Days like these

Long, but excellent day. This morning four of my co-workers presented an Incidencia Democratica investigation on security issues to the Association of Women Journalists. Which, you know, was great. The catch was that there were only three of us left in the office to put out today’s Daily Report!

But we got it done… and fairly quickly, too. Which was very good news because I needed the extra time to prepare my current events analysis for the volunteers of the Guatemalan Accompaniment Project.

Normally I don’t panic (too much) before having to give a presentation, but this one was a bit tricky. Why? Well, trying to make sense of Guatemalan current events is always difficult… but even more so when you’ve been in another country for the past two weeks.

So I had to hit the books (well, ok, not books exactly: the internet, newspapers, and, of course, our Daily Reports.) Thankfully, Quique was also able to give me a mini-analysis to help me bring me up-to-speed.

At 2pm (having skipped lunch for last-minute cramming) I headed to the Nisgua-GAP offices. I guess the conversation went well, because we were still going strong at 4:30pm. (So much for my one-hour time slot!) I have to admit that it was easy talking with the GAP volunteers because of their knowledge of, experience in, and commitment to Guatemala. Sometimes “preaching to the choir” can be fun!

And, because these accompaniers all live in rather remote communities in the Guatemalan countryside, I was able to learn a great deal from them about life outside of the big city.

The final good news is that I was presented with the latest issue of Nisgua’s “Reporte on Guatemala” which included three of my photographs…one of them on the front cover!

So, all in all, a terrifically satisfying day. Now it’s time for a terrifically satisfying sleep.