So lucky!!

So everyday I am blown away with the generosity of the people of this country. This past weekend I was invited to a fellow teachers finca (farm). It was amazing. The trip started with an hour shopping stop, to pick up the food that the cook would prepare for us. We arrived at the finca and promptly enjoyed the swimming pool. This pool looks out over the most breathtaking terrain, with birds and palms keeping us company as we swam. Later in the day we went for a horseback ride. Unlike other rides where the horses know where to go and you really don’t have to control them, this ride was more of an adventure. We took the horse around the finca to pick up a horse that was off wandering. After, climbing the breathtaking terrain we crossed the river, and just like out of a movie, all picked different diffractions to chase down this horse. It was very much like, the movie, The River Runs Through It. My favorite part of the whole experience was when we got back and discovered the little puppies that had just been born. They were not even a month old, sooo cute. Don’t tell my mom, but I was even promised one! I am so excited. I just wonder if this is a smart decision for the puppy. After cuddling with my puppy we rode our horses off into the sunset. That night for dinner we enjoyed tacos, with actual hot sauce. One thing Colombia does not believe in is hot sauce, so it was sooo nice to have some really spicy food. The rest of the night involved, drinks, cards and lounging on the hammock. I lounged on the hammock while everyone else played cards, as I was still feeling sick. I have been fighting something. It was an amazing weekend, put on by amazing people. I feel lucky to have such experiences that show me amazing scenery and allow me to meet and hang out with some of the most caring, and welcoming people I know.
Updates other then Colombia: My friend had the most beutiful baby boy! I can't wait till I can go and see him
My other friend is getting married. This comes from the girl that last year did not know what was to become of her, but I am soo excited and know that she is making the correct decision. Lastly, I am getitng a puppy. He is so cute.

Mark's B-day/ Annis's Battles!

So Tonight was Mark's B-day. First off Venessa his ever-kind wife made him wear a birthday crown on the bus:) He looked very cute!
Anyways the real point of this blog, his b-day dinner. So there we are spending the big bucks and having Sushi. It was sooo yummy. I miss my local joint Barcelona. Back to the story, there we are eating when we hear this bumping music. You might be thinking car, but oh no, it was a campaign truck with dancing girls. They were full on having a dance party on the back of the truck. All the people around came out on their balconies to watch. It was very much the scene. The girls wore one piece lime green suits with the man's name who was running the election plastered across their tummies. Very hot. I would love to say they were amazing but lets be honest I could have taught them a thing or two.
So after our little dance show I had to go buy presents for my secret friend. A secret friend is just like a secret Santa and yes we are doing it in September for no good reason other then that we want presents. The best part of all this craziness is that we got to make a wish list for our secret friend. On my list I had, rope, garlic press, wine, can opener and ice cream. All the basics. So anyways, there we are at the store standing in line. Venessa makes some joke about buying condoms for my secret friend. We giggle and then the lady in front of us decides that she wants to be part of the condom fun and picks them up to see what we are laughing at and then shows her husband who smiles at the infuego condoms. By this point Venessa and I are bright red.
So this is about when the old lady with the bread tries to cut me. Literally she just walked straight up and stood in front of me. So in my fab Spanish I decided to put her in her place. I don't know why I pick the battles I do, I mean an old lady, but anyways that was the battle I wanted to win. Hence, I announced that there were many people in line and cut the old lady off:0 I am so badass.

Frusterations/Rant/Pitty Party.

So I have been here for a month now and every once in awhile I am reminded of how I use to feel in school; frustrated. I was trying to think of another word for it but that one fits. Learning languages or being at school has never been an easy task. I have always had to work twice as hard as everyone else and ignore the headshakes of why I can’t grasp a concept yet. Here in Colombia it is not the concepts that I can’t grasp but the language. Someone can tell me the same word two, three, fifteen times and I still might not get. If they feel shocked at my slow learning curve they should only put themselves in my shoes and imagine how I feel. It has been a long time since I have had these feelings and I knew that I was going to have them but they still feel so raw. I remember being a kid and just wanting to pick up on things like the other kids, that desire to learn and express myself like I can in my head, yet the words never come out as eloquently as I want. My true friends know this about me and embrace it, yet when meeting new people I am never sure of how they will react when I get excited and say the wrong thing or can’t remember the word or get my sentences all mixed up. Usually it is pretty funny, but when learning a language it just seems kind of dumb and when I don’t know how people will react to my blunders I get more tongue tied and even quite. And we all know I am not quite. Okay enough of this pity party. I feel better just getting it off my chest. I know during my time here there will be many moments where I feel exposed and vulnerable and I guess it is good to remember these feelings so I can better relate to my students. I sometimes just wish my girls where here to be by my side and give my big hugs.
Okay, also, putting this is up on the blog is only to get better at sharing my feelings and being more open.