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
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
make way for the president
i was on the on the way home after french class tonight, as i looked out the window i noticed the traffic jam ahead. there were police officers lined up and down the street and then i saw about 7 cars without lincese plates and tinted windows go by with police car escorts. it was the president.
as we continued down the street, i looked out the window to see people standing out in the cold begging for money, people still at their vending stands selling all they can, the young police officers who are still standing on the side of the street even after the president has come and gone...and then i am grateful for my life. for being on the bus on my way to my home knowing i have a family, friends and food waiting for me...
then i wonder did the president see what i saw? did he see the people of his country fighting to survive by selling whatever they could, the families that have been displaced sitting on the sidewalk begging for whatever people could give them, and the very young police officers who stand there in his defense. did he see how much work is really needed to clean up bogota? i can only hope he is as grateful as i am and saw what i saw. i couldn't help but notice the super nice SUVs that drove by most likely to the House of Nariño where he resides, when more than half of the 40 million colombians are living under the poverty level and 2 million+ have been displaced from their land and homes.
what determines what kind of life we're born into? i ask myself that all the time, especially when i see a girl who's my age sitting on the street asking for money. or when i see 7 year old boys on the streets, dodging cars while they wash the windshields for money...these are kids who should be in school, and it breaks my heart.
on a brighter note, i met up with a friend of a friend who is from austrilia but loves traveling throughout south america. i asked him which south american country was his favorite...he said colombia:) i love hearing that. because regardless what you hear/see in the news, in the movies, or from people who have never experienced the country. i'm learning a lot, good and bad but it comes with every country, with every experience.
"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page."
— St. Augustine
Cheers!
as we continued down the street, i looked out the window to see people standing out in the cold begging for money, people still at their vending stands selling all they can, the young police officers who are still standing on the side of the street even after the president has come and gone...and then i am grateful for my life. for being on the bus on my way to my home knowing i have a family, friends and food waiting for me...
then i wonder did the president see what i saw? did he see the people of his country fighting to survive by selling whatever they could, the families that have been displaced sitting on the sidewalk begging for whatever people could give them, and the very young police officers who stand there in his defense. did he see how much work is really needed to clean up bogota? i can only hope he is as grateful as i am and saw what i saw. i couldn't help but notice the super nice SUVs that drove by most likely to the House of Nariño where he resides, when more than half of the 40 million colombians are living under the poverty level and 2 million+ have been displaced from their land and homes.
what determines what kind of life we're born into? i ask myself that all the time, especially when i see a girl who's my age sitting on the street asking for money. or when i see 7 year old boys on the streets, dodging cars while they wash the windshields for money...these are kids who should be in school, and it breaks my heart.
on a brighter note, i met up with a friend of a friend who is from austrilia but loves traveling throughout south america. i asked him which south american country was his favorite...he said colombia:) i love hearing that. because regardless what you hear/see in the news, in the movies, or from people who have never experienced the country. i'm learning a lot, good and bad but it comes with every country, with every experience.
"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page."
— St. Augustine
Cheers!
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Los Andes, Muah!
The following link is to few pictures I took at La Universidad de Los Andes, the beautiful campus I'm lucky enough to go to.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=4173&l=b1b68&id=501246877
Today in Colombia is the day of love and friendship...so love love love! --Not like you need a day to remember to:)
Carolina
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=4173&l=b1b68&id=501246877
Today in Colombia is the day of love and friendship...so love love love! --Not like you need a day to remember to:)
Carolina
Saturday, August 25, 2007
fotos!
the following links are to pictures for the past couple months...
the first one is Bogota at it's finest during the week of it's 469th birthday celebration! my friend jaime is in them, she loves to travel latin america and we actually meet through a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend:)small world eh? we had fun doing touristy things in Bogota.
the second link takes place in Soata, Colombia. We traveled there about 10 hours on bus (it sucked a bit) for the wedding of my dad's coworker and friend. He was asked to be the padrino, so he was one of the few who signed the wedding license as a witness. Soata is a very beautiful place, it's a small town but the countryside of Bogota is great.
Enjoy!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3488&l=2dd0c&id=501246877
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3756&l=aacfe&id=501246877
the first one is Bogota at it's finest during the week of it's 469th birthday celebration! my friend jaime is in them, she loves to travel latin america and we actually meet through a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend:)small world eh? we had fun doing touristy things in Bogota.
the second link takes place in Soata, Colombia. We traveled there about 10 hours on bus (it sucked a bit) for the wedding of my dad's coworker and friend. He was asked to be the padrino, so he was one of the few who signed the wedding license as a witness. Soata is a very beautiful place, it's a small town but the countryside of Bogota is great.
Enjoy!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3488&l=2dd0c&id=501246877
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3756&l=aacfe&id=501246877
Colombia is Passion!
this video says it all, the beauty of Colombia and all the reason people who are here or who come here fall in love...
...come visit and spread the news about the beauty of Colombia, it's not dangerous as people say so let's experience the beauty before we judge it.
...come visit and spread the news about the beauty of Colombia, it's not dangerous as people say so let's experience the beauty before we judge it.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
don’t talk to strangers
Current mood: disappointed
so i made a friend in my french class, actually everyone in my french class is really cool...that's beyond the point but pretty exciting for me:)
my friend yessica and i always meet an hour before class starts, and today she didn't arrive until 10 minutes before class...only with a scary story to tell us all.
she was walking to the library in central bogota, when she was stopped by a lady who needed directions. yessica tried to tell her where to go but then she suddenly got really sick. within a few minutes she stared coughing horribly and sneezing uncontrollably. within those few minutes a man approached her as well and the lady and the man got a cab and pushed yessica into it. they made her take them to her house and proceeded to rob her. they yelled at her to get all jewelry, money or whatever was valuable out for them...she didn't although when they said laptop, she brought out her brand new laptop and they took it. they grabbed her and put her back in a different cab and drove off. they ditched her up town and took her bag, with everything in it and her laptop. soo you're wondering why would she do all that...here's the scary catch when they lady went up to her to ask her for directions she must have thrown something in yessica's face that made her sick and makes you loose common sense. she remembers little parts of the whole thing. she eventually gained consiousness when she was ditched. when she did, she just sat on the sidewalk and cried, luckily a very nice man lent her money to call her mom, and she got home. she said that the rest of the afternoon she had been throwing up and had a massive headache. she considered not coming to class but she did. her bag that was stolen had her cell phone, her waller which contained her cedula (a very important colombian id), all her school ids and her school books including her notes from the whole semester.
i'm still stunned, but her experience has made me realize that i can't just talk to everyone and anyone on the streets. i don't live in ames anymore eh? in ames i could somewhat trust most of the 50,000 people while in bogota i can only trust a fraction of the 8,000,000. i mean poor people come up to one all the time to ask for money, i always try to give them a couple pesos or so...but now i just have to keep walking. that makes me sad, but i'd rather do so than to get robbed or even worse hurt in anyway. it's scary to think what they can do to people just to rob them...
it's an embarassment to humanity that people are lazy and so selfish to steal from others because they don't want or don't have a job. my sense of compassion has always told me that everyone, even if they're bad or do bad things, have some good inside. I have always felt that everyone has a good heart, some people just have to realize it. then things like this happen and i question my sense of compassion although i know that i won't change it...however, i do know that i will watch myself more and tell myself that this isn't ames, this is bogota. people are clever robbers in a city, i wish i was a bad ass and could punch them and run. :) i guess i'll work on that.
things like this happen in a city, i can't imagine living here my whole life. although my desires want to sent me to much more dangerous places, i hope to find more kindness that will change my world for the good and continue to keep my faith in humanity. that's all i can really do, i look forward to all the people i'll get to meet in my life but until then i think i will follow the first rule every kid learns, don't talk to strangers.
Monday, August 20, 2007
los andes y mas!
I made contact with Ames, Iowa this past week and I was told that school was going to start Monday for all in Ames…I then realized wow it’s the end of the summer. I feel like I just left Ames yesterday but I have been here for about four months. Time goes by fast eh? I can’t imagine how fast the next five years are going to go by, since the last five years went by in the blink of an eye, Jimi Hendrix was clever fella for saying that.
