Conference Update

Well, I am glad that Drew still has energy, because I am already exhausted!  While I was sleeping all night, Drew was shuttling people back and forth to the conference center from the airport and bus terminal. He is still going strong today, we will see how long that lasts.

The conference seems to be going well. I wish I could give specific updates, but Drew and I haven´t been able to talk too much, and I haven´t been around the conference much either.  I work the logistical side of making sure everyone has toilet paper in their bathrooms (yes, apparently Bolivians don't provide that in their conference centers), buying medicine for the one woman who is sick, and making a million phone calls to make sure everything is ready for the next event.  Yesterday, I did get to take the kids to the zoo.  That was quite a fun trip.  These are kids from way out in the country side, just taking the bus through the city was something big and exciting for them, and for me too!.  I was surprised as they zipped through the zoo very quickly, then remembered that they live very close to these animals, in the wild.  So, maybe it isn´t such a new idea for them.  Nonetheless, we had a blast together.  Our fun got interrupted by a phone call from Drew saying Interpol had taken him aside as he was picking people up in the terminal.  He didn´t have his original passport on him, so I had to make the zoo trip a bit short and bring that to him.

I have heard some comments from participants being very thankful for the time we have prepared for them.  They say that they have never been asked some of these questions about their cultural identity and the things we are challenging them with are very much needs in their communities.

The conference will last through Sunday, then Drew and I should get Monday and Tuesday off.  That will be nice for us!  Maybe Drew will find some time then to update the blog on what really happened in the conference.