tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56142946861836008272024-02-19T06:14:07.975-05:00Musings of a Wandering SoulTraveling is my life! My current adventure finds me in Colombia as a community English teacher with the Maureen Orth Foundation. Here's to my newest journey!
*Disclaimer - The content of this website are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. government or the Peace Corps.Michael Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338350800934360700noreply@blogger.comBlogger198125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614294686183600827.post-83063581454761453932017-01-26T09:39:00.000-05:002017-01-26T09:39:08.779-05:00An American Road Trip: Floridian Fun in the Sun<div class="MsoNormal">
The two years that I spent in South Florida as a member of AmeriCorps were full of some of the most memorable moments in my life. The work and the people that I meant during my service are things that will stick with me for the rest of my life. The thing that has continued to amaze me is the quality of friendships that I made while living in one of the richest areas of the United States. A handful of those friendships helped bring me back to the beaches, heat, and palm trees.<br />
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When Trisha and I parted ways at the airport in Austin, I headed east to Fort Lauderdale. I was picked up by Ryan, the husband of one of my roommates during my second year, Kourtney. While I was really excited to see Kourtney and Ryan, I will selfishly admit that I was actually more amped about seeing their dogs, Taz and Zoey. These two were a huge part of my service both years and I had missed their energy and sloppy kisses while I was in Colombia. Needless to say, some much-needed puppy therapy was in order during my stay.</div>
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Kourtney and Ryan were gracious enough to let me stay at their apartment, which was absolutely beautiful. I had a great few days catching up with them and, of course, soaking in quality time with the pups. But those four weren’t the only reason that I went down to South Florida. I made a stop at the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County to see my former bosses, Brad and Audrey (or Braudrey as they were known during my service). It was great to fill them in on my comings and goings, while also getting an update on the current AmeriCorps group. I wish that I had had more time to spend with them, but other places were calling my name.</div>
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For lunch, I went back to my second-year service site, EdVenture, and met up with my former counterpart, Carly. It was a blast not only being able to see her but most of the other staff that I served with during my time at the charter school. I was also able to meet the current AmeriCorps members that are serving at the school and got to share some of my AC and PC experiences with them. After school was done, I accompanied Carly back to her gorgeous house and we did some more catching up.</div>
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For dinner that night, I went to the house of one of the families that I used to tutor for. We had a very lively discussion about my time in Colombia and my thoughts on lots of topics (ranging from education to the recent election to cultural differences). Angelina’s mother (the girl that I used to tutor) is from Peru and it was very interesting to compare my experience in Colombia with hers growing up in Peru. The night ended with several pleas for me to move down to South Florida (including an offer to just live in their spare bedroom!)</div>
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The rest of my time in South Florida was spent relaxing with my two favorite furry friends, going for walks and runs around the neighborhood, and cooking up a storm to express my gratitude for the hospitality Kourtney and Ryan extended to me. As my time in South Florida came to an end, I was able to spend one last night with Brad, as we went to a brewery down by the airport. He dropped me off and I readied myself for the next leg of my trip: up north to Tampa.<br />
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Tampa presented me the opportunity to cross paths with multiple people from different parts of my life. I was picked up at the airport by Cassie, another AmeriCorps survivor from my second year. She and her boyfriend Ryan have a cute little apartment near downtown that offered the perfect accommodations for my stay. Cassie currently is teaching 6<sup>th</sup> grade Language Arts at a charter school in the Tampa area and invited me to come and present to her students about my time in Colombia. While a bit rambunctious, the presentations went well and I think the students learned quite a bit about life outside of the United States.<br />
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The next path that I was able to cross (on the spur of the moment) was my friend Kevin. Kevin and I first met while participating in Camp Adventure Child and Youth Services in college. The summer that I spent in Italy Kevin was in Germany and we were able to meet up twice that summer (in Rome and in Salzburg, Austria). Since then, he has become an Occupational Therapist and is currently located in a community north of Tampa. It just so happened to be his birthday, so Cassie and I headed up to a brewery to meet up with him and a few friends to help celebrate his big day. We played multiple rounds of Cards Against Humanity and reminisced about the good ole days of Camp A.<br />
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The third path that I crossed during this trip was with my friend Donna. Donna and I first met in Korea through the volunteer group Mannam. She was a science teacher on the military base located in Seoul and opened up her home to us multiple times for parties and other get-togethers. She has since moved back to the Tampa area and is currently teaching Language Arts at a local school. We went down to the Riverwalk and had a very enjoyable lunch at a restaurant right on the water. Afterward, I was able to accompany her on a few of her dog-sitting stops. A massive lover of pets, Donna has become involved in animal shelters and pet-sitting for owners while they are on vacation.<br />
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My time in Tampa was wrapped up with another visit from Kevin at a brewery that was decorated like a giant aquarium. We played darts, drank some delicious brews, and ended up at a burger joint that was the perfect way to end my brief time in Tampa.<br />
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I’m excited for my next trip down south. Not only is it warm and sunny, but some of my favorite humans make it a place that I will always enjoy visiting.</div>
Michael Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338350800934360700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614294686183600827.post-62738619413308953512017-01-23T22:39:00.000-05:002017-01-23T22:39:07.252-05:00An American Road Trip: Texan Sized WeddingOne of the downsides of my multiple adventures traveling the world is that I have missed out on many milestones of friends and family members. Graduations, bachelor parties, and birthdays have all been placed on the back burner while I have been galavanting around the world. Weddings have also been skipped over due to my traveling conflicts. <div>
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Fortunately, this dubious streak ended in November. While I was in Colombia, one of my best friends from my time at the University of Northern Iowa, Megan, became engaged to her boyfriend, Chris, while they were vacationing in Prague. During a Skype session with her and our other friend Trisha (the three of us took Spanish classes together at UNI), Megan informed us that the wedding would be happening in November of 2016. This was music to my ears! I was going to be able to attend my first wedding in over 8 years!</div>
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The big day was set for November 12th, 2016 in Megan's hometown of Austin, Texas. This would mark the first time that Megan, Trisha, and I would all be in the same city and location since Megan and I graduated in 2010. Trisha and I decided to fly down together, get an AirBnB, and take in some of the many sights and sounds that Austin had to offer.</div>
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Before flying down to Texas, I spent a few days with Trisha in Atlantic, Iowa. She is a Spanish teacher for the Atlantic School District and had invited me to come in and give a short presentation on my time in Colombia to her students. I had a great time reliving my time in Colombia, while also expanding everyone's understanding of Colombian culture. </div>
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The trip down to Texas ended up being a bit more adventurous than we had originally planned. Around 5 a.m. on the morning that we left Iowa, Trisha received a call saying that our flight out of Des Moines had been delayed. This delay would have ended up causing us to miss our connecting flight to Austin. So after about 30 minutes of going back and forth with customer service, we were placed on a different flight pattern that took us through Chicago instead of Dallas. Instead of getting into Austin early in the afternoon we were now scheduled to get in around 11 pm. </div>
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We made it to Chicago with no problem. However, getting out of Chicago proved to be a bit of a challenge. The gate that we were scheduled to leave from kept changing. Delays of other flights kept moving our flight all over the airport. After traversing the C and D concourse of O'Hare multiple times, we finally boarded the plane and made it to Austin in one piece. </div>
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The next day, which was the day before the wedding, we explored downtown Austin. Our first stop was the graffiti park. This failed building development turned outdoor art gallery is constantly changing. Artists receive permission to add their own flair to the three-story structure. While we were there, we were able to witness artists at work, along with some pretty spectacular views of Austin.</div>
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From the graffiti park, we made our way to the state capitol building. This mammoth building, the largest in the country, tells a pretty interesting story about regarding the history of Texas. While at the capitol, I was able to cross paths with Andrea, a survivor of my second year with AmeriCorps down in south Florida. She is currently living in Austin and ended up living in the same apartment complex as our AirBnB! Small world to say the least!</div>
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Finally, the day of the wedding was upon us! That afternoon, we made our way to a small town outside of Austin to a beautiful location known as the Hummingbird House. This set up was absolutely perfect and very Megan-like. The intimate setting, complete with a string ensemble and a beautiful gazebo, was made even more perfect by the bride and groom. A gorgeous ceremony was followed by an even better reception.</div>
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Trisha and I weren't the only Iowans who made the trip down. In all, about 10 fellow Panthers made the journey to support the new couple. It was great to catch up with them. We also partook in the singing of our fight song, tore up the dance floor, and just enjoyed each other's company. Finally being in the same city and location proved to be everything that Trisha, Megan and I could've asked for! </div>
