A Trabajar...
So, I´ve been coming to the school Fe y Alegria every day since last Thursday, and finally today, I feel a little more stable about what I´m actually here for.
Fe y Alegria is a school for children ages 6-18 and is located in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Cartagena. My job is to help make the educational experience more of a community effort. In most cases, there is little to no communication between the parents and the school, and we are trying to get them to participate more actively in their children´s futures instead of treating it entirely as the school´s responsibility. I´m working on a project called Familias Productivas, and I am going to be teaching the parents entrepreneurship, so that a) they can hopefully start their own business (making bread, jewelry, sewing, etc) and b) they can relate to the learning process their children are going through. Most of them have very little education themselves, so I´m going to be starting with the bare basics of creating a business plan.
While I feel entirely under-qualified for this and was really worried about everything yesterday, today I´m trying to look at it with a new perspective. If I wasn´t here, they wouldn´t be doing anything, so any help I can provide will make them better off than before. This is a brand new program/idea, so there are no guidelines for me to follow. I am still a little (a lot) worried about the language barrier- while I know I am improving, it is still difficult to understand the thick coastal accent, and even more difficult to understand people that aren´t educated. I´ve been doing a lot of research though, and there is a lot of material online about teaching entrepreneurship, so I know I can do this. I HOPE.
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!
thoughts...
On Colombian traffic:
It has been described to me as "diverse." I guess that´s the
best way to put it. I call it INSANE. There´s only one rule: Cars come before pedestrians. There are no crosswalks...or nice drivers. I told the AIESECers here about the crosswalks we have that talk, and now they all yell "Wait!" when it´s not clear. I am glad that I have locals to pull my arm across the streets before I get flattened by a bus. The busses are a mix between the party bus we rented for Katie´s 21st birthday and the VW van from Little Miss Sunshine. They are painted bright colors and blast loud latino music, but they don´t exactly...stop. There´s a helper hanging out of the open door and you just kind of jump on. Then there are always strange things hanging in the windows like tweety birds in ziplock bags...??
On Colombian time:
8:30 am means noon.
On AIESEC Cartagena:
I LOVE these people. I already feel like a part of the family. I have attended their EB meeting, a GMM and a meeting for our PBoX. Each meeting has lasted about 4 hours!! I barely understood a word of the EB meeting, but every day I am getting more and more used to the accent. I am just absolutely exhausted by the time I go to bed from spending all day concentrating on understanding people. But everyone is so nice and helpful. Andres and I are going to have ¨class¨every weekend to help each other learn spanish and english. I am living in andres´house...weird thing is that we actually share a room...but it´s cool, yesterday we sang BackStreet Boys´"I Want it That Way" into the mirror! haha
AIESEC Cartagena has about 60 members, and they are all super motivated and work really hard. It´s really exciting to see the different dynamics between our LCs!
I start my work TOMORROW! I am a little nervous to meet the children and their parents that I am going to be working with. I hope I can understand them! The opening ceremony for our project is going to be May 30th, and there are going to be 150 plus people there...businessmen, government officials, AIESEC alum etc... and I have to give a presentation at it!! The other trainee for my PBoX is from Holland. Her name is Marilene, and she´s real nice. we are going to be featured in a video showing the current situation in Colombia and what we are trying to do to help. It´s going to be amazing, and I can´t wait to get started!!
oh and Jason Hall, if you read this, just so you know, you are known throughout Colombia as "el famosisimo jason" and you´re also a drunk :-)
Besos!!
In One Month's Time...
April 7th...my first contact with @-Cartagena
May 15th...I'm here.
I honestly didn't think I was going to be able to fly out yesterday because my visa didn't arrive in Chicago until the day before. So, when I found out that I didn't have to change my flight, I had one hour to pack before my dad was picking me up in Madison...This led to me forgetting a few things (such as the book I was looking forward to reading on the plane and photos of family and friends...) but also feeling like I didn't really get to say goodbye to anyone.
So, GOODBYE everyone! Have wonderful summers...good luck to those of you who are graduating and those who are venturing out on Traineeships!! Keep in touch!!
Ok, now where to begin...
On my second flight (from Houston to Panama) I sat next to this man from California who has been retired for 20 years. He worked for Deloitte (which of course made me bring up AIESEC). He hasn't worked for 2o years, has filled up 2 passports in 10 years, and has two houses in Argentina and Panama. He recommended getting a CPA ($$$). Very interesting man-doesn't speak a word of Spanish. He was super excited that I was going to Cartagena but then scared me a little when lecturing me about how I didn't pack pepper spray.
My flight arrived in Cartagena at 945 last night, and 6 @ers were waiting for me at the gate with the AIESEC banner. It was so cool to see them all there! We all piled into a van and whipped around the historical downtown. I got bombarded with information, from why there's a wall surrounding the city to the difference between salsa and merengue dancing...
Haven't spoken a word of English yet :-D
I am living at Andres' (my TN manager) house where he lives with his grandma, grandpa, brother, and uncle. Andres headed off to his university before I woke up, so i just strolled downstairs and ate breakfast with his grandma this morning, and then his uncle (i think?) helped me set up my computer.
And now I wait... :-D
On the agenda for today:
get cell phone...exchange money....??????
La aventura empieza!!! <3
