I know it's been a long while since I've written...although I'm not sure how many people are actually keeping up with me:)However, I think I write to feel good and that's a pretty good reason!
It's the new year, 2009...and so much has changed and is changing. Not only in the world but just in my life.
I'm having a baby! :) I'm 14 weeks along and happy as can be with my boyfriend...I never thought I'd been going through this, because I always said nah at the age of 30 I'll worry about that. I think that is a perfect example that "life happens when you're busy planning" (john lennon said that)...but it's true. I can't express the sense of happiness that this baby has given me, people always talk about how amazing, how wonderful, etc...but I think that's an understatement. We both know that life has changed and will change as we know it, and the path will only get harder but it's not impossible. Our baby has become yet another motive to fight for the life we all deserve, we now want to fight for a good and fair life for our baby...that makes us stronger and happier by the day.
Life is in Colombia has obvisously changed my life in many ways...haha:) but besides that it has been amazing the life that I have here in Colombia, the things I have learned, and have accomplished. I can't wait to finish school to continue my fight for this world, through this world...I look forward to kicking ass. Although I must admit that it has been hard living in such a big city not only because of the cold (ha!) but also because of the poverty levels...My heart can't help but break seeing so many people suffering, so many children suffering...and I realize that sometimes their suffering is a result of their own decisions but I can't help my compassion and it goes deep. I realize that my greatest flaw is my lack of confidience to stand up for myself and my opinions, and that's something that I will overcome. I must overcome if I'm going to be fighting for so many people.
Obama won this presidential election!!! I cried the tears that so many people cried, it's beautiful to see how much we have changed as humanity, how much we have evolved...it only lightens up with future with hope. I'm amazed at how internationally loved he is...He will truly be a great president because of his charisma, his loyalty, his hope, his compassion, his fight...I became a fan of Obama when I read his book, Dreams From My Father, years ago...Then I made sure to buy Audacity of Hope and again it changed my perspective in a lot of ways. I think people who deny him and can't give a good reason for it, need to read his books and then decide on judging him. I think it's the only way we (spectadors) can really know him. After he won, then I found out I was pregnant, one of the first things I thought of was wow my baby will be born into a new generation to really have an African American as President of the United States of America...to be born in a generation of change. How exciting...
On the other hand, a few days later I was watching amazing documentaries (well, news specials) on CNN...one about genocide and the other was Planet in Peril...they both made me reach down into my soul and think twice about the world...about humanity. It's hard to admit there are horrible things happening in the world and it's even worse to think that there are a lot of people who don't care or who don't see it...It made me think that although my baby would be born into a new generation of cahnge, he/she would also be born into a world where the term and defintion of GENOCIDE exists...it shouldn't. And after so many years of chaos, blood, millions of lives, etc...we still can't overcome Genocide...why? I can only hope we can unite as HUMAN BEINGS and overcome war. I think it's gotten to a point where it's just plain ridiculous. We're better than this.
Today, I can't stop thinking about the Israeli-Arabe conflit...the massacre and war happening in Gaza. I did an investigation project over this subject and it made my eyes open wide...This is such a complicate situation because both sides have their arguments, both sides have suffered...but history doesn't lie. Justice will come, and Palestine will be free one day. We need PEACE IN THE MIDDLE-EAST...they really need it.
In conclusion, life is goooooooooooood:) of course besides missing my friends, my brother, and MY MOM!!!! But I'm growing a good sense of independence...I'm still fighting and still searching my soul...peace love and happiness to you in the new year!
Friday, January 9, 2009
Saturday, July 26, 2008
BOYCOTT THE 2008 OLYMPICS!
THIS IS MY STAND AGAINST THE 2008 OLYMPICS IN BEIJING, CHINA...I PERSONALLY WILL NOT ASSOCIATE MYSELF WITH ANYTHING RELATED TO THE OLYMPICS THIS YEAR. I
CHINA CONTINUES TO OPPRESS THE PEOPLE OF TIBET, BURMA, TAIWAN AND MONGOLIA, CONTINUES TO FUND THE SUDAN REGIME AND DENY ANY GENOCIDE THERE, CHINA ALSO FUNDS THE CORRUPT GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE, CHINA CONTINUES THE PERSECUTION OF RELGION AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH, CHINA ALSO CONTINUES TO KILL ON AN AVERAGE 22 PEOPLE A DAY BY DEATH PENATLY (SHOT IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD OR LETHAL INJECTION), AND SADLY THIS IS NOT ALL: WE MUSTN'T FORGET POLLUTION, AND THE FORCED ABORTIONS MANY WOMEN HAVE HAD TO FACE AS LATE AS NINE MONTHS INTO PREGNANCY...