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Congrats once again to the newlyweds! #INowPronounceSchuhHuffmanAndWife</div>
Michael Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338350800934360700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614294686183600827.post-11034693876546121442017-01-22T18:43:00.000-05:002017-01-22T18:43:17.167-05:00An American Road Trip: Back Home Again!<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s hard to believe that almost 3 months have passed since I last updated this blog. Needless to say, quite a bit has happened since my last post and I’m going to do my best to get y’all caught up on the happenings of my post-Peace Corps life!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">PCV </b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">à</span></span> RPCV: The Journey Home<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The last week of my Peace Corps service was filled with tons of smiles, laughter, and tears. Some of the many highlights included:<o:p></o:p></div>
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After 27 months away from the United States, my friends, and my family, it was time to head to the airport for the long-awaited journey home. Derek and I were able to book the same flights all the way to Houston. Upon touching down in Houston, the realization that I was back on US soil immediately hit me. We were welcomed back to the motherland with a new look customs area, filled with automated machines and English everywhere. After figuring out the machines (and where the correct button to take the picture was located at), we proceeded through security and back into “civilized” society. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It wasn’t until my flight to Chicago that I fully embraced the fact that my Peace Corps service had ended and I was starting life over again in America. Saying goodbye to Derek (who was headed to Omaha from Houston) severed my last Peace Corps tie and made the transition all that more real. I also had a moment on the plane where I just lost complete control and started openly sobbing while indulging in real orange juice for the first time in over 2 years. Never before in my life has pulp tasted so good!<o:p></o:p></div>
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As the Chicago skyline came into view, my pulse quickened and the jitters started to set in. I knew that waiting for me at the airport were three of my best friends from my AmeriCorps years (Kevin, Erin, and Phetsada, who had flown up from Atlanta solely for the weekend). Waiting to deplane took what felt like ages, as those around me just didn’t quite understand the excitement/anxiety that was accompanying me. Finally, off the plane and dodging other slow moving travelers, I made my way to baggage claim, hoping to cross paths with the others sooner than later.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My baggage claim was the very last carousel, so as I made my way to claim my bags, I passed by a group of people holding signs and balloons. The name “Michael” jumped out at me. I did a double-take and was greeted by the smiling and surprised faces of my people! Despite the anticlimactic reunion (turns out they were looking for my red and white shirt, which had been covered up by my blue and white sweatshirt), tears still flowed nonetheless. I was so relieved and amped to see them that I couldn’t control myself!<o:p></o:p></div>
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My return to the states was marked by two big events: Halloween weekend and the Chicago Cubs World Series bid. As some of you may know, the Cubs (formerly known as the “loveable losers”) had been previously marred in a World Series championship drought that had reached 108 years. Game 4 was slated for the Saturday that I got home, so to say that the city was brimming with excitement and electricity would be an understatement. Erin and Kevin’s apartment ended up being about a mile or so from Wrigley Field (so close that you could hear the crowd’s moans and cheers from inside their apartment). This alone led to an abundance of fans and other enthusiasts milling around the local bars and restaurants. I just told myself that they were all there to welcome me home. <o:p></o:p></div>
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After spending some time down by the lake and just walking around, we turned our attention to the festivities for the night: Halloween. Talk about a welcome home experience! We headed out, decked out as athletes (gotta love last minute, low budget costumes!) to meet up with a friend of Erin’s at a local bar. This experience totally threw me for a loop and introduced me to “reverse culture shock.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Upon entering the bar, we were greeted by our waitress. She immediately asked us for our orders and my mind went completely blank. I had forgotten how to order a drink at an American bar! Gone were the staples of Colombia (Aguila, Club Colombia, Coste<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">ñ</span>itas, Aguardiente) and in their place were strange bottles and handles depicting brands that were foreign to me. A complete look of confusion and befuddlement overtook my face as my mind went blank. <o:p></o:p></div>
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To try and redeem myself, I asked for a menu. One problem – I had forgotten the English equivalent. I just kept repeating over and over again “La carta, por favor”. With each repetition, our poor waitress just kept staring at me, obviously not comprehending at all what I was saying. Luckily, Phetsada saved me from by daze by asking for a menu like a normal human. This was one of many “re-acclimating” experiences that I encountered during my first week back.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The rest of the night was a crash course in American culture. The bar scene in the states is so different from that of Colombia. I spent most of the night in awe of the pick-up attempts happening all around me. I had clearly forgotten that that was one of the main activities that took place in this environment. The music, a mixture of rap and hip-hop, was for the most part unfamiliar to me. I found myself yearning for the comforts of champeta and vallenato. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The next day, after a wonderful brunch, my parents made their way to Kevin and Erin’s apartment to pick me up. It was so great to see them for the first time in almost 11 months. We then made our way to central Illinois, where I was able to spend some time with my aunts and grandma. It was great being surrounded by family again after such a long time apart. Eventually, we made the 4-hour journey back to Iowa. I was officially home after 27 months away.<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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mso-level-text:; mso-level-tab-stop:none; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:Wingdings;} ol {margin-bottom:0in;} ul {margin-bottom:0in;} --> </style>Michael Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338350800934360700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614294686183600827.post-50222909435717557602016-10-21T09:13:00.001-05:002017-01-27T16:42:32.357-05:00Making English Fun Again!Being a Peace Corps education volunteer in Colombia has its ups and downs. Serving on the coast and having to try and teach in unfavorable conditions with unruly students makes our stated goals and benchmarks sometimes seem unattainable and fruitless. However, every so often, there comes a day or a week where everything clicks and falls into place. Teaching is fun and results are seem almost immediately. This experience happened to me last week, and while it took getting off the coast to achieve it, it helped reaffirm that Colombia's future is in capable hands.<br />
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Back in April, I received an email from my project manager inviting me to participate in an English Immersion Week in the department of Antioquia (located in the interior part of Colombia) in a town called El Carmen de Viboral (which is located about 45 minutes outside of Medellin). I, along with two other volunteers, Alex and Michelle, would be working with the Marina Orth Foundation in helping them put on a week long English teaching strategies workshop for local primary and secondary English teachers. After much deliberation and discussion, all three of us decided to jump on board and support this effort the best that we could.<br />
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La Fundacion de Marina Orth (Marina Orth Foundation) was started by Maureen Orth, a former Peace Corps volunteer who served in Colombia in the 1960's. During her service, Maureen helped construct a new school in her rural community of Aguas Frias, which is located in the mountains near Medellín. In 2006, she officially started this foundation which aims to provide students with a quality and sustainable education that is centered around the use of technology and English. The foundation is currently working with schools both in and around the Medellín area to implement their vision.<br />
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One of the cool things about this experiencce was the fact that we were paired up with RPCV's (Returned Peace Corps Volunteers) who had served in Colombia during the 1960's. My main contact, Mary, had served in a few pueblos around Medellín,so she was very familiar with the area. We started discussing ideas for the week and how I could best assist her back in May. As the date got closer, my level of excitement and anxiety continued to rise.<br />
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When Michelle, Alex, and I arrived in Medellín (albeit 6 hours late due to some mechanical problems with our original plan), we were picked up at the airport by two staff members from the foundation, Alejandro and Susana. We enjoyed a pleasant car ride to El Carmen, got checked into our hotel, and then made our way to find some food. We were super fortunate that all of our meals were covered by the Secretary of Education from El Carmen. Afterwards, Susana took us to a local cafe where we enjoyed a glass of vino caliente (hot wine - which was absolutely delicious) and more conversation.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrJgUsaayKjfS47N0SxZdquwVV625XMj1MkTE54PIrc77ANyw714f63t07QS9wEtUTQGa8iGtQEiK5UGRWDAaiPCd7bN0Sm04KBHo3FTssDNFaR52AieMHHsAxR8aDSNpBuox-v-G9LQW/s1600/IMG_1180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrJgUsaayKjfS47N0SxZdquwVV625XMj1MkTE54PIrc77ANyw714f63t07QS9wEtUTQGa8iGtQEiK5UGRWDAaiPCd7bN0Sm04KBHo3FTssDNFaR52AieMHHsAxR8aDSNpBuox-v-G9LQW/s320/IMG_1180.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When your flight is cancelled, the only thing to do is enjoy some Subway!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TcJypw21ibxC1WukXX3f77PA8sOL3L-N8LqKm2dqxb-dsYj_GlyZcusakXxkG03OvvjT-1MD4MmsqE8zR6ZjCng1j6kt9U4VXjUq_8MOiq_AHRz5ZD4KiqbDSo7Mlv5C4DfHoIhHsfbQ/s1600/IMG_1184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TcJypw21ibxC1WukXX3f77PA8sOL3L-N8LqKm2dqxb-dsYj_GlyZcusakXxkG03OvvjT-1MD4MmsqE8zR6ZjCng1j6kt9U4VXjUq_8MOiq_AHRz5ZD4KiqbDSo7Mlv5C4DfHoIhHsfbQ/s320/IMG_1184.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vino Caliente - on point!</td></tr>
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The next day, we met the other RPCV's to go over the game plan for the week and iron out any unknowns or minor details. We spent the rest of the day just walking around El Carmen and preparing ourselves for the week ahead. Little did we know at that time just how impactful and enjoyable the week would be...<br />
