Life is a Game we Play.

1 Week Anniversary

So "Spring Break" is over, and now LIFE in Cartagena begins...after being here for one full week, I finally got introduced to the company that is sponsoring me here (Molina 3 Castillos--they make flour) and to the school (Fe y Alegria) where I will be working. So, Erin, what are you doing? you might ask... I STILL HAVE NO IDEA! I am not working with the children directly but rather with their parents. I don't understand exactly what I'm supposed to do with the parents, or how exactly I'm supposed to contact them etc. Tomorrow is my first 8-6 day (I hope to God it's also laundry day!!) so hopefully I don't make a fool of myself...

In other news,

I’m glad I like bananas-because they work their way into every meal. Fried, doused in butter, you name it. And I’ve discovered that there are at least 5 different varieties of bananas. My favorite: Platanos a la Tentacion (bananas cooked in sugar water and butter)

My new favorite hobby is listening for the mangos to fall from the tree outside the house so that I beat the neighbors to them in hopes that they'll end up as mango juice for breakfast. :-D

An AIESECer here is going to take me to his martial arts class on Saturday...can't wait! I feel like I haven't worked out in months! and since we take buses everywhere, I don't even get any walking exercise. I'll probably end up joining the gym that's on my way home from where I'll be working. I've proposed that after "la conferencia de apertura" for our PBoX (May 30th!!) we have an AIESEC Sports Day...at the beach... The idea seemed to go over pretty well, so I'm excited for that!

Observation:

There is such a paradox of old and new here…You can walk into a house that is exactly what you might picture: very old, but very clean, with Catholic statues displayed, scary portraits of deceased family members, and a little old lady singing as she prepares dinner in the hot kitchen- but then you turn the corner and there’s a huge flatscreen TV. You watch a DVD, think everything is normal, and then the electricity in the entire city goes out. (this has happened 4 times in the week I’ve been here, but I’m told it’s a rare occurance) When walking down the broken sidewalk, as you’re being passed by a barefoot boy directing a horse and cart, you notice a pile of abandoned tires, miscellaneous shoes, and other garbage next to a sign offering a cell phone recharge and internet access. it's strange to me.

besitos!

posted by Erin @ 5:55 PM