Hasta Luego, Barranquilla

Hasta Luego, Barranquilla!

                I have been busy this week, so this is a summary of what I have been doing. Along with the different places I visited, I also had the opportunity to spend time with German’s family (German is the Coordinador de Nacional Oficina de Diconia). I also spent an evening with some of the friends I have made here. Enjoying time with my Colombian families and friends has been the perfect end to a great trip.

                I had the opportunity to visit farmers who live in the outskirts of Barranquilla. They are displaced farmers (by the guerillas, government, and other forces) who have been farming a large piece of land for many years. Within the last couple of years, a Colombian force has come in and bulldozed over their houses and their crops. These people are left with only the crops that survived and animals to live off of, with the hope that their request for new land from the government will go through. Although I did not understand everything that was said, I could see the expressions on their faces and see the pain in their eyes. I watched as their worn-out hands took detailed notes on the entire conversation. I could see their sun-touched skin from hours of working on the farm. I was able to connect with a couple of men on a walk at the end of the day (they were surprised I could speak Spanish and could understand them, since I had not understood much during the group conversation). I connected with the men because I was interested in their suffering and learning about their lives. They were also interested in knowing about my time in Barranquilla.

                                     

                                     

                                   

                This week I was also able to continue teaching English at El Colegio Nazareth Olaya. I taught with a student from Lee University and it was neat to compare our experiences of being in Colombia. I listened to the students as they sang songs in English in preparation for an event in the Fall. I was greeted with more hugs and “Cait, Cait”s than I have been greeted with my entire life. Spending my second and last week with the students showed me the impact I had made on the students’ lives and the impact they had made on mine. I taught them that learning a language is hard and it is okay to make mistakes. I learned more from the students than I have from any other group. Working with middle school students is great because they are always honest! We taught each other that being intrigued by our differences and similarities is what made our time together so special. I had the opportunity to thank everyone at El Colegio Nazareth Olaya by speaking on the school radio. After the radio show ended, everyone gathered for a photo shoot.

                                   

                                   

                                   

                                   

                                    

                                    

                One of the best parts of the week was my time with Sarah, Regional Coordinator of the Andea Region for Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA). Sarah and I visited El Museo Caribe, which is in Barranquilla. The museum focuses on the coastal Caribbean area, but has a specific focus on Barranquilla. I had a great time reading about the history of Colombia and about different aspects of the country. I enjoyed being able to ask Sarah questions about observations I have made throughout my time here. My Spanish has vastly improved, but I still find it difficult to ask complicated questions. I loved sharing stories and experiences with Sarah because she has done lots of traveling in Latin American countries and speaks perfect Spanish! My time with Sarah was filled with storytelling, learning, and sharing. I am very grateful for the time we spent together engaging in conversation about this wonderful country and our experiences.

                                            

                Today I said goodbye to the students at El Colegio Nazareth Olaya. Tonight I am going out for my last night in Barranquilla with Gina and Omar. We are going to a well-known restaurant with live music. I had tears in my eyes today when I said bye to Johana. I am looking forward to going back and reading each of my posts once I arrive home.  For now, I am enjoying every last moment. Gina and I leave for Cartagena tomorrow morning. We will be spending time with Omar’s cousin and touring Cartagena for two days. My flight leaves Sunday evening and I will arrive in the USA on Monday morning. Thank you to everyone who has been following my blog. I will post some reflections once I arrive home and have settled in. I might even write a post in Spanish! Bendiciones!

                                                   

Fiestas

Fiestas

                While living in Barranquilla for five weeks, I have attended two weddings, three birthday parties, family time on Sundays, Communion Sunday at church, and many parties to watch the soccer games. I have been out and about in Barranquilla at different fiestas and have become a pretty good salsa dancer! Gina and I were reflecting on the celebrations that I have been a part of during my time in Barranquilla. I am so glad I have had the opportunities to experience different aspects in the lives of Colombians and Barranquilleros.

                I enjoy my time at the many different fiestas because of the energy and excitement that is always present. Music, dancing, quick spoken Spanish, and laughter fill the room…people from different churches and different families reunite for a celebration that will be talked about for the next year. I participated in Communion Sunday at church and was able to see how a Colombian church celebrates The Lord’s Supper.  I have eaten different types of traditional Colombian food, learned the tune to “Feliz Cumpleanos,” and cheered loudly with proud soccer fans. I recognize songs on the radio and can hold my own in a conversation solely spoken in Spanish.

Fiestas in Colombia are the best fiestas I have ever experienced. After being at a birthday party where one entire church surprised their minister by showing up singing and dancing with a band, I am ready to have my birthday in Barranquilla! I hope everyone is able to experience a Colombian fiesta at some point…maybe I’ll even host a Fiesta de Barranquilla!