Anyways, I started school last week and ever since I have been overwhelmed with it all. I have found that teaching is actually a lot more time consuming that expected but it is something I look forward to in the mornings. My classes are good, both political lectures and I lucked out that both of my professors speak english! Plus for one of my classes, my professor assigned most of the reading assignments in english. Oh heck yeah! I also take french classes at night and it’s kicking my butt! I find myself incredibly grateful for having been brought up with two languages, because I never had to really learn them from the beginning, it was just normal for me to speak english and spanish. Now I’m learning a language from scratch! Well, I did take french classes when I was a youngin but I don’t think that counts. It’s funny all my french notes are in spanish and english…pretty much which ever comes to mind first and is easier to remember. It makes me laugh, because I will think in spanish and out of nowhere I will respond or react in english.
La Universidad de Los Andes’ campus is beautiful. I mean it sucks that my building is pretty much at the top of the mountain that the campus sits on. I have to climb so many stairs to get to class that I have formed a strong dislike to stairs of any kind, haha. I guess it’s a work out though. It’s a pretty upscale school, so the students who go seem to think about one thing, money. Well, that’s the jist that I have gotten so far from everyone, but who knows I bet everyone will warm up eh? It’s funny because I feel like the new kid for the first time since…well the younger years. I don’t know a whole lot of people on my campus yet but I don’t feel at all lonely, I actually am fairly happy with the circumstances. And no one really smiles as they walk by so I think I might be considered be weird because I smile at everyone I walk by. Everyone has a grunge/hippie style going, it’s cool to see the individuals stick out…although are they really individuals if they all look the same? Another thing I have realized is that A LOT and I mean that just about everyone smokes. I mean I can’t walk to campus or to class without standing next to a smoker. It has become a pet peeve of mine…well not really, I don’t care who smokes, it’s not my problem right? But I just feel they could respect the direction they blow their smoke! boooo them a bit. I love the university although it takes me an hour to get to there and an hour to get home…yeah that does suck a bit but I don’t really mind. I think I’m adapting to the city life, I love being in the down town of Bogota.
I hear ames is super hot and aw man I can’t believe I’m missing out. I love it when it’s super hot. And although I’m far south, I’m in Bogota where the weather is always a bit mild due to the altitude.I’m actually adjusting it though, it doesn’t feel too cold anymore! Although it’s strange, the way it randomly rains and such…I might as well be in Scotland eh? J For example, today…it wasn’t raining, it was misting…and then it began to mist heavily. Which you would think is rain but it really just was heavy mist. It was so weird!
Yesterday, I was walking to lunch and I passed this old lady in her 80s sitting on a park bench smoking a fat cigar! Seriously, I wish I would’ve brought my camera, it was such a priceless sight. She was just sitting on the bench puffing away, it made me smile a lot.
I was walking along one of the many plazas looking at things to possibly buy and I ran into a fortune teller…I’ve always been terrified of going to anything like that because who knows what they will tell you, eh? But this day I was like whats there to lose, I’ll get my palm read. I sat down with this guy and I was floored by the things he told me. He knew everything about me, things about me as a person, how I felt or have felt…so either he was a really good guesser or is good. It scared me a bit to think that he could know so much about me. He told somethings about the future too that was pretty cool. He said I would fall in love with guy that’s not in Colombia, so I guess I’ll wait and see who I meet along my travels. Yowser!
I’m adjusting well to the life here. I miss Ames and a lot of things from Ames but it feels right to be here. I enjoy making calls to all the people back in Ames randomly, it’s fun. Especially when they don’t answer once they see a crazy or unknown number show up on their incoming calls and don’t answer…but don’t worry I always call back!
come visit!
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
links to fotos!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3108&l=d4da4&id=501246877
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3112&l=2486f&id=501246877
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3112&l=2486f&id=501246877
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3357&l=3ccf5&id=501246877
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3412&l=12bc5&id=501246877
hola! these are the links to my uploaded pictures of colombia from the past months i spent traveling to see my family. enjoy!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3112&l=2486f&id=501246877
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3112&l=2486f&id=501246877
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3357&l=3ccf5&id=501246877
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3412&l=12bc5&id=501246877
hola! these are the links to my uploaded pictures of colombia from the past months i spent traveling to see my family. enjoy!
a nice update
bonjour! i had my first french class last night and i loved it. it’s funny because my mentality is working in english and spanish, so i write notes down in both languages…as long as it makes sense to me.
i finally got out all last week to see bogota and all the sights, it was awesome. i falling in love with bogota a little bit more each time. i made a few friends, i had a friend of a friend of my friend andy who is here in bogota, and then he had a friend of a friend who arrived wed. night. she and i ended up seeing every inch we could of bogota.
thursday, on my way to meet up with them, i found myself at the plaza bolivar, which is the plaza down in central bogota and the president was actually speaking at the time. there were a lot of people there to hear him speak but not all cheering him on. Professor Moncayo was there to speak as well..Professor Moncayo has become a pretty popular man in Colombia. his son was kidnapped about 10 years ago and is still in captivity. he speaks out and the people listen to him, he hopes to talk some sense into the president and the farc. it’s a really sad story but at the same time he has never given up to get his son back to freedom. most of the people in the plaza were actually there to greet the professor, rather than the president. that was a nice treat to see downtown…
walking around bogota, we found so many cute little places to eat, to shop, to hang out at…i love it. and there’s a good variety of restaurants or coffee shops that serve foods and such from different countries. i'm continued to be amazed at the beauty of bogota, it's jaw dropping.
i got to go to the museo de Botero. Fernando Botero is an amazing artist from Medillin, Colombia, he created an imaginative world with every object with a chubby appearance. it’s really cute! the museo was huge and everytime we turned a corner, there was another part of the museo to see.
this past weekend started the celebration of Bogota’s 469th birthday. and like every other holiday here, it is celebrated for days. a major street downtown was closed off for most of the time. friday night, the street was full performers and sellers. it shows city life, and it’s crazy fun.
the next day, we went up to Monserrate, which is the coolest church ever! the church sits on top of the Andes mountains, some people climb up the mountain to get there but the mountain is super steep and the second i saw how steep it was i changed my mind about walking up…ha i might be lazy sometimes. so we ended up taking the cable car up, it was so awesome. the view at the top was unbelievable. of course it gets colder on the way up and it was misting while we were up there but the mist made it more dramatic. then the sun came out and made a rainbow! it was beautiful. now that i’ve seen Monserrate, and i’m living in bogota, i want to go up there all the time. it’s so peaceful and beautiful, a bit chilly but it was awesome.
so this week, i start my life in bogota. not too shabby of a life, it’s funny to start my day teaching a language and to end my day learning a language. and somedays inbetween i learn about politics. i never would have guessed that when i was thinking about leaving or when i left, i would be happy so soon in colombia. but it feels right and life goes on and i want to go on with it.
i miss ames so much and can’t wait for my visits back but life is good.
come visitJ i can’t say it enough.
i finally got out all last week to see bogota and all the sights, it was awesome. i falling in love with bogota a little bit more each time. i made a few friends, i had a friend of a friend of my friend andy who is here in bogota, and then he had a friend of a friend who arrived wed. night. she and i ended up seeing every inch we could of bogota.
thursday, on my way to meet up with them, i found myself at the plaza bolivar, which is the plaza down in central bogota and the president was actually speaking at the time. there were a lot of people there to hear him speak but not all cheering him on. Professor Moncayo was there to speak as well..Professor Moncayo has become a pretty popular man in Colombia. his son was kidnapped about 10 years ago and is still in captivity. he speaks out and the people listen to him, he hopes to talk some sense into the president and the farc. it’s a really sad story but at the same time he has never given up to get his son back to freedom. most of the people in the plaza were actually there to greet the professor, rather than the president. that was a nice treat to see downtown…
walking around bogota, we found so many cute little places to eat, to shop, to hang out at…i love it. and there’s a good variety of restaurants or coffee shops that serve foods and such from different countries. i'm continued to be amazed at the beauty of bogota, it's jaw dropping.
