While spending a semester studying abroad in Ecuador, Bwogger in exile, Sara Vogel, fell into an internship with the press office in Ciudad Eloy Alfaro, where the country's brightest and finest (we hope!) are hard at work forming the Republic of the Equator all over again, and for the 21st time. Her dispatch:
I just got a text message from Luis Hernández, a bald ex-colonel in the Ecuadorian military and one of the 130 people charged with writing the country's new constitution. It reads:
"Hola, como estas? Soy Luis Hernandez. Cuando conversamos sobre la democracia y la libertad de expresión en USA?"
(for the Spanish-challenged: "Hey, how are you? It's Luis Hernandez. When are we going to talk about democracy and freedom of expression in the US?")
I didn't expect text messages stalking after I interviewed Sr. Hernández as an intern for the Ecuadorian Constitutional Assembly's press office. But I also never thought SIT Study Abroad would be able to deliver a job like this for the three-week long final independent study project all SIT students must diligently complete. Maybe it was less the program that set me down in this over-air conditioned office, and more the networks of friendship and patronage that grease the wheels of Ecuadorian politics generally: SIT's directors knew a woman who knew a guy who knew a guy.
April 29, 2008
@ 2:04 PM
|
13 comments |
Post a comment | 
|
| 
About Us
Bwog is compiled by the staff of The Blue and White, Columbia University's undergraduate magazine.
Contact Us
Please send tips to bwgossip@columbia.edu.
Questions or concerns? Email bweditors@columbia.edu.
Bwog is always looking for new writing talent. Email bwog@columbia.edu.
In Print
Search
Comment Policy
Our Favorite Comments
Bwogroll
IvyGate
Papertrail
Open University
Wonkette
City Blogs
Gothamist
Gawker
Craigslist
City Room (New York Times)
Overheard in New York
Community Board 9
Stop Columbia
Eater
Curbed
Other School Blogs
Wesleying
Gadfly (Harvard)
MadsVassarBlog
Sex and the Ivy (Harvard)
Elliot Back (Cornell)
OnwardState (Penn State)
Columbia Blogs
WikiCU
Light Reading
GS Lounge
Columbian Cokane
The Hungry Lion
Roar Lions Roar
Phlog
the(pro)be
EcoReps
Columbia Dems
The Blaaag
Editor Josh
The One Train
Lumilux
Igloo on Wheels
Bored@Butler
Five Plus One
The Columbia Critic
Queued Paper
The Columns
ReflectivePundit
wang.
2nd Law
el participante Commentariat
The Core Junction
Off Broadway
CollegeOTR
Greater or Smaller
The Mayor's Hotel
Barnard Zines
Peter and Rob Make Lists of Things
Technical
| Our headlines are syndicated through Atom. |
 |
This site is powered by the Publicate Content Management System, which is available for free. |
 | Our interface icons are from the free Silk set. |
Visit Our Sister Site
Events
Curious about life as a MechE major in SEAS? Ever wonder what you can do after graduation as an Applied Math major? Here's your chance to chat with faculty, alumni and graduating seniors from every department over a FREE dinner.
December 1 (Satow): Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Applied Physics & Applied Math, Material Science
December 2 (Party Space): Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Earth and Environmental Engineering
December 3 (c555): Industrial Engineering & Operations Research, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering
RSVP at www.cuengineering.com by Wednesday, 11/26. Limited seats are available.
Questions? Email got.fud@gmail.com
Swing by to enjoy the pies and the Thanksgiving cheer with your Hillel family! Awwww.
The theme of the night is PIES, so come VOTE for the BEST PIE in the first annual HILLEL PIE CONTEST!!!
The study break will be THIS TUESDAY at 10:00 PM.
Where? On the 3rd floor of Hillel (606 W 115th St b/t B'way and Riverside, across from Shapiro residence hall).
Brought to you by your thankful e-board.
