Bolivia is said to be a country deeply divided among geographic, class and racial lines. Contact across these boundaries are often limited to daily interactions that are not always on equal footing. However, the emergence of blogs in Bolivia have proven to provide a new stage for mutual communication. Another step in this interaction took place on September 1, when the first gathering of bloggers took place in the city of Santa Cruz. The meeting dubbed, “Bloguivianos [ES]” was primarily attended by bloggers from host city, but also attracted bloggers from all across the country. Photo of networking panel discussion by Hugo Miranda and used with permission. This was an opportunity for attendees to participate in a series of panel discussion about politics, literature, and networking. However, it was the personal interaction and the chance to meet face-to-face that was the real positive outcome of the day. Many documented the day's activities, but even more would reflect on the day's events on their own personal blogs. Post-gathering party. Photo by Miranda and used by permission. Edson Hurtado [ES] Todos estos días, estuve pensando en la importancia del Encuentro Nacional de Blogs… Y es que más allá de conocernos y reconocernos, el evento sirvió para confirmar que la nueva generación, la que ha nacido en democracia, la que está haciendo ciber-activismo ciudadano, la que está comprometida con la profundización de las relaciones humanas, y la consolidación de la tolerancia, está moviéndose para generar espacios de diálogo y reflexión. These past few days, I have been thinking about the importance of the National Gathering of Blogs… Beyond getting to know each other, the event served the purpose of confirming that it is the new generation, the one born under a democracy, the one doing citizen's cyber-activism, which has the promise of deepening human relations and tolerance, which is moving towards creating spaces for dialogue and reflection. From Santa Cruz, Ronaldo of Animal de Cuidad [ES]: Una vez terminado el 1er Encuentro Nacional de Blogueros, también conocido como Encuentro Bloguiviano, me voy con una libreta llena de chistes, frases, números de teléfono y, sobre todo, nuevas direcciones de blogs. Para mí, la necesidad de conocer a las personas detrás de las pantallas, saberlas diversas, distintas, pero en sintonía, fue lo más estimulante de todo. Está por demás decirles que el nivel de respeto, tolerancia y camaradería fue indescriptible, hasta el punto de hacernos reflexionar a todos -al menos a mí- sobre la importancia del diálogo y la valiosísima contribución que podemos hacer en este país tan dividido. Now that the 1st National Gathering of Bloggers has ended, also known as the Bloguiviano Gathering, I leave with a book full of jokes, phrases, telephone numbers and more than anything, new blog URLs. For me, there was a need to know the person behind the screen, and know that they are diverse, distinct, but in symphony, which was the most invigorating of all. In addition, the level of respect, tolerance and camraderie was indescribable, to the point to make us reflect – at least for me – the importance of dialogue and the valuable contribution that we can make to this country that is so divided. Oscar Gutiérrez Peña of Toborochi Urbano [ES] ¿No será la blogósfera ese espacio de interacción humana donde para poder relacionarnos no importe ya un carajo el lugar donde naciste, el color de tu piel o el precio de tu celular? El tiempo lo dirá. Isn't the blogosphere the space for human interaction where we can relate to one another without giving a damn where you were born, the color of your skin or the price of your cell phone? Only time will tell. Guitarrero Cantor [ES] No saben lo felíz que me he sentido este fin de semana. Y yo que pensaba que este país se iba al carajo, no che, es mentira todo lo que pasa “allá”. El sábado en el 1er. Encuentro Bloguiviano, me di cuenta de que una Bolivia nueva, puede ser posible. La Bolivia que quisiera estuvo ese día, ante mis ojos, y no me queda mas espacio en el pecho por llenarme de tanto orgullo. You don't know how happy I have been this weekend. And I thought this country was going to hell, no man, it's a lie what is happening “over there.” On Saturday during the 1st Bloguiviano gathering, I became aware that a new Bolivia could be possible. The Bolivia that I want was present that day, in front of my own eyes, and there is no more room in my chest for so much pride.