This last Sunday was referendum day in Bolivia. It was a vote of confidence for the president Evo Morales, and for all the departmental governments (departments in Bolivia are like provinces in Canada.) Evo was elected a couple of years ago with just over 50% of the popular vote. The province that I am going to and that all of the Bolivians here are from is Santa Cruz. Most of Santa Cruz does not like Evo and in the department of Santa Cruz he lost. Over all he won with 62% of the vote. Today I had a political discussion with my work counterpart Dennis and I will share some of that with you. I found it interesting that most of the information and news that I have found in English on the internet was from a very different point of view than that of my Bolivian friends.
One of the big issues for Santa Cruz department is departmental control over natural resources. The Bolivian government has control over all the natural resources in Bolivia which means that Santa Cruz has no control over it's resources and some people are very poor. What I have been told is that all the money was taken to La Paz and now there is none left to support the people of Santa Cruz. I'm not really sure how things would change if they gained control over the resources. What Dennis told me is that Evo Morales' political party is framing this movement for control over natural resources as a movement to separate from Bolivia. There are so many more issues in Bolivian politics right now and if you want to know more look it up but be careful. There are a lot of biases in international reporting as I have discovered.
Life in Cochrane is good though. My host sister and I just finished making some pretty delicious Chocolate Banana Muffins. They all get eaten up pretty quick though so we have to hide them. They are keeping us busy with a barbeque on Wednesday and some cleanup work with the Cochrane Environmental Action Committee on Saturday. We should start some language lessions soon too.
The Bolivians are learning English fast but most of the Canadians are pretty limited in Spanish. We struggle a lot with the difference between "muy" (very) and "mucho" (a lot) and "mas" (more.) We end up saying things like "a lot pretty" or "a little very please." My favourite so far was when my counterpart and I were talking about superlatives and how you can add "er" or "est" on to things. She then said something along the lines of "I will speak the goodest English!" and then asked me why I was laughing so hard.
All in all we are having an awesome time. I've almost been here 4 weeks which is a bit scary. Time is passing quickly!
Love to you all,
Anna
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1 comment:
I am sooo happy for you and that you are having a great time.
I too, have decided to take up Spanish. I have met a lot of Argentine people in the last week and absolutely loved them. My plan is to go to Buenos Aires and visit them, but I want to learn Spanish first. Just imagine - soon Charlotte, you and me will all be able to speak Spanish together (all different dialects, too!!)
I miss you, Anna! I hope you are doing well - are you allowed to have visitors ever? If I were to just swing by Cochrane in the fall, what would happen??
xoxoxoxo
tori
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