I'm pretty damn happy about my trip... now. Does that mean I wasn't? Kind of.
After being here for a few days in the sweltering humidity, I thought to myself, "Do I really want to be here for four weeks, or am I just being a baby?" Well, I thought it was just the latter, lol. I'm not used to the humidity and I'm not used to the style of life in Cartagena. After thinking for a bit, I got to the root of the real issue: this is a 2nd World Country. It's nothing like the US or France, for example, and according to Brian, it seems rich here compared to places like Vietnam and Cambodia. I began to feel like a real asshole because I felt like I was subconsciously acting like I was too good to be here.
Let me back up a bit though. It's rather well developed here. They have banks, grocery and department stores, and an okay water system. There's no hot water since it's not really necessary. The economy seems to be okay - everyone is very happy and doing all they can to make and maintain an income. So hmm, what really is the problem then?
I came to the realization that I owe to myself to be extremely fortunate and gracious for what I have. Furthermore, I need to be more gracious that I was brought into the life and have been able to maintain the lifestyle that I prefer. Digging deeper, I realized that none of that really matters in the end.
Yes, none of that really matters in the end.
Life is what you make of it as to what is available to you. My view of a comfortable life is just that, my view. It's all relative. One can always wish and dream for more, but the thought and presumed image something is always better than the reality of actually having what you wish and dream for. So, that is why it doesn't, and subsequently will not, matter in the end.
Okay, that was pretty deep, lol.
Right now, I have planned a trip to Totumo Volcano which is about and hour Northeast of where I'm from. It's near Barranquilla which is still on the Carribean Coast. I'm going there with my Spanish school tomorrow after class. It should be GREAT!!!
Saturday, we're going to Santa Marta which is about 30 more minutes up the coast from Barranquilla. Then, for the next weekend, we're hoping to make it to the Islas del Rosario which is off the coast of Colombia about 45 minutes west into the Carribean Sea. There's a beautiful coral reef there, and I can't wait to experience the apparant laid back atmosphere of island-living.
Biggest shift of all: I'm leaving Cartagena on August 4 and going to Buenos Aires, Argentina for 11 days before returning to the USA. I'm soooo ecstatic about this!!!! I've always wanted to go there, and I'm glad we were able to work it out. It will be chilly there, but I won't care after being in this humidity for 2+ weeks. Seriously, I think I've sweated off about 5 lbs. since I've been here. There's a pair of pants that are either getting bigger or the humidity is having an effect on them too.
Anyway, that's an update of my adventure. I'll soon change my blog title to "Aventura de Sudamerica" or whatever/however you spell it. OH!
My Spanish is getting MUCH better. I'm almost able to talk without having to think and translate everything carefully. It's a very liberating feeling, and I really feel what people say about it being a life-changing experience.
Pictures to come probably Sunday after I go to Northeast Colombia.
Tchiao!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Primera clase de Escuela Español
Today was my first day of class at the Spanish school. For some reason, they placed me in the beginner class. Brian and I, after awhile, asked the teacher to put us in a more advanced class. They were going over the pure basics. Though I did learn a few things, I needed to know more. I'd consider myself, and Brian, a high beginner in Spanish. We know the basics, can have a decent conversation with someone, and ask for and look for things when given direction. We certainly weren't going to be dealing with "Hola! - Comó estás? - Muy bien, y tú?"
Um, no.
We got moved to the other class albeit it was challenging. We were stretched, but not overwhelmed. The teacher was very nice, thorough, and articulate. Also, I'm glad it's a female teacher. For some reason, I've always been able to understand females speaking Spanish much better than males.
Furthermore, I've been impacted on a personal level now that I'm in a Spanish speaking country where most people don't speak English. There are 5 of us, and we always walk around town speaking English. It's kind of mind-blowing to actually be in that reverse position. Normally, I'm back in the States, and see groups of people speaking French, German, Chinese, etc, etc.
They're in their comfort zone. Now, we're forced to be in our comfort zone, hence alienating ourselves from such a vibrant, happening culture. Now, I know how it feels for these groups of French, German, and Chinese to feel in the American culture - especially since the American people tend to be ethnocentric assholes expecting everyone to know and understand English.
Here, you are expected to know Spanish. The tables are turned. People only speak to you in Spanish. And honestly, it feels a little uncomfortable being the only people around speaking a language no one else can understand.
This is what is driving me to assimilate into this culture. I may look like a typical American gringo, but little will they know, this lanky white boy can hold his own in Spanish before THEY know it.