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Overall, the week just flew by! Over 100 primary and secondary teachers attended the workshops that were provided. I worked with the secondary teachers and had an absolute blast. They were beyond greatful and appreciative of the new techniques we provided them in the teaching of grammar, vocabulary, and English conversation. The entire week was done in English and I was just blown away by the high levels that the students possessed. It was such a breath of fresh air to be surrounded by dedicated, determined teachers that truly want the best for their students.<br />
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Below are some photos that help capture the week:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxMJc0R-YiO7jhnXMvKd6saE074WwPy7UnN1SCPd2PIELBkhIfzVg-X7xIByuRGNoBaghSahMQ_-s_-kVthwSG4icXgy6DOeA_Djb3hH-_aFZeeBnJ-l1nUtLKQhU1nODV0ez8KF7jDuQ/s1600/DSCF8743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxMJc0R-YiO7jhnXMvKd6saE074WwPy7UnN1SCPd2PIELBkhIfzVg-X7xIByuRGNoBaghSahMQ_-s_-kVthwSG4icXgy6DOeA_Djb3hH-_aFZeeBnJ-l1nUtLKQhU1nODV0ez8KF7jDuQ/s320/DSCF8743.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Secondary teachers ready to get to work!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNdRaeQENEAr-5Pvr3_p-ZvSuP9T4TnLNZbWOQMbnDmvf5q-sSR9i2oH-vJ9CNHpqjDynD_lgOKBV9M9YhhgqdvshbAfPsEfJNRZ0Nn2VIk6XyraPvwNe9DZedbCPwuStCzy0Yy1UwXGu/s1600/DSCF8773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNdRaeQENEAr-5Pvr3_p-ZvSuP9T4TnLNZbWOQMbnDmvf5q-sSR9i2oH-vJ9CNHpqjDynD_lgOKBV9M9YhhgqdvshbAfPsEfJNRZ0Nn2VIk6XyraPvwNe9DZedbCPwuStCzy0Yy1UwXGu/s320/DSCF8773.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary, an RPCV from the 1960's, answering questions</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfsLxTRiQYjAttcXmtt_EZ3a3oLzxNRfEXS84cEqpp7Gt5VL4Qfj7VxKQLWdx4cQfCMtBIxaAnfn24ja_MsS9YuKgnB00yfp470urWaR4tBdRvdx-MZy12bRE3dvVgjWyHCGldk7zO5g4P/s1600/DSCF8807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfsLxTRiQYjAttcXmtt_EZ3a3oLzxNRfEXS84cEqpp7Gt5VL4Qfj7VxKQLWdx4cQfCMtBIxaAnfn24ja_MsS9YuKgnB00yfp470urWaR4tBdRvdx-MZy12bRE3dvVgjWyHCGldk7zO5g4P/s320/DSCF8807.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone loves the fly swatter game - adults included!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGn8DXFgPZZw9YXHV13eIl15J12i-UCypAAjbHY8Ki2mujpeJJyT_kl77dazOz73ByxuUtaEHxR6KOPBwSXauAMVBNiq24A7-vHOS4KfImVOrQpE1j3oLJRLGfiZcnjx0xvfFtEmtcQv3/s1600/DSCF8888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGn8DXFgPZZw9YXHV13eIl15J12i-UCypAAjbHY8Ki2mujpeJJyT_kl77dazOz73ByxuUtaEHxR6KOPBwSXauAMVBNiq24A7-vHOS4KfImVOrQpE1j3oLJRLGfiZcnjx0xvfFtEmtcQv3/s320/DSCF8888.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working on final projects</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiWne9MpynFQFmyQHL46oqLEwhgDZCRnXL_87JbVvUcv1LhnJpNwhW6AzH4eml7cglWR2_0O9kVa1ZkZjpMM25qUql6vjKd_nsbnRhGNLTvfM9BSlN0jgEK8qkwpeGhSTMkJt5xNDxPWng/s1600/IMG_1215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiWne9MpynFQFmyQHL46oqLEwhgDZCRnXL_87JbVvUcv1LhnJpNwhW6AzH4eml7cglWR2_0O9kVa1ZkZjpMM25qUql6vjKd_nsbnRhGNLTvfM9BSlN0jgEK8qkwpeGhSTMkJt5xNDxPWng/s320/IMG_1215.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teaching is hard work, so naturally we had to treat ourselves to some ice cream!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshu6yH2D4jEQ4WbkCb5HBwFLXifpXxhIouk3gK7EIu-2nPjReM3H0lGKNROsOUsKnIdjl7tVxv6k5GAwsOkVi1wVWFseZ-tq4P5KxAU8HEL9ztxS0eN43ISDnvYlRIqrzG_qqH9q-7RL3/s1600/IMG_1269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshu6yH2D4jEQ4WbkCb5HBwFLXifpXxhIouk3gK7EIu-2nPjReM3H0lGKNROsOUsKnIdjl7tVxv6k5GAwsOkVi1wVWFseZ-tq4P5KxAU8HEL9ztxS0eN43ISDnvYlRIqrzG_qqH9q-7RL3/s320/IMG_1269.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Introducing comparatives and superlatives</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2P6Ey7ALAjqEfA_HWNvs3PEncnik895XIvaAqMFZAB5eiMUQ-GL3cAx1X8u_cBwyQhfjy_Mozn6zi8PKrZITPlqw5GnMiIvpKDPjhok4zMsU5nawu8YJjtqSebdGcmyguZf93CAY6T0p/s1600/IMG_1335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2P6Ey7ALAjqEfA_HWNvs3PEncnik895XIvaAqMFZAB5eiMUQ-GL3cAx1X8u_cBwyQhfjy_Mozn6zi8PKrZITPlqw5GnMiIvpKDPjhok4zMsU5nawu8YJjtqSebdGcmyguZf93CAY6T0p/s320/IMG_1335.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Was surprised with the traditional outfit of the campesinos (farmers) of Antioquia - and they chose blue!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ltFrjJ3tTA3ZHQYWVtcy498HtcAZeV2RFWMcxIv8SnPGabfOyZiCSAncYgSlmaFOYSPIQEQDjy9zkJ3gxn0HLxipdAiU4QZEVvT9FJuXLvEkXPoXr8vLCiGEusm2bCQdS2gnEm_wjbjd/s1600/IMG_1338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ltFrjJ3tTA3ZHQYWVtcy498HtcAZeV2RFWMcxIv8SnPGabfOyZiCSAncYgSlmaFOYSPIQEQDjy9zkJ3gxn0HLxipdAiU4QZEVvT9FJuXLvEkXPoXr8vLCiGEusm2bCQdS2gnEm_wjbjd/s320/IMG_1338.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michelle, Alex, and I with Maureen Orth, the founder of the Marina Orth Foundation and Peace Corps Colombia legend</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpN83XQbNcwnxrlTlwfUn0VamLThm5LrlU3iKsEELL184sE27JfiZiN3_FHAt7Bfaq0Qv8uIepRL0K1NTZjUiqAPzxx3axS-yJ4zvIYJSgPfxGo1_CNzCxibUg2H5b0rA8fVSl4gXwdbUX/s1600/IMG_1342+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpN83XQbNcwnxrlTlwfUn0VamLThm5LrlU3iKsEELL184sE27JfiZiN3_FHAt7Bfaq0Qv8uIepRL0K1NTZjUiqAPzxx3axS-yJ4zvIYJSgPfxGo1_CNzCxibUg2H5b0rA8fVSl4gXwdbUX/s320/IMG_1342+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All of the instructors for the week</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqmrUF8iDS_X_lQiJRtJK6aO-6eiRxXPtPVt4L902HBxSQEMae0o2Yoz8kN8qINFIMzDq4m-Oc5ShkT_i84NquML4xvBzZkPae10VTW8YDk_3m83UYuB-jaf1ZffZ9_heHEMgNbi8Fc27/s1600/IMG_1355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqmrUF8iDS_X_lQiJRtJK6aO-6eiRxXPtPVt4L902HBxSQEMae0o2Yoz8kN8qINFIMzDq4m-Oc5ShkT_i84NquML4xvBzZkPae10VTW8YDk_3m83UYuB-jaf1ZffZ9_heHEMgNbi8Fc27/s320/IMG_1355.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Susana, one of the many dedicated staff at the foundation who did a great job of putting together this fantastic week!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgsql_owaES-IpusiPBMoZEvRnKIEMVWVN2VtWcQlzDFMDM9q-g2WUgcbH3YdAiSENQn7lbwu0aYsXdhv1goQAUFUAhXOUNwlnX4v1iy1NM-FXe3L4FF042vidhrE7Y53SMkjC2pp25B7O/s1600/IMG_1361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgsql_owaES-IpusiPBMoZEvRnKIEMVWVN2VtWcQlzDFMDM9q-g2WUgcbH3YdAiSENQn7lbwu0aYsXdhv1goQAUFUAhXOUNwlnX4v1iy1NM-FXe3L4FF042vidhrE7Y53SMkjC2pp25B7O/s320/IMG_1361.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some absolutely beautiful words written by one of the participants</td></tr>
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</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Hh6AoSN5NVUkEfXkpQNVeHcVUzo6oEnnqcRseiKs5E62_gsRT2D6u749gm80EelC5AeB9Qc4iJ6c9fdFcRqqWQ85GvAlvCocEJ4w0fTNZIxvbXrCPfCkCCaNMRRlYS_BpiJZ-X-QH5lr/s1600/14712545_10101576400158623_2705476179600585040_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Hh6AoSN5NVUkEfXkpQNVeHcVUzo6oEnnqcRseiKs5E62_gsRT2D6u749gm80EelC5AeB9Qc4iJ6c9fdFcRqqWQ85GvAlvCocEJ4w0fTNZIxvbXrCPfCkCCaNMRRlYS_BpiJZ-X-QH5lr/s320/14712545_10101576400158623_2705476179600585040_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group shot!!</td></tr>
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I honestly could not have thought of a better way to end my service and time here in Colombia. I will forever remember this week as one filled with laughter, new ideas, and a reaffirmation for the bright future that lies ahead for Colombia and its people. Mil gracias to the Marina Orth Foundation for reaching out to Peace Corps and making this experience a reality. Hopefully this partnership can continue to grow and help teachers all across this beautiful country.</div>
Michael Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338350800934360700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614294686183600827.post-88829797317425880152016-10-06T09:09:00.001-05:002016-10-06T09:10:22.262-05:00We Got The Whole World In Our HandsBefore I ever applied for Peace Corps, I have been a huge fan and proponent of geography. Learning the location of important places around the world is a key factor in being a globally educated and well-rounded human. This is one of the contributing factors to why I just love to travel. Being able to experience new cultures and customs is an absolute thrill and adrenaline rush that has only been enhanced by my love of geography.<br />
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When I was accepted to the Peace Corps over two years ago, I started doing some research on various projects that other volunteers had done to help give me an idea of possible things that I could try and accomplish during my service. I was immediately drawn to the World Map Project. Created by a Peace Corps volunteer who served in the Dominican Republic from 1987-1989, this project was right up my alley. What better way to spread my love of geography than through the creation of a gigantic map mural?<br />
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When I finally got to my permament site here in Repelón, I started scouting out possible locations to make this map into a reality. Luckily for me, other artwork adorned many of the walls of the school when I arrived. This gave me hope that getting permission to do this project would be no problem at all.<br />
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Well, time continued passing and I had yet to find the right time to get this project started. Finally, just prior to the summer vacations this year, I talked to my principal at the time (he has since left) about the project and he was immediately on board. We agreed that I could use the wall behind the stage, as it would be in a prominent location and could be seen all visitors that come to the school. So I got to work.<br />
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After chiping away all of the old paint, giving the wall a fresh coat of white paint, and starting to draw the grid, I was slightly derailed when I realized that the elements were going to eventually do more damage to the map than good. Luckily for me, a new library had just been constructed at my school and with this four blank walls were just screaming for a new map. After receiving permission from the new principal to move my project into the library, I started over again.<br />
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Finally, after about a month of hard work and collaboration with some very talented 10th and 11th grade students, the map is finished! I am so excited to be able to give the school this resource that I am hoping will be utilized by the social studies teacher and maybe incorporated into other activities to expand the students' knowledge and understanding of the world around them.<br />
