The Blog is One Year Old

Readers:

This month the Blog from Bolivia turns one year old.

I started this on a lark, originally with the idea that it might be interesting to put up observations from time to time about life in Bolivia, a way to offer a little insight to those living far away who wanted to know something more about what it is like to live in this beautiful country.

A year later this Blog has 2,000 to 3,000 loyal readers a day. It has become an important information source for everyone from journalists to the worrying parents of US Peace Corps volunteers. All over Bolivia I keep running into people I don’t know who say, “Hey I read your Blog all the time.” Who would have thought?

After some encouragement we opened up a comments section, which has been, well, lively to say the least. A US journalist who passed through town recently said to me, “Well, the thing about Internet journalism is that you are basically writing to people who agree with you.” Hey man, check out the comments.

Thank you to everyone who has made this Blog a success, including the people who devote so much time and energy going after everything I say (and yes, I do miss the stalkers who used to add a link to an anti-Jim Shultz Web site to every posting). Everyone needs a hobby and I guess trashing me is as good as any. It keeps me honest.

Thank you all, for your interest, your ideas, and your support this past year. I think it is safe to say that 2005 has been an interesting time in Bolivia. And 2006 promises to be more interesting still.

Thank you and happy holidays to all.

Jim Shultz
The Democracy Center