EDUCATE YOURSELF AND FIGHT!!! http://www.beijingolympicsboycott.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWBl8pNyBIE&NR=1
CHINA CONTINUES TO OPPRESS THE PEOPLE OF TIBET, BURMA, TAIWAN AND MONGOLIA, CONTINUES TO FUND THE SUDAN REGIME AND DENY ANY GENOCIDE THERE, CHINA ALSO FUNDS THE CORRUPT GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE, CHINA CONTINUES THE PERSECUTION OF RELGION AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH, CHINA ALSO CONTINUES TO KILL ON AN AVERAGE 22 PEOPLE A DAY BY DEATH PENATLY (SHOT IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD OR LETHAL INJECTION), AND SADLY THIS IS NOT ALL: WE MUSTN'T FORGET POLLUTION, AND THE FORCED ABORTIONS MANY WOMEN HAVE HAD TO FACE AS LATE AS NINE MONTHS INTO PREGNANCY...
EDUCATE YOURSELF AND FIGHT!!! http://www.beijingolympicsboycott.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWBl8pNyBIE&NR=1
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Mi Vida y Ciencia Política
the following is an essay that I did for my psychology class about my life and events that have happened in my life and how they have affected my decision to studying polítical science...
Mi Vida y Ciencia Política
Yo he tenido la bendición de conocer y criarme entre dos culturas diferentes, la colombiana y el estadounidense. Mucha gente piensa que por que viví en los Estados Unidos tantos años, yo vengo de una familia con mucho dinero pero la verdad es que yo vengo de una familia más bien rica en amor y cultura. Me encanta revivir las cosa que han pasado en mi vida, las malas y las buenas, por que es la experiencia de la vida lo que te hace como persona.
Yo vivía en un barrio lleno de diversidad, todos los niños eran de países extranjeros como yo y por esa razón siempre fue fácil hacer y tener amigos, nunca me sentí como extrajera. Nunca me di cuenta que mi familia tenía muchos problemas económicos. Para mi era normal no tener regalos en navidad, o en cumpleaños, era normal recibir mercado de una iglesia o comprar ropa en tiendas que venden ropa de segunda mano. Era normal en la época de Navidad ir y ser voluntario en los lugares donde se sirve la comida a los pobres, o gastar el poco dinero que teníamos comprando regalos para los niños que no tenían nada. Mi mamá fue la que me enseño a no sentir pena por los malos momentos que se viven a veces, me enseño que la vida siempre podría ser peor y que yo nunca me debo quejar por las cosas que tengo mientras hay otros que no tienen nada.