Hasta entonces, lo verémos (until then, we'll see)
Um, no.
We got moved to the other class albeit it was challenging. We were stretched, but not overwhelmed. The teacher was very nice, thorough, and articulate. Also, I'm glad it's a female teacher. For some reason, I've always been able to understand females speaking Spanish much better than males.
Furthermore, I've been impacted on a personal level now that I'm in a Spanish speaking country where most people don't speak English. There are 5 of us, and we always walk around town speaking English. It's kind of mind-blowing to actually be in that reverse position. Normally, I'm back in the States, and see groups of people speaking French, German, Chinese, etc, etc.
They're in their comfort zone. Now, we're forced to be in our comfort zone, hence alienating ourselves from such a vibrant, happening culture. Now, I know how it feels for these groups of French, German, and Chinese to feel in the American culture - especially since the American people tend to be ethnocentric assholes expecting everyone to know and understand English.
Here, you are expected to know Spanish. The tables are turned. People only speak to you in Spanish. And honestly, it feels a little uncomfortable being the only people around speaking a language no one else can understand.
This is what is driving me to assimilate into this culture. I may look like a typical American gringo, but little will they know, this lanky white boy can hold his own in Spanish before THEY know it.
Hasta entonces, lo verémos (until then, we'll see)
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Colombian Independence
Once we all woke up and went about the lovely city of Cartagena, it was quickly learned that today marks 198 years of independence from Spain. It was one hell of a party! Despite the heat, we bustled through the crowds, took pictures, and ate some good food along with drinking beers!
The more I learn about Cartagena, and the country of Colombia, the more I appreciate and understand the Spanish culture. It really is no joke, too, that being in an actual Spanish speaking country helps you learn the language. I've learned more Spanish in just a couple days than I feel I've learned in YEARS! No, I'm not exagerating. Well, it did help that I had a private tutor for 4 weeks from Bogotá to help me. She was great!
Anyway, here are some pictures. These people really know how to let loose and have a good time. It really shows why they were ranked the 4th happiest country in the world.
Anyway, Viva Colombia!!!!
"Yes to Liberty, Yes to the Truth, Yes to Life, Colombia without FARC"
Many Colombians here hate Chavez, the President of Venezuela.
Pedro de Heredia - Spanish Commander that founded Cartagena in 1533.
The more I learn about Cartagena, and the country of Colombia, the more I appreciate and understand the Spanish culture. It really is no joke, too, that being in an actual Spanish speaking country helps you learn the language. I've learned more Spanish in just a couple days than I feel I've learned in YEARS! No, I'm not exagerating. Well, it did help that I had a private tutor for 4 weeks from Bogotá to help me. She was great!
Anyway, here are some pictures. These people really know how to let loose and have a good time. It really shows why they were ranked the 4th happiest country in the world.
Anyway, Viva Colombia!!!!
"Yes to Liberty, Yes to the Truth, Yes to Life, Colombia without FARC"
Many Colombians here hate Chavez, the President of Venezuela.
Pedro de Heredia - Spanish Commander that founded Cartagena in 1533.
Pictures of the Apartment
I must show you the house we are staying in. Pictures really don't do it any justice. This is the front of the house. We're staying on the first level. All the houses here look like this - at least in this barrio.
This is the dining room and kitchen. The back area there with light is actually an open roof! There's a hammock that you can't see from here that actually strings out. If it rains, there's a drain. The bedrooms are off to the right. They closed off and are air-conditioned. There's also no hot water here.
Okay, I'm way ahead of myself here. I really need some coffee. Colombia is supposed to have some of the best. Off to find me some!
This is the dining room and kitchen. The back area there with light is actually an open roof! There's a hammock that you can't see from here that actually strings out. If it rains, there's a drain. The bedrooms are off to the right. They closed off and are air-conditioned. There's also no hot water here.
Okay, I'm way ahead of myself here. I really need some coffee. Colombia is supposed to have some of the best. Off to find me some!
Teaser pics
As we began our descent on Cartagena, we flew in from the north. I'd say the plane went about 30 miles south of the city, and swung back up from the south allowing breath taking views of the city and the northern coast of Colombia. I was amazed, yet frustrated because I couldn't seem to get my camera out of my backpack quick enough. This, I wasn't expecting.