i got to go to the museo de Botero. Fernando Botero is an amazing artist from Medillin, Colombia, he created an imaginative world with every object with a chubby appearance. it’s really cute! the museo was huge and everytime we turned a corner, there was another part of the museo to see.
this past weekend started the celebration of Bogota’s 469th birthday. and like every other holiday here, it is celebrated for days. a major street downtown was closed off for most of the time. friday night, the street was full performers and sellers. it shows city life, and it’s crazy fun.
the next day, we went up to Monserrate, which is the coolest church ever! the church sits on top of the Andes mountains, some people climb up the mountain to get there but the mountain is super steep and the second i saw how steep it was i changed my mind about walking up…ha i might be lazy sometimes. so we ended up taking the cable car up, it was so awesome. the view at the top was unbelievable. of course it gets colder on the way up and it was misting while we were up there but the mist made it more dramatic. then the sun came out and made a rainbow! it was beautiful. now that i’ve seen Monserrate, and i’m living in bogota, i want to go up there all the time. it’s so peaceful and beautiful, a bit chilly but it was awesome.
so this week, i start my life in bogota. not too shabby of a life, it’s funny to start my day teaching a language and to end my day learning a language. and somedays inbetween i learn about politics. i never would have guessed that when i was thinking about leaving or when i left, i would be happy so soon in colombia. but it feels right and life goes on and i want to go on with it.
i miss ames so much and can’t wait for my visits back but life is good.
come visitJ i can’t say it enough.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
The Differences
Current mood: grateful
The tranistion at first was smoooooth but through the last month everything I've learned from my expirience so far is super different. I always knew the culture and the life style here was different than the U.S., I must say I'm glad I moved down here because it definately has changed my perspective on a lot of things. I realized that I was living in a lap of luxury in Ames, everything was at arm's reach…like hot water, internet, phone calls to anywhere, beds are different, dryers for clothes…..
House phone are only used to call other house phones in the same town or some people pay more otherwise, but cell phones are crucial to have here. Cell phones are the only way to contact another cell phone or someone in a different town. And cell phones, plans are so different as well. A lot of people use prepaid phones and if you call a cell phone with a different company than the one you have or a landline you use up more minutes. Or if you have a plan and you use up all your minutes for that month, you have to wait till the next month to recieve more minutes…rollover doesn't exsist here. I was lucky to have a cell phone plan that offered me 1000 anytime minutes, free nights and weekends, and the whole nine yards.
So far I have become accustomed to cold showers (unless I'm in Bogota), hard matresses (I'm not sure why people don't use thick mattresses, but literally everyone uses like multiple futon mattresses--well probably because they're cheaper), prepaid cell phone, not being able to call anyone from a normal phone, for my clothes to be hung out in the sun to dry (this is actually ecologically smart, since there is not winter and a lot of sun, no one has a dryer), and the money (it's crazy cause i'll think oh it's only so and so dollars, cheap! But the catch is that pesos run out faster than anything).
Also the lack of education here boggles me, not necessarily that people are dumb because there are actually a lot of intelligent people who work hard. But about world issues, other countries, diseases, etc. Almost everyone here is Catholic, which means sex, homosexuality, birth control, abortion is all taboo. It's hard to defend myself and defends issues that exsist in other parts of the world. There are a lot of teen pregnancies because kids aren't educated about sex or protection again pregnancy or disease…and people complain of this. The reality is a lot, if not almost all teenagers, are having sex -- abtinsence has become ignorace, more power to the people who remain to be true to their religion or morals and actually wait but reality remains to be true. But because Colombia is a Catholic country, talking about pre-martial sex, the use of condoms or birth control is shut out. Abortions, forget about pro-choice it's illegal to pretty much talk about it. Homosexuals, it makes me sad that people are so ignorant and live with so much hate…I was sitting at a table with politicians and they were cracking jokes and gossiping about who was gay. I felt so appalled by the way they were talking, I couldn't believe that people who wanted to run a community was bringing down individuals they didn't even personally know. As a ruler of a community, evere individual should be treated as an equal, eh? People talk about homosexuals are if they are contaminated. I've never had a problem with people living their own life their way, I believe every human being has the right to happiness and not to suffer. I know life in the United States isn't exactly just to all human beings, since racism and sexism exsist but atleast it is toleranted and moves a step forward everyday. Now in Colombia, I see it lacks a certain tolerance but it's not because some of the people are cruel and unjust. I believe it's a lack of certain education, not education from a text book but from learning from another person or a group of people.
I have found myself between two types of people in Colombia, there are a lot of people who are open and will greet about everyone who passes them on the street, but there are the few who look at every stranger as if they were lesser than them or evil…it's strange. I don't feel unsafe here, regardless of how worried some people can get, I know I can't trust everyone like I'd like to but I also like to think of the good in people. I know it may be naive to not think anything bad will happen but I like to keep in the positive light. There has not been one moment in which I have been scared or felt unsecure about my safety (well except for when in a car, driving is crazy). I also find myself incredibly fortunate to have been raised in the Ames, Iowa and have graduated from one of the hardest schools in the state, because all in all I learned a lot. I learned things I may have never learned anywhere else not just from school, but from all the people I met in Ames and all the experiences I lived.
At the same time, I'm also fortunate to have been born in Colombia, to have a big family here. A family that I have seen twice in the last nineteen years, and yet everytime I'm with them it feels comfortable. I love how close I have become with my aunts and uncles within weeks. I've always been a pretty closed person, but I do open up to people I trust. And I have been able to trust each of them within days. To bug my uncles or cousins and be able to laugh about it, to feel close enough to my family to be able to cuddle while watching movies or talking. That is the family love of Colombia and I love it! I feel home…although at the same time I miss home. In all honesty, I do love being here-- I love the sun and trust me in El Valle de Cauca it is always out and it's hot but it feels good even when I can't stop sweating. I love that I've never been a religious person but I could sit in a cathedral here for hours. I love being able to see the mountains all the time, especially when they're really bright green. I'm been eating non-stop the fabulous food, being able to see my family and how it's been growing. I love the way I feel instantly comfortable. Everthing is breathtaking. Colombia is seriously beautiful, there is a quote…Colombia is passion, and it's true. I fall deep into scenery, people and nature, I love it!
I can't wait for my mom to come join me. Leaving made me realise a lot of things such as feelings I had appeared stronger, I started to miss things that I didn't know took up so much of my life. I've learned to appreciate and seize moments even more, because now that I'm here without anyone of the people that I have laughed with and loved over the past nineteen years I wish I had one more night! It's always a sacrife though, leaving friends who were my family in Ames to get to know my family here in Colombia.
Come visit! I'm falling in love...
The tranistion at first was smoooooth but through the last month everything I've learned from my expirience so far is super different. I always knew the culture and the life style here was different than the U.S., I must say I'm glad I moved down here because it definately has changed my perspective on a lot of things. I realized that I was living in a lap of luxury in Ames, everything was at arm's reach…like hot water, internet, phone calls to anywhere, beds are different, dryers for clothes…..
House phone are only used to call other house phones in the same town or some people pay more otherwise, but cell phones are crucial to have here. Cell phones are the only way to contact another cell phone or someone in a different town. And cell phones, plans are so different as well. A lot of people use prepaid phones and if you call a cell phone with a different company than the one you have or a landline you use up more minutes. Or if you have a plan and you use up all your minutes for that month, you have to wait till the next month to recieve more minutes…rollover doesn't exsist here. I was lucky to have a cell phone plan that offered me 1000 anytime minutes, free nights and weekends, and the whole nine yards.
So far I have become accustomed to cold showers (unless I'm in Bogota), hard matresses (I'm not sure why people don't use thick mattresses, but literally everyone uses like multiple futon mattresses--well probably because they're cheaper), prepaid cell phone, not being able to call anyone from a normal phone, for my clothes to be hung out in the sun to dry (this is actually ecologically smart, since there is not winter and a lot of sun, no one has a dryer), and the money (it's crazy cause i'll think oh it's only so and so dollars, cheap! But the catch is that pesos run out faster than anything).
