oh, politics.

hey team.
SO. this blog is going to be fairly about the political situation right now in bolivia.
because i would say, at the present moment, its a fairly large.. ´hot potatoe´ for lack of a more unlame metaphor.
SO. the long and short of things, before I go into how its kind of affecting life here.
(sorry if a little bit of this information isnt bang on, but this is what i´ve gathered from the spanish i can piece together. so its probably all wrong. lol kidding, its probably 90% correct)
ANYWAYS.
ok. so the population of bolivia is about.. 60% indigenous, 40% mixed/european descent etc.
the main amount of the percent of mestizos (the mixed, euro) live in santa cruz, where i live.
santa cruz is the largest city, and as you can probably guess, the most wealthy. so they´ve always held all the power.
NOW. Evo Moralez (sp? on the last name) ran for president, and he´s an indigenous man. So the indigenous people realized they could vote one of their own in, and so they did.
And now, basically long and short, there is a huge backlash right now from santa cruz etc - who now wants independence and the ability to govern itself - from the rest of bolivia
because now Evo is spreading the money more around the country, giving more to the indigenous, the elderly etc - and santa cruz isnt enjoying its money getting spent for these purposes - and also claim that Evo is spending their money innapropriately/is scared of losing their money, etc.
I´m not sure the full story on this either, i´ve only heard the biased form from people from santa cruz - so i´m sorry i dont have a more complete report of this -
but Bolivia has a wealth of natural resources - mostly gas, as well as iron and others.
before Evo came into power - companies from the states and other countries had major companies here, and Bolivia wasn´t profitting. However, Evo came into power, and reclaimed the gas for Bolivian compaines, and for the Bolivian market. Which I´d say is a good thing.
But, Bolivia has been barely able to keep up the demand for their gas to their own country as well as the surrounding ones, and because of the blockados that are being set up around the city of Santa Cruz, the gas isnt reaching the city - and propane is what people use to cook here -
and so theres big shortages, and people are getting REALLY upset at the government, and its wild - on my ride to my professoras house every morning there is the most gigantic line up of people all with propane tanks outside of this distributing place.
The people of santa cruz claim that evo is hiding the gas from them, and stealing it. but i dont know.
Santa Cruz is also starting to talk to other countries again, such as the states, and bordering countries, wanting their involvment now with regards to the gas, and potential military aid. And i hope that doesn´t happen.
And, people just destroyed the gasline to Brazil, so now Brazil isnt too happy either - but I think thats fine.