And here we were: landed at la Aeropuerta Internacional de Rafael Núñez in Cartagena, Colombia. This is what I will call home for the next 4 weeks. Getting through customs wasn't bad at all. I must say that most of the trip was rather uneventful. Getting a cab outside the airport was a little frustrating though. Between our broken Spanish and the cab drivers' and policias' broken English, we managed to realize there weren't any vehicles large enough to fit 5 people and all our luggage. We ended up taking 2 seperate cabs to our apartment in the barrio (neighborhood) of Centro.
This neighborhood is AWESOME! Between the echoes of the horses clamoring down the streets in carriages and oil lit lamps outside the houses, I really felt like I had travelled through time back tot he 17th century. The houses have maintained their colonial charm. This neighborhood, along with most the rest of the city, was walled off during the Spanish Inquisition. The streets are narrow, are all one way, and can barely fit cars down them. I really don't want to have to drive here... lol.
The weather: it's REALLY f'ing humid here. I don't care for heat that much, but I promised that I'm going to make myself get acclimated to it. All you want to do is drink gallons of water, but of course, you can't drink the water here. I had went to the corner store, that actually ended up being a bar, to get bottled water. That was fun trying to figure out what to get, how to ask for it, etc. No one speaks English here except for the occasional BRITISH tourist. Yeah, they barely get American tourists here. I have noticed that there are a lot of French tourists. What's sad, is that these French and British tourists have nearly not as much trouble with Spanish as I do. That is going to change!
Anyway, just in case you're wondering, the time here is 7:45am right now. I'm two hours ahead of California, and one hour behind East Coast time. They don't observe Daylight Saving Time here.
OH! Here's a couple of pictures from the beach I took as we drove to our house from the airport! It was right around sunset:
And here we were: landed at la Aeropuerta Internacional de Rafael Núñez in Cartagena, Colombia. This is what I will call home for the next 4 weeks. Getting through customs wasn't bad at all. I must say that most of the trip was rather uneventful. Getting a cab outside the airport was a little frustrating though. Between our broken Spanish and the cab drivers' and policias' broken English, we managed to realize there weren't any vehicles large enough to fit 5 people and all our luggage. We ended up taking 2 seperate cabs to our apartment in the barrio (neighborhood) of Centro.
This neighborhood is AWESOME! Between the echoes of the horses clamoring down the streets in carriages and oil lit lamps outside the houses, I really felt like I had travelled through time back tot he 17th century. The houses have maintained their colonial charm. This neighborhood, along with most the rest of the city, was walled off during the Spanish Inquisition. The streets are narrow, are all one way, and can barely fit cars down them. I really don't want to have to drive here... lol.
The weather: it's REALLY f'ing humid here. I don't care for heat that much, but I promised that I'm going to make myself get acclimated to it. All you want to do is drink gallons of water, but of course, you can't drink the water here. I had went to the corner store, that actually ended up being a bar, to get bottled water. That was fun trying to figure out what to get, how to ask for it, etc. No one speaks English here except for the occasional BRITISH tourist. Yeah, they barely get American tourists here. I have noticed that there are a lot of French tourists. What's sad, is that these French and British tourists have nearly not as much trouble with Spanish as I do. That is going to change!
Anyway, just in case you're wondering, the time here is 7:45am right now. I'm two hours ahead of California, and one hour behind East Coast time. They don't observe Daylight Saving Time here.
OH! Here's a couple of pictures from the beach I took as we drove to our house from the airport! It was right around sunset:
Saturday, July 19, 2008
I have arrived in Colombia!
After much anticipation, I have finally stepped foot in the beautiful country of Colombia! I took some great pictures as we were hovering over the city of Cartagena, but I´ll post those later.
I´m just letting everyone know that I´m here. That´s all for now. I´m going to unpack, take some more pictures, and post all of them!
I´m just letting everyone know that I´m here. That´s all for now. I´m going to unpack, take some more pictures, and post all of them!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Back in Toledo
Now I'm in Toledo until Saturday spending time with my family. Today, my nephew wants me to take him to the zoo. Whatever he wants! I'm allowed to spoil him, right? The weather here is muggy - but this is what I expected. I grew up here!
Finally, too, I got to see my sister's new house, and meet her dog. I'm so proud and admittingly jealous of her! It's all good - I'm just happy that's she's happy. Nothing less.
I hope now to reconnect with as many friends as possible this week.
Finally, too, I got to see my sister's new house, and meet her dog. I'm so proud and admittingly jealous of her! It's all good - I'm just happy that's she's happy. Nothing less.
I hope now to reconnect with as many friends as possible this week.
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