16 June 2008

 

 I am writing this entry at 11:45am Colombian time—an hour before EST. I had no delays and I didn’t get lost so I am off to a good start! The place I am staying at is nice. It is by no means a four star hotel but it is a definitely practical and in a decent location.

 

I am extremely tired but I have already begun getting to work. I called Juan Munévar and we are set to meet this afternoon or tomorrow. Juan is a former student of University of Kent-Brussels and is currently working as an analyst at International Crisis Group here in Bogotá. I have been in contact with Juan since early March and he has been very helpful. I haven’t spoke with him since late April and I think that he was actually a little bit surprised when I called him and said that I was here.

 

Tomorrow is a big day. I am attending a briefing at Nuevo Arco Iris in the morning and will be interviewing Luis Eduardo Celis afterward—he is a former ELN combatant and also the head Nuevo Arco Iris. I am hoping that it goes well and I look forward to it with a nervous anticipation. My Spanish is not where I would like it to be but I have not spoken English to anyone since I have been here so I have a bit of confidence.

 

I will post an entry tomorrow. It should be the most interesting one that I have had to date. I am looking forward to it.

 

Thanks for reading,

 

-Pat