whole year´s time). Basically all commerce in the country shuts down and whoever is guiding the strike makes sure their demands are heard. It´s an interesting state to be in and for the most part, in situations like this there is never any telling of what will or will not happen next. I would assume that foreigners are not in any more danger than anyone else, and as we all know if this changes, the US Govt will be quick to pronounce it. Also all of these comments refer to the general situation here. What is happening at this exact moment is not momentous.

With that said, in daily life of work and play all passes as normal. I walked through the Plaza today and stumbled upon a small mobilization of the elders of the working class. As some of you know I studied for a month and produced a film about such political expression in the Plaza Mayor. Looking out on these protesters faces… many quite experienced and weathered in age and in life.. I was once again reminded of what mobilization means here in Bolivia. Where as standing up for ones rights has become a euphemism in the States, it is still very much a physical action here. I know that in the States we often sacrifice stability for nothing. For sure, constant unrest in Bolivia has never met its happy balance. However, it has taught me that faith in at least feeling part of direct representation is powerful, effective or not.

Oh yes, the curious have asked of my flora and fauna. Of course I´m new, but thus far they seem quite pleased. I just knocked on wood. My host family in fact is quite pleased to me having returned “bien formada”. I left them in a not so hott skeleton state (due to amoebas that are now gone). Now ´m prepared and came with reserve, just in caseJ. Anyways do not fret, my body right now is the most strong and formed part about me. And soon off to a clinic I go, so por favor no pasa nada.Love. Please direct me with questions when you have them. Feedback the blog so it can better feed u.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Where to locate me

Inquiring minds tell me they wish to know where to send snails through the mail, besitos y abrazangos (XOXO), urgent memos and the rest. If you so choose, please note the following:

Packages:
c/o Drs Molitch-Hou
1427 William St, River Forest, IL 60305

Letters:
c/o Molitch-Hou
2140 Calle Arryo (Barrio Aeronautico)
BOLIVA

Lovin:
c/o Wireless Internet, Tropics - Santa Cruz
BOLIVIA

Extra Lovin:
c/o Horse and Buggy, Jungle - Los Palacios
BOLIVIA



.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

He llegado!

Hello kids,

Although the official giving of thanks day is over, I still send my gracious appreciation to all of the well wishes i received. If I can continue on my own with half the confidence and love yáll have for me, I should be just fine on this new adventure. The positive energy got me here safe and sound (yes, as sound as each of you can picture me to be).

As my title states, FINALY i have arrived! I´ve been in Bolivia about 24 hrs now (it took me about the same amount of transit time to get here). Of course I´m still experiencing the place and space transformation daze, but all in all I am happy to return to this country that intrigued me so much the first go around. I´m in Cocha now with my warm and welcoming host fam. It took us the amount of no time to get back into the groove of things. I entered the casa exhausted- they greeted me , served me a refreshment and sent me up to my room to reconnect/unpack/rest. After having been in the travel state for more hours than I can remember, my bed was the first thing I said hello to. To my surprise, immmediately I was swept into a deep sleep for the next two hours only to awake to the ¨Raych, nos vamos?¨calls of my sweet host mama and sis (this continuous Vamos(ing) state, I remember well). I was simuletanously dreaming what my next lived step in Cocha ended up to be. That´s pretty much the flow here. I´m usually not informed of exactly where and why we are going, but am always at the ready (in sleep and wake) regardless. I have only just discovered upon my return that despite my fluency in the espanol, often times even after the outing has commenced, I never can quite place the purpose of the "vuelto" (mini-trip) and my part in it. Let´s say, it´s all in the going. Sometimes ya just gotta go to have gone. No ve? (right?)

Bueno pues, I just wanted to touch base and let all know that all is well. As soon as the stretch limo pulled up to my gma´s house in NJ (this is a funny story) the trip has passed in famous style. I´m glad to be back.. surrounded by the vibrant smells sounds and sights that entice and complex me so. Oh yes and it´s summer here so said vibrancy is in full shine. Thus far high lights of the Cuba Borda house (my beloved host fam) have been: 1. Picking up right were with left off with an evening game of cards with the whole crew (side note: using the before unopened cards that i sent them from Oregon upon returning to the states--- they had waited to cristen the cards upon my return to the casa:). 2. La cancha.. the hustle and bustle of my favorite informal economy, la Cocha´s place of market. 3. the 80´s music DVD bought at la Cancha that we all just crammed onto the couch (in Ciesta) to enjoy-- Sweet Dreams are made of Thee is a sweet song and even though my host mom doesn´t believe me, that person in the suit singing it is totally a lady.

My feelings are mixed about the future, but it´s quite the comfort to return to such a wonderful fam that will always be just around the corner for any assitance, security and loving i may need.

Paz for now'´ i´m hearing the ¨vamos¨from down stairs, and well, that´s my cue:)-

lots of love always, i hope all is equally well in your Stately lives
R

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Hailed from the States


hi kids,
in my promise to "keep in touch" (in the only metaphorical way possible), i've decided to enter the sphere of blogs. as to update not intrude, interest not overwhelm, tell while not really telling... i figure this is a nice way to communicate each on our own terms. i lovingly will field personal emails as much as possible, but in the meantime, let these entries fill the narrative.

Background: little rachel travels to Cochabamba via Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Day of Thanks, Nov. 22, 2007. i travel here to first reunite with my beloved host family and then embark upon a year long (or more, or less) stint of learning, travel and growth as the Non-Medical Coordinator at Centro Medico Humberto Parra in Los Palacios, Bolivia.

love, love and i'll do my very best to communicate via ingles and lamens non-medical terms,
rachel lynn trottalotta asparagus