Santa Marta, Colombia

Santa Marta, Colombia

Monday, May 30, 2011

Time Continuum

Arrival: Delayed Delivery. Warning: Crazy Colombian Content.
Contents ---
@ = AIESEC
@er = AIESECer/member
Foundation Santa Marta Without Limits = non-profit organization that hosts the workshops
Laura Vicuña = the all-girls secondary school (6-11 grade)
Leadership School = an elite group of students from Laura Vicuña that participate in the workshops
TM = Team Managment, @ group
ICX = Incoming Exchange, @ group
U = University of Magdalena

Saturday 5/21: I had my first soccer practice. At the U, the sports teams are divided by academic program. For the most part, the teams only compete within the U. I am a defender for the International Business/Economics women's team. The girls are super nice! I managed to hold my own, but I sure was red by the end! I was unable to attend the next game, and the final game was canceled. So, I have yet to actually compete, but we are planning to practice a bunch during the summer. Can't wait! Afterwards, I assisted some friends with an all-English presentation about the Cuban Missile Crisis. Pronunciation of English is very difficult for native Spanish speakers because English is much more harsh, abrasive language, without the soft flow and tones of Spanish. I love the environment here: I am a student of Spanish, and my friends are students of Spanish. No one is embarrassed to ask for help or admit error. We are learning together. That night, I attended the AIESEC graduation ceremony for new members. There sure are a lot of newbies! The LC here consists of around 40-50 members. After the ceremony, I ate with a group at a fast food restaurant named Vomito (vomit). The restaurant is famous for the crazy, large pizzas topped with chicken, pepperoni, ham, sausage, french fries, lettuce, cheese, peppers, several sauces and a ton more! I also tried Salchi Papa, a similar and very popular dish. To end the night, we went to Downtown, I had my first Colombian clubbing experience. We ended up at a club named Mi Sitio (My Hangout). We talked, we danced, we drank. It was a really fun night!

Sunday 5/22: I woke up late, after my night of partying. On Sundays, Angela, the nanny of sorts, does not work at the house. So, the family cleans and cooks. I was in charge of fixing lunch and dinner. A learning experience. For lunch, I cooked tuna, potato soup, rice, and sweetened plantains. I am a pure novice in the kitchen, so I struggled to balance all of the cooking tasks at once with my somewhat understood Spanglish directions. David, the eldest brother, assisted me. I owe him many thanks. In the end, the food tasted pretty decent. However, I burned the bottom side of the plantains. Ayayay! For dinner, I cooked hot dogs (perros calientes). My family's attempt to introduce some U.S. familiarity for me. However, hot dogs are considered plain, flavorless food here in comparison to Colombian cuisine. That night, I went to the movies and watched Pirates of the Caribbean 4 completely in Spanish. I understood the majority of everything, but I missed some of the verbal comedy. Comedy is so difficult to translate in other languages. Some people barely understand humor in their own language! I also met some awesome new people: an AIESEC member who worked in Turkey for a year and a fellow University student who hopes to be a language teacher.

Monday 5/23: We had our weekly morning meeting at the Foundation. We discusses the plans for Saturday's workshop. My job: to work in the office on preparing activities, games, and theme presentations, finding locations for the workshops, and contacting businesses for financial support. I have yet to actually work in the office. Most of my work occurs at home. The plans we established on Monday eventually changed before the date of the workshop. I have learned that nothing remains concrete or certain. As a result, you must communicate frequently and adapt quickly. Improvisation!

Tuesday 5/24: I assisted with basic English classes at the high school. The girls had to dress up as famous characters and describe that person's traits and activities. Some of the characters included Hannah Montana, Miranda Cosgrove, Selena Gomez, Marge Simpsons. I had a lot of fun watching and assisting! Later that day, we had a group meeting about the Saturday workshop to clarify job descriptions and begin developing the workshop activities. That evening, I hung out with Maira, VPTM, and some other cool cats! We walked from the U to other houses. It is interesting to compare the design and size of homes here. However, it is common that students from other cities outside Santa Marta live in Pensiones. The U does not have dorms, so the students essentially rent out a room from someone else's house. I met a girl who lived in South Carolina for a year with her father. I cringed at the thought of a small town in South Carolina as the only impression of the US. I also met a girl who might travel with me to Barranquilla! However, I am still in the process of developing all of my travel plans. That night, Maira had me do an activity about life goals. Essentially, you draw and write your goals for the next five years. Ever since, I've been thinking about my future, my hopes and dreams. Maira also sent me a presentation titled The Microeconomics of Love. It is a practical application of econ in the real world, very sweet and funny in the analysis of dating, lust, and love!

