Learning

This weekend our connecting peoples directors came with their family to Cochabamba. They are such wonderful people and have 3 cute, friendly kids so we have a great time. They took us to a few NGOs to learn more about the politics and culture in Bolivia so we can better understand the context we will be living in. The first place we visited on Thursday was Fundacion Ghandi, which is a foundation that works to educate the people of Cochabamba on issues of peace and justice. The director and workers were all under 30 and clearly passionate about improving the lives of Bolivians. They told us about the political transitions in Bolivia - from dictatorships in the 60s & 70s, to neoliberalism in the 80s & 90s (a more subtle form of dicatatorial rule and privitization) and the movement to the left in 200s and the election of an indigenous president.

On Friday we visited Compa Cochabamba, which is a theatre program for youth. They gave us a private performance in their courtyard and even though I could not understand the language, the nonverbal communication was powerful. They wore black face makeup and mix-matched costumes and acted out the arrival of the spanish, the oppression and resistance of the indigenous peoples, and the political and racial confrontations that have occured recently. Halfway through they played drums that they had made themselves. It seemed amazing to me that these teenagers could so powerfully portray these complex issues and emotions, but then this is their life and their history. this troupe has traveled around Bolivia, South America, Europe, and been to Chicago, and I think they are definitely making an impact.

On Saturday we went to a Catholic preseminary just outside the city. It´s for young men who are considering priesthood and also teaches classes on the bible. It was beautiful with shade trees, flower gardens, and freshly tilled fields awaiting the planting season. We met with Tonya, a theologian and professor of symbology. She explained to us Andean (indigenous, traditional) spirituality and a ritual. These traditions have been practiced for thousands of years and she wanted us to understand how important they still are today. Afterward we shared a traditional meal outside. It was probably the coolest picnic I´ve ever been on! We had something like sweet potatoes, purple potatoes, corn with kernels the size of marbles, hard boiled eggs, salad, and more. Then we went into the chapel and I was absolutely blown away. Since many of the people who come to learn about the Bible speack Quechua or Amaraya and can´t read spanish, the priest commissioned a local artist to paint stories of the Old Testament and the Gospel. The paintings were so bright and colorful and the artist incorporated Bolivian imagery, so the people in the stories looked Bolivian. A professor at the preseminary explained that in Bolivia catholics like to dwell on the pain and suffering of Christ, which is evident because the first thing in the chapel is a lifesize figurine of Jesus on the cross. But this chapel is special, because you are encouraged to look beyond the suffering and see a massive painting of the hope and happiness of the resurrection of Jesus! It was just so amazing. I will try to paste pics when I´m back in Santa Cruz.

On Monday we visited the Democracy Center, which was begun in 1992 in California and moved to Cochabamba in 1998. The workers are a mix of North Americans and Bolivians, and they work in investigory writing and teaching advocay workshops. They had a lot to do with the water war in 2000 of reporting to the world what was going on and supporting the publization of water. I´m reading this great book right now that they edited called "Dignity and Defiance" about Bolivia and globalization. The director Jim Schulz had great advice "Always think that you have no idea what is going on, and 99% of the time you´re spot on." So while in Bolivia I will try to be unassuming and listen as much as I can!