Movin' on Out...

Today I officially moved into another apartment with a Colombian family! This means…I get my own room. I am going to get really spoiled. You have no idea how nice it is to have a room to yourself…until you don’t. It is unbelievable how much I can spread my stuff out in 7 weeks. I still have not located my tennis shoes. Who knows? Maybe the borrowers have made a trip to Colombia. Wouldn’t surprise me.

            Tomorrow is Dia del Idioma! For those of you who don’t know (which is probably almost everyone), this is a humongous deal! From the descriptions that I have gotten, it is a day of celebrating the Colombian culture. Anyways, many of the rooms in the school have been transformed into national parks. Models off of the real thing, of course. However, I have never seen anything so amazing! I really might get lost in the wilderness. It almost reminds me of winterfest (all you Emmaus folk). Colombians know how to decorate….It’s uncanny. There is no holding back.

Cultural Tidbits (or just things that are different from America):

1.      Milk is in a bag, and they don’t refrigerate it until it’s needed. It is so odd to get milk out of the cupboard.

2.      I can’t remember if I have said this one yet. KETCHUP is totally different here. . and this is not in a good way. I actually ate some of my fries without ketchup. For those of you who know me, this is unheard of.

3.      Ranch is hardly ever seen. I actually have NEVER seen or tasted it here. . .Now you know how to pray for me..lol.

Why not?

Dearest friends and Family!

These last couple of weeks have been crazy per usual.

Last Friday night we had six friends over for dinner. The funny thing is, we didn’t plan it until the morning of! Does that sound like me? We told everyone to be there by 6, but to honor the Colombian culture, did not eat until 7.

On Sunday I want back to the church in Cazuca! This was the second time, and just a lovely (and long) as the last. We went with the intention of leaving right after church. FALSE.  Right after mentioning that we were going to get home early, we were invited to a birthday party. Who can pass up a birthday party right? Apparently not me.

We then took a bus into Soacha (sp?) for the party. Of course, being an American, I thought we would play a game, have some lunch, sing a song, and then leave. Two hours right? Needless to say, I arrived home around 7 or 7.30. Totally worth it. Plus, I got to have some quality time with Colombians my own age, which really is invaluable. Why? Because I can now walk up to them at church and say hi without it being totally awkward. Plus, they will help me learn spanish. Ah! It really was such a blessing.

Teaching has been great, even with all the minor melt downs my students have every day. We have fun…or at least I do.

Achievement of the day:

Almost all of my 23 1^st graders made a three slide powerpoint with: a word, picture, and animation on each page. Beat that…I mean really, there is no way someone could beat that.  They are 7! I know college students who still don’t know how to make a proper powerpoint!

Cultural Tidbits:

1.       I have now seen 2 Colombians use some form of chap stick. I know you were all waiting for this update. However, one of them was one of my students, and I think he only had it because I did (and of course he thought it was cool).

2.       When you leave the North end of Bogota, people start to look more normal and less like they walked out of fashion magazine.

3.       Honking doesn’t mean you’re angry…It just everyone else know where you are.

4.       They use the phrase, “A week without meat…” as we would use a week without food. That’s how important chicken and beef is here.

Minor Adjustments:  I will be moving in with a Colombian family tonight! The place I am in right now is a bit cramped. Praise the Lord that this opportunity opened up for me to stay in the same apartment building! That means I do not have to learn a new bus route, neighborhood or anything. Plus, I will have my own room! Talk about spoiled. The Lord really has provided above and beyond what I could have imagined.

Things I took for granted -

1. a dryer

2. the comforts of my own language

Haps and Mishaps...

Friends and Family,

Again, my apologies for the long wait. The good news is…It’s for a reason. This was my first week having full control of the classroom for student teaching. Being officially in charge of twenty-three, six and seven year olds – it turns out- IS…. pretty hilarious, intimidating, scary, fun, challenging, and crazy. Seriously.  I’m loving it.

The Account of School Haps and Mishaps:

1.       Last week –

There was a bee in the classroom. All sorts of chaos ensued. However, the bee left rather quickly. Problem quickly averted and forgotten…It was only a honey bee. Mind you it was the one and only that I have seen in Colombia. Of course, it would come into a 1^st grade classroom.

