Ok guys.

So this was me ready for a quiet, pleasant summer break, just a seminar and a course and lots of game playing on Kong. But then the strangest invitation came and I am thrilled and can feel my heart beating faster already. Long story as short as possible: the mexican state of Chiapas (to the SE, next to Guatemala) is a very beautiful place I explored for 2 weeks in the early 90s. There was already social unrest in the area. 2 years later, in 1994, a civil movement started and the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN) was born. This rebel group has occupied some parts of the state and established their own governments there. They call them 'autonomous territories'. The rebels are now inviting academics and journalists from all over the world to their 'little school' where they will teach us the meaning of liberty according to them, the zapatistas. I received the invitation (as did my GF) and we decided we want to know what this is about. We both accepted. The teaching will take place in August from the 11th to the 17th, but I don't know if we will come back immediately after, Chiapas is so beautiful. I know, sounds crazy, right? If you want to read about this zapatista little school thing: http://tinyurl.com/pb6sskq and http://tinyurl.com/little-school And about Chiapas social reality: http://tinyurl.com/from-uruguay This school thing may come to nothing, a propaganda trick called off at the last minute, or a massive and creative kidnapping, or a trick to provide the government with a list of potentially troublesome citizens (the would-be students). Or a lesson where we learn to survive as these communities have done for many years: tired and cold, with limited resources, isolated, bullied and threatened by other ethnic groups. Or maybe they will just torture us with long hours of boring lectures in the leftist rethoric dead for the last 30 years. My political ideas are very cynical. I distrust any and all politicians and organizations with political ends. However, old as I am I do not know all and may well be mistaken. Perhaps they really have found some formula to make this country better, with justice for every one and a good government. After all, they now control and rule over part of the territory of a modern State. Just like organized crime has done, but without the bloodbath. Their problems are huge and they have persisted for almost 20 years. They must know something. Ok. That's all. Now I have 3 weeks to prepare for a trip to high and low rain forests, under conditions unknown, in the middle of the hurricane season. Don't know if we will have to hike carrying our backpacks, so keeping weight to the minimum. But I can't dismiss the possibility of the adventure turning into a survival situation, and I have to write a list of the things I'll regret not having with me if it comes to that. Have to do a lot of reserach too, so I'll be a bit busy, I'm afraid :P Some possible dangers: the weather, the mexican army (they harass the rebels), our hosts, the environment (flora, fauna, geography) and our unpreparedness or stupidity. And others I can't see right now.