Fiesta de Cumpleanos 

Learning to Dance

Communion Sunday at La Iglesia Septima

Family Time with Grandmother Sofia

Time with Colombian Family from Atlanta, GA

Sunday Afternoon/Evening

Family Time with Aunt Marta

Fiesta de Cumpleanos

Fiesta de Cumpleanos

Hello Barranquilla

I'm a Teacher

I’m a Teacher

                I am spending my last two weeks in Barranquilla as a “teacher” at El Colegio Nazareth Olaya. The school is for students in Pre-Kindergarten through 11^th grade (which is the last grade completed before moving onto University). Students begin learning English in Pre-Kindergarten and continue studying English until they graduate high school. I have the privilege of working with these students each day for two weeks. We talk about my life and they ask me any questions they want to. The rule we have is that everyone has to either speak in English or slowly in Spanish if they need help with something. Talking with the students is really neat for me because I am talking to them about my life in English, but when they have a question and do not know how to say it in English, I can help them translate it from Spanish.

                I have never seen students so excited about learning; each day, upon me walking into the classroom, students are raising their hands and jumping up and down saying they want to go to the library with me. I have worked with Pre-Kindergarten, second grade, sixth grade, seventh grade, and eleventh grade students. Some students are nervous to speak English and some jump right in. By the end of the class period (which we always seem to run over), almost every student is speaking in English. I work hard to make sure I speak very slowly and show them that I am just learning a new language as well. I speak in a little bit of Spanish and let the students correct my verb tense or pronunciation because it makes them feel more comfortable about making mistakes. Plus, I need their help! Once we get a conversation going, there is no stopping!

                    

                The best part about teaching English is that the students are full of energy. They are extremely excited to practice their English and learn new words and phrases. I took two years of Spanish and two years of Latin in high school and I never recall any students being genuinely excited about practicing the language. I remember being excited about getting a good grade on a vocabulary test or watching a movie in class. We never had any native speakers come to class and have laid back conversations with us. But, even if we had, I do not think students would have been jumping up and down with excitement or have been so eager to practice speaking. This might have something to do with the fact that I studied different languages in high school and not in elementary school. However, even the 11^th grade students, who are 16-18 years old, were eager to practice their English with me. Two students even asked me if they could talk with me sometime one-on-one for some more practice.

                       

 I leave the school each day with a huge smile on my face. Every day I am able to help the students practice and learn something they are passionate about. I am able to communicate with the students, of all ages, in two different languages! I have the privilege of spending time with students who are as excited about learning English as I am that I am learning to speak in Spanish! We connect with each other through the common thread that we are all learning an unfamiliar language and need some help and practice!

            

                My first week at the school has made me think about what the world would be like if everyone was as excited about learning about new cultures, people, and languages as the students at El Colegio Nazareth Olaya are about speaking English with me. What would the world be like if we were all eager to communicate in two different languages? What would the world be like if English was not the language that everyone needed to know, but instead Spanish or Arabic? Of course, there are many forms of communication that do not require speaking the same language (sign language, hand gestures, etc.) but, just imagine a world in which everyone wanted to learn about people different than themselves. The students at El Colegio Nazareth Olaya opened my eyes to the idea that although learning a new language is difficult, it is much easier when you have passion for the culture, its people, and the language.

                  

I imagine a USA in which all citizens of the USA speak English and Spanish. I imagine a USA where students in every private school and every public school begin learning Spanish or another language in Pre-Kindergarten classes (just like in most countries around the world). I imagine a world in which all people are eager to converse with everyone in every country. I imagine a world in which all people are full of energy and excitement when meeting others from different places.

Freedom

Freedom

As I lay in the hammock on the porch, sweating profusely, I can’t help but reflect on the last few days. I realized that my time in Colombia is halfway over…and that is sad! I also spent time at the Presbytery office and with a family from La Iglesia Septima. Of course, I thoroughly enjoyed the big game and turning into a crazy Colombia soccer fan! I did not celebrate 4^th of July here; instead I just looked at the social media posts from my friends and family in the United States and celebrated with them.

A lot of my social media friends posted about 4^th of July and made comments about being thankful for being free and about the United States of America (USA) being the best country. Growing up in the USA I have grown to appreciate my freedom to attend any school I want to attend, travel outside of the USA on several different occasions, and practice my religion freely. I have also had the opportunities to experience and appreciate life in other countries.  As we celebrate the 4th of July and the freedom we have as citizens of the United States, it reminds me that with this freedom comes responsibility. In many places, such freedom is not a right given to people.  I hope that one day everyone one in every nation can experience the freedom that we have in the United States of America.

But, I have also learned that even in places where people may not have the same freedom to celebrate that we do, they have other gifts to celebrate. Knowing how privileged we are to have freedom as a right is important because in many places, freedom is not a right, it is a privilege. The privilege of freedom is not experienced by people in numerous countries. However, those countries have other qualities and gifts that should also be recognized and celebrated. So, Happy Independence Day…thank you, USA, for the gift of freedom; being free to express myself and have parents who believe it is important to see the world.