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Below are pictures showing the project from start to finish:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEAAn1h-__dxLLN_ismLNjt94vdkqXqRN3NbghJ1lioo9pXIR-Zbxl_A8KptzVMzl3Y2fqRE0kVhVkeTe9QnvDXKFUb-1HLaCniYGkLsP6nbMb_ipiJ8-hyqrvX5q_XXYkVjjkAz5BKUL/s1600/DSCF8592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEAAn1h-__dxLLN_ismLNjt94vdkqXqRN3NbghJ1lioo9pXIR-Zbxl_A8KptzVMzl3Y2fqRE0kVhVkeTe9QnvDXKFUb-1HLaCniYGkLsP6nbMb_ipiJ8-hyqrvX5q_XXYkVjjkAz5BKUL/s320/DSCF8592.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wall before starting</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSCH91lfAZ8kfwvGQcQ4CorqQXSdRkVC2o7P0GUAsdL5OYD0rHop1mFJwQ54Xd6_XkGGrNdVJmLAJa9Gze9wkUYjobnLhnAw7qgohiWIZsXtCCee0Z8hWPGJ94WUQ3fWPtXq8IEZB3n56K/s1600/DSCF8607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSCH91lfAZ8kfwvGQcQ4CorqQXSdRkVC2o7P0GUAsdL5OYD0rHop1mFJwQ54Xd6_XkGGrNdVJmLAJa9Gze9wkUYjobnLhnAw7qgohiWIZsXtCCee0Z8hWPGJ94WUQ3fWPtXq8IEZB3n56K/s320/DSCF8607.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The start of the grid that was used to draw the map</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhudR9llhr_Cg8NYpmpKE17trTqetXmnvpZlctYJInvCZtRxPcNU3xOP7P-61CZ110KX-mcc9pq33_Qy3sFXPbLQvywhMOg2SO8IG16mhJeSJTM9I7z8HjExd_s8Z79Y_Up0MX8-mmSfCod/s1600/DSCF8618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhudR9llhr_Cg8NYpmpKE17trTqetXmnvpZlctYJInvCZtRxPcNU3xOP7P-61CZ110KX-mcc9pq33_Qy3sFXPbLQvywhMOg2SO8IG16mhJeSJTM9I7z8HjExd_s8Z79Y_Up0MX8-mmSfCod/s320/DSCF8618.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grid done - now ready to draw the world!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrh3-wIa2c8jABHr-ajFB6DE5LCJu4gaoOb2zBmU704QllT5HQNF9LfG9UFY9KYcWKxOnassA6aPYguwLfQQI8T_vt3kGkPEO5Svrj4BIXQtM6tsd7kHI-IxjmsdohdrN-MgtIfUkgaX_/s1600/DSCF8635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrh3-wIa2c8jABHr-ajFB6DE5LCJu4gaoOb2zBmU704QllT5HQNF9LfG9UFY9KYcWKxOnassA6aPYguwLfQQI8T_vt3kGkPEO5Svrj4BIXQtM6tsd7kHI-IxjmsdohdrN-MgtIfUkgaX_/s320/DSCF8635.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my 10th grade students, Angelica, hard at work</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrhK9u628SHNzDk7eLLIyKJazYVwP_vO-T3-MjYEeXV_BZBYvcDzVhX0lTwRH-U6LP2Wcv9dE-v0W1PMtg-sntNzW16T-xqaQQ4f6XD97gmJx4ojmAXl0X4yepr0ElyI9GdTHTj3Yj7bO/s1600/DSCF8641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrhK9u628SHNzDk7eLLIyKJazYVwP_vO-T3-MjYEeXV_BZBYvcDzVhX0lTwRH-U6LP2Wcv9dE-v0W1PMtg-sntNzW16T-xqaQQ4f6XD97gmJx4ojmAXl0X4yepr0ElyI9GdTHTj3Yj7bO/s320/DSCF8641.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another 10th grade student, Anderson, lending me his drawing skills</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlz0ANcWvhBnxnFWTY9TKQk_7mz-Pk0Xqb85RiVt_k06O0sZgdA1DLcniM3l_9EVugEuBABRBKP_DA1UaDuDtzc-0G-aSZ_BpAS9yudX0DzH7klwBHfPD5uuDRMWshj7RG1yKYGcwVcwHq/s1600/DSCF8715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlz0ANcWvhBnxnFWTY9TKQk_7mz-Pk0Xqb85RiVt_k06O0sZgdA1DLcniM3l_9EVugEuBABRBKP_DA1UaDuDtzc-0G-aSZ_BpAS9yudX0DzH7klwBHfPD5uuDRMWshj7RG1yKYGcwVcwHq/s320/DSCF8715.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All drawn and outlined - bring on the paint!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2GIsvIjiFjKgaB2-xo1NG64MQnwrkLAv7cL1xIO5KmCIqo_YpVD2M6oP24EGbSPSHp2_twcH1Off3EHJdt3nvft9nGpw16TWstRLCLWkZDz5kN2oY2COpDvoEDMxuwWgpxVeVtusY64Tf/s1600/DSCF8718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2GIsvIjiFjKgaB2-xo1NG64MQnwrkLAv7cL1xIO5KmCIqo_YpVD2M6oP24EGbSPSHp2_twcH1Off3EHJdt3nvft9nGpw16TWstRLCLWkZDz5kN2oY2COpDvoEDMxuwWgpxVeVtusY64Tf/s320/DSCF8718.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mafe, a 10th grader, putting her artistic abilities to work</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4POpoorPcX8FWXqDF9jkTOhh-LnRLIZDIyfYbEcEHK_rz6F89ul4vNjDwo9cGYaDVg0SQw8P1c43mVFFdUjVQyoBbz8VmOWkTFWiaL03fm7q6Fg2Q-vX3h-slwTU5MmKy2_4WAkOT5DS/s1600/DSCF8724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4POpoorPcX8FWXqDF9jkTOhh-LnRLIZDIyfYbEcEHK_rz6F89ul4vNjDwo9cGYaDVg0SQw8P1c43mVFFdUjVQyoBbz8VmOWkTFWiaL03fm7q6Fg2Q-vX3h-slwTU5MmKy2_4WAkOT5DS/s320/DSCF8724.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">11th graders Alex and Arnaldo helping to put on the finishing touches</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijplTR1F_9E9fykUs1ujhWjl9EZiASs-MgYJIa8KEB-5kUSd7m2k6Tx_4Agj7iYi1I1or0coK5uDi6Lb07AFFB2MwKg83LrNKmq00fAeRo9KIQnTSUGe1lloGzSOHIy2hz4G7KACkTamib/s1600/DSCF8731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijplTR1F_9E9fykUs1ujhWjl9EZiASs-MgYJIa8KEB-5kUSd7m2k6Tx_4Agj7iYi1I1or0coK5uDi6Lb07AFFB2MwKg83LrNKmq00fAeRo9KIQnTSUGe1lloGzSOHIy2hz4G7KACkTamib/s320/DSCF8731.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The final product!!!</td></tr>
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I'm super proud of the end results! It was a lot of fun being able to collaborate and work with my students outside of the classroom and in a non-English context. The artistic abilities of the students here both at my school and in Colombia in general never cease to amaze me. I'm excited that I'll be able to leave this in the school as part of my Peace Corps legacy here in Repelón.Michael Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338350800934360700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614294686183600827.post-88435777636594791302016-10-06T08:38:00.000-05:002016-10-06T08:38:06.425-05:00Gettin' Down and Dirty!!Spa days are something that many people enjoy. Being able to pamper yourself for an hour or two with a relaxing massage or mud bath/facial is a great way to relieve pent up stress or to treat yourself after a long week. This is definitely a luxury for many Americans, as high prices and limited free time hinders many people from enjoying this treat as often as they would like to. Well, here in Colombia, there is a simple solution to this dilemma and it comes in the form of a volcano.<br />
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El Volcán del Totumo (Totuma Volcano) is a 50-foot tall volcano that is located between Barranquilla and Cartagena along the Via del Mar. It is filled with a warm, dense mud that is believed to have cleansing properties that will lead bathers more wholesome and beautiful skin. The legend has it that this volcano used to emit fire, lava, and ash. However, with the help of a local priest who was convinced that this was the work of the Devil, these harmful substances were turned into mud by the simple act of sprinkling some holy water into the volcano. Today, it is a very popular tourist destination, with the majority coming from Cartagena.<br />
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When we first arrived in country, we were told about this volcano and it immediately jumped to the top of our list of places to check out. Well, almost two years later, I can finally say that I have been. A couple of weekends ago, Caitlin, Katrina, Jessi, Derek, and I made our way to this volcano to check it out and see what it was all about. It did not disappoint.<br />
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After paying an entrance fee of $10.000 pesos (approximately $3.00), we climbed some steep steps to the top of the volcano. We had a little guy who guarded our stuff and escorted us around the park, which was nice. As I entered into the volcano itself, the mud slowly suctioned itself around my legs, waist, and torso. Instead of sinking straight down to the bottom of the volcano, I found myself suspended in this warm, think muck. It's what I imagine space travel to be like - minus the slime and grime.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXyXznNYCSB61BmB7taU5fuAmsa-YMeShT2BT2m5JkgQeE3dM3TG0O4Y8Vb5xATKp8mn_EHbbghfXSbkIY-GgaR4y1sOx8JLpDzALVXwhuOEiSKsi_Vma7YX2jDjGxrVahY2VSyLCPTtcS/s1600/DSCF8692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXyXznNYCSB61BmB7taU5fuAmsa-YMeShT2BT2m5JkgQeE3dM3TG0O4Y8Vb5xATKp8mn_EHbbghfXSbkIY-GgaR4y1sOx8JLpDzALVXwhuOEiSKsi_Vma7YX2jDjGxrVahY2VSyLCPTtcS/s320/DSCF8692.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We spent over an hour just chilling in the mud. It was a beautiful day and we found multiple ways to entertain ourselves, as only a group of gringos truly can. About halfway through our experience, we were joined by a group of Austrian bros who were probably on a trip to Cartagena and paid an exorbitant amount of money to come check out this treasure. Getting out of the pit itself became a balancing act between trying to rid yourself of as much mud as possible without slipping back into the volcano itself.<br />
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After we had all emerged looking more like creatures from the Black Lagoon than humans, we slowly descended down to ground level and proceeded to a nearby lagoon to wash off. We thought that we would be able to just leisurely enter the lagoon and wash ourselves. However, we were sorely mistaken as out of nowhere a group of women appeared and directed us to various crates situated near massive tanks of water. What happened next is something that I can only describe as an aggressive, anger laden rubdown. Water was splashed in my face, mud was forcifully rubbed off my skin, and a few shakes of my shorts completed the experience. We made our way back to Katrina's house and napped for the rest of the day.<br />
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I'm so glad that I was able to successfully check this experience off my Colombian bucket list before leaving. With only three weeks left in country, it's memories and experiences like this one that I will never forget. Now if only we had discovered the magical properties of this place earlier...Michael Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338350800934360700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614294686183600827.post-46407895375306884442016-10-06T08:07:00.000-05:002016-10-06T08:07:09.657-05:00Faces of Repelón: The Kindred SpiritWalking down the street on my way to school, I constantly hear shouts of "Profe!" or "Gringo" or "Teacher". Most of the time I just return these greetings with a headnod, slight wave, or thumbs up. However, whenever I run into Leidy Perez, one of my community class students, I always have to stop and get a little update on her life. She's just one of those people that draws you into a conversation whether you have the time for it or not. It's moments like this that get my day off on a great start before it even really begins!<br />
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Leidy was born here in Repelón in 1986. She grew up with three sibilings, while her parents were hard workers who provided lots of love and support for their children. Unfortunately, her mother passed away from cancer while she was young. However, she didn't let this untimely event hinderher from enjoying life.<br />
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One of Leidy's favorite memories from her childhood was the arrival of Christmas every year. On this special day, she was able to share special memories and time with her family that she didn't always get to see that often during the year. Leidy also fondly recalls playing with her sibilings and friends in her neighborhood. Together, they would play in the streets, go to the pool, and participate in various events/trips, such as going to see the animals at the zoo in Barranquilla.<br />
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The time that Leidy spent at school was overall a very positive and great experience. Her closest friends were like an extended family and they participated in many activities together. She thorougly enjoyed her English classes (which was apparent while she was in my classes) and dreaded attending her math classes. After graduating from high school, Leidy went on to study occupational health. Althought she currently does not have a job, she is continuing the search every day.<br />
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The thing about living in a small pueblo, espeicially Repelón, that really is attractive to Leidy is the fact that the citizens are super friendly and sincere. She also feels that she is free to live her life how she wants to without many outside influences telling her what she has or needs to do. At the same time, she acknowledges that there are not many opportunities for work. This lack of options leads to a lot of suffering amongst many of the people who live here.<br />