Wednesday 5/25: Wednesday morning, I took the bus for the first time solo. Important: the buses here are not conformed with specific stops and starts like the Metro in Houston. Also, the buses are private, worn down vehicles. You wave for the bus to pick you up, and you shout for the bus to drop you off. The bus actually passed my stop without me realizing, so I had to back track the path without getting lost. On my way back home, I did the opposite and stopped the bus too early. Ay caramba! Once again, a learning process. Here, a bus ride costs 1,200 pesos. A short taxi ride costs 4,000 pesos. A moto taxi is the same cost as the bus. At the high school, I worked with a team of @ers to interview, film, and photograph the girls who are members of the Leadership School that participate in the workshops with the Foundation. I tried Colombiano, a distinctly Colombian drink. I believe it is equivalent to cream soda back home. Afterwards, we walked around downtown in search arroz con coco (coconut rice, a Colombian delicacy). However, it is rare to find on week days in downtown. Apparently, it is served most commonly near the beach. So, hopefully I will taste the delicacy soon! We ended up eating a nice little restaurant. The food tasted exactly like the food at home. I was struck by how authentic and traditional my living experience is here at home! Afterwards, I went to the U for a football game, our last game, but it was canceled. We were going to play against the best girls' team at the U. In their last game, the girls beat the other team 12-0. OUCH!  That night, I went out with a group to a restaurant named Rico Ricos. We shared a huge, mountainous dish called Picada. It consisted of similar ingredients to the crazy pizza! Super delicious with lots of veggies and meat!!!

Thursday 5/26: In the morning, I met with other @ers about Language courses during the month of June. The other Trainees and I will teach courses, including Portuguese, German, and English (me!). In the span of two weeks, we will undertake intense documentation, organization, and advertisement for the classes. We are aiming for 45 students, 15 for each language. I am excited! I will essentially be working two jobs at once: one with the Foundation and the other with the University Language Center. I returned home for lunch and passed out on the sofa after eating. When I wok up, I had to hurry to another meeting. However, I felt such an intense fatigue, an unwillingness of my body to move. I trudged along to the U, feeling unbalanced and miserable. The problem: I need to stay more hydrates and get better rest. The people here just don't drink much. However, my body is not accustomed to the constant heat and body layer of sweat. Also, every night I dream heavily, and I wake up feeling tired from all of the stimulation. When I arrived at the U, I immediately walked over to the water fountain and drank for a good minute. :D At the meeting, we discussed the upcoming @ meeting (every Saturday afternoon). The TM team is super cool! As always, I learned a lot about the infrastructure of @. That night, I hung out with a fellow @er, and we shared a ton of music and videos. Media is one of the strongest ways to connect with someone else beyond language.

Friday 5/27: Meeeeeetings. I met with Mauricio, the head of the U Language Center. He asked for my help to edit his essays for the Fulbright Scholarship application. Hope he wins! I tried to persuade him to include University of Houston as one of his choices, since he hopes to get an MBA lol Go Coogs! I also helped him translate office titles at the U to English. The goal is to include the name of the office/lab/classroom in both Spanish and English at the entrance. Afterwards, I met with my project team to fortify the details of the workshop. I ate an awesome sweet that is essentially cheese filled with caramel. Sounds odd, but tastes amazing! That night, I went with some friends to drink a few beers and hang out. Chilltastic!