Also the lack of education here boggles me, not necessarily that people are dumb because there are actually a lot of intelligent people who work hard. But about world issues, other countries, diseases, etc. Almost everyone here is Catholic, which means sex, homosexuality, birth control, abortion is all taboo. It's hard to defend myself and defends issues that exsist in other parts of the world. There are a lot of teen pregnancies because kids aren't educated about sex or protection again pregnancy or disease…and people complain of this. The reality is a lot, if not almost all teenagers, are having sex -- abtinsence has become ignorace, more power to the people who remain to be true to their religion or morals and actually wait but reality remains to be true. But because Colombia is a Catholic country, talking about pre-martial sex, the use of condoms or birth control is shut out. Abortions, forget about pro-choice it's illegal to pretty much talk about it. Homosexuals, it makes me sad that people are so ignorant and live with so much hate…I was sitting at a table with politicians and they were cracking jokes and gossiping about who was gay. I felt so appalled by the way they were talking, I couldn't believe that people who wanted to run a community was bringing down individuals they didn't even personally know. As a ruler of a community, evere individual should be treated as an equal, eh? People talk about homosexuals are if they are contaminated. I've never had a problem with people living their own life their way, I believe every human being has the right to happiness and not to suffer. I know life in the United States isn't exactly just to all human beings, since racism and sexism exsist but atleast it is toleranted and moves a step forward everyday. Now in Colombia, I see it lacks a certain tolerance but it's not because some of the people are cruel and unjust. I believe it's a lack of certain education, not education from a text book but from learning from another person or a group of people.
I have found myself between two types of people in Colombia, there are a lot of people who are open and will greet about everyone who passes them on the street, but there are the few who look at every stranger as if they were lesser than them or evil…it's strange. I don't feel unsafe here, regardless of how worried some people can get, I know I can't trust everyone like I'd like to but I also like to think of the good in people. I know it may be naive to not think anything bad will happen but I like to keep in the positive light. There has not been one moment in which I have been scared or felt unsecure about my safety (well except for when in a car, driving is crazy). I also find myself incredibly fortunate to have been raised in the Ames, Iowa and have graduated from one of the hardest schools in the state, because all in all I learned a lot. I learned things I may have never learned anywhere else not just from school, but from all the people I met in Ames and all the experiences I lived.
At the same time, I'm also fortunate to have been born in Colombia, to have a big family here. A family that I have seen twice in the last nineteen years, and yet everytime I'm with them it feels comfortable. I love how close I have become with my aunts and uncles within weeks. I've always been a pretty closed person, but I do open up to people I trust. And I have been able to trust each of them within days. To bug my uncles or cousins and be able to laugh about it, to feel close enough to my family to be able to cuddle while watching movies or talking. That is the family love of Colombia and I love it! I feel home…although at the same time I miss home. In all honesty, I do love being here-- I love the sun and trust me in El Valle de Cauca it is always out and it's hot but it feels good even when I can't stop sweating. I love that I've never been a religious person but I could sit in a cathedral here for hours. I love being able to see the mountains all the time, especially when they're really bright green. I'm been eating non-stop the fabulous food, being able to see my family and how it's been growing. I love the way I feel instantly comfortable. Everthing is breathtaking. Colombia is seriously beautiful, there is a quote…Colombia is passion, and it's true. I fall deep into scenery, people and nature, I love it!
I can't wait for my mom to come join me. Leaving made me realise a lot of things such as feelings I had appeared stronger, I started to miss things that I didn't know took up so much of my life. I've learned to appreciate and seize moments even more, because now that I'm here without anyone of the people that I have laughed with and loved over the past nineteen years I wish I had one more night! It's always a sacrife though, leaving friends who were my family in Ames to get to know my family here in Colombia.
Come visit! I'm falling in love...
June 28, 2007
Current mood: hopeful
In April of 2002, 12 lawmakers of El Valle de Cauca were kidnapped. I remember when this happened because my mom called me right away, since my uncle Ruben Dario is also a lawmaker of the state. He was late to work that fateful day, he arrived after the kidnappings occured (his habit of being late saved him). Since that day he has recieved threats to him and his family, but it has gotten better. There was a period where he and each member of his family had to be accompanied by a bodyguard, now he is the only one that has a bodyguard. Anyways…today the news came out that 11 of the 12 men had been killed ten days earlier. All day it was more and more breaking news featuring the president's speech over it, family members' reactions, and people trying to define why. The worst part was the news channel Caracol released a video tape that had been sent to them the year before but in respect to family members they decided not to release it until now. The video tape contained the footage of the entire kidnapping by the Farc. It showed the arrival to the building where all the politicians worked, and it shows military soliders standing in front of the building, only the soldiers aren't really military soldiers, they were Farc soldiers, with that disguse no one was going to figure it out. Then it showed the fake bomb scare that vacuated the builiding , and the "soldiers" who leaded the men and other workers on to a bus who was though to lead them to safety. Once they were on the bus and heading to the outskirts of Cali, the "soldiers" revealed that they were actually the Farc. The video showed the faces of the lawmakers and it was heartbreaking to see their faces fall from a sense of relief to fear. The Farc next lead them off the bus and onto the back of a truck. The Farc released another video this past April with speeches from the kidnapped lawmakers with messages to the government, and to their families. I watched all this yesterday and I cried without knowing these men or their families and without understanding the difficulty to deal with the years of disapperance and now the death of a family member or friend, it's not something easy relate to unless it's happened to oneself. I can't imagine how it would have been if my uncle would have been on time that day to work, to see his face in that video. To see his two children continue their life without their father, my mom (and all her siblings) without their brother, Andres and I (and all our cousins) without our uncle. The country was in silence yesterday with a lot of people in church praying, lighting candles for the 11 killed. It also made a lot of people angry considering the lack of security and lack of attempt to rescue the men.. The mystery remains of the 12th lawmaker who's body was not found, he is said to still be alive, there is hope that he still is.
One thing I have learned in the two months living here so far and in the nineteen years I lived in the United States, is how different the security is. Kidnapping news had almost become everyday news in Colombia, people have become accostumed to live with it. I kept thinking about that video of the Farc kidnapping, how easy it was to accomplish. The building was protected by one police officer, one. The fact that important people that the are conintually in danger are barely protected unless they provide their own puts me in complete amazement. How is a community supposed to know who is there to protect them and who is there to harm them if they can be so easily disgused? And even if there is no disguse, this country is corrupt. I suppose there is corruption within every government, but I am stunned at how visable it is and nothing is done. Colombia is incredibly rich in it's land and exports, people know this and use it to their advantage. Everything is about power and money, even if they have to get it through drugs, so be it. A minimal amount of people care about the important issues that could allow the country to be one of the richest countries.
In April of 2002, 12 lawmakers of El Valle de Cauca were kidnapped. I remember when this happened because my mom called me right away, since my uncle Ruben Dario is also a lawmaker of the state. He was late to work that fateful day, he arrived after the kidnappings occured (his habit of being late saved him). Since that day he has recieved threats to him and his family, but it has gotten better. There was a period where he and each member of his family had to be accompanied by a bodyguard, now he is the only one that has a bodyguard. Anyways…today the news came out that 11 of the 12 men had been killed ten days earlier. All day it was more and more breaking news featuring the president's speech over it, family members' reactions, and people trying to define why. The worst part was the news channel Caracol released a video tape that had been sent to them the year before but in respect to family members they decided not to release it until now. The video tape contained the footage of the entire kidnapping by the Farc. It showed the arrival to the building where all the politicians worked, and it shows military soliders standing in front of the building, only the soldiers aren't really military soldiers, they were Farc soldiers, with that disguse no one was going to figure it out. Then it showed the fake bomb scare that vacuated the builiding , and the "soldiers" who leaded the men and other workers on to a bus who was though to lead them to safety. Once they were on the bus and heading to the outskirts of Cali, the "soldiers" revealed that they were actually the Farc. The video showed the faces of the lawmakers and it was heartbreaking to see their faces fall from a sense of relief to fear. The Farc next lead them off the bus and onto the back of a truck. The Farc released another video this past April with speeches from the kidnapped lawmakers with messages to the government, and to their families. I watched all this yesterday and I cried without knowing these men or their families and without understanding the difficulty to deal with the years of disapperance and now the death of a family member or friend, it's not something easy relate to unless it's happened to oneself. I can't imagine how it would have been if my uncle would have been on time that day to work, to see his face in that video. To see his two children continue their life without their father, my mom (and all her siblings) without their brother, Andres and I (and all our cousins) without our uncle. The country was in silence yesterday with a lot of people in church praying, lighting candles for the 11 killed. It also made a lot of people angry considering the lack of security and lack of attempt to rescue the men.. The mystery remains of the 12th lawmaker who's body was not found, he is said to still be alive, there is hope that he still is.