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In the future, Leidy would love to visit the United States. To her, the USA represents a land of many opportunities to both continue her study of English and to work. This is made possible by the fact that it is a very developed and beautiful country. She also feels that the USA is an example for the world on how to handle and create viable political and economical systems. Leidy also feels that the USA does an admirable job of collaborating with other countries around the world in finding solutions to problems and issues that arise around the world.<br />
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The entire time that I have had Leidy in class has been a pleasure. While she isn't always the most vocal student, I have found that when she does participate, she her anwers are always spot on and correct. It goes to show that it takes all types to make a successful classroom. Loud, quiet, extroverted, introverted - all of these personalities help to create a learning environment that allows each student to thrive. It was been encouraging to see that amount of progress that Leidy has made since the first day of class. She is truly an example of perseverance and hard work.<br />
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Michael Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338350800934360700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614294686183600827.post-7233347643606044422016-09-26T18:40:00.000-05:002016-09-26T18:40:36.411-05:00Faces of Repelón: The Police ChiefImagine the following scenario:<br />
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You have just moved to a new pueblo in a foreign country where you are still trying to understand those around you. On your second day at site, you are approached by a member of the community stating that the police chief is looking for you. Heart hammering, you stammer in your best attempt at the local language, asking why? The community member has no idea - they were just tasked with bringing you to this meeting.<br />
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This actually happened to me. On my second day at school. With my coordinator playing it up to the point where I thought I was legitimately in trouble or had done something illegal despite not leaving my house. As it turned out, this initial meeting with the police chief, Melquecidec Vargas (or Mel for short), turned into a friendship that will soon span continents. <br />
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Mel was born in Sardinata, a pueblo in Norte de Santander (a department located on the border with Venezuela) in 1989. He grew up with two sisters, who both married at a young age. As a family, they lived in the country, a ways away from town, in a simple house made out of wood. As a kid, Mel loved playing soccer with his friends, both during and outside of school. This is a passion that has continued to this day, as at least once a week he can be found playing with the fellow cops in the plaza.<br />
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In addition to soccer, Mel also enjoyed going to the river and splashing around there with friends, and his current girlfriend, who he has known since he was a child and has been "dating" since he was 9 (according to him). He also played lots of other popular childhood games, like Hide and Seek, when not busy with his studies at school. He looked forward to school, as learning new material and seeing his friends were highlights. However, group work was a pain because it meant that he had to get up early to meet his classmates due to the distance from town that he lived.<br />
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As the end of high school was approaching, Mel knew that he had to make a decision regarding his future career. He had narrowed it down to being either an architect or a police officer. After taking some time to help his parents after graduation, he decided to join the police force and entered into the Police Academy. Following four years in the Academy, Mel was assigned to Repelón as police chief, arriving here a week before I did (talk about perfect timing!).<br />
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Life in Repelón is not all that different from Mel´s life in Sardinata. He is a big fan of the tranquility and relative peace and quiet that the pueblo offers. Mel also agrees that the people here are super friendly and he loves spending time near the Laguna del Guajaro just on the edge of town when he has time. The one thing that he absolutely despises is the condition of many of the roads in town, which he experiences often in completing his rounds.<br />
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In adition to learning English (through his own efforts and our casual conversations), Mel is also learning a bit of German as he would one day like to visit both the United States and Germany. The United States is one of the most developed and organized countries in the world, Mel feels, and he would love to be able to experience that for himself one day.<br />
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Being friends with the police chief has it pros and cons. On the plus side, I know that I have someone that I can always rely on to help me out if I were to ever get into a bind. It's also pretty sweet to tell friends and family back home that I'm best buds with the head cop in town - never a bad claim to be able to make. However, the life of a police officer is also a hectic one. Schedules are constantly changing at the last minute and finding time to actually hang out is really difficult.<br />
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Despite all of these challenges and obstacles, my time here in Colombia would not have been the same without Mel. From becoming my running buddy to sharing Dia de la Velitas with my parents when they visited in December to letting me use the copier/printer at the station whenever I wanted to, he has helped make me feel comfortable and safe while living here. For that, there are not enough words of thanks that I can offer him. I'm already looking forward to his visit to the United States! ;)<br />
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Michael Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338350800934360700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614294686183600827.post-67321859698400103092016-09-14T10:12:00.000-05:002016-09-14T10:12:10.704-05:00Faces of Repelón: The Nurse
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This world
is full of people that have the ability to make anyone happy just with their
mere presence. These special humans are just filled with a positive energy that
is contagious to all of those that they come in contact with. I try to surround
myself with these types of people as much as I can. Through my community classes,
I have had the opportunity to get to know one of these people – Nahir Nuñez. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Born in
Repelón in 1969, Nahir grew up in a household comprised of her father, mother,
and three brothers. Her father emigrated from Venezuela as a young man to give
his future family an opportunity at a better life. Her mother was responsible
for instilling many of the values and principles that continue to guide her
life to this day. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nahir was
very active in sports as a child, which was very uncommon at that time,
especially for females. She participated in basketball, volleyball, running,
gymnastics, soccer, and flew kites with friends from school and neighbors. She
remembers having a fairly long childhood, as she continued all of these
activities until she was 15. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">School for
Nahir was a pure pleasure. It is hard for her to think of anything that she didn’t
enjoy about her school experience. A plethora of friendships and inspiring
teachers are a few of the many highlights when she thinks back to her schooling
days. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, Nahir was forced to leave school
before graduating. She got married and later went back and successfully
received her high school diploma. She has since attended college and currently
is working as a nurse in a pharmacy here in town that just happens to be on my
route home every day!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For Nahir,
the tranquility and hospitality of Repeloneros is something she greatly
treasures. She considers her life here to be a marvelous one and is always attempting
to find the positive in each and every situation that comes her way. She is
especially proud of how she has been able to use her position as a nurse to
reach underrepresented populations within the pueblo to help teach them about
healthy habits and ways to improve their lives.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the
future, Nahir would absolutely love to visit the United States and Hawaii. Her
biggest dream is to experience snow! Due to the extreme, constant heat here on
the coast, this is one phenomenon that she has yet to see firsthand. She sees
that United States as a powerful nation that offers many opportunities to
advance and progress in life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nahir has
become an inspiration to me personally during my time here in Repelón. She is
super ambitious, as evident in her dedication to learning English by taking
classes outside of those offered by myself. Not too long ago, she received high
marks on a project that she completed and the high levels of joy and pride that
she had while telling me of this success could be seen by everyone. Nahir is
definitely one of those special people that you meet in your life that will
continue to do great things no matter where they are.</span></span></div>
Michael Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338350800934360700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614294686183600827.post-34050501702546641852016-09-06T18:04:00.000-05:002016-09-06T18:04:29.327-05:00Faces of Repelón: The High School StudentOne of the many things that I love about my community classes are the rich diversity that my students bring. Spanning several decades, each has an interesting and unique history that adds to the dynamic of the class. One of those students, Luisana, despite being only 16 years old, has definitely enriched these classes in multiple ways.<br />
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Born in Caracás, Venezuela, Luisana has two half-brothers, but has never lived with either of them. Her mother passed way when she was 7 years old and she moved to Repelón shortly afterwards to move in with family on her dad's side. One of her fondest memories of her mother was when they would sit together on their front porch of their house in Caracás, talking while her mother did her hair. <br />
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In addition to this, she loved taking photos (an obsession that has continued to this day!), making food, and enjoying the sweets that her dad would bring home with him from his work every day. Lusiana also had a large collection of Barbies that would keep her entertained for hours. Going to the park and the beach were other fond memories that she has from her childhood.<br />
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Currently, Luisana is in her last year of bachillerato (high school) and is set to graduate this November. Her time in school has been filled with great memories with her friends, exchanging jokes, and taking an obscene amount of potos. She greatly enjoys her teachers and looks forward to continuing her education in the coming years.<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Life in a small pueblo is vastly different from that of the city. One