Yesterday –

 A significantly larger DRAGON FLY flew into the classroom. Let’s just say that my eardrums are still recovering. However, it is my own fault because I did not have them practice how we act when a bug comes in. Right after the LARGE dragon fly flew out of the classroom, I told them the story of when a bee landed right on my shirt during lunch in elementary. I was so afraid of talking in front of the lunch lady that I sat as still as a statue. The bee left. They seemed to gain comfort from that.

 Immediately after I finished my story, the LARGE dragon fly comes back into the room. Simultaneously, I say loudly, “PRACTICE!” They all sat like statues. I was shocked out of my mind, and enormously proud.

Today –

 We read a story about a fly on a nose….and we practiced our statue pose yet again.

2.       The regular music teacher is not here yet. I have never met her. So, for elementary music we get special groups to come in.

Last Friday –

        The special group was some Native Colombian Indians. From what I could tell they did not speak Spanish very well, and I couldn’t understand a thing. Now, this is a bit terrifying when you are the leader of 23. I smile and nod A LOT. Anyways, they did some music for us…and then came the tribal dances. Well, they wanted a teacher to come and dance with them. At this point, I really have no idea what anyone is saying…but all of the sudden every single 1^st grader turns to me and screaming my name. Again, I have no idea what is going on. I look hopelessly at my Teacher Aid and she points to the stage. Now, every teacher knows that there are things that you give up for your students. For me, dignity is now one of them. . . . I even had to wear a headdress.

Today –

        We had a group of rappers come. Colombian rappers. Seriously.  I spent most of the time shuttling students in out due to ear aches it was so loud. But, the boys are all on cloud nine. The look on their faces when it started was priceless. Deer in the headlights mixed with scrunched eyebrows. . . The best part was they all tried to dance. . . Key word = TRIED. It was hilarious.

All in all, teaching has been an enormous learning experience. Plus, I love it.

Church in Cazuca….the South.

                This church was quite different from the last two that I have been two. South Bogota generally means poorer, as far as I know. I went with a friend from El Camino. This was probably one of the biggest authentically cultural experiences that I have had so far.

                We took the bus at eight in the morning. We couldn’t sit for a while, but it wasn’t that crowded. It takes about an hour, hour and a half to get there. The Transmilenio (the bus system) is a bit intimidating to me……one, because I don’t know Spanish and two, because it is a totally new experience.   When we arrived (after a couple of bus transfers), I immediately noticed that it was completely different.

This is a google image I found that looks like the town..This is a photo of Southern Bogota. However, I think we were farther up the mountain than this photo shows. 

           We were farther up the mountain, which generally means a rougher area. The farther South we got, the less we spoke in English (which really means no speaking). The people were WONDERFUL. I felt welcome, even being one of two gringos there. The speaker was a wonderful man who is a Colombian missionary to China.
              

           After church, there was a lunch were they serve you enough to last for a lifetime. They make up your plates here; it’s not a buffet line. After that, I thought I was going to be reading while my friend was in a meeting, because there was no way that I could get myself back alone. Well, I ended up going home with some of the elders wives for a hilarious game of Monopoly.

                Now, one of the major differences in this church is that only one Colombian speaks functional English...as far as I know. Needless to say, none of the women did. It was wonderful! We played for about three hours…I lost. My dictionary is always with me now. I wish I could explain better how fun it was, even with the language barrier. We drank coffee and ate bread, and drank coffee...and ate bread..

         One thing you could pray for specifically is my language acquisition. It’s hard and humbling. Also, my usefulness in the church…The two really go hand in hand.

                On the way home, it was rather packed, but I would rather take the bus that drive in a car any day. … at least in Colombia.

I know this is only a snippet, and I would love to tell you all more..So, ask away! I will do my best to answer.

Cultural tidbits:

-I have never seen someone pet a dog here.

-To get the @ symbol, you hold alt..then push 6…then 4. I know I already said the keyboard is weird, but I want you to understand the depth.

-Everyone thinks you are going to freeze to death if you don’t have multiple layers on at all times. You might be thinking this doesn’t count. You are wrong. I have people tell me all the time that I am not wearing enough clothes….and it’s 65 degrees out. I don't need a parka thank you. It’s cultural.

-There are about 45,000 taxis in Bogota…I think that’s right.

 -I only recognize about 2 of the fruits in the grocery story...talk about intimidating. They have this one fruit that looks like an orange on the outside and fish eggs on the inside. To eat it, you kinda slurp it out. Horrible consistency but good flavor...but really horrible consistency.

If you made it this far, much thanks. God Bless.