Monday, December 1st
8:30-10:00 PM
Interested in public health? Whether you're pre-med, pre-law, or even
a psychology or economics major, public health is a lifelong interest
you can pursue in just about any career or academic field. The Careers
in Public Health panel will introduce wide arrange of paths and
opportunities and answer any questions you may have about reaching
your goals.
You don't want to miss out on this great panel. Free food and refreshments will be served!
Date:
Monday, December 1, 2008 from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Location:
New York Public Library, Morningside Heights Branch, 2900 Broadway (at West 113th Street) New York City
Contact:
Arezou Raeisghasem, ar2393@columbia.edu
Event Description:
Speakers: Various
The Columbia University MA in Climate and Society presents "Breaking the Ice: Carbon, Climate, and Change, with four Columbia University graduate students in a facilitated workshop about understanding climate change. Find out how scientists know the story of Earth's climate. Also learn some skills for interpreting and discussing the science behind climate change. Open to the public.
Sponsors:
Earth Institute
Web Site:
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/climatesociety/news.html
Date: Tuesday, December 2
Time: 7-9pm
Location: Earl Hall — Dodge Room
Praying with Lior an engrossing, wrenching and tender documentary introduces Lior Liebling, also called "the little rebbe." Lior has Down syndrome, and has spent his entire life praying with utter abandon. Is he a "spiritual genius" as many around him say? Or simply the vessel that contains everyone's unfulfilled wishes and expectations? Lior - whose name means "my light" - lost his mother at age six, and her words and spirit hover over the film. While everyone agrees Lior is closer to God, he's also a burden, a best friend, an inspiration, and an embarrassment, depending on which family member is speaking. As Lior approaches Bar Mitzvah, the Jewish coming-of-age ceremony different characters provides a window into life spent "praying with Lior."
Directed by Ilana Trachtman│Documentary│87-minutes
Group discussion following the screening. Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to oucfilmseries@columbia.edu. For additional information, please contact 212.854.4194.
Date: Wednesday, December 3
Time: 7-9pm
Location: Choir Room - St. Paul's Chapel
The Office of the University Chaplain invites members of the Columbia community to explore how the HIV/AIDS epidemic has affected communities of faith--not only the external work faith communities have been committing themselves to but also the internal implication the epidemic has had on the way such communities have approached their faith. Dinner will be served. Please RSVP to commonmeal@columbia.edu.
This event is part of our Common Meal series, a program that facilitates informal conversations over dinner about issues salient to faith communities.It is with great excitement that we invite you to join us for the 2008 Queer Issues Forum with President Debora Spar and Dean Dorothy Denburg (facilitated by Q).
When: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 6:30pm
Where: Sulzberger Parlor, 3rd Floor of Barnard Hall
What: A discussion of LGBTQ issues, transgender students at Barnard, and the mission of women's colleges
dinner will be served
Come. Bring friends. Ask questions. Speak up!
Please RSVP to clubq@barnard.edu by December 3.
We hope to see you all there!
Sponsored by Q, Multicultural Affairs, and the Dean of the College.
Have a hankering for a nice hot cup of tea on a Thursday afternoon? Do you like to chat informally about issues of faith and spirituality from multi-faith perspectives? Tea Time with the OUC is for you. Tea Time is an informal weekly inter-religious dialogue sponsored by the Office of the University Chaplain. Feel free to drop by, and the tea is free, too!
Show opening
Friday, December 5
8-10 PM
basement of St. Paul's
FREE WINE & SNACKS
(2 IDs to drink)
Questions? Submissions? E-mail Jenny at jenny@postcrypt.info.
Facebook event
December 8th in Miller Theater at 8pm
Come join the CUO for an evening of spectacular classic music!
Our fall program includes:
Mosolov's The Iron Foundry
Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture
Shostakovitch's Symphony No. 5.
Visit our website columbia.edu/cu/cuo for more info and updates!
On December 9, 2008, John Milton turns 400!
Come celebrate his birthday at a special event/study break hosted by the English department, featuring readings from Paradise Lost by faculty and students.
301 Philosophy Hall, Tuesday December 9, 4-6 PM All are welcome