Jan 18, 2007 - Una semana después

Well, it's been a week since I last wrote, and the situation here is a lot different.

As usual, political analysis can be found at the Democracy Center's blog. On the streets, there were a few protests early this week from the campesino side, mostly in the Plaza Principal calling for Manfred's resignation. However, if you're more than 2 blocks away from the central plaza, you don't really see anything. I was walking past the correo (Post Office) the other day to buy some postcards, and passed some of the protesters chatting amongst themselves, eating lunch. A much more domestic scene than the ones I recounted in my last email.

For those that have not yet gotten a good description of what I'm doing:

As a lot of you know, up until the end of November I was working for a very awesome advocacy group called Progressive Maryland doing community outreach and campaign work, and I'm in Bolivia working with a great group called The Democracy Center doing a combination of research, writing, advocacy, and international solidarity work. My official job title is Campaigns Coordinator. First, though, I'm going to be writing a chapter on Bolivian emigration for a book that the Democracy Center's putting out. I'm excited to be published

So right now, that means going through the interviews, identifying main themes, highlighting parts that I am most likely to use, etc. This weekend and next week I'm going to read through studies, get some facts and figures, etc. And then I'm going to do the bulk of my writing, analysis, etc.

Send me letters or postcards! (A lot of you have asked for my address)
Lily Whitesell
Chuquisaca 501
Cochabamba, Bolivia
Telefono: 425-7003

Since there aren't mailboxes here, the phone number is just in case no one is home.

Give me your address if you want a postcard!