thing about Repelón that Luisana loves are the people and the tranquil, safe
feeling that life in a small town provides its citizens. She also loves the
feeling of solidarity that is shared amongst many Repeloneros. However, the
heat, mosquitoes, and lack of a movie theater and mall make life here sometimes
unbearable. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In the future, once she has finished with any future studies that she
may partake in, Luisana would love to visit the United States. This has been a
dream of hers for many years. She sees the United States as a beautiful,
developed country that is very advanced in terms of technology. If she can’t
make it to the mainland US, Hawaii will do just fine as well!</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I know that I probably say this about all of my
students, but it has been an absolute pleasure to have Luisana in my classes.
When she is absent there is a definite gap in the level of enthusiasm and
positive energy in the class. It’s been a joy seeing someone so young take such
an interest in bettering herself and setting herself up for nothing but success
in the future. </span>Michael Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338350800934360700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614294686183600827.post-65147645246924858452016-08-26T09:15:00.001-05:002016-08-26T09:15:50.228-05:00Face of Repelón: The Elder StatesmanPeople that are able to self-teach themselves another language amaze me. I have met a multitude of humans throughout my travels that have learned English or another language solely through movies, music, and self-motivation. Many of these language learners have never taken a formal class or stepped foot in a country that speaks their second or third language fluently. Over the past two years, I have had the privilege of getting to know one such person that fits the above criteria: Rafael Torrenegra Polo.<br />
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Born in Repelón in 1961, Rafa is easily the oldest member of my community clases. However, he doesn't let his "wise, old age" hold him back from continuing the learn and improve his English abilities. Growing up, Rafa was one of 12 children. Both of his parents worked extremely hard to raise himself and his siblings. This work ethic was instilled in his parents at a young age - Rafa's mother grew up without a father and his father began working when he was in primary school just to make sure that there was enough food to eat. Despite these tough conditions, Rafa and his siblings have managed to become successful members of society. Today, his siblings hold titles such as doctor, lawyer, pilot, engineer, and mechanic.<br />
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As a child, Rafa's mother loved to sing to her children. This helped foster a love of music in Rafa that continues to this day. His father told many stories about the world around them, helping to spark an interest in Engilsh in Rafa at an early age. When Rafa wasn't learning new songs or soaking up new knowledge, he was outside playing with his friends. Their favorite game to take part in was baseball. In addition to baseball, Rafa also enjoyed running, riding horses, and playing an assortment of popular pueblo games.<br />
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During school, Rafa was an excellent student who enjoyed reading books and learning new things. He hated missing classes (which is not a sentiment shared by many students today) and truly enjoyed the teachers that instructed him. After high school, Rafa continued his education by taking many courses offered by SENA, which is a Colombian public institution that is focused on the development of educational programs to help foster employment throughout Colombia. In addition to these courses, Rafa started learning hundreds of English words through the assistance of a dictionary and the Bible.<br />
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Throughout his lifetime, Rafa has held an assortment of jobs, including a renter of land on the island San Andres, an insurance agent, and a security guard. It is through all of these various jobs that Rafa has met some of his closest comrades in life. One of his favorite aspects of life in Repelón is just that: the people. Walking down the street and being greeted by neighbors and friends is something that isn't found in the cities. However, there is a prevailing culture of poverty that sometimes tends to suffocate the spirit of the citizens in town. <br />
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Rafa has had a lifelong dream of visiting Germany. He sees the German society as one of equality and full of lots of opportunities for both its citizens and those that visit this beautiful country. Rafa also would like to visit the United States someday. Through his eyes, the USA is one of the msot powerful and important countries in the world today. The inhabitants of the USA have many opportunities and the ability to enjoy a good, well-rounded life. Rafa feels that Colombia should use the USA as an example of how to further develop in the future.<br />
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Rafa's vast prior knowledge of English has brought some interesting dynamics to my community classes. He is always willing to participate and give his thoughts. Sometimes, he is so willing that he overshadows the other students. While many other teachers may become annoyed and quickly fed up with this behavior, I embrace it. This desire to participate and continue to grow after so much time and effort is one of the truly enduring qualities that I will never forget about Rafa.<br />
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Michael Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338350800934360700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614294686183600827.post-64231065800501438732016-08-19T13:34:00.002-05:002016-08-19T13:34:50.799-05:00Crazy Colombian CelebrationsBeing a student in Colombia has to be one of the best and easiest things in the world. This country has the most public holidays in the world, which leads to a plethora of three-day weekends and short school weeks. Outside of that, there are always random assemblies, "acto cívicos", and other happenings that make a full, 5-day week in which each class meets as scheduled a rarity. I'm pretty sure that during my time here in Repelón, we have had maybe <strong>ONE</strong> week in which every class met for the scheduled time. Consistency isn't one of the strong suits of the Colombian coast, to say the least.<br />
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Two weeks ago, my school, I.E. John F. Kennedy (IEJFK) partnered up with another school in town, I.E. Maria Immaculada (IEMI) to celebrate the Battle of Boyacá. This battle, which was fought on August 7, 1819, was the difinitive battle that gave Colombia its independence from Spain. To celebrate this monumental day in Colombian history, we paraded through town on our way to one of the baseball stadiums in town. This parade literally stopped traffic as we made our way through town on the one and only highway that makes its way through town. When we reached the plaza, we met up with the students and teachers from IEMI and made our way to the baseball stadium.<br />
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The first part of the day was spent watching various performances from both schools. Highlights included IEMI students dressing up like the main commanders of the battle, students showcasing the cumbia, mapale, and the son de negros dances, a group of students performing a rap, and a performance by the municipal student band. This group featured a few of my students from my school, which was really cool to see them involved in something outside of school. Below are pictures highlighting these performances.</div>
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However, for me, the ultimate highlight of the day was what happened after these performances. Here in Colombia, as I'm sure I've eluded to in the past, soccer is king. Life stops when both Junior (the local soccer team) and the national team play. Unfortunately, this only happens with the men's teams. The women's national team definitely does not garner as much attention country wide. In general, opportunities for women and girls, including sports, are fairly limited, as teenage pregnancy is an issue many of these small pueblos face. So it was a breath of fresh air when a softball game between the 10th graders from IEJFK and IEMI was held to end the celebration. I was so impressed and blown away by the amount of support that the other teachers and students gave the girls as they gave their all on the field and at the plate. <br />
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While there is still a long way to go to achieve gender equality here in Colombia, in my opinion, this game was definitely a step in the right direction. Instead of featuring soccer and putting the spotlight on the boys, as is so often done, these schools chose to feature the female athletes of their schools. Here's to future "days off" that in turn continue to empower and give the girls of this pueblo a chance to shine and showcase their talents.Michael Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338350800934360700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614294686183600827.post-61347837589354085952016-08-18T08:00:00.000-05:002016-08-18T08:00:55.570-05:00Faces of Repelón: The Mother-Daughter TandemOne of the best things about teaching is watching your students steadily improve their knowledge and abilities in whatever subject matter you are instructing them in. Whether it be English, math, science, or social studies, this visible change is inspiring and makes this profession so much fun. This reward becomes even more enhanced when parents become involved and help take charge of their children's education. This is the case with two of my students, Marbelis and Urimarcela. From the start of my classes last April, these two have attended pretty much every single one! It's so refreshing to see the interactions between them in class and how much Marbelis encourages Urimarcela.<br />
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Marbelis was born in Repelón in 1982 and was fortunate enough to grow up with a twin sister, Cibelis. Her mother, who was one of 14 children, was a very caring and hard working role model for Marbelis and her sister. Growing up in such a huge family really taught her valuable lessons about what it takes to be part of a successful family. It's apparent that these traits have been passed down to Marbelis.</div>
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Growing up, Marbelis and her sister did pretty much everything together. They played, studied, and even dressed the same. This became a bit of a game in itself for them as they loved tricking family and local community members about who was who. Despite, or thanks to the, the lack of technology, much of her childhood was spent outside, playing with her neighbors and other friends.<br />
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School was a marvelous experience for Marbelis. She was consistently at the top of her class. She received a scholarship to continue her education after high school and also was able to participate in numerous trips due to her high academic marks. Many of the same teachers that she had are still teaching today and greet her with enthusiasm when they see her. After school, Marbelis studied in Barranquilla, with hopes of becoming a bilingual secretary. She ended up receiving her degree and license to teach Castellana and English. She currently is teaching English at one of the other schools in town, I.E. Maria Immaculada.<br />
