Church and Public Transportation

Dear friends and family,

            Deepest apologies for the delay, however, I think you all would prefer me to do well at my actual job first. SO many things have happened!

           I will start with the most recent. . . I can’t remember how much has been said about the public transportation here, but it’s wonderful. Unfortunately, we all know that with good usually comes a bit of bad. No pain no gain right? Well, in respect to riding the bus in Colombia, I take that phrase quite literally.              

Sunday:

 I thought that all of my vertebrae were smashed into smithereens. This was due to a pot hole the size of Yemen, just big enough to have you life flash before your eyes. Really, it’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced (that might be a slight exaggeration).

Today (Tuesday):

We decided to take a bus that you only had to pay 500 Pesos for. This comes at some costs.

1.      You have to walk farther to reach it.

2.      Then, a man practically pulls you onto the bus, screaming in your ear….all this while the bus hardly stops.

3.      Finally, you get packed (standing room only) into a bus full of people wearing entirely too much cologne. .

All in all, it is totally worth it for about $.25. Beats having your own car any day.

CHURCH – As promised.

First Sunday –

            I had just arrived the night before, very late. I cannot remember the name. The message was good, and I understood a surprisingly large amount (due to PowerPoint). To be honest, I was a bit comatose.

 Second Sunday –

            I visited church with Nancy Clark, a lady who works a ECA. She is also Plymouth Brethren (and yes, Mr. Rush, I know that calling myself that defeat itself in general, but for the sake of the blog). She has been doing what she can to help out the church for the past couple of years. I am not positive, but I think that the Flemings were involved in planting this church. It was wonderful. Of course, everything is I Spanish. That week they had the regular services, pot luck, and then a meeting to help define the mission of that particular assembly. It was VERY interesting to watch the culture, and how Colombians handle hard topics.

Last Sunday –

            This church was further up the mountain, in what seemed like a nice neighborhood. This was the first assembly started in Bogota by Brian Killings, there are about 20 now. There was a band….and I mean drums, guitars, keys, and vocals. Talk about shaking things up a bit. I attended with a high school student from ECA. She was gracious enough to interpret for me. We got a few ‘looks.’ The general friendliness was a bit different. It seemed as though me being there was a general annoyance.  

            In generally, church has been a challenge. It is interesting to see the differences and similarities of church culture in Colombian culture. It will gradually get easier with the more Spanish that I learn. It is encouraging meeting with believers to worship the Lord together.

Culture tidbit:

-Directions are always up or down in relation to the mountain, not east/west/north/south.

-I don’t know if this counts, but I have yet to see a Colombian put on chap stick.

-Everyone dances . . . it’s a favorite pastime.

A Plethora of Firsts

           My students... I cannot tell you how adorable they are. The accent is hilarious! I am sure that you would all love them if you were here. I have now been with them for three days, and it is hard to believe that today will be a week in Colombia.

            One of my students asked me how long I would be here. I told her that I would be in Colombia until April! Her mouth dropped open so wide you could have put 10 marshmallows in it (which is rather large for a 6yr old). Not only that, she bent her entire body forward at the waste to emphasize how long this was to her! It was so funny..I know it doesn’t translate well on paper, so just imagine me doing it, as if I am telling the story.

           

            There are three boys named Juan in my class, as well as a Juana and Juanita. In case you didn’t know, it is MUCH harder to remember names of people and things that are not English. All I have to say is praise the Lord for nametags! The students are wonderful. Every day they play Sharks and Minnows at recess, it is the funniest thing. Every day I hear “Miralo! Miralo!” (look at me/this.. not sure I spelled that right) about a thousand times.

           

            This morning I was invited over to my first Colombian home! I will be tutoring one of the son’s in reading. At first I was a bit nervous, because none of us wants to make a fool of ourselves! It was AMAZING. They had my cooperating teacher and me over for breakfast with the family. They don’t speak English well and I don’t speak Spanish well. However, this works to the advantage of both of us, because we will be forced to practice in both. Plus, they live within walking distance.

Major accomplishment of the week:

Grocery shopping on my own! It is only a couple of blocks, but still! There are so many different kinds of fruit here, and I don’t know the half of them. Just imagine a pale American stumbling through the aisles, pretending to understand the labels. That was me. The best thing though…the fresh bread for PENNIES! Oh my goodness, you would love it.

Culture Tidbit:

            The computer keyboards a much different here….I spent a good five minute trying to figure out the @ symbol…no joke, it’s immobilizing.

            Right now I am sitting outside. It’s probably in the 70’s with a light breeze. You don’t need screens here because there are not any bugs! Additionally, the Andes are right outside my window.

Coming soon: Church in Spanish…say what?

Luggage and Arrival!

            Well, as anticipated I will tell you of my arrival in Bogota. Let me tell you, the airport here is NOTHING like the airports in the US. Going through customs for the first time was definitely terrifying, especially since I don’t know Spanish. Once through customs you battle it out getting your luggage. Now, some of you may be thinking that the verb battle is a bit strong for this occasion. You have NO idea. Who knew that getting my luggage would be dog eat dog. Great thing is, I found my luggage and made it through the airport. . .barely.