Saturday 5/28: MY FIRST WORKSHOP. AND MY BROTHER'S BIRTHDAY! Our workshop themes: Emotional Intelligence - Fear & Love for Your City. Duvan presented on Fear: What is fear? What do we fear? How do we react when we are afraid? How do fears change and develop over time? How do we overcome our fears? Afterwards, we worked with the girls in groups to create skits about 5 different types of fears and how to overcome the fear. The skits were creative and funny! Next, I attempted to present on City Pride and Contribution, but I had to improvise. However, the girls helped me when I stumbled with words and thoughts. Such a nice, loving group. To end the day, we played tag and Red Rover. I had a fun time! Also learned a lot about hot to prepare and present the workshops in the future. I returned home and decided to examine my current finances. I realized that someone had jipped me of significant change, and I also managed to lose a $20 bill at some point... or someone stole it. I was very frustrated with myself. Very frustrated. I thought that my money was disappearing far too quickly. As a result, I have managed to lose/spend $100 in two weeks. And I have a three month stay here in Santa Marta. I decided to guard my money far more carefully, and ALWAYS count my change. After my frustration, I went to the @ meeting located on the campus of a nearby, private U, named U Sergio Arboleda. It is far smaller than UniMag. The meeting lasted a good 4 hours! I attended an inspiring, short session about Motivation, played some fun games, and heard two fellow LCPs (Local Committee Presidents) speak about their experiences. As a tradition, @ers grab empanadas at a nearby restaurant after meetings at U SA. I ate a delicious empanada with chicken, cheese and rice. I also tried two new sauces: suero (milk and cheese) and sweet pineapple. SO DELICIOUS! Later that night, I went with a group to an international club called La Puerta (the door) inn downtown. The music was amazing! From all around the world, including a Spanish-flare remix of a Lil' Wayne. Very amusing. Colombians are amazing dancers! Some of the best, if not THE best, dancers I have ever seen first hand. So much rhythm, so much speed and strength and passion. I was so impressed! I need some major practice lol

Sunday 5/29: Woke up late and spent most of the day catching up with mail and documents on the computer. I took care of some business back home for UH. I enjoy tasks that connect me again with Houston, my home-base. I also Skyped with my family for a good while. Miss them! That night, I attended an ICX meeting. Once again, I learned about the infrastructure of an established @ LC. I really hope to return home and apply all of my new knowledge to assist our Houston LC. There will be two more Trainees arriving this summer. I believe both are from Brazil. One will work at a local museum, and the other will be my partner with the Foundation. Can't wait to meet her! In Colombia, exchanges to and from Brazil are SUPER popular. The majority of Trainees come from Brazil and and the majority of students travel to Brazil. One major factor: Brazil is HUGE and consists of very active and well-established @ LCs. I also had some more wicked dreams last night about natural disasters, death, and fleeing the country. Feels like I am never fully rested in the mornings.

Vocabulary Time!
El Pedo - Fart
Deshidratado - Dehydrated
Cocotazo - a knuckle hit on the head
Rocar - to Snore
Engordar - to fatten (my Colombian family is trying to engordar me!)
Siesta - Nap

*MUSICA*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4MuIYgs0EI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-Q5Ye0WntU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_tvxY4ozbQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o6Mg32ot4I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=To1nk4urGAs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkZhFoxYfFw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV7DOBFj-KI



Cassie



Saturday, May 21, 2011

The University




"Para Dios, el tiempo siempre es perfecto"

Thursday. I went to the U again and got a detailed tour of the campus. They have hangers for research and labs, including a mortuary for medical students and a botany building full of plants. I love the campus! I also met some more AWESOME people, including Maira, the VPTM. We talked about so many things, including politics and world peace. Here, people are very curious about the attacks of 9/11/2001. Apparently, some students here also partied when Osama died. however, Colombia has it's own breed of homegrown terrorists. Originally, they fought as a force for the people against corrupt government. In the past decade, the government has improved greatly, though there is still plentiful financial corruption. The people no longer support violence as the answer. As a result, the rebels lack a substantial and cause. Everyone is a victim of their bombings and kidnappings. They live in the mountains, which is why driving long distances in mountainous regions is VERY dangerous.

Walking around the U, I see the same groups of kids that roam the UH campus. You have the smoker clan, the anime/Japanese fanatics, the girly girls, the gangsterrrs, and the hot nerds (my crowd ;]). Maira invited me to play on her all-girls soccer team. I haven't played in years, but I'm down to try again. I think it will be a great way to get some exercise and meet awesome new people!