So anyways sorry. Ok. so what is happening now.
For the last week, people have been putting blockados up on the roads leading to places. It started off just to, Argentina, and a few different cities - but now has spread to every road leading outside of Santa Cruz. So we´re blockaded in.
Then today and yesterday, rebels from Santa Cruz took over the post office, train station, and bus station. So theres really no way to get anything in or out.
And that includes us, we were supposed to go travelling this weekend, so thats unfortunate.
And three days ago, is when action really started happening in santa cruz -
rebels (ok, to clarify however, that makes these people sound really dangerous - which they arent really)
they are only firing flairs and rubber bullets right now. they arent dangerous because they ARE from santa cruz, and they dont want to harm santa cruz, or its people. well, harm the city a bit, but not the people really.
but, for example, the day that it started - they took over the 4 government buildings, a tv station, and.. intel phones lol - but i´m pretty sure that one was just for looting. people looted all of the phonecards and stuff - but obviously intel just cancelled those phonecards - so that was a kick for them lol.
but ANYWAYS. we were hoping that everything would go down today, but its unfortunately only increasing.
acts of violence are being committed against indigenous people here, which, just makes me so.. frustrated/sad/mix of emotions that i obviously cant describe it well.
It´s just very different being here, than sitting at home and watching on the news. These people are just wonderful. I knew unjust violence would hit me hard, and it is.
But anyways. Apparently we´re hearing now that they´ve took over the 3rd ring where I live, and are starting fires throughout the city etc.
I¨m fairly certain its still fairly unviolent - the people of santa cruz still dont seem too worried about it. Because it´s their own people. It´s still more to just make a statement.
But the more it goes on, the rowdier it gets.
It is still most likely that soon, this will just disappate.
Because right now, what is the point? They are ransacking their own city, which really doesnt make sense lol, and they´ve blockaded trade, yes - which IS a kick to the government.
but its also a kick to them. and sooner or later, whether you´re camba or coya, everyone is going to need stuff in this city.
SO. hopefully soon, it will disappate. Butt.. there isss a distant chance of a civil war. Apparently we came in an ´interesting time in bolivia´s history.´ Before when the smaller, richer, percent of Bolivias population was in power, things were running ´smoothly.´ But now that the indigenous are in power, things are finally coming to a head. Lots of the change is good, I´d say. Bolivia is the poorest country in South America, and the poor need to be heard, and helped.
But, theres not a lot of democratic thought going on right now. It´s one side, or the other. No in betwee, no discussion. It´s even really interesting seeing the news - because whether you watch coya or camba news - you see the exact same story, but spun in an ENTIRELY different way. It´s actually almost comical. But its because theres no real, accountability for the news. Theres not enough stations, enough people, enough ways to be like ´no, hey, you cant tell the story that way. that didnt actually happen. ´ So. the news has a lot of sway here. And its really putting the two sides more and more against eachother.
But, in general, thank goodness the bolivian people are just so warm and nice, and for the most part dont want violence. Hopefully that will win out, and things will calm down, and the two sides will just kind of breathe and listen to eachother and simmmer down. Thats still the most likely thing thats going to happen. So lets just hope for that.
Buttt, still in any case, I dont think I can go home tonight - i´m kind of stupid too and forgot my copy of my passport, and our visas arent in yet -
and two of our mcc workers just got stopped by the military tonight -
and it probably wouldnt be the best if i got stopped, a solo gringa girl, with no phone, passport or visa, and who cant speak the best spanish yet.
So, its all cool, i´m just going to wait this out here, and have a nice night.

OTHER than all this political crazyness - my days have actually been going really well lol.
Yesterday we went to a pool, and since its so hot, that was just fantastic.
I´d say i´m also getting a more firm grasp on the spanish here. It´s just, well, ok. Heres how i would describe it lol. In Spain etc - i would call that, proper spanish. (oo, my sister here would super hate that lol, bolivians think their spanish is the best in the world).
BUT. i´d call bolivian spanish, santa cruz spanish in particular, street spanish lol. and its rad, i like it alot, its just a bit harder to understand/learn. Like, when i talk to my professora (whos a 65 year old woman who loves pronounciaton and grammer lol), or, other white people here - i can understand. But still, when carla (my sister) is speaking super fast, i´m like, ´wooahhhhh carla. lets calm down please. dessppaaccioo´ (slowerr).
but. we´re getting along so well. she is just the best. so that´s wonderful. she makes me laugh a ton.
maybe because the other day, shes learning english,
and instead of saying ´focus´ she said
thats the main fucurs. haaaaaaaaa. i was laughing so hard, and she was like ´what! what! fucurs? whats wrong with that. kathleen! fucurs. fucurs. kathleen!´ ahh. fantastic.

anyways. i´m going to bounce. go make myself some instant coffee, with powdered milk (it actually, tastes better than it sounds lol)
and chill out for the night. since i´m not going anywhere. oo, apparently we´re making some food. :)
my days though, other than being a bit nervous right now, are going well. my culture shock phase is passing, and i´m really starting to enjoy this culture, the people, and my days. also, as my spanish is improving, its just making my days so much easier.
i can have conversations now with my family, and tutor where i dont sound like i´m in grade 2. at least i´m like, grade.. 6 now. lol.
and, i´m starting to meet more people my age too, which is just, the best.
I guess this is obvious, but, starting to have friends now and being able to talk to them is making my days pass so much more quickly/lots more fun.

But, I still miss everyone a bundle though - but i mean, i´m sure that will just stay a little constant. which i´m happy about. it gives me a good balance - excited to be here, and excited to come home and be with everyone again.

I have to go though. Love/miss you all, i´ll write an update on the political sitch when I get a chance. If you can, keep Bolivia and Santa Cruz in your prayers.

Kathleen