Cuando entre a la segundaria, fue la primera vez que me sentí como extrajera, estaba rodeada por jóvenes que tenían muchas más cosas que yo y que no tenían una segunda cultura en casa. En ese tiempo, me olvide de todo lo que mi mamá me había enseñado y me deprimí mucho. No entendía por que la vida era tan injusta y por que a mi me tocaba pasar por eso sólo por ser extrajera. Me daba vergüenza no tener más cosas materiales y no poder ir a ciertas partes por aquello del dinero. Tenía pena del apartamento en que vivíamos, la ropa que usábamos mis padres y yo, y me sentía miserable por todas las cosas que no podíamos tener. De pronto esa era una diferencia entre la cultura que viví en mi casa (Colombiana) y en la que vivía afuera (Estadounidense). Aunque yo tenía muchos amigos que nunca me juzgaban, seguía sintiéndome sola y diferente. Un día me di cuenta de la persona en que me estaba convirtiendo y no me gusto, no tenía derecho a estar quejándome por mi vida. Observe todas las cosas que tenia y di gracias a mi mamá por darme todo lo que podía, incluyendo su grandísimo corazón. Desde ese momento cambie y me prometí a mi misma que nunca mas iba a quejarme, por que siempre hay cosas peores en la tierra; me prometí que nunca mas iba a juzgar a una persona o a voltear la cara a las cosas importantes de la vida. Me gradué del bachillerato con ideas importantes acerca del mundo, respaldándolas principalmente por mi compasión hacia los demás, respaldándolas en la idea de que cada persona tiene el derecho a vivir una vida feliz
Después del bachillerato, me puse a estudiar trabajo social, al mismo tiempo comencé a trabajar en un refugio para mujeres y niños abusados. En ese trabajo aprendí mucho más de acerca de la vida, aprendí que cada persona sufre sus propios problemas y que no podemos comprar las vidas de la gente. Me di cuenta que en el trabajo social no me podría acercar a las mujeres y los niños como amiga, ya que siempre es prudente mantener cierta distancia y el entablar amistad con ellos era algo que no podía evitar. Tome la decisión de cambiar de carrera y comencé a estudiar enfermería. En ese tiempo estudie mucho la situación del pueblo africano, su cruda realidad me hizo pensar en ir allá y trabajar como enfermera para luchar en contra de las enfermedades y su triste situación. Por aquel entonces, mi situación económica era muy dura, yo siempre he trabajado y he ganado mi propio dinero, después de mucho esfuerzo, logre cubrir mis propios gastos y deje de pedirles dinero a mis papas. El vivir sola (además de estudiar y trabajar) me hizo madurar mucho más rápido aunque fue duro alcanzar equilibrio y tranquilidad emocional.
Estudie enfermería tres años y empecé a pensar lo que seria mi vida en el futuro, me encanta ayudar a la gente pero me di cuenta que no quería trabajar como enfermera toda la vida. Salí de estudiar y empecé a trabajar en un bar, me encantaba trabajar como mesera o bartender por la cantidad de gente que conocía trabajando. Siempre cuando una persona en el bar me preguntaba que quería hacer con mi vida, yo respondía: “quiero cambiar el mundo, quiero ayudar a mucha gente, y quiero extender la felicidad a cada persona,” ellos entonces me decían “métete en la política, este mundo necesita alguien con tu corazón y tu sinceridad.” Donde yo vivía (Ames, Iowa) es un pueblo bastante grande, había mucha diversidad cultural gracias a la Universidad Estatal (Iowa State) pero yo empecé a sentirme atrapada, pensaba que el mundo era muy grande y que hay muchas cosas que aprender y gente por conocer en otras partes. Gracias a que mi papá ya vivía en Bogota, tomé la decisión de mudarme a Colombia para finalmente conocer mi país, mi familia, y claro para mejorar mi español. Me vine con ganas de aprender mucho más de lo que había aprendido en los Estados Unidos, entender las diferencias culturales y políticas, y por eso inscribí dos clases de política en La Universidad de Los Andes, y más tarde entré al programa preuniversitario aquí en la Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. Yo siempre había querido ir al África para ayudar y cambiar tantas cosas injustas que pasan allá, pero después de comprenderlo que esta pasando en mi propio país, creo que es mejor permanecer aquí, pues aquí también hay mucho trabajo por hacer.
Lo que he pasado en mi vida tiene mucho que ver con la decisión que he tomado de estudiar Ciencias Políticas, he visto el nivel de vida de muchas personas en Colombia (y en el mundo) que sufren por guerras, pobreza, violencia y falta de educación. El sistema de educación necesita mejorar para que cada niño tenga la oportunidad de estudiar y tenga la oportunidad de mejorar su futuro. Yo estoy agradecida por las oportunidades que he tenido en mi vida; he vivido en otro país, conozco otra cultura, se otro idioma, he tenido una buena educación y he podido trabajar para obtener mi independencia y madurar mas rápido. Por todas las oportunidades que he tenido, yo quiero que cada niño tenga las mismas oportunidades, creo que mi país puede ser uno de los mejores países del mundo: Se puede lograr pero primero necesitamos que el mundo vea a Colombia sin la mala reputación que tiene. Necesitamos mostrar la belleza, la fuerza, la pasión, y la unidad de Colombia a través del valor que tienen todos y cada uno de los colombianos, sobretodo su infancia y su juventud, nosotros tenemos el futuro de Colombia en nuestras manos.