What do the students do here on the weekends? Go out to eat, go to the movie theatre (although, cinema is not as well-funded an enterpirse as in the U.S., the cinemas don't have a good reputation), go to the beach, and to las discotecas (clubs!). I have seen a few skaters, but not many. Bikes are far more common. Cocacola is popular here, and I have seen a commercial for KFC. The Spanish slogan is KFC ~ buenisimo! I've met some fellow AIESECers who love American rock and pop from the 90s, including Disney music. Made me so happy! :D

Some information about legality:
Cedula - the ID that everyone has to verify citizenship and age
Carnet - student or employee IDs
Licensia de Manejar - Driver's License
Drinking Age - 18yrs old
Driving Age - 15 yrs old

More Important Words (tehe):
Ricirici/Papasito/Bandito - player, womanizer, super hot
Mototaxi - a motorcycle taxi
Broncearse - to get a tan
FARC - a terrorist group
Salchipapa - sausage and french fries (I hope to try some soon!)
Gringo/a -designates someone from the U.S.
Cumbia de Colombia - the national anthem

More on the differences between the coast and the interior of the Colombia.
Costenos = people from the coast
Cachacos = people of the interior
The difference is similar to that here between the north and south. The climate largely impacts the mentality of the people. In the interior, the people speak more slowly and more formally. They are less casual and festive. On the coast, they speaker very quickly, el espanol golpeado, leaving out certain letters in different areas of the coast.

More on the food.
There are fruit trees EVERYWHERE. Especially mangos. You can simply eat the fruit from the tree in many cases. I have tried so many new fruits for the first time, I can hardly remember the names. Also, they don't use tortillas commonly, as in Mexico. They use corn cakes, which are much thicker.

More on National news in Colombia.
Currently, Bogota, the capital, and surrounding cities are suffering from horrible flooding. The rivers filled with too much water and overflowed into the cities. Also, there are have been recent terrorist attacks in the same area. :S

Friday.  The days being early. The sun naturally wakes you up. Bright. Hot. Omnipresent. My sleep schedule: lights out around 11pm, ponder upon life, fall asleep in mid-thought, wake up around 2 or 3 in the cold to use a blanket, wake up again around 6am to the hot sun, remove blanket, and sleep again till 8 or 9. Every night, I have dreamed in great detail. Not restless nightmares, but detailed dreams full of random people and events. I have started a dream journal of sorts. Time to analyze! lol Also, the dreams have started to incorporate Spanglish. A true sign of adapting bilingualism.

Yesterday and today, I attended events for a forum on race in the coast. There are many people of African decents, and mixed races, like Creoles in the U.S. I enjoyed the seminars, though I could not understand everything. Today, girls from the secondary school performed afro-hispanic dances. Very cool!

Tonight, AIESEC celebrates the graduation of several members. There will be a formal ceremony, afterwards a huge dancing party a club, and swimming at the beach to end the celebration at some obscure hour of the morning. I am excited to learn the dances, but I know it will be a big challenge. I wasn't born with much rhythm lol

Duvan,  my adoptive brother, pllays the guitar. He has even recorded songs, Vallenato, Merengue, Salsa, and Regeuton, at a recording studio. He has a lot of talent! So, I've been borrowing his guitar to sing and attempt some song composition. A nice way to relax :)

I also road on a motorcycle for the first time yesterday, and again today. SO COOL. and dangerous. You really have to be careful abotu speed, bumps, and holes in the streets. Also, other crazy drivers. Here, there is NO safety for the pedestrians, You must constantly remain vigilant. Apparently, a previous AIESECer on exchange burned her ankle when exiting a motorcycle on the wrong side, and another broke her ankle in an accident. YIKES!

and finally, the meaning of the TITLE, "Para Dios, el tiempo siempre es perfecto." Maira told me about the phrase. In English, it says, "In the eyes of God, timing is always perfect." I am not religious, but the phrase spoke to me. I tend to be very organized and always living around a schedule of classes, meetings, etc. But here, life is more flowing, more free. At first, I worried about not having a schedule, but now I realize the timing will work itself out.