As I have mentioned in previous blogs, there are many things that I have grown to love about Colombia. My 4^th of July this year was spent at the Virtual Stadium in Barranquilla. After meeting some new friends outside of the stadium and being videotaped by the Sports channel for Colombia national television, Johana, Brigitte, and I ventured into the virtual stadium. I have never seen so much yellow in one place. I have also never been so hot in my entire life! My shirt was soaked with sweat before the game even started. The Colombian fans were extremely loud and filled with pride. The energy in the not-air conditioned building was amazing. I do not think there is a single Colombian who does not support their soccer team. There are no divides and no equality issues when it comes to soccer or any of the soccer fans. Colombia has a sense of pride and support that is unmatchable and should be recognized by the world.

I have learned through all of my travels, and specifically in my time with the Presbytery of Barranquilla, is that our faith transcends whatever country we live in. Throughout my travels, I have worshiped in an Islamic temple, a Buddhist temple, a Presbyterian church in Sao Paulo, Brazil, South America, Presbyterian churches in Cameroon, Africa, Presbyterian churches in Colombia, South America, and I attend a Methodist, an American Baptist, and a Presbyterian church in Charlotte, North Carolina. As I told a friend earlier today, I am a Presbyterian to the core. But, experiencing different religions and different churches teaches me that no matter our differences, our qualities, or our freedoms, we have a faith that cannot be destroyed. Whether I am a Presbyterian in Troy, OH or in Barranquilla, Colombia, I am a Presbyterian with a faith that connects me to numerous people. I am a Presbyterian that respects other religions and other people because of my connection to Christ. People from different backgrounds, religions, and countries are connected because of their different faiths and different paths of being led to a God. Faith transcends the country we come from, the country we live in, the soccer games we win, and our social status…faith is the tie that binds together different countries, different freedoms, and qualities.

On Colombian National Television...I even led a COLOMBIA chant after this photo was taken

Inside the Virtual Stadium

Thank you, Brigitte and Johana!

The Crazy Presbyterians

                

First Recognitions

First Recognitions

                Yesterday, after working out at the gym with Jair, we went grocery shopping. I picked up some Colombian food as gifts for friends and was ready to check-out. When it was my turn, Jair gave the woman his telephone number for grocery store points and I proceeded to answer all of her questions (credit or debit, what is your quota, what is your license number, etc.). After I responded to her, without the help of Jair, I was extremely proud of myself. I was also proud of myself because earlier in the evening I called one of our friends and invited her to hang out with us after the game on Friday and I spoke with fluidity and very quickly and she understood! When these small events occur in my daily life in Barranquilla, I cannot help but to celebrate. These days I know the address of my home, I know the names of the malls that we frequently go to, and I usually have an idea of the area of the city that we are driving through. I am beginning to, not only connect with the people, but connect with the language and the city.

                When I get into a taxi with Gina, I know what address or place to give the driver. I recognize the Jeno’s Pizza that is down the street from our house and the daycare center that is near the church. I know where Americano mall is in relation to El Colegio Americano and how to get from my house to the office of the Presbytery. I recognize people that I have met at church when I run into them at the store.

                My recognition of new words is amazing and my vocabulary has improved immensely. I learn countless new words each day…and I remember less than half of them! But, when someone uses the word again, I recognize it and eventually remember the meaning! Today, while waiting on Jair in the bank, I decided to shop in the stores nearby and I tried on clothes and bought them while only speaking Spanish with the employees. Of course, my motivation for speaking with the employees was cute new shoes and a fabulous dress, but I did it! I connect with the people, the language, and this city (and the mall) more and more each day.

                I recognize myself learning more about the language, the people, and the city each day. I recognize different buildings and different people. I recognize my new found passion for the Spanish language. I recognize my Colombian self!

Fundacion Bontanica y Zoologica de Barranquilla

  Fundacion Bontanica y Zoologica de Barranquilla

 In Colombia, there are numerous holidays. I keep asking people why Mondays are holidays, but I have yet to find out and understand. Monday was a holiday, so most people were off work. Gina, Gina's nephews (Jesus David and Paul David), and I ventured to the Zoo of Barranquilla. We took tons of photos and most of them do not need explanations...so enjoy experiencing the Zoo of Barranquilla through our eyes!

Bienvenidos a la Zoo!

"Thanksgiving time!" -Gina

I matched the zebra!

"Elephants don't eat people." -Omar

This animal has a striking resemblance to Mario Bolivar!

The Cousins

My favorite creatures of the day.

The Food Court

Our Family at the Zoo

The animals were all exhausted.

Going to the zoo in a different country was fun because I was able to practice my Spanish by naming all of the animals. It was neat being able to compare and contrast the names of each animal with Paul David and Jesus David. Unlike our zoos in the United States, everything was very close together. We walked slowly through each exhibit and had seen everything within two hours. Almost the entire zoo is covered by beautiful trees and plants, so there is not a high chance of being sun burned. However, the shade did not keep me from turning my normal bright red color from the heat!

After the zoo, we ate lunch at Gina's mother's home. I ate the best soup I have ever had in my entire life (shredded chicken, yellow potatoes, white potatoes, corn, and basil or something similar). Being with my Colombian family, on a holiday, at the zoo, was wonderful!