Well, this will be brief, because this is visit #2 to the internet cafe. During the first one, I bought my ticket to Bolivia! You thought I wouldn't actually do it? Well, I fly out of Mexico City on June 23rd for La Paz. I am excited, and I think I'm ready.

Here in Oaxaca, things are very interesting in the public sphere. The public school teachers of the state have been on strike for 2 weeks now. And striking here doesn't just mean not going to work! It means that thousands of them showed up with tents and plastic tarps and turned a 6 block by 6 block (or something close to it) radius into a giant tent city. It's like a giant festival. There are also lots of vendors selling food, pirated dvds, cheap jewelry...the main plaza has turned into a market! It´s also kind of wierd because being outside in this area is like walking through people's houses. Oh, and there are all these ropes holding up the tarps. I think they were hung with the 5 ft 1 in person in mind, because I have to walk bent over. This is especially fun at night after a few beers.

So far, things have been peaceful. The teachers apparently do this every year. Someone told me it is sort of like a subculture. But this year, it seems the government hasn't given the teachers or the unions the augmented budget they want. I don't really know the details. But they are still here, and usually they leave in a few days. Last week, there was a big march. I think there were like 4000 people, not just teachers, but people who are supporting the teachers (campesinos, parents, other unions). Tomorrow, there will be an even bigger march. People are coming from all over the country to support the teachers, from really powerful unions. I think they are going to try to pressure the current govenor to step down.

It has been interesting to see the government's response to the strike, which is...well, nothing visible. In the states, the teachers would have been beat up and thrown in jail immediately. It seems really cool that they are able to do this here, but I think it is part of the government's way to make people feel like they have power, when they really don't. Also, it pisses a lot of people off who own businesses and work where they are camped out, so it might decrease their public support some. So, this is my theory, my book should be out in the fall....

I'm sure this concerns some of you, but don't worry! Oaxaca is way too touristy of a city for the government to try to use major force here. And I'm staying out of things, I don't want to get deported like some other foreign activists have already!