Mi Vida y Ciencia Política
Yo he tenido la bendición de conocer y criarme entre dos culturas diferentes, la colombiana y el estadounidense. Mucha gente piensa que por que viví en los Estados Unidos tantos años, yo vengo de una familia con mucho dinero pero la verdad es que yo vengo de una familia más bien rica en amor y cultura. Me encanta revivir las cosa que han pasado en mi vida, las malas y las buenas, por que es la experiencia de la vida lo que te hace como persona.
Yo vivía en un barrio lleno de diversidad, todos los niños eran de países extranjeros como yo y por esa razón siempre fue fácil hacer y tener amigos, nunca me sentí como extrajera. Nunca me di cuenta que mi familia tenía muchos problemas económicos. Para mi era normal no tener regalos en navidad, o en cumpleaños, era normal recibir mercado de una iglesia o comprar ropa en tiendas que venden ropa de segunda mano. Era normal en la época de Navidad ir y ser voluntario en los lugares donde se sirve la comida a los pobres, o gastar el poco dinero que teníamos comprando regalos para los niños que no tenían nada. Mi mamá fue la que me enseño a no sentir pena por los malos momentos que se viven a veces, me enseño que la vida siempre podría ser peor y que yo nunca me debo quejar por las cosas que tengo mientras hay otros que no tienen nada.
Cuando entre a la segundaria, fue la primera vez que me sentí como extrajera, estaba rodeada por jóvenes que tenían muchas más cosas que yo y que no tenían una segunda cultura en casa. En ese tiempo, me olvide de todo lo que mi mamá me había enseñado y me deprimí mucho. No entendía por que la vida era tan injusta y por que a mi me tocaba pasar por eso sólo por ser extrajera. Me daba vergüenza no tener más cosas materiales y no poder ir a ciertas partes por aquello del dinero. Tenía pena del apartamento en que vivíamos, la ropa que usábamos mis padres y yo, y me sentía miserable por todas las cosas que no podíamos tener. De pronto esa era una diferencia entre la cultura que viví en mi casa (Colombiana) y en la que vivía afuera (Estadounidense). Aunque yo tenía muchos amigos que nunca me juzgaban, seguía sintiéndome sola y diferente. Un día me di cuenta de la persona en que me estaba convirtiendo y no me gusto, no tenía derecho a estar quejándome por mi vida. Observe todas las cosas que tenia y di gracias a mi mamá por darme todo lo que podía, incluyendo su grandísimo corazón. Desde ese momento cambie y me prometí a mi misma que nunca mas iba a quejarme, por que siempre hay cosas peores en la tierra; me prometí que nunca mas iba a juzgar a una persona o a voltear la cara a las cosas importantes de la vida. Me gradué del bachillerato con ideas importantes acerca del mundo, respaldándolas principalmente por mi compasión hacia los demás, respaldándolas en la idea de que cada persona tiene el derecho a vivir una vida feliz
Después del bachillerato, me puse a estudiar trabajo social, al mismo tiempo comencé a trabajar en un refugio para mujeres y niños abusados. En ese trabajo aprendí mucho más de acerca de la vida, aprendí que cada persona sufre sus propios problemas y que no podemos comprar las vidas de la gente. Me di cuenta que en el trabajo social no me podría acercar a las mujeres y los niños como amiga, ya que siempre es prudente mantener cierta distancia y el entablar amistad con ellos era algo que no podía evitar. Tome la decisión de cambiar de carrera y comencé a estudiar enfermería. En ese tiempo estudie mucho la situación del pueblo africano, su cruda realidad me hizo pensar en ir allá y trabajar como enfermera para luchar en contra de las enfermedades y su triste situación. Por aquel entonces, mi situación económica era muy dura, yo siempre he trabajado y he ganado mi propio dinero, después de mucho esfuerzo, logre cubrir mis propios gastos y deje de pedirles dinero a mis papas. El vivir sola (además de estudiar y trabajar) me hizo madurar mucho más rápido aunque fue duro alcanzar equilibrio y tranquilidad emocional.
