To those of you who got an email about an old post, sorry about the confusion! How excited you might’ve been if you thought I was working abroad again… sadly, that was from September. Regardless, I hope you all had a phenomenal end of 2019 and are finding your rhythm as you settle into 2020! I’ve enjoyed time with friends and family but what you might be more interested in is that I finally talked to someone at an IJM field office (that wasn’t Bolivia) and have some updates to share with you.
Bolivia
As of a few days ago the US Department of State lowered the travel advisory for Bolivia down from a 4 (do not travel) to a 2 (exercise increased caution). Talking with friends and coworkers there, I’ve heard that it has calmed down but they are all still on high alert. Rumors have it that supporters of previous president Evo Morales plan on mobilizing in a week for the nationwide holiday marking when Morales changed the name of the country from “Bolivia” to the “Plurinational State of Bolivia.” Morales himself is currently hiding out in Argentina trying to make his way back to run for reelection. Because nobody can know what the result of the next election will be (or when it will happen), IJM is standing by their decision to not send me back. There are concerns that it could be even more violent than the last time.
My Work
Through this evacuation process, the other interns have been able to continue working remotely to finish their contracts with IJM. I, however, am a Government Relations intern, and as my supervisor so delicately put it: “There’s no government to relate to right now…” Instead, I’ve been navigating calls from the Latin America Team and the Interns and Fellows Team (both at headquarters) and with the IJM leader in Peru. We are currently discerning if I should move forward in the Guatemala office (a big, established office where the Government Relations and Advocacy position is already filled), or help IJM in Peru.
Currently, IJM is doing a year of analysis in Lima, Peru, to assess the gaps in current violence prevention work. There are a lot of NGO’s working to help combat the prevalence of violence against women and children but the issue prevails. While headquarters continues to figure out the best place for me, I have been sent research to do in order to help the leader in Peru. She’s on the ground building relationships and establishing connections, and I will be able to help with the background work and presentations she is doing.
My Life
As I figure out if I am interested in joining the work in Peru or not, I’ll continue hiding out in the Midwest. It’s been a blessing to be surrounded by family and friends willing to help me find my feet in such uncertain times. I’ve been able to find some work to do in order to make up for the discrepancies in my budget (turns out living expenses in the USA are a bit different than in Bolivia) and was able to spend the holidays with family. My friends and I are still working on our predictions and goals for the New Year, let us know if you have any good ones yourselves 😉
The Debriefing Process
It’s been quite the process leaving “home” in Bolivia and coming to terms with the likelihood I won’t be able to return in the near future. I am working with an international packing agency and my landlord in La Paz to get my belongings sent to me (I was evacuated with a backpack of clothes). The silver lining: some friends were able to get into my apartment last month and grab the essentials (big electronics, medication, license etc.). The three of us who were evacuated from IJM flew out to meet them in Texas after they were sent back to the States as well. It was a much needed time to reminisce and get the closure we all needed after being stripped away from our lives in La Paz.
Thank you for your continued love and support! I am still coming to terms with everything and trying to trust IJM’s processes. My patience is being tested for sure, as well as my capacity for being out of control, but I can tell I am learning a lot. I can’t wait to be placed somewhere new soon!