Oblivion ??? ….. Bolivia !!!!

I’ve been back “home” in Cochabamba for over 3 weeks already. My travels are becoming a distant memory. I hope anyone out there enjoyed reading my rambles and viewing the photos from my touring. I took almost 1500 shots - aren’t digital cameras wonderful !!!! A couple each of Machu Picchu and Iguazu Falls can also be seen on: www.tripadvisor.com (I’m Joel60). Anyone wondering where in the world to visit won’t be disappointed coming to South America. I still have several destinations in Bolivia on my list before I come home.

And so, things have returned to normal. The coldest part of the winter has passed. The days continue to be spring-like and the nights are getting more comfortable. I’ve been able to shed a few layers of sleepwear and socks, and don’t have to speed through getting dried and dressed in the mornings.

I was happy to get back to my friends here, and kids at school. They are the best part of being here. Because there were “extra” days of holiday, the Boss called everyone in for the last week for a series of Professional Development sessions. She didn’t want us to have too much paid vacation ! When I returned, she gave me a complete summary of the topics and important points covered. In the session on lesson planning she said things like: “Make detailed lesson plans but don´t rely on them, and be ready to abandon them if you get off topic and onto something interesting.” ….”Make sure you stick to the Global Plan, because you have to finish the texts, but don´t assign homework in order to stick to the schedule. The parents are complaining.” There were other presentations on Evaluation, and Teaching Reading. She neglected to tell me she used the materials I had brought and given to her for those. She told me how wonderful the sessions were and how well received they were by “everybody”. I asked all the teachers I know here and have yet to find “anybody”. It’s great to be back !!!

The public school teachers are back on strike, leaving us about the school operating. The other “American” schools follow the North American schedule and won’t be returning to class for another few weeks.

I’m enjoying going to the dentist here. The state of my teeth has been in need of much repair. I’ve had a few broken fillings and crowns replaced lately. Six teeth repaired, and a cleaning and I’m almost up to $400 in charges !!! I hope my dental plan will recognize the work done here, which would reduce my costs by half. At these prices it’s worth coming down here for the work — the vacation would be free.

Things are going to get very interesting here next week. Wednesday is Independence Day, when everyone will be united celebrating - parades, fireworks, lots of drinking … then next Sunday the 10th is the National Recall Referendum which will likely divide the country in two. The division seems to be along racial lines. The (white) Spanish community who are generally the wealthy half wants to vote “No” and remove President Evo Morales and his MAS ( Movement Toward Socialism) party from office. Since his election almost 3 years ago, he has carried out his promise to introduce a new constitution, which would give greater rights and opportunities ($$$) to the indigenous people ( Quechuan, Aymaran, and almost 3 dozen smaller groups). These represent the “Si” vote. There was supposed to be a national referendum on this new constitution, but it was cancelled as four of the districts started holding their own autonomy votes, in May and June. The power struggle between Morales, the country’s first indigenous president, and a group of pro business oriented governors - including the wealthier, gas-producing regions in the east of Latin America’s poorest nation - demanding more autonomy for their regions has forced him to put on hold some key reforms, chiefly his plan to give more power and state revenue to the indigenous majority from which he comes.

Apparently, the original rules of this vote state that the President and each of the District Prefects up for recall, must achieve the same percentage of the vote that they were last elected by. Thus, Evo must get 53.7% to remain President. This, apparently, was the first time a President was actually elected with a majority. With over a dozen political parties represented here, the Prefects actually have to achieve votes (much) less than 50%. One clipping I saw recently said: Only Cochabamba prefect Manfred Reyes, who last year challenged Morales to test his support at the polls but is now reneging on his ultimatum, is opposing the electoral battle. As an opposition prefect in the heartland of M.A.S.’s support base, Reyes knows his position is one of the most at risk.

Each side seems to have taken up the question of the Constitutionality of the vote (depending on how they projected the results, I guess), but with 4 out of 5 of the judges of the National Election Court recently resigning, a 3 vote quorum is impossible and the vote will proceed. One reporter here has commented how the “rules” for the vote change every day. He writes: The latest is that the elections officials now seem to think that the vote should go forward – a relief to know that all that public and private money spent on each side’s propaganda isn’t going to waste – but with a few modifications. Now each of the governors would either be in or out based on winning or losing a regular 50% majority instead of the complicated ´depends-on-what-you-won-with´ formula previously planned. President Morales, however, would still benefit from the old rules, letting him win even if his vote drops just below 50%. It seems to be a formula based on a rule of ¨whatever it takes to assure that everyone stays where they are.¨ How this fits in to legal and constitutional requirements is anyone’s guess. And these are just Thursday’s rules. They will likely change a few times more before the actual vote.

Also at issue is the location of the National Capital - La Paz has been the site of the National Assembly since the civil war of 1899, but a large segment want to see Sucre be restored as the Capital. Moreover, no one knows what will be the definitive reaction of the majority of the Bolivian people and also of the armed forces that, in Bolivia, have had strong participation in political activities and in some cases when the republican institutions have been threatened by communist conspiracies. Can’t wait for August 11.

One of the best things I’ve read, in writing this, comes from the President: “When some jurist tells me: ‘Evo, you are making a juridical mistake, what you are doing is illegal’, well, I do it even if it is illegal. Afterwards I tell the lawyers: ‘if it is illegal, you make it legal, that’s what you have studied for,’” added the ruler.

I’ve seen more marches and assemblies around the city and have missed many more. I have heard of blockados within the city, and have read of those traveling by bus from Cochabamba to Sucre having to get off the buses, carry their baggage through the blockade, and find a ride on the other side. Fred’s wife has made me promise to stock up on canned foods, pasta and rice, in anticipation that the situation will get worse before it gets better…

I’ll be home when I run out of tuna.

Next Saturday will be 200 days here. I haven’t started counting the days until I leave.

Hope everyone is having a good summer. I hear it’s been a little damp up there.