Estudie enfermería tres años y empecé a pensar lo que seria mi vida en el futuro, me encanta ayudar a la gente pero me di cuenta que no quería trabajar como enfermera toda la vida. Salí de estudiar y empecé a trabajar en un bar, me encantaba trabajar como mesera o bartender por la cantidad de gente que conocía trabajando. Siempre cuando una persona en el bar me preguntaba que quería hacer con mi vida, yo respondía: “quiero cambiar el mundo, quiero ayudar a mucha gente, y quiero extender la felicidad a cada persona,” ellos entonces me decían “métete en la política, este mundo necesita alguien con tu corazón y tu sinceridad.” Donde yo vivía (Ames, Iowa) es un pueblo bastante grande, había mucha diversidad cultural gracias a la Universidad Estatal (Iowa State) pero yo empecé a sentirme atrapada, pensaba que el mundo era muy grande y que hay muchas cosas que aprender y gente por conocer en otras partes. Gracias a que mi papá ya vivía en Bogota, tomé la decisión de mudarme a Colombia para finalmente conocer mi país, mi familia, y claro para mejorar mi español. Me vine con ganas de aprender mucho más de lo que había aprendido en los Estados Unidos, entender las diferencias culturales y políticas, y por eso inscribí dos clases de política en La Universidad de Los Andes, y más tarde entré al programa preuniversitario aquí en la Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. Yo siempre había querido ir al África para ayudar y cambiar tantas cosas injustas que pasan allá, pero después de comprenderlo que esta pasando en mi propio país, creo que es mejor permanecer aquí, pues aquí también hay mucho trabajo por hacer.
Lo que he pasado en mi vida tiene mucho que ver con la decisión que he tomado de estudiar Ciencias Políticas, he visto el nivel de vida de muchas personas en Colombia (y en el mundo) que sufren por guerras, pobreza, violencia y falta de educación. El sistema de educación necesita mejorar para que cada niño tenga la oportunidad de estudiar y tenga la oportunidad de mejorar su futuro. Yo estoy agradecida por las oportunidades que he tenido en mi vida; he vivido en otro país, conozco otra cultura, se otro idioma, he tenido una buena educación y he podido trabajar para obtener mi independencia y madurar mas rápido. Por todas las oportunidades que he tenido, yo quiero que cada niño tenga las mismas oportunidades, creo que mi país puede ser uno de los mejores países del mundo: Se puede lograr pero primero necesitamos que el mundo vea a Colombia sin la mala reputación que tiene. Necesitamos mostrar la belleza, la fuerza, la pasión, y la unidad de Colombia a través del valor que tienen todos y cada uno de los colombianos, sobretodo su infancia y su juventud, nosotros tenemos el futuro de Colombia en nuestras manos.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
March
Friday, February 08, 2008
This past Monday in Colombia, Colombians united once again to march...this time it was against the FARC and for peace...
I love seeing Colombians unite and come together with a sense of respect and love for our country.
Yet I must say I wasn't one of the Colombians that united for the march. I love my country, and I love the sense of unity and of course, I love peace....but the idea of the marchs have changed so much. What do they mean anymore?
From MY opinion...I feel like the march lost it's sense of understanding. People take time from school, work or whatever they do during the day to come out and march...I saw people marching with their white shirts on and gossiping the entire way, I saw people from different political groups glaring at each other and disrespecting one another for their views, I noticed that some people were probably marching because it has become the COOL thing to do although they might not realize what exactly they are fighting for, I noticed that people march and take their time to do so...but then the following days people forget the things that continue to happen in Colombia. The FARC still continues and the hostages continue to be hidden in the depths of the jungles.
Did I also mention that this world wide march was started on facebook? I'm not sure how to feel about that...it's become popularized. Facebook allows all the students and other people in Colombia to come together and talk, express themselves...but how many people just clicked yes to join the group for the Feb. 4th march...just because they thought it would be a good time. What about the percentage of people who do not have access to such systems?
that's another thing, we continue to march and march against the FARC, and for peace...and we tend to forget about the other problems in Colombia. Why don't we march for the people that are dying from hunger? or the corruption that lives on in Colombia, or the various violent groups who try to take a stand like the FARC?
