Hey friends,
Doing well, we´ve met with the vice president, attended La Explocision de Poder Comunal(Explosion of Community Power) where President Hugo Chavez awarded money to different Consejos Comunales (Communal Councils) for different projects. We, along with Sean Penn and other international guests (some from Africa, Spain, Cuba, Argentina) were recognized by the President, and some of us go the opportunity to address him and the hundreds of Community representatives who attended the conference.
I´ve visited several barrios (poorer neighborhoods) where community leaders showed us around their community centers and talked to us about the history of the community. Especially their involvement in ¨el processo¨ (the revolution) both before Chavez and now with his leadership,and their resistance to oppositional media that tried to manipulate the country during the U.S. backed coup in 2002. We were mentioned in a newspaper, have been on 2 live radio shows in Caracas, live TV in Barquisimeto, and were interviewed for another paper in Caracas. Lots of community-independent media happenin down here! (Thanks to financial support from Chavez).
Everyone that I´m traveling with is just as interesting as Venezuela. Over 15 students who know a lot abjout history and politics(including 2 Canadian Sikh´s), about 5 professors, and 3 people (the family who´s leading the delegation) who live in Venezuela.
The spanish here is a lot different then anything I´ve heard before. Sometimes I can understand and sometimes not, it´s fun to try and when I get into a conversation with someone and we can flow about politics, education etc. I feel so alive, and joyful. Love, Elizabeth