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Marbelis's first daughter, Urimarcela, was born in Repelón as well in 2004. Uri (the common nickname that everyone uses, including myself) has a younger sister. Her father currently works as a technician. For fun, Uri loves playing with her friends, watching televisión, and spending time with her sister. At school, Uri loves recess (what 12-year old wouldn't) and her English classes. On the other hand, math and PE are her least favorite activities during the school day. <br />
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According to Marbelis, Repelón is a very "cozy", safe town that is filled with good people who have a desire to better their lives. However, in order to fulfill this desire to better their lives, many people have to leave and move to surrounding cities, thus depriving Repelón of some of its best citizens. In Uri's opinion, the best part about Repelón is the library where she is able to do her homework with her friends. <br />
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Pueblo life is something that suits Marbelis well. She loves her life, her house, her family, and the fact that she gets to give back to a place where she has spent her entire life. At the same time, she does realize that sometimes it is difficult to achieve all that she wants to in life due to certain limitations that the pueblo presents. Uri views life in the pueblo as very tranquil and safe and likes that there aren't high rates of delinquency in town.<br />
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Both mother and daughter would love to visit the United States in the near future. Marbelis has had this dream since she was a child and started studying English in school. She sees the United States as a developed country that presents many opportunities for its citizens. She also wants to strengthen her English abilities and knows that living in an English speaking country is one of the best ways to accomplish this. For Uri, the United States presents her with the chance to also improve her English and to visit lots of famous touristic sites.<br />
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Personally, it has been an immense pleasure having these two in class together. Overall, parental involvement in their children's lives here in Repelón is lacking. To see that there are parents who care and want the best for their children is refreshing and encouraging. Marbelis is an amazing role model for both her daughters and the other citizens of Repelón. Uri has a very bright future ahead of her that is filled with endless possibilities. I have no doubt whatsoever that both will continue to do great things going forward!Michael Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338350800934360700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614294686183600827.post-55997351898626312132016-07-22T07:42:00.003-05:002016-07-22T07:42:38.935-05:00Faces of Repelón: The MusicianMusic is something that I enjoy on a a personal level. I have played piano since I was eight and was a part of some musical ensemble from junior high until my junior year of college. I love making music by taking black and white dots on a piece of paper and turning them into something melodic and beautiful. Here in Repelón, I am not the only one who loves creating these sweet harmonies. One of my students, Selene Carrillo Polo, uses her alto saxophone to express herself musically.<br />
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Born in Repelón, Selene grew up in a loving family that consisted of her and her two brothers. Her parents were great teachers of values, helped explain her homework when she had doubts, and pushed her to do her best in school, knowing that education was a gateway to her future. During her childhood, Selene loved playing with her dolls, winning first place in various competitions and activities in primary school, and participating in local parties and festivals.<br />
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During school, she remembers having a great time participating in classes and other activities. It was during this time that Selene developed a deeper love and appreciation for music. She took up the alto saxophone during high school and hasn't looked back since. Currently she is a member of a local muscial group that performs for various holidays, festivals, and other special events around town. <br />
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Following her graduation from high school, Selene would travel daily to Cartagena to take nursing and technology systems classes at Fundación Boscania Caribe. Along with her studies, she continued to make time to enjoy numerous fiestas and continue with her music. Currently, Selene is a secretary at the Centro de Vida del Adulto Mayor here in Repelón. Here, she helps to better the lives of the older citizens of the pubelo through various programs, activities, and campaigns.<br />
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When it comes to pubelo life, Selene absolutely loves the cultural and weekly parties. Participating in the local band brings copious amounts of joy to her life, as she plays alongside her father and one of her brothers. Like many other locals, the high temperaturas, lack of overall development, and a sense of lost culture amongst the farmers are things that she wishes would change.<br />
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However, Selene does see some minor improvements that are being put in place to better the life of the local citizens. One initiative is the fixing of many of the major streets that run through town. By turning these once mud traps into viable and usable modes of transportation, the inhabitants of Repelón are able to move around town easier and with less problems. Despite this attempt at creating a more accessible pubelo, there is still more to do. She sees the lack of a superior education in the local schools as a major problem. Many students are not driven to continue their education after graduation and to Selene, this could lead to problems further down the road.<br />
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When it comes to the United States, Selene views this country as a beautiful country that has many opportunities to offer. Technology has been developed in a way that makes it easy to communicate both locally and globally. Finally, the greatest reason, in her opinion, that the USA is so important on a global scale is because of its language: English. Selene sees and feels that English is a portal to a brighter future and a better tomorrow.<br />
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Whether it is in the classroom or on the stage, Selene is leaving her mark on the people of Repelón. With young, dedicated, and motivated people like her around, the future of this pueblo and Colombia as a whole is bright and promising!Michael Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338350800934360700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614294686183600827.post-32902027805993402132016-07-11T09:02:00.001-05:002016-07-11T09:02:42.459-05:00Faces of Repelón: The LawyerEnter into my community classes on any given night and you will be greeted with a sea of willing and eager faces, just waiting to soak in more English knowledge that they did not possess before entering into the classroom. On Wednesday and Friday nights, there is always one bespectacled, smiling face that will greet any visitor that walks through the door. This face belongs to Laura Mercedes Imitola Galeano.<br />
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Born in Barranquilla, Laura grew up surrounded by one brother and two sisters. Her mother, who is the oldest of her siblings, was a strong family head and presented a very strong role model for Laura to follow. Her father, the youngest of twelve siblings, provided her with a more docile and fun-loving side. These two presences helped shape her into the person that she is today. <br />
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Growing up, Laura loved to play soccer in the streets in front of her house with her siblings and neighbors, ride her bike and climb the tres in the surrounding área. The day that she looked forward to every year was December 24th, Christmas Eve. This was the day that she was able to spend time with her father's family, which she didn't get to see as much as her mother's family. These nights were spent enjoying delicious bowls of sancocho, sharing gifts, and enjoying each other's company. <br />
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During primary school, Laura remembers being timid and shy. Sadly, she was picked on by other students, which caused her early schoo memories to be unhappy and despressing ones. However, once she reached high school, she was able to discover a love for learning that she still possesses today. Laura formed self confidence in her abilities that has helped her become a successful profesional today. <br />
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Upon her successful graduation from high school, Laura spent six years studying human rights at the University of Atlantico in Barranquilla. This led her to her current job, in which she represents members that work in the public sector, specifically those in the cleaning industry. Her respresentation of these individuals helps to ensure that they receive equal benefits and are not taken advantage of in the employment system.<br />
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Living in a small community like Repelón has its obvious advantages and disadvantages. According to Laura, one of the biggest advantages is the people of the pueblo. The kind and giving spirit of her fellow Repeloneros is something that she really cherishes. She also enjoys the walk down to the Cienaga del Guajaro (the lake that borders town). Of course, the constant heat and overall lack of fruit trees in town are a few of the disadvantages. <br />
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Along with kind and friendly people, pueblo life is very tranquil and low-key when compared to the hustle and bustle of the cities. However, sometimes this tranquility can lead to unhealthy routines that center around television and sedentary activities. In Laura's opinión, this is because there are not many options in the pueblo for families and other citizens to enjoy. The number of parks are limited to what's available in the plaza, which is a few swings and a concrete soccer field. <br />
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In the future, Laura would love to travel to India to take in the architecture, food, history, and culture that it has to offer. She also sees the Indian culture as one that has been able to maintain a distinct character over the past centuries. In regards to the United States, she sees it as a very prosperous country that is open to the world population as a whole. <br />
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From the beginning of my community classes, Laura has always been someone that I can count on to participate and provide answers when others may be more hesitant. She definitely has a bright future and I am very confident that she will continue to do great and wonderful things for Repelón and the surrounding communities!Michael Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338350800934360700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614294686183600827.post-4013592471039496932016-07-07T19:01:00.000-05:002016-07-07T19:01:35.758-05:00A Journey Through Colombian ParadiseDuring my childhood in the states, summertime was my favorite time of the year. School was on a three-month hiatus. Sweet corn season was in full bloom. The county fair highlighted the middle of the summer docket. Family trips to the ballpark were a consistent source of enjoyment. Warm days and long nights were soaked in by all.<br />