One thing I have learned in the two months living here so far and in the nineteen years I lived in the United States, is how different the security is. Kidnapping news had almost become everyday news in Colombia, people have become accostumed to live with it. I kept thinking about that video of the Farc kidnapping, how easy it was to accomplish. The building was protected by one police officer, one. The fact that important people that the are conintually in danger are barely protected unless they provide their own puts me in complete amazement. How is a community supposed to know who is there to protect them and who is there to harm them if they can be so easily disgused? And even if there is no disguse, this country is corrupt. I suppose there is corruption within every government, but I am stunned at how visable it is and nothing is done. Colombia is incredibly rich in it's land and exports, people know this and use it to their advantage. Everything is about power and money, even if they have to get it through drugs, so be it. A minimal amount of people care about the important issues that could allow the country to be one of the richest countries.
El Valle De Cauca
Current mood: chipper
For the two months I have traveled El Valle de Cauca of Colombia. It a state of the southern region of Colombia, there which lies Cali, Palmira and Trujillo. I was born in Palmira, my mom and her family was raised in Trujillo and so most of them reside there in El Valle. People say that El Valle is the most beautiful because of the continuous bright green color of the surrounding mountains, the best spoken spanish is from here, the salsa dancers are from Cali, and of course the Agudelo family is from El Valle, ha!
I've been all over the place within couple months. Traveling and seeing family, my mom has eight siblings and she wanted me to get reacquainted with them by staying a week each. It's been super fun, I've loved getting to see everyone and getting to know everyone with the idea that I'm not leaving in a few weeks and won't see them again for five more years, this time I'm here! It's crazy, sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure I'm really here in Colombia. It's all happened so fast that it's kind of hard to believe, but all in all I'm glad that I made the move. I've learned a lot in the past two months that I've been here, life here is really different. Of course, a good different though. I've gotten to learn a new perspective on life and learn new things that I can adapt to my life, it's great. And the nature of Colombia is gorgeous, the mountains are breathtaking and the weather makes me sweat but I love the heat! Well, keep in mind the weather in Bogota is a bit more mild so I've really enjoyed my time here in El Valle.
I stayed with my mom's youngest sister first, Martha Liliana, I'm super close to her because she came to the United States for a couple years when I was eight. She also took care of Andres and I when were youngins. She lives in a complex with a pool and I love the pool, I loved the alone time there (although I occassionally got lonely). I love to fall asleep in the sun, regardless of the dangers of too much sun, I can't help it. After my quick nap in the sun one day, I woke up to be 3 shades darker. The nap was amazing and the sun felt so nice and warm but I definately got burned. Apparently the sun in Colombia is a bit stronger…I went to the pool almost everday to swim and layout, one day there were two guys there and they started talking to me. They both live in Bogota as well and were on break from school, we talked about Bogota and then they noticed my accent. Man, I can't get by anyone with that accent, it's bad but it was cool to meet people.
One night we went to El 14, which is like a mall, there was a reggaeton party going on (there is a lot of reggaeton music here) it was the so packed but it was fun. There are different little huts with bars in the center of the food court, which it mostly outdoors, they serve mostly beer, rum and aguadriente. Aguadriente is a liquor that is made here in Colombia from sugar cane, it's light and easy to drink or atleast I think so. It's drank as a shot or neat, with a light black licquorice taste but not like Sambuca. Bars also sell a giraffes of beer, it's like an individual beer tap. It's like buying a pitcher for the table but instead it's like your own little tap, it's pretty cool.
The Saturday that my other Aunt, Marlene, came to pick me up she brought over a bottle of Tequila 1800. It's a really a good bottle of tequila, so I was happy to see itJ I now know that the love for tequila runs in the family! We laughed a lot. Marlene and I are a lot alike, we live life with the same perspective and a smiles. It's really funny because we'll talk about something and end up finishing each other sentances. It's nice to feel close to a family I rarely saw growing up.
June 1, I turned twenty-two. I'm not gonna lie I don't like getting older but the birthdays come anyway! I got incredibly homesick on my birthday. I kept thinking of my friends and my mom, and how much fun my birthday was last year, it was hard. Towards the beginning of the night, I felt a bit better as my family came over. As we ate delicious food, and delicious cake. Alright, the cake and pasteries here are 10x better than anywhere else, well anywhere else I have been. Seriously, not just even the pasteries but the bread is the best bread ever. Anyways, my mom's super good friend Elsa came over with the cake and the coolest candle ever! It was this big plastic thing but when the wick was lit, the big plastic thing revealed to be a flower. The center with the wick ended up being like a sparkler, each petal had an individual candle, it spun around and around and sang happy birthday, it was a stellar candle! It was nice to spend a birthday with people who I had not spend a birthday since my third birthday. I also got a couple phone calls with the familiar voices of Naddie and Charlie which made me smile and made my day (thanks!!!). It made me not feel so homesick anymore…oh yeah I also got my nails done.
The following week I ended upgoing across the city of Cali to stay with my uncle, Ruben Dario. He's the politician of the family, he was running for govenor but dropped out of the race because of current circumstances. He is still running to be a part of the counsel and remains to be a lawmaker of El Valle de Cauca. His wife, Gloria Amparo, got the political fever is running to be mayor of Trujillo. It was different to see how politics worked here in Colombia but it was nice to see it first hand. Politicians or rich people get kidnapped here quite often, it's almost become a part of everyday life which is incredibly sad. My uncle's fellow lawmakers were kidnapped five years ago, my uncle was saved because he has the bad habit of arriving late to everything and he arrived late to work that day. Since that day he has not been without a bodyguard, it's a sad way to live everyday but it's safety and security. Evertime we traveled long distances, the bodyguard (Julian) would have his gun in his lap, I don't like guns…they make me feel really uncomfortable but at the same time I felt somewhat safe. Julian is young and really cool to talk to, he is taking english classes so I would help him with his homework every morning while my uncle was getting ready. My cousin Laura Camila had her first communion while I was there. Since most of the country is Catholic, first communions are a big deal here. Most are usually a school related event, considering most schools are private and Catholic as well. Laura's school provided her with an attire and she looked like a cute lil nun! It's pretty much a normal thing to have in life growing up in Colombia, I probably would have had a first communion with the white dress, the party and such if I had grown up here. One of the days I was with Ruben Dario and Gloria, we went to a business lunch at the restaurant in the middle of nowhere, it was beautiful. I wish I would've taken pictures…it was surrounded by flowers, fruit trees (no I didn't climb a mango tree), and a river. It was really beautiful, I kept thinking it was the perfect date place to eat, aw, yeah I might be lonely sometimesJ I also accompanied Gloria to a local speech in Trujillo, it was really nice to see how people reacted to her and applauded her. These were people who are really struggling in Trujillo because of the lack of jobs and income in the town. I got to pass out the snacks and drinks, it was super. The rest of the week, I spent by the pool reading or listening to my killer ipod that my wonderful friends gave me!