Why do we only take one day of the year to come together like a Colombian family for peace? What about the rest of the year...what do we do then? NOTHING.
That's why I didn't march, nor did I wear white. But I did smile at the amount of people that came out, it's a beautiful sight...but it scares me to think that we may never reach a true sense of peace.
If you did march, more power to you!!!!!!!!!
love love love
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=14334&l=5a66e&id=501246877
This past Monday in Colombia, Colombians united once again to march...this time it was against the FARC and for peace...
I love seeing Colombians unite and come together with a sense of respect and love for our country.
Yet I must say I wasn't one of the Colombians that united for the march. I love my country, and I love the sense of unity and of course, I love peace....but the idea of the marchs have changed so much. What do they mean anymore?
From MY opinion...I feel like the march lost it's sense of understanding. People take time from school, work or whatever they do during the day to come out and march...I saw people marching with their white shirts on and gossiping the entire way, I saw people from different political groups glaring at each other and disrespecting one another for their views, I noticed that some people were probably marching because it has become the COOL thing to do although they might not realize what exactly they are fighting for, I noticed that people march and take their time to do so...but then the following days people forget the things that continue to happen in Colombia. The FARC still continues and the hostages continue to be hidden in the depths of the jungles.
Did I also mention that this world wide march was started on facebook? I'm not sure how to feel about that...it's become popularized. Facebook allows all the students and other people in Colombia to come together and talk, express themselves...but how many people just clicked yes to join the group for the Feb. 4th march...just because they thought it would be a good time. What about the percentage of people who do not have access to such systems?
that's another thing, we continue to march and march against the FARC, and for peace...and we tend to forget about the other problems in Colombia. Why don't we march for the people that are dying from hunger? or the corruption that lives on in Colombia, or the various violent groups who try to take a stand like the FARC?
Why do we only take one day of the year to come together like a Colombian family for peace? What about the rest of the year...what do we do then? NOTHING.
That's why I didn't march, nor did I wear white. But I did smile at the amount of people that came out, it's a beautiful sight...but it scares me to think that we may never reach a true sense of peace.
If you did march, more power to you!!!!!!!!!
love love love
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=14334&l=5a66e&id=501246877
Short but sweet
Feb. 1, 2008
It's funny, when I first got to Colombia I was completely homesick and lonely. I don't think I have ever had to deal with true solitude and independence. A few months after being here I wanted to make my way back…..
Now I can't even think of leaving Colombia, my beautiful, chaotic country. I love everything about it, the people (my family), the culture, the chaos, the landscapes, mountains, and the smell. I even love the sights of those who suffer because it only cause my compassion and my heart to grow, which lights the fire beneath me even more.
Being in Colombia, I have found strength and independence I never knew I could have. I find more understand to life, my life and I face things that I have always feared facing. I meet with ignorance everyday and I'm grateful that I know the things I do. Sometimes I want to speak up and defend issues but then I realize maybe it's my ignorance judging this person's idea. I have learned the difference of perspective in such a way that it's become a normality of my everyday life and that's pretty freakin' cool.
I used to want to go to Africa, to live and work there. Help the people who can't defend themselves, and don't get me wrong…I still very much do. The strength of the survivors there hold a special place in my heart, but I now cry for Colombia.
A few weeks ago, a Colombian channel was giving a documentary on Colombia in the past 25 years…I was engulfed by the images and the things that happened. Then I realized wow, there's so much I don't know and I should. This is my country, I was taken away at such a crucial time in Colombia that I begin to wonder if leaving the violence was part of the reason of my family leaving Colombia.
I feel bad. I really do, I feel bad that I'm so behind on my Colombian history knowledge. It's funny the things we learn at schools…so different all over the world. What I learned in the states is so much different than what they learn here, and that amazes me. I love that!
I met someone down here that changed my life. He made me realize a lot of things about life and about myself. How afraid I have been in my life to move forward and I find myself making excuses not to continue. I try to prepare myself for each step I take and then he told me I shouldn't do that, I can't prepare for life. He's right. So here I am working my ass off, like I should have done and should do. He's become one of those friends that I will never forget, funny how people walk in and out of my life.
