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 :)
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