I noticed that the swimsuits here are a bit skimpy! I mean with mine next to some here, I'm covering up a lot. It's normal to have a thong swimsuit in South America, my aunt almost bought me one but I convinced her I wasn't ready to show off my butt to the world…no way dude. Plus in Bogota I wouldn't do any swimming considering the weather isn't as hot there. Maybe in a few years or when I go to San Andres, or Cartagena I will be a bit more comfortable in my skin. The same week I was with my aunt Gloria, they live near by La Universidad del Valle, which is a public university. And every other week they would protest, make signs out in the front of the school and throw potato bombs. No one is ever hurt but it was kind of scary to see the bombs go off or hear them at five in the morning. But this is what students do in protest to the government, the war and the president. It's neat to see the signs though, although I don't believe that interwining violence into beliefs is really protesting, I think there's a fine line between protest, standing up for one's beliefs and boredom. Oh I also got my nails done again...
At the end of the week, I ended up going to Trujillo. I love that town, I feel comfortable and at home when I'm there. I think it might be because my mom and her family grew up there, it's a good feeling to be in the same place as my mom was at the same age as me. I was dropped off at my aunt Dalila's house and it was super good to see her! When my grandma died, Dalila and Martha Liliana were 13 and 14, they came to live with us in Palmira and my mom continued to raise them. Dalila took care of me a lot when I was a baby, she was the only one I would let brush my hair when I was little, I would cry with anyone else. Dalila is super funny, and made me feel inredibly welcome the second I walked in the door. She lives the exact house that she grew up in, the house was split into two and one half was sold, she couldn't bear to sell the other half and so she ended moving into it. It's an old house but regardless of how the years show on it, it's so beautiful. I enjoy a history of a house or of a place, I like old rather than new…if walls could talk, I like to think of the stories they would tell. Dalila is a teacher one of the local schools along with her husband, Freddy. I went all week to the school with them, the kids were way too cute. I was followed around and asked to speak english all the time, they asked me to translate silly things and then they'd laugh because it sounded so funny. They would hug me and greet me everyday I came to the school, aw I loved it. I would have ten kids if I could…I ended up going to the english classes to answer their questions about the life en Los Estados Unidos. My broken spanish got a lot of laughs during the fiestas we had at the house, we drank rum (they call here ron) and aguadriente, we dance-well I attempted- and laughed many nights. I also got to swim in a river called Culebras which translates to Snakes but ha, no worries no snakes to be seen. But a bit of a waterfall which felt awesome, it was hard to get under it because it came down hard! It almost hurt but it was too fun to hurt. The current was also really strong, at one point I tried to get in the middle of the current so Freddy could take my picture but I about lost my balance and the bottoms of my swimsuit. I loved every second of it. The weather is great in Trujillo, because it's hot-super hot but there's always a nice breeze from the mountains that comes down to cool off. I did a ton of walking up the mountains, down the mountains, towards the end of my two weeks there I began to despised walking up any mountain. Walking was good though, it kept me from getting chubbier and chubbier, although the truth is I left Trujillo a bit chubby, yes no joke, I definately gained a few pounds. It was all worth it, I got to eat all of my favorite food and multiple times, but I realized how can I not eat these great meals? If I died tomorrow, atleast I would have a full stomach of good food and die happy! Like platano maduros asados con mantequilla, arepas con queso, empandas, any kind of plantanos, pan de bono, almojabanas, etc. YUM. I loved waking up to the sound of the town, the mountains, the park to see the old men playing cards or just people watching. I went up into the mountains to my uncle Fernando's farm, he recently bought a coffee farm, and it was gorgeous up there. We walked the land and through the coffee plants, it was a sight. During the championship of the Colombian soccer league, there were fireworks, everyone playing their music loud and cheering. Then Copa America began…man oh man, I love soccer…the Colombian team and soccer. I made a vow that if Colombia made it to the World Cup 2010, I would go. I better find a job and start saving up. I loved staying in Trujillo, I can't wait to go back. Oh yeah, I got my nails done again.
I made it back to Palmira for my final week…L There are always random festive three day weekends, Colombia has many festive days which usually land on Mondays to make the three day weekends. For the three day weekend, Marlene, Mono, Diego and Martha Liliana got together and decided to head out. We ended up drinking two giraffes of beer, that thing is really neat. Then we went to a bar called La Cantina de Lucha, it was a coolest little bar! I loved it. I did realice that I would have a lot of adapting to do though, the music is all Colombian or Latin songs. And all the people there cheered when they played an old classic song, sang along to every song like my friends and I would do in Ames when songs that were popular back in high school were played in bars. At the bar there were mostly people my age and they were all with their friends chugging bottles of Aguardiente (since you buy don't buy drinks but bottles at bars at the bars here), singing and dancing. Aw at that point I got a bit homesick thinking how much fun me and everyone in Ames would have at this bar!
Thursday of my last week there were Peace Marchs (Las Marchas de Paz) all over the country. I went to Cali that day with mi tia Martha Liliana to participate in the march, it was mind blowing. Literally thousands and thousands were at the march wearing white, many had made signs, banners, balloons, brought flowers, whistles, etc. To protest against the violence in Colombia bought on by the government and the Farc, to spread peace, the remember all the 3,000+ who remain to be kidnapped and the 11 diplomats who were recently killed. All kinds of people participated in the march, I was overwhelmed by the unity of everyone. It was a great experience and an awesome feeling to gain among people I didn't even know. Nothing else mattered but peace during the two hours. There were also marchs in Bogota, Barranquilla and of course Cali (where I was). I don't think people expected such an outcome but it's come to a point where people are fed up with fear and constant sorrow of their lives and their country. I'm fed up with it being here only two months and I have faced nothing like the citizens of Colombia have faced within the last decade+.
Finally, after a couple hours of delay in the airport, I made it to Bogota.
COME VISIT ME
For the two months I have traveled El Valle de Cauca of Colombia. It a state of the southern region of Colombia, there which lies Cali, Palmira and Trujillo. I was born in Palmira, my mom and her family was raised in Trujillo and so most of them reside there in El Valle. People say that El Valle is the most beautiful because of the continuous bright green color of the surrounding mountains, the best spoken spanish is from here, the salsa dancers are from Cali, and of course the Agudelo family is from El Valle, ha!
I've been all over the place within couple months. Traveling and seeing family, my mom has eight siblings and she wanted me to get reacquainted with them by staying a week each. It's been super fun, I've loved getting to see everyone and getting to know everyone with the idea that I'm not leaving in a few weeks and won't see them again for five more years, this time I'm here! It's crazy, sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure I'm really here in Colombia. It's all happened so fast that it's kind of hard to believe, but all in all I'm glad that I made the move. I've learned a lot in the past two months that I've been here, life here is really different. Of course, a good different though. I've gotten to learn a new perspective on life and learn new things that I can adapt to my life, it's great. And the nature of Colombia is gorgeous, the mountains are breathtaking and the weather makes me sweat but I love the heat! Well, keep in mind the weather in Bogota is a bit more mild so I've really enjoyed my time here in El Valle.
I stayed with my mom's youngest sister first, Martha Liliana, I'm super close to her because she came to the United States for a couple years when I was eight. She also took care of Andres and I when were youngins. She lives in a complex with a pool and I love the pool, I loved the alone time there (although I occassionally got lonely). I love to fall asleep in the sun, regardless of the dangers of too much sun, I can't help it. After my quick nap in the sun one day, I woke up to be 3 shades darker. The nap was amazing and the sun felt so nice and warm but I definately got burned. Apparently the sun in Colombia is a bit stronger…I went to the pool almost everday to swim and layout, one day there were two guys there and they started talking to me. They both live in Bogota as well and were on break from school, we talked about Bogota and then they noticed my accent. Man, I can't get by anyone with that accent, it's bad but it was cool to meet people.
One night we went to El 14, which is like a mall, there was a reggaeton party going on (there is a lot of reggaeton music here) it was the so packed but it was fun. There are different little huts with bars in the center of the food court, which it mostly outdoors, they serve mostly beer, rum and aguadriente. Aguadriente is a liquor that is made here in Colombia from sugar cane, it's light and easy to drink or atleast I think so. It's drank as a shot or neat, with a light black licquorice taste but not like Sambuca. Bars also sell a giraffes of beer, it's like an individual beer tap. It's like buying a pitcher for the table but instead it's like your own little tap, it's pretty cool.
