New Horizons.

                 Wow! It’s been a while! It is hard to think that it has been three months already. The switch over to middle school has been made, for a while now actually. The classes I am in charge of are 7^th Life Science, 7^th English, 8^th US History, and 6^th Math. There is quite a contrast between subjects and class personality. Many of you would be impressed with Science. It is my favorite class to teach actually. Crazy. In one day I became a slug and a clam. We are learning to draw pictures in our notes to help ourselves. I told the students, after they laughed at my picture of a clam’s gills, that there was no room for pride as a teacher when it comes to drawing on the board. They laughed.

                  Last week we had a church conference! The conference speaker was Mr. Rogers, a former missionary to Argentina. The focus was on the family. No pun intended. It was wonderful. Sunday one of the elders invited the speaker’s family and me to lunch. It was a good time of fellowship and Spanish practice. On Monday there was a meeting on sexual purity for the young people. The great thing about it was, everyone came. Then we broke into groups and discussed lies that the world tries to make us believe. We then looked to scripture to find the truth. The whole time was meant for the more mature Christians to help counsel and discuss the issues with the younger ones! The set up was very impacting.

Cultural Tidbits –

1.      Did I tell you that I saw a Colombian put on chapstick? It rocked my world.

2.      I have been counting how many seconds people wait to sit down in seat that was previously occupied on the buses. It ranges from 4-15 seconds.

3.      We don’t really eat dinner here. I am used to it. It will be odd to go back to large dinners.

4.      Crapes and Waffles is a phenomena here. Look it up. In my opinion, it is up there with Country Style (all you Quad Citians).

I would appreciate prayer for wisdom in coming back this fall.

Thanks to all!

ps. Was that a cheesy title or what?

What do you see?

Things I see every day…almost.

1.       Horses pulling a trailer of veggies, or something of that sort. It is so out of place in the middle of a city with 9,000,000 people. Odd.

2.       A goat on the side of the road in the canal on the way to school.  I named him, but forgot it. I think it was something Frederico… Maybe Reginald?

3.       Buses, buses, and more buses…I take a least two a day. I seriously love public transportation. It is only about $.60 do travel and hour on the Transmilenio. Can you believe that? It is glorious not having a car.

4.       The beautiful mountains. Every day. It is astonishing, especially at night.

5.       There is this one puffy brown dog that I look for on a farm on the way to school every day. I think the zoning laws here are extremely lax.

6.       Cows….all over the place. This is also odd.

 

7.       Little shops, called tiendas, selling almost everything you could want.

8. This is behind my apartment building.

9. Last, but not least. Traffic and taxis and motorcycles.

This is a little piece of what I see everyday. Hope you enjoy it.

It’s crazy. It’s wonderful. It’s a learning experience.

Alas, I have not disappeared!

I shall make you a timeline or perhaps a chronicle….Going backwards.

Yesterday – I got my visa renewed. It turns out that there are in fact people of other cultures living in Colombia. Although people have been telling me this, it was not confirmed until yesterday. Of course, the only people who need their visas renewed are non-Colombian! I am going to give you a speedy version of the process. 1- Go to the photo place to get photos taken. 2-Go to the visa place to find out the exact amount of money that it costs, as well as the account number. …. 3 – Get lost. 4 – Go to the bank to deposit the exact amount of money into the account of the government. I’m assuming. 5- Go back the visa place . . . 6 –Stand in line. 7 – Turn everything in. 8 – Get fingerprinted….Yes, I do have fingerprints in Colombia (Suz, Victor, and Alyssa). 9 – Wait. . . .  10 – Someone calls out your name (Karen Elizabeth). This is extremely hard to understand in Spanish when you have heard it in English your whole life. They hand back your passport and say “Listo!” (Ready). Of course I stood there just staring until she shooed me away.

                This all took place from 9:30 to 2:45. Talk about a long day. Great thing is, I got an extended visa without having to haggle or pay extra. The Lord is faithful in the small things.

Last Friday – This was the last day in First Grade. They had a little party for me, and they gave me a book with a card from each student with their picture. BEST PRESENT EVER! I miss them already. Although, every time they see in the school they come running to give me a hug screaming, “Miss Carter!!! Miss Carter!!!” I told my mom that somehow, I think my departure from middle school will slightly different.

Last Monday and Tuesday – Sick....Need I say more?

Dia del Idioma was a long time ago……..HOWEVER…….We must travel back! It was AMAZING. (I am using the Caps appropriately here people!) Close your eyes and imagine fabricated national parks with a plethora of wild animals running around, right in the school building! There was face painting and forest sounds and parents and cameras and rain (real) and oceans, ect. In all my years (21), I have never seen a celebration quite so spectacular. Honestly, the Colombians know how to do something up.

I am in middle school officially now. It’s crazy. It’s wonderful. It’s a learning experience.

Cultural Tidbit:

1. Everyone in Colombia knows their blood type. When they ask you yours, and you tell them you don't know it, they give you a look like you are a complete idiot.

2. Water here is often sold with gas in it (con gas).