            Once I walked out of the airport it really got dicey. Someone was supposed to be holding an ECA sign.. and then I would calmly walk over to them…and we would walk into the sunset. FALSE (sorry Abby)! I walk out with my luggage guy (everyone has someone carry their luggage) to a sidewalk full of people yelling in Spanish holding signs of all kinds! I look around….no ECA. I try to communicate with my luggage guy that they are here somewhere here… I just know it. He was a bit vexed and I was freaking out because everyone around me is screaming in Spanish. While I’m here I might as well forget about personal space. Needless to say, I paid to use a cell phone to call someone who was standing 15ft. away. They had gone to the restroom the moment I came out….What are the odds.

            Now I am here. I live you two ladies, sharing a room with one. It’s small but cozy. Everything here is different. First of all, I have not seen any buildings that look like North America. Everyone lives in apartments usually. You walk and take the bus everywhere, which is wonderful and terrifying! It is hard to getting used to  the money (and not getting ripped off).The weather is amazing and rainy (which I don’t mind).

            I spent my whole first day offending people because I did not realize it was expected to say hello and goodbye to EVERYONE you come in contact with. If you make eye contact, you say hello. If you leave without saying goodbye from ANYWHERE (for instance, walking out of a store) they think you are a rude snob. Of course, I did not find this out until I had gone a whole day not talking to many people at all, just like America. Compared to here, North Americans are super rude. Culture is hard to get used to.

           

Tomorrow is my first day with all of my students!!!! I can’t wait. I love it here. Don’t get me wrong, it’s hard. But it is so wonderful. I can see the mountains almost everywhere, and it seems like you could reach the clouds they are so close. The people are generally kind and patient. It will be SO much easier once my Spanish improves.

Culture tidbits:

-Slamming a car door is EXTREMELY rude here. My roommate told me to close it so softly you have to close it again because it didn’t latch.

-No one sits down in a seat that was just occupied. They wait a few seconds because they think it’s gross. Funny that in the USA we thank people for warming the seats for us.

-Everyone hugs and kisses. Mom would be at home here.

-Everyone dresses extremely nice, and I mean everyone! It’s rather amazing to tell you the truth.

I know this one is not as funny. As mom would say, I lost my funny. Don’t worry, I will find it again when I get more sleep.

Coming up: The official first day. Wowza!

El Principio -The Beginning

Thanks for all of you out there reading! I am excited to share with everyone the challenges and adventures of my trip to Bogota, Colombia. I would like to start with an explanation of the name. Let’s just say that it evolved with the help of some devoted friends (Abby and Jo). Upon telling them my original name (The Carter Account) they immediately told me that is was rather lame. I knew this, but did not know how to solve the problem. Well, we brainstormed. I will not tell you the duration of time wasted….I mean spent. The end result was Kicking the Proverbial Popsicle Stand, because by going to Bogota I am doing just that. If you are not satisfied with the name, let me tell you….It could be worse. . .Much worse.

The building bock and blunder titles we decided against:

- The Air is Thinning Out…

-Colombia, Here We Come!

-Pondering under the Popsicle Stand

-I’m Feeling Light Headed.

-The Daily Grind

-The Bard of Bogota

-Spinning a Yarn

-The Pondering an Musings

-Musings of a Muse

Now, about the trip…Right now I am sitting at a deserted café in JFK. This will mark the first time I have ever been in New York. It’s uneventful. I might not even count this as a time, because I am sure I would be scoffed at if I did.

Interesting and perhaps funny events of the day:

1.      Forgetting my receipt to get my boarding pass. The only thing I actually need to leave. Worry not; we scanned the passport and credit card. It all worked out. This of course was after getting in the wrong line, or should I say a crowd of people posing as a line. Shame on them.

2.      APPARENTLY, my cream cheese and chive crackers seem like a threat to national security. I go through security (without having to get patted down or doing the body scan, Elliot). They tell me I am going to have to step aside to the table so they may rifle through my bag. I have many different electronics, clothes, books, ect; but the item they have to wipe down with a litmus test is my crackers. To top it off, they even run it through the scanner AGAIN. Let me repeat, this is a pack of those cheese crackers we got in our lunches as children. I was laughing, on the inside…because I did not want to bet arrested.

3.      We all live in fear of sitting next to the wrong person the plane right? You know, the baby that cries, the dog that yips, the MAN that SNORES. I was original next to a young mother with her very happy baby. To give them more room (the effect of coach) I moved to some of the many open rows. I sat in the first seat after first class. Little did I know that the semi-bald man who died his, obviously white at the roots, hair brownish/red(I am not being mean, this was the only visual I got) was going to be a snorer. I cannot sleep on planes, so I don’t actually mind the noise. However, this man snored through entire presentation of the safety instructions. I am not one to really pay attention either, but really? Worry not; he wasn’t in an emergency exit seat.

On a more serious note, doing this is probably one of the scariest things I have ever done. I have never even been to Canada, let alone Colombia. On multiple occasions throughout the last few days I have thought to myself, “What in the world did I get myself into?” However, the Lord has been preparing me for this all my life. It’s going to be good.

Didn’t have time to post it until now, but it was written at about noon yesterday.

Coming up: Who knew getting my luggage would be dog eat dog…no joke.