In the eyes of God, timing is always perfect.
Cassie

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Water-Proof! (you'll understand by the end...)

Tuesday night, I went with the family to a business meeting for Amway. Apparently, there is a US equivalent named QuickStar that began in Michigan. Essentially, the business recruits individuals to sell the products, which include toiletries, house cleaning supplies, and health supplements. The business promises wealth for entrepreneurs, but I'm not sure to feel....However, it is like a family business in my home.
On our way to the business meeting, we drove around the mountains to El Rodadero at the other side of Santa Marta. In the city, there is one big mall named Carrefour and Ocean Mall. Nearby is a the one McDonalds, a shining symbol of U.S. influence. I haven't visited the mall, but it appears very clean and fancy. However, it is nowhere near the size of the Galleria! On our way home, we bought empanadas from a street vendor. So Yummy!

Speaking of food, I am in love with food here! Especially the drinks: pure fruit juice, amazing coffee, and a drink called avena which is like milk with oats. I have eaten a lot of yellow and green bananas, mangoes, ñame, yucca, and rice. Also, fish. I never eat fish back home. Here, I am having to become accustomed to the taste and smell. However, I really don't enjoy it. I eat all the fish first and very quickly, so I can enjoy the rest of the meal. It is incredibly rude not to clear your plate, so I eat everything. However, I am not hungry most of the time. I feel uncomfortably full after a meal. Instead, I am ALWAYS thirsty because it is constantly hot with no air conditioning and few fans. Everyone's pee is dark yellow. Not healthy. Also, because of the heat, everyone leaves doors and windows open to catch the breeze inside. As a result, there are mosquitoes biting you everywhere! The other day....I had a HUGE sweat stain on my skirt, just from sitting down for a while lol

I asked about poverty and wealth in the city. El Rodadero, the tourist area, if full of wealthy visiting foreigners and a few wealthy Colombians. The rich neighborhood, like River Oaks in Houston, is called El Jardin. However, I have yet to see the wealthy area. Also, there are my indigenous folk that live in the mountains. From time to time, they visit the city to trade and sell. I have to meet one, but I hope to do so during my stay. I especially hope to visit Tayrona National Park, an enormous natural park full of different ecosystems. The indigenous population lives nearby the park. I also hope to travel westward to the cities of Baranquilla and Cartagena, but I need a travel partner...or several. We'll see.

Yesterday, I visited the University of Magdalena for the first time. It is quite beautiful. There are so many trees and fields. There is even a lake with ducks, fish, a bridge, and canoes for the students. The buildings are much smaller than those at UH. And they are much more open to the outdoors. I believe there are close to 10,000 students. Classes range from 6am to 10pm. Such a long day! The campus felt so much more social and personal than that of UH. But, that is the feel of Colombia. Like family.

As a family, everyone greets each other with a hug and kisses to the cheek. Such a gesture would be considered much more intimate in the U.S. Here, it is absolutely normal, and I have started to greet others that way, as well. Everything is very physically intimate, especially the dances. Here, I am not sure where the line lies between friendly and romantic.

At the University, I also spent time in the AIESEC office which is located inside the Language Center. I met a bunch more AIESECers, including my team for the project, Santa Marta Sin Limites. Our team is me, Duvan, Brenda, Jorge, Oscar and Randy. I have a feeling it will be a strong team! Essentially, my job involves planning activities for the girls and leading those activities. I will also ssist in recruiting financial support from local business. However, everything will be a communal effort, to develop and market the program.

On June 12, the girls start vacations from secondary school. For that month of vacations, we will be developing many activities, videos, and business contacts. I will also be teaching English to fellow AIESEC members. Also, I will be teaching English to the girls while secondary school is in session. Today, I was supposed to assist the professor at the school, but Duvan and I woke up late, and apparently the class began at 6:30am. I have been out of the loop with a lot of timing, so I am in the process of clarifying everything and creating a more concrete schedule. Right now, the schedule looks very active, including meetings, office hours, and classes. I know I'll feel more centered when I have a routine schedule!