I have been here for almost a year!! I can't believe that. Crazy how time goes by and how things change. Change…like Kaylie says she only like it at workJ ha!
All in all, I'm happy. I am very happy in Colombia. I have a sense of independence, strength, happiness and peace of my own here. I must say it didn't come easy but through experiences and situations that allowed me to react unnatural and then learning from those.
It's funny, when I first got to Colombia I was completely homesick and lonely. I don't think I have ever had to deal with true solitude and independence. A few months after being here I wanted to make my way back…..
Now I can't even think of leaving Colombia, my beautiful, chaotic country. I love everything about it, the people (my family), the culture, the chaos, the landscapes, mountains, and the smell. I even love the sights of those who suffer because it only cause my compassion and my heart to grow, which lights the fire beneath me even more.
Being in Colombia, I have found strength and independence I never knew I could have. I find more understand to life, my life and I face things that I have always feared facing. I meet with ignorance everyday and I'm grateful that I know the things I do. Sometimes I want to speak up and defend issues but then I realize maybe it's my ignorance judging this person's idea. I have learned the difference of perspective in such a way that it's become a normality of my everyday life and that's pretty freakin' cool.
I used to want to go to Africa, to live and work there. Help the people who can't defend themselves, and don't get me wrong…I still very much do. The strength of the survivors there hold a special place in my heart, but I now cry for Colombia.
A few weeks ago, a Colombian channel was giving a documentary on Colombia in the past 25 years…I was engulfed by the images and the things that happened. Then I realized wow, there's so much I don't know and I should. This is my country, I was taken away at such a crucial time in Colombia that I begin to wonder if leaving the violence was part of the reason of my family leaving Colombia.
I feel bad. I really do, I feel bad that I'm so behind on my Colombian history knowledge. It's funny the things we learn at schools…so different all over the world. What I learned in the states is so much different than what they learn here, and that amazes me. I love that!
I met someone down here that changed my life. He made me realize a lot of things about life and about myself. How afraid I have been in my life to move forward and I find myself making excuses not to continue. I try to prepare myself for each step I take and then he told me I shouldn't do that, I can't prepare for life. He's right. So here I am working my ass off, like I should have done and should do. He's become one of those friends that I will never forget, funny how people walk in and out of my life.
I have been here for almost a year!! I can't believe that. Crazy how time goes by and how things change. Change…like Kaylie says she only like it at workJ ha!
All in all, I'm happy. I am very happy in Colombia. I have a sense of independence, strength, happiness and peace of my own here. I must say it didn't come easy but through experiences and situations that allowed me to react unnatural and then learning from those.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
6 or 7 continents?
Current mood: curious
funny, in the united states we learn that there are 7 continents in the world...asia, australia, europe, africa, antarctica, north america and south america.
i've learned that here in colombia and all latin american countries...there only exists 6 continents in the world....asia, australia, europe, africa, antartica, and america (both north and south).
now i'm not sure if the u.s. is the only country or if latin american countries are the only ones who teach differently. i would love to find out. i will let you know what results from this.
i remember when i was younger saying i was american...south american. i'm pretty sure andres and i learned that from my parents, that america is one whole continent. cheers!
funny, in the united states we learn that there are 7 continents in the world...asia, australia, europe, africa, antarctica, north america and south america.
i've learned that here in colombia and all latin american countries...there only exists 6 continents in the world....asia, australia, europe, africa, antartica, and america (both north and south).
now i'm not sure if the u.s. is the only country or if latin american countries are the only ones who teach differently. i would love to find out. i will let you know what results from this.
i remember when i was younger saying i was american...south american. i'm pretty sure andres and i learned that from my parents, that america is one whole continent. cheers!
The Little Boy
Current mood: thoughtful
So lately I have been incredibly pensive. I can't top thinking.
I walk down the streets of Bogota, and I see everyday the reason why I want to be here. The children...who are on the streets begging, washing windows in the middle of traffic, selling anything/everything they can, stealing, etc. The same children that should be in school, the only worry on their mind should be their homework for the next day, having a crush on a classmate, or what video game to play. It truly kills me to see that they live their childhood like this.
