Life is a Game we Play.

So, like I’ve said, I suck at updating my blog… I’ll do my best to recap the last week…

Life has been pretty hectic in the house-- a lot of relatives have been coming and going because of the death of Andres’ grandpa. His aunt, uncle, and two cousins have been staying here for a week. I’m going to be really sad when they go because they’re so fun to talk to. The cousins are 2 girls (12 and 16) that can talk about anything. I’ve decided that my competence level in Spanish must be at about their level because when I’m with them, it’s fun and easy for me to talk. Sometimes with the LC, I just feel kinda awkward. However, I decided to start calling people to go out for coffee or walk around downtown in the afternoons, instead of only showing up for events where everybody’s there. When there are more than 7 people talking, I have no chance of understanding what they’re saying or participating in the conversation, so I just kind of sit there. You know how we say “5^th wheel” or “tag-along”…well they call that person “arroz blanco” (white rice). White rice because it only serves as an accompaniment. I don’t want to be arroz blanco! Hahaha

I’ve been working every morning until about noon on my project, and tonight I have a meeting with the director of the school, a few teachers, and the parents. Basically, how I’ve decided to handle my job is as follows: I gave out a survey asking about level of education, abilities, occupations, interests, etc. From there, I’m trying to contact other teachers to see if they would be willing to teach some classes in the evenings (math, computers, etc). I’m going to offer to teach some English. I’m going to hold a few classes explaining the basics of how to create a business plan to hopefully trigger the entrepreneurial spirit needed to create a microenterprise. I’m also working towards establishing a relationship between the school and “el SENA” which is an organization that offers training in all areas from sewing to cooking to farming. The company that sponsors me is a flour mill, so I’m setting up a meeting next week to see if they can be of any help—either donating raw materials or offering workshops in bread making, etc.

Last Saturday, I went to a kickboxing/martial arts class with an AIESECer. It reminded me a lot of the BoxBlast class at the SERF. It was really fun, and I think I’m going to join the gym and go to some more of the classes...they have everything from pilates and yoga to taebo and dancing. People here are so friendly; I was jogging on a treadmill and the older guy (probably about 50 years old) next to me started talking to me, asking me where I’m from, how I was liking Cartagena, where I’d been downtown, what I was doing for work and fun, etc… It’s so different from my experience in Spain, where my own “family” wouldn’t even talk to me! I feel like in Europe, they kind of reject Americans and hosting a foreign exchange student is just a source of income, but so far in Colombia, the people so happy that you weren’t scared to come to their country, and they want to share with you their rich culture and talk to you all the time! I love it.

I’ve also started to feel more comfortable doing things by myself. Since Andres has been really preoccupied with his family, I have started to venture out more, spending time downtown, calling other AIESECers, etc. It’s been really good. I finally visited Marilene (the trainee from Holland) at the foundation where she works and I am so glad I live where I do. She is living above the foundation right outside the center in probably the poorest neighborhood I’ve ever seen. I don’t think anyone owns shoes, but yet somehow every “house” has huge subwoofers and is blasting salsa music so that you can hear it 4 blocks away. I want to take a picture to show the contrast, but I’m scared to bring my camera out! She really likes her job though, and the director of the foundation is a saint, really an amazing woman. I am going to try to start going once a week in the afternoons to hang out and help out with some of the activities for the local children.

Another note on the buses…I should just carry a bag of candy with me when I need to go somewhere, because everyday, at least 5 people hop on my bus and walk up and down the aisle trying to sell candy, apples, pencils, crackers, water, icecream etc. and then hop off again. Do that five times, and you make it to work free and maybe make a few pesos from selling a piece of gum. Then there are the men with guitars, the clowns, and the man with no legs and cement blocks for hands that dragged himself down the aisle begging us to put money in his mouth…

posted by Erin @ 9:24 AM