Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2008 8:30 PM
Subject: Evacuation Update

Dear Family and Friends,

First of all, greetings from Peru!  Secondly, I am completely safe.  As you may have already heard, there were recent bursts of violence in Bolivia and US-Bolivian relations are deteriorating.  The US ambassador to Bolivia was told to leave the country and the US responded in kind, magnifying the blow by withdrawing Peace Corps and adding Bolivia to a list of countries who've ""failed demonstrably" to meet their anti-narcotics obligations.

Looking at articles about our evacuation, you may be inclined to think that Peace Corps Bolivia was suspended because violence presented a security risk to volunteers.  CNN, for example placed a photo of Bolivian police in La Paz wearing riot gear in their story "Peace Corps temporarily out of Bolivia."  They do not mention that volunteers do not live in nor passed anywhere near La Paz and in fact are prohibited from going near any protests.   

Many Peace Corps Bolivia volunteers were very surprised to learn of our evacuation because they had felt no effects of instability in their sites.  Even the volunteer from the supposedly disastrous city of Villamontes was shocked, having just written her family saying "Please don't worry about me. Despite the fact that things recently have been a little tense, rest assured I am completely safe. This is my home now. The town knows me and my host family makes sure I stay out of trouble."   All the same, I agree that being overly cautious is wise in Bolivia, since situations can change very rapidly.  Safety concerns were cited by Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter as the reason for our departure.  And they probably were the main motivator, though not the only one.  

Peace Corps, unfortunately, has become another weapon in the US diplomatic arsenal.  To withdrawal Peace Corps is one more chance for the US to maintain its tough image and hit back, harder.  I have profound respect for Ambassador Philip Goldberg, but he was sent to Bolivia to be the stern face of the Bush administration to a wayward nation.  The ambassador he did his job, rising to every single bait thrown out by Bolivian government and appearing in Bolivian news almost daily.  President Evo Morales was able to build a case for his supporters against the US, and the rest is history.  As US-Bolivia relations chill, it's prudent to evaluate the path we have chosen.  The "tough talk" approach has left us with little chance to appeal to the general Bolivian public, worse off than when we began.

The third motivator for our departure was economic.  Like any good organization, Peace Corps must carefully consider it finances.  Costs spent activating emergency plans, last minute flight expenses, and numerous hotel bills were no doubt taken into account.  Had the Peace Corps program actually been doubled, as promised in President George W. Bush's 2002 State of the Union Address, this would not be much of an issue.  However, due to the budget cuts and the seemingly endless tumbling of the dollar, Peace Corps is like the proverbial hippie friend, a little strapped for cash and willing to cut corners.

All former Peace Corps Bolivia volunteers are currently in Peru navigating close-of-service paperwork and medical exams.  There is no overall group mood, and reactions vary widely depending on with whom you are talking.  I am heavy-hearted.  At the beginning I was sad to leave my Bolivian "mom," my dog, and my lifestyle.  Now, I am more upset to leave what I would consider to be the most important work I have ever done or will ever do.  

More than ever, Bolivia needs living examples of real Americans.  They need someone to dispel the myths, to let them decide for themselves about "the empire" based on first-hand experience rather than on what they were told.  They need someone to help, not for financial gains, but because the task exists and because it's the right thing to do.  

When I first got to Muyupampa, Bolivia over a year ago, I was walking along the street when a 3rd grade girl yelled "Gringa!" at me.  I stopped and turned around, giving her a better look.  Filled with curiosity, she stared.  "Sarah" I said, smiled, and walked away.  As the days went on she never stopped greeting me, but over time the greetings went from "Sarah" to "Sarita" and finally "Sarita!" accompanied by a big grin.  The day before I was evacuated, she ran up for her hug and then we walked a block holding hands, talking about school.

Everyone has a different plan for their life after Peace Corps Bolivia.  Some of the 113 will sign up for training and another 2 full years in another country.  Others will try to serve for a full year or the remainder of the Peace Corps time in new nation.  Others will go home.  Many have expressed a desire to go right back to Bolivia after we wrap up our paper work….to say proper goodbyes, finish or assure the completion of projects in progress, get pets, etc.  I plan to be among them.  Would we, as rational people, plan to return to a perilous war zone?  No.  Would we go back to a partially destabilized nation to finish the most important job we could ever do for both our countries?  In a heartbeat.

Hope to see you soon,
Sarah

Ingeniera Sarah L. Nourse
Voluntaria, Cuerpo de Paz
Muyupampa, Chuquisaca, BO