I'm used to the foster care system in the United States where children are placed with foster parents if their current situation happens to be unstable. Yet that system isn't perfect and is flawed in many ways, atleast it's a system. Here it's not at all illegal for a child not to be in school, in fact the primary schools are sometimes too expensive that children can't afford to go...something is wrong with that picture.
I was at my uncle's house a couple weeks ago. We went out to grab a couple things for dinner that night, while I was waiting outside the store a little boy (around 7-8 years old) came up to me and asked me for money. I gave him some coins. And I continued to see him with the courage to ask the next and the next and the next person for money. He looked so sad yet with this courage that was like his determination. I started to cry, that's a flaw I have, well maybe not a flaw but something that runs deep....my compassion. My uncle gave me a hug and said this is life for most children in Colombia. I thought to myself, why???
A couple minutes later, I see two little girls with their mother walking and the two little girls seem to have new toys. The youngest girl (around 2-3 years old) had dropped a part of her toy and was looking around for it, out of nowhere this same little boy, with sadness and courage, came up to the mother of the two little girls to give back the little girl's toy that he had just found (she didn't say thank you....that really bothered me).
This little boy made me realize that I didn't want to leave Colombia any time soon. I feel like I can do something for children like him. I don't know what or when, but this little boy showed me that this is something to be handled. It's not just to have to live a childhood like this. My childhood wasn't the prettiest but i had the best damn memories ever, I loved every second of it.
Everyone deserves a good life. A happy life. Then again who am I to say that because they are poor, begging on the streets and such, they aren't happy....they may just be happy. I learned a long time ago that money doesn't buy happiness yet it does make the world turn. It's unimaginable to live without it, unless a person has never known money. I always daydream about a person being born on an island where nothing matters....kind of like the Blue Lagoon (great movies). They eat fruit, fish and laugh all day. They know nothing about reality but the peace of life....that's pretty freakin cool....unrealistic but a good daydream.
I enjoy a good daydream. much love! -C
So lately I have been incredibly pensive. I can't top thinking.
I walk down the streets of Bogota, and I see everyday the reason why I want to be here. The children...who are on the streets begging, washing windows in the middle of traffic, selling anything/everything they can, stealing, etc. The same children that should be in school, the only worry on their mind should be their homework for the next day, having a crush on a classmate, or what video game to play. It truly kills me to see that they live their childhood like this.
I'm used to the foster care system in the United States where children are placed with foster parents if their current situation happens to be unstable. Yet that system isn't perfect and is flawed in many ways, atleast it's a system. Here it's not at all illegal for a child not to be in school, in fact the primary schools are sometimes too expensive that children can't afford to go...something is wrong with that picture.
I was at my uncle's house a couple weeks ago. We went out to grab a couple things for dinner that night, while I was waiting outside the store a little boy (around 7-8 years old) came up to me and asked me for money. I gave him some coins. And I continued to see him with the courage to ask the next and the next and the next person for money. He looked so sad yet with this courage that was like his determination. I started to cry, that's a flaw I have, well maybe not a flaw but something that runs deep....my compassion. My uncle gave me a hug and said this is life for most children in Colombia. I thought to myself, why???
A couple minutes later, I see two little girls with their mother walking and the two little girls seem to have new toys. The youngest girl (around 2-3 years old) had dropped a part of her toy and was looking around for it, out of nowhere this same little boy, with sadness and courage, came up to the mother of the two little girls to give back the little girl's toy that he had just found (she didn't say thank you....that really bothered me).
This little boy made me realize that I didn't want to leave Colombia any time soon. I feel like I can do something for children like him. I don't know what or when, but this little boy showed me that this is something to be handled. It's not just to have to live a childhood like this. My childhood wasn't the prettiest but i had the best damn memories ever, I loved every second of it.
Everyone deserves a good life. A happy life. Then again who am I to say that because they are poor, begging on the streets and such, they aren't happy....they may just be happy. I learned a long time ago that money doesn't buy happiness yet it does make the world turn. It's unimaginable to live without it, unless a person has never known money. I always daydream about a person being born on an island where nothing matters....kind of like the Blue Lagoon (great movies). They eat fruit, fish and laugh all day. They know nothing about reality but the peace of life....that's pretty freakin cool....unrealistic but a good daydream.
I enjoy a good daydream. much love! -C
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