Also, this weekend, there is a Graduation Dance, for the graduating AIESEC members. The theme is American Prom. I giggled, remembering the disaster of my own prom. Here, they do not have a Prom celebration like in the U.S. To attend, you must have a date. My date is the LCP (President) of AIESEC Santa Marta. He is a very nice guy! I just hope one of the two dresses I brought with me will suffice :S

This weekend, I am also attending a forum on race at the University and assisting a fellow AIESECer with a presentation in English. Here, the Hispanic and African races are VERY integrated. On the coast, there are many people of African decent, but not in the interior of Colombia. There are also many people who look like hybrids between the two races. I wish we had the same integration in the U.S. There is still so much embedded racism and reverse racism. :/

A few funny Spanish words:
Friki - a person who spends a lot of time on the computer, nerdy
Catchalots - a player, heartbreaker
Chevere - cool
Bocano - very cool

Also, some important phrases for yours truly:
No entiendo. - I do not understand.
Mas despacio, por favor. - Slower, please.
Que significa? - What does it mean?
Como se dice? - How do you say...?
Como se escribe? - How do you write...?
Vaqueros - Cowboys
Que chevere! - How cool!

and a few funny stories to end this post....
Everyone has asked me about the HUGE bruise on my leg. I tell them the story of our partying and drinking and how I honestly don't remember how I got the bruise. As a result, everyone jokes that I am an alcoholic XD Ayayay!
I watched DBZ with Duvan, and now I am known as the Super Saiyan.
and the best yet....
Yesterday, I canoed in the lake at the U (University) and the boys were rocking the boat back and forth. For 10-15 minutess, we all kept trying to worry the others about tipping the boat over. And, then, IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED. All the students ran to the shore to see, laugh, and take tons of pictures. Apparently, every time a boat sinks, it makes headline news in the school newspaper. My first impression for the U: wet and muddy with a goofy look of surprise on my face.

Just another day in Colombia,
Cassie :)

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Day 3, already feeling like home

Today, I visited the secondary school for the first time. I met many of the young women with which I will be working. In Colombia, middle school and high school are not separated. There is primary school, like elementary school, and secondary school. Also, there only 11 grades, not 12. All of the students are girls, and they have to wear a uniform. The girls were beautiful, inside and out. At the school, I will be working with the English teacher and the philosophy teacher. I start on Thursday; I am very excited!
Since then, I have been at the house listening to more Colombian music with Duvan. Vallenato is a popular style of music that is uniquely Colombian. Instruments include the piano, accordion, and guitar. Reggaeton is another very popular style, similar to Daddy Yankee and some of Pitbull's music in the U.S.
Yesterday, I met the EPs from Poland and Switzerland. However, both women work with a different TN. On the first day, I met the EP from Brazil, and I will be working with her for my TN. Hopefully, I will meet the EP from Germany soon. He is the only male EP here!
Tomorrow, I will finally visit the University of Magdalena and a bunch more AIESECers. We will also prepare for my first session with the students on Saturday. Very exciting!
Soon, I believe the LC is planning a celebration for the graduating members in the style of an American prom. Also, there is a National conference in June that I hope to attend! :D

My hopes: to improve my Spanish every day, to spend plenty of time with the students and my fellow AIESECers, and to experience all of the city as a resident, not as a visitor.

A little more about the culture:
Here, the community is very tight knit. Everything is very personal, very close contact. You greet each other with hugs and kisses. You ask about everything, including the love life lol There is not the social distance that we experience in America, that uncomfortable personal bubble.
I am becoming more and more accustomed to the friendly and intimate atmosphere.
Also, everyone here is so beautiful. The dark hair, dark eyes, tanned skin, friendly smiles. I have fallen in love with the city, the country, the life. I really hope to assimilate more.
I have also seen signs of American influence. There is a Power Rangers sticker on the closet door in my room. Earlier today, I watched Friends and Dragon Ball Z. So kool! Also, there are occasional signs in Spanglish.
Dogs are also very common, but primarily small dogs. Many run wild in the streets. My dogs would seem like GIANTS in comparison!