The Saturday that my other Aunt, Marlene, came to pick me up she brought over a bottle of Tequila 1800. It's a really a good bottle of tequila, so I was happy to see itJ I now know that the love for tequila runs in the family! We laughed a lot. Marlene and I are a lot alike, we live life with the same perspective and a smiles. It's really funny because we'll talk about something and end up finishing each other sentances. It's nice to feel close to a family I rarely saw growing up.
June 1, I turned twenty-two. I'm not gonna lie I don't like getting older but the birthdays come anyway! I got incredibly homesick on my birthday. I kept thinking of my friends and my mom, and how much fun my birthday was last year, it was hard. Towards the beginning of the night, I felt a bit better as my family came over. As we ate delicious food, and delicious cake. Alright, the cake and pasteries here are 10x better than anywhere else, well anywhere else I have been. Seriously, not just even the pasteries but the bread is the best bread ever. Anyways, my mom's super good friend Elsa came over with the cake and the coolest candle ever! It was this big plastic thing but when the wick was lit, the big plastic thing revealed to be a flower. The center with the wick ended up being like a sparkler, each petal had an individual candle, it spun around and around and sang happy birthday, it was a stellar candle! It was nice to spend a birthday with people who I had not spend a birthday since my third birthday. I also got a couple phone calls with the familiar voices of Naddie and Charlie which made me smile and made my day (thanks!!!). It made me not feel so homesick anymore…oh yeah I also got my nails done.
The following week I ended upgoing across the city of Cali to stay with my uncle, Ruben Dario. He's the politician of the family, he was running for govenor but dropped out of the race because of current circumstances. He is still running to be a part of the counsel and remains to be a lawmaker of El Valle de Cauca. His wife, Gloria Amparo, got the political fever is running to be mayor of Trujillo. It was different to see how politics worked here in Colombia but it was nice to see it first hand. Politicians or rich people get kidnapped here quite often, it's almost become a part of everyday life which is incredibly sad. My uncle's fellow lawmakers were kidnapped five years ago, my uncle was saved because he has the bad habit of arriving late to everything and he arrived late to work that day. Since that day he has not been without a bodyguard, it's a sad way to live everyday but it's safety and security. Evertime we traveled long distances, the bodyguard (Julian) would have his gun in his lap, I don't like guns…they make me feel really uncomfortable but at the same time I felt somewhat safe. Julian is young and really cool to talk to, he is taking english classes so I would help him with his homework every morning while my uncle was getting ready. My cousin Laura Camila had her first communion while I was there. Since most of the country is Catholic, first communions are a big deal here. Most are usually a school related event, considering most schools are private and Catholic as well. Laura's school provided her with an attire and she looked like a cute lil nun! It's pretty much a normal thing to have in life growing up in Colombia, I probably would have had a first communion with the white dress, the party and such if I had grown up here. One of the days I was with Ruben Dario and Gloria, we went to a business lunch at the restaurant in the middle of nowhere, it was beautiful. I wish I would've taken pictures…it was surrounded by flowers, fruit trees (no I didn't climb a mango tree), and a river. It was really beautiful, I kept thinking it was the perfect date place to eat, aw, yeah I might be lonely sometimesJ I also accompanied Gloria to a local speech in Trujillo, it was really nice to see how people reacted to her and applauded her. These were people who are really struggling in Trujillo because of the lack of jobs and income in the town. I got to pass out the snacks and drinks, it was super. The rest of the week, I spent by the pool reading or listening to my killer ipod that my wonderful friends gave me!
I noticed that the swimsuits here are a bit skimpy! I mean with mine next to some here, I'm covering up a lot. It's normal to have a thong swimsuit in South America, my aunt almost bought me one but I convinced her I wasn't ready to show off my butt to the world…no way dude. Plus in Bogota I wouldn't do any swimming considering the weather isn't as hot there. Maybe in a few years or when I go to San Andres, or Cartagena I will be a bit more comfortable in my skin. The same week I was with my aunt Gloria, they live near by La Universidad del Valle, which is a public university. And every other week they would protest, make signs out in the front of the school and throw potato bombs. No one is ever hurt but it was kind of scary to see the bombs go off or hear them at five in the morning. But this is what students do in protest to the government, the war and the president. It's neat to see the signs though, although I don't believe that interwining violence into beliefs is really protesting, I think there's a fine line between protest, standing up for one's beliefs and boredom. Oh I also got my nails done again...
At the end of the week, I ended up going to Trujillo. I love that town, I feel comfortable and at home when I'm there. I think it might be because my mom and her family grew up there, it's a good feeling to be in the same place as my mom was at the same age as me. I was dropped off at my aunt Dalila's house and it was super good to see her! When my grandma died, Dalila and Martha Liliana were 13 and 14, they came to live with us in Palmira and my mom continued to raise them. Dalila took care of me a lot when I was a baby, she was the only one I would let brush my hair when I was little, I would cry with anyone else. Dalila is super funny, and made me feel inredibly welcome the second I walked in the door. She lives the exact house that she grew up in, the house was split into two and one half was sold, she couldn't bear to sell the other half and so she ended moving into it. It's an old house but regardless of how the years show on it, it's so beautiful. I enjoy a history of a house or of a place, I like old rather than new…if walls could talk, I like to think of the stories they would tell. Dalila is a teacher one of the local schools along with her husband, Freddy. I went all week to the school with them, the kids were way too cute. I was followed around and asked to speak english all the time, they asked me to translate silly things and then they'd laugh because it sounded so funny. They would hug me and greet me everyday I came to the school, aw I loved it. I would have ten kids if I could…I ended up going to the english classes to answer their questions about the life en Los Estados Unidos. My broken spanish got a lot of laughs during the fiestas we had at the house, we drank rum (they call here ron) and aguadriente, we dance-well I attempted- and laughed many nights. I also got to swim in a river called Culebras which translates to Snakes but ha, no worries no snakes to be seen. But a bit of a waterfall which felt awesome, it was hard to get under it because it came down hard! It almost hurt but it was too fun to hurt. The current was also really strong, at one point I tried to get in the middle of the current so Freddy could take my picture but I about lost my balance and the bottoms of my swimsuit. I loved every second of it. The weather is great in Trujillo, because it's hot-super hot but there's always a nice breeze from the mountains that comes down to cool off. I did a ton of walking up the mountains, down the mountains, towards the end of my two weeks there I began to despised walking up any mountain. Walking was good though, it kept me from getting chubbier and chubbier, although the truth is I left Trujillo a bit chubby, yes no joke, I definately gained a few pounds. It was all worth it, I got to eat all of my favorite food and multiple times, but I realized how can I not eat these great meals? If I died tomorrow, atleast I would have a full stomach of good food and die happy! Like platano maduros asados con mantequilla, arepas con queso, empandas, any kind of plantanos, pan de bono, almojabanas, etc. YUM. I loved waking up to the sound of the town, the mountains, the park to see the old men playing cards or just people watching. I went up into the mountains to my uncle Fernando's farm, he recently bought a coffee farm, and it was gorgeous up there. We walked the land and through the coffee plants, it was a sight. During the championship of the Colombian soccer league, there were fireworks, everyone playing their music loud and cheering. Then Copa America began…man oh man, I love soccer…the Colombian team and soccer. I made a vow that if Colombia made it to the World Cup 2010, I would go. I better find a job and start saving up. I loved staying in Trujillo, I can't wait to go back. Oh yeah, I got my nails done again.