The not-so-great aspects:
It is VERY hot. You sweat all the time. You feel sticky and smelly. All the time. I have already developed a rash on my chest from all the sweat and dirt. I hope it will go away soon, though. Also, the poverty. Imagine poverty everywhere. Around every street corner. In the eyes of the blind beggars, in the faces of the small children, in the enduring smiles of those waiting for positive change in a city run by corrupt officials.

Regardless, I am so happy to be here. My adoptive family is amazing: Duvan, Jose, David, y Snr y Snra Barros. They treat me like part of the family :)

Anywho, that is all for now!

Buenas,
Cassie

Monday, May 16, 2011







Second Day, Many Firsts

This is my first official post from Colombia!
Where do I begin?

Everything went very well with my flights and immigration paperwork. I met so many kind and interesting people along the way! In Bogota, the weather is cool and dry and the people have fare skin and speak at a moderate rate. But, when I arrived in Santa Marta, I discovered a great contrast. Here, it is HOT. More so than Houston. And the sun is everywhere! On he first day, I already looked red as a tomato lol

The airport in Santa Marta is located right in between the mountains and the ocean. It was so beautiful. What a great way to start my stay! However, I waited for a while alone, hoping to see a group of AIESECers arrive. I began to worry that something had gone wrong....but no worries! Jorge arrived to take me to the city.

On the surface, Santa Marta is very much so like the movies. The mountains, beaches, palm trees, fruit trees, and colorful buildings are incredibly beautiful. The streets are full of crazy drivers in small, outdated vehicles. More people drive motorcycles than anything else. There are also more taxis, bicycles and small, worn down buses than domestic cars. If you think drivers in Houston are dangerous, here you have to always be super watchful and aggressive, especially as a pedestrian. Also, the fancy tourist hotels are surrounded by poverty.

Yesterday, after arriving at the airport,  met the ICX team at El Rodadero, the more touristic beach of the city. I have already made substantial progress on my tan in the span of 24 hours lol The beach was full of people, food, and music! and the water was the PERFECT temperature!

Afterwards, I came to Duvan's house and settled in our room. For lunch, we had pure melon juice, yucca, fish, and some yummy vegetables. That was the first time I have eaten fish in years...

Afterwards, I took a much needed shower, and we left for a fiesta at Carlina's house. I met even more crazy cool Colombianos and learned how to traditional Colombian dances and several AIESEC role calls.

Today, I visited the office of Fundacion Sin Limites, the non-profit organization with which I will be working. I met some of the coordinators and directors, all of whom are super nice! Essentially, I will create lesson plans, recruit support from local business, and work with the high school girls in our classes of leadership and and how to be a productive and positive member of society. I can't wait!

The office is located en El Centro, or downtown. The house in which I am staying is located en El Suburbio, the suburbs. But, the suburbs here are nothing like those in the U.S.. The housing is similar to the quality of the Third Ward, and this is the nicer area of the city. Wealth is all so relative!

In El Centro, I went to the super market. There were so many random items for sale and so much food! Lots of interesting smells :S I did not buy anything, but I hope to buy some souvenirs from there later on for everyone.

Now, I am back home, about to meet with my adoptive family to discuss some more details. In the house, there is Duvan, my roommate, Juan, his brother, and Duvan's mother and father. But, every day I have met someone new in the house!

I have to go for now, but I hope to take and post some pictures soon! Also, there is so much more to say!

Until later,
Cassie

Friday, May 13, 2011

One day until DEPARTURE!

Hey everybody! This is my first official post :)

I leave 12am on Sunday, so I am feeling the time pressure.

This morning, I finished moving and organizing all of my belongings back home. Phew! Soon, I will start packing. I have compiled an insanely detailed packing list, so hopefully I won't forget anything! I'm crossing my fingers.

Currently, I am finalizing my immigration and housing situation. Even in the face of some confusion and obstacles, I believe everything will work out. Just gotta have faith.

I am hoping to post a ton of pictures and a journal entry every other night.

You can follow this EPIC blog (just check the options to the right). Also, check out the adventures of other AIESECers at http://aiesechouston.blogspot.com/.

Skype ID: cassie.gianni
Email: caggom@gmail.com