I made it back to Palmira for my final week…L There are always random festive three day weekends, Colombia has many festive days which usually land on Mondays to make the three day weekends. For the three day weekend, Marlene, Mono, Diego and Martha Liliana got together and decided to head out. We ended up drinking two giraffes of beer, that thing is really neat. Then we went to a bar called La Cantina de Lucha, it was a coolest little bar! I loved it. I did realice that I would have a lot of adapting to do though, the music is all Colombian or Latin songs. And all the people there cheered when they played an old classic song, sang along to every song like my friends and I would do in Ames when songs that were popular back in high school were played in bars. At the bar there were mostly people my age and they were all with their friends chugging bottles of Aguardiente (since you buy don't buy drinks but bottles at bars at the bars here), singing and dancing. Aw at that point I got a bit homesick thinking how much fun me and everyone in Ames would have at this bar!
Thursday of my last week there were Peace Marchs (Las Marchas de Paz) all over the country. I went to Cali that day with mi tia Martha Liliana to participate in the march, it was mind blowing. Literally thousands and thousands were at the march wearing white, many had made signs, banners, balloons, brought flowers, whistles, etc. To protest against the violence in Colombia bought on by the government and the Farc, to spread peace, the remember all the 3,000+ who remain to be kidnapped and the 11 diplomats who were recently killed. All kinds of people participated in the march, I was overwhelmed by the unity of everyone. It was a great experience and an awesome feeling to gain among people I didn't even know. Nothing else mattered but peace during the two hours. There were also marchs in Bogota, Barranquilla and of course Cali (where I was). I don't think people expected such an outcome but it's come to a point where people are fed up with fear and constant sorrow of their lives and their country. I'm fed up with it being here only two months and I have faced nothing like the citizens of Colombia have faced within the last decade+.
Finally, after a couple hours of delay in the airport, I made it to Bogota.
COME VISIT ME
Monday, May 14, 2007
The Weekend
Monday, May 14, 2007
Current mood: grateful
I got a bit lonely Friday night, made a few phone calls to hear the voice of the famaliar...it was nice.
Saturday afternoon, my dad had his friend come over to teach me to dance Tango...that was a blast! It's a challenge but worth the work. Dancing is a hard sport, regardless if anyone thinks so or not, ha.
Then I meet up with my uncle, Leo, one of my mom's many brothers. I had last seen him when I was ten and we took a trip to Colombia, so I really haven't seen him for 10 years. I hadn't seen his wife, Gladis, and their kids (my cousins), Yoal and Karen since I was itty bitty...well no that's a lie. I saw Karen five years ago in my last visit...
Karen had since had gotten married and had a baby, she's a year older than me but that's not uncommon to do young here. She did have her baby three months premature but he's doing great and growing. Owen, his name, is so beautiful, and he smiles a lot. I fell in love with him right away, I love kids, I look forward to the next 6-7 years cause then I will consider having a family:)
Anywho, since Mother's Day was on Sunday, I got to see the way they celebrate it here. And honestly, it's a huge huge holiday here, as every holiday is. People spend all week to prepare for this day. There were parties everywhere, sales, malls stayed open all night, carnivals and everything. I have always been accustomed to giving my mom flowers, a card and going out to dinner, but there that's nothing compared to what they call El Dia De La Madre. All women, not just mothers, are valued. We went out to a mall, looked at bands playing, sales they were having. We got a bottle of Aguadriente, which is very typcial and popular liquor. It's clear, and it was smooth with a hint of tast of black licorce. But nothing like Sambuca, icky. And you take it neat with one big sip (not a shot really though), or mutliple sips. We played dominos and had a few drinks. After a couple hours, it started to wind down and everyone went to be except me and my uncle.
We continued to stay up till 230 am just talking. It was great! My mom always said he was a really good man, but I didn't realize how close they were growing up. And considering they were nine kids, that's pretty cool. He talked about my mom, and growing up. How much my mom did for him, and what she did for him, it's so good to hear that because it just goes to show how big my mom's heart has always been. We shared things that we both had in common growing up, which was crazy weird considering we both grew up in different eras and countries. He's an intelligent and simple man, he looks at life and sees it all, good and bad, as a blessing. He's patient with everything that he comes into contact with, he's had to work hard for his life and for his family. He made it clear that family, friends and the moments with them are all that matter in life, money buy materilistic things that can be replaced. Time can't be replaced.
His daughter, Karen, got married and had a baby young. But instead of being upset or disappointed like maybe some parents would do, he supported it from the beginning. He saw her as a woman who was going to have a family someday anyway, what was the difference with now and then? No regrets.
Sunday afternoon, we went to Gladis's sisters house with her family to have a dinner and celebrate mother's day. Her sisters were so sweet, they are both single mothers. One had been left with her two little girls by her husband so he could run off with another woman, the other had lost her husband just 7 months ago when he was killed by the Guerilla army, she was left with her 3 year old son. It's those kind of expiriences that make them strong, and you sense that strength in their presence.
I talked to my mom that afternoon, and realized how much I wish she was here. How much fun she's be having, how many people would love to see her, and how she would love to see them.
I look forward to seeing the rest of my family. Next weekend! :) I love how where you go, you are family.
TQM!
Current mood: grateful
I got a bit lonely Friday night, made a few phone calls to hear the voice of the famaliar...it was nice.
Saturday afternoon, my dad had his friend come over to teach me to dance Tango...that was a blast! It's a challenge but worth the work. Dancing is a hard sport, regardless if anyone thinks so or not, ha.
Then I meet up with my uncle, Leo, one of my mom's many brothers. I had last seen him when I was ten and we took a trip to Colombia, so I really haven't seen him for 10 years. I hadn't seen his wife, Gladis, and their kids (my cousins), Yoal and Karen since I was itty bitty...well no that's a lie. I saw Karen five years ago in my last visit...
Karen had since had gotten married and had a baby, she's a year older than me but that's not uncommon to do young here. She did have her baby three months premature but he's doing great and growing. Owen, his name, is so beautiful, and he smiles a lot. I fell in love with him right away, I love kids, I look forward to the next 6-7 years cause then I will consider having a family:)
Anywho, since Mother's Day was on Sunday, I got to see the way they celebrate it here. And honestly, it's a huge huge holiday here, as every holiday is. People spend all week to prepare for this day. There were parties everywhere, sales, malls stayed open all night, carnivals and everything. I have always been accustomed to giving my mom flowers, a card and going out to dinner, but there that's nothing compared to what they call El Dia De La Madre. All women, not just mothers, are valued. We went out to a mall, looked at bands playing, sales they were having. We got a bottle of Aguadriente, which is very typcial and popular liquor. It's clear, and it was smooth with a hint of tast of black licorce. But nothing like Sambuca, icky. And you take it neat with one big sip (not a shot really though), or mutliple sips. We played dominos and had a few drinks. After a couple hours, it started to wind down and everyone went to be except me and my uncle.
We continued to stay up till 230 am just talking. It was great! My mom always said he was a really good man, but I didn't realize how close they were growing up. And considering they were nine kids, that's pretty cool. He talked about my mom, and growing up. How much my mom did for him, and what she did for him, it's so good to hear that because it just goes to show how big my mom's heart has always been. We shared things that we both had in common growing up, which was crazy weird considering we both grew up in different eras and countries. He's an intelligent and simple man, he looks at life and sees it all, good and bad, as a blessing. He's patient with everything that he comes into contact with, he's had to work hard for his life and for his family. He made it clear that family, friends and the moments with them are all that matter in life, money buy materilistic things that can be replaced. Time can't be replaced.
His daughter, Karen, got married and had a baby young. But instead of being upset or disappointed like maybe some parents would do, he supported it from the beginning. He saw her as a woman who was going to have a family someday anyway, what was the difference with now and then? No regrets.
Sunday afternoon, we went to Gladis's sisters house with her family to have a dinner and celebrate mother's day. Her sisters were so sweet, they are both single mothers. One had been left with her two little girls by her husband so he could run off with another woman, the other had lost her husband just 7 months ago when he was killed by the Guerilla army, she was left with her 3 year old son. It's those kind of expiriences that make them strong, and you sense that strength in their presence.
I talked to my mom that afternoon, and realized how much I wish she was here. How much fun she's be having, how many people would love to see her, and how she would love to see them.
I look forward to seeing the rest of my family. Next weekend! :) I love how where you go, you are family.
TQM!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