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Here in Peace Corps Colombia, the term "summertime" has taken on a bit of a different meaning. In this land of "eternal summer", where the temperature nevers seems to dip below 80 and the sun scorches the earth for days on end, that summer feeling is constant. Even the school year refuses to take a three month break, instead settling for a three week break from the middle of June to the beginning of July. It was during this recent break that I took my latest trip into the interior of Colombia.<br />
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My fellow volunteer, Jordan, and I took advantage of this free time and spent five glorious days in the coffee triangle region of Colombia. This area, made up of land between the cities of Pereira, Manizales, and Armenia, is home to the production of some of the world's best coffee. The weather, scenery, and people made this a trip that I would do over again and again. Instead of rambling on for paragraphs upon paragraphs about our trip, here are some photographic highlights to show off the region!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A panoramic view of the landscape outside of our hostel<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, I know these are just cows, but after living on the coast and seeing emaciated livestock every day, it was a refreshing sight to see healthy, robust farm animals again!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jordan and I enjoying one of the many rivers in the region<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many bridges we had to traverse during our hike in the Valle de Cocora</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hummingbirds at the Hummingbird House - it was quite a feat to get this photo!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The iconic wax palm tres that dot the valley - these trees grow to be as tall as 230 feet tall!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I felt pretty small standing next to this guy!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buried under that delicious cheese sauce is some of the best trout I have ever had!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful views of the town of Salento where we stayed</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to embark on a tour of a traditional coffee farm!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jordan practicing her coffee pod picking skills</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Definitely not gonna quit my day job!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first "tinto" (pure black coffee) here in Colombia - still not a fan and won't be converting anytime son...</td></tr>
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I feel rejuvenated and ready to tackle the rest of my service here in Colombia (which is quickly coming to an end!) Michael Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338350800934360700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614294686183600827.post-44124357483337143792016-06-15T07:48:00.000-05:002016-06-15T07:48:39.943-05:00Faces of Repelón: The Primary TeacherI first met Sindy Ruiz was over a year ago. I remember sitting at the school that I am currently serving at and being approached by a timid, soft-spoken Colombian. She explained that she was taking English classes in Barranquilla and would like some extra help on the weekends to further strengthen her skills. Being new in town and looking to make connections and friends, I agreed to help her out. As we were working together, I mentioned that I had started a community class and invited her to join to just reinforce the English skills that she already had while possibly picking up a few new things as well. She eagerly agreed and has been a staple of my classes ever since.<br />
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Sindy was born in Repelón in 1984 and grew up with five half-sisters. Her father worked as a jeweler, specializing in the repairing of watches, while her mother stayed at home and helped take care of the house. Growing up in such a large family provided Sindy with numerous opportunities to create long lasting memories from her childhood. Some of her favorite childhood recollections center around a common occurence here in the pueblo: power outages. Every time that the power would go out, she and her cousins would get together on someone's front patio and tell jokes and other stories to each other. <br />
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When there was power, and her and her friends weren't melting under the relentless coastal heat, they would played various games in the street in front of her house, including "La yuca", "Auga de limón", and "Al congelao". In addition to these popular childhood games, Sindy was also a big fan of slugging homers and catching pop flies with her family. While in school, she was able to make lots of friendships and fondly remembers visiting the library in town to complete homework and do other activities. Interestingly enough, she did not have a great experience with her primary teacher, who she describes as being "rough" and "mean" to the kids. <br />
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This was actually one of the experiences that drove her to her current career: teaching primary students in a small town just outside of Repelón. Sindy started teaching following her completion of a teacher training program and has held that position for the past six years. It is a job that brings her great joy and happiness. While she is afforded lots of liberties in her job, it breaks her heart to see many parents not taking an active interest in the education of their children. To her, this is probably the hardest aspect of working in a small pueblo. She is very fond of her students and wouldn't want to do anything else. Despite the travel time and difficult teaching environment that she is subjected to, watching her student's faces light up when they figure out a new concept is more than worth it to her. <br />
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According to Sindy, pueblo life has many advantages to that of the city. It is calmer, quieter, safer, and void of noisy traffic. However, the lack of a quality sewage system and paved roads causes issues, especially when it rains and everything is turned to a giant mud field. Some day (hopefully in the near future), she would love to be able to visit Paris. The images that she has seen and the things that she has heard regarding this magnificent city are nothing short of amazing and she would love to experience them for herself. In addition to Paris, a trip to the United States, a country that she sees as one with unlimited work opportunities, is also near the top of her list.<br />
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That chance meeting over a year ago has turned into a lasting friendship that has come to include tutor sessions, home cooked meals, and other experiences that I will not soon forget. Sindy's contributing spirit and positive attitude has not only enriched my community classes, but also my time here in Repelón as well.<br />
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Michael Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338350800934360700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614294686183600827.post-52614634864438766202016-06-01T21:10:00.002-05:002016-06-01T21:10:53.922-05:00Faces of Repelón: The High School GraduateA willingness to try new things. Upbeat. Positivity. All of these adjectives and more apply to Nayomis Carrillo Ruiz. She brings a curious mind and the ability to step outside of her comfort zone to not only English class, but life in general. Whether she's participating in the class warm-up or willing her team to victory in a heated review game, I know that I can always count on her when I need a volunteer to help keep class moving along.<br />
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Born in Sabanalarga (a town about 45 minutes to an hour north of Repelón), Nayomis comes from a close-knit family. Her parents, Alvaro and Solfanis, are dedicated to their family business as a way to provide for their family. Her older sister, Catalina, is currently working towards attaining her social work license at a university in Barranquilla. Danna, her younger sister, is still attending school here in Repelón and is in the ninth grade.<br />
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One of the many talents that Nayomis possess is that of a magnificent artist. Anytime that an artistic assignment is given to the students, I know that I am going to receive a mini-masterpiece from her talented hands. Actually, completing her first successful drawing is one of the things that she remembers most fondly about her childhood. Her abilities to translate her feeling and emotions onto paper is something that I'm definitely jealous of! </div>
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Outside of drawing, Nayomis also loves to ride her bike around town. Not only does this provide her with a healthy, safe form of entertainment, it also is relaxing and allows to clear her mind. When she was in school (Nayomis just graduated last December), she was able to create strong, long-lasting friendships that she hopes will continue into the future. Despite these pleasant memories, the absence of teachers on regular occasions was a bit of a hinderance as it caused classes to be canceled and mayhem to ensue.<br />
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Now that she has finally graduated, Nayomis is looking forward to her future. She plans on continuing her English studies at a university in either Sabanalarga or Barranquilla either this fall or next year. In the meantime, she is devoting her time to helping her mother maintaining the household for the rest of her family. A part of me wants her to wait until next January to start her university career, as that means that she will be able to finish out her current course with me. However, I will obviously fully support whatever decision she makes to better her future outlook.<br />
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When reflecting on the city of Repelón, Nayomis is proud of the fact that the local people are hard workers and are constantly striving to find ways to better their lives. This type of work ethic takes time to instill in people, let alone a whole community, so she sees this as a work in progress that also brings along a lot of insecurities that over time will hopefully work themselves out. Life in a pueblo also affords her the opportunity to be the person that she wants to be without a lot of trouble of strife from those around her. However, she also realizes that there are people that have the mentaility that they will always remain poor because they don't think they have the ability to overcome their difficulties. This is something that she aims to try and change in the future.<br />
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Down the road, Nayomis would love to be able to travel to the United States if the opportunity ever presented itself to her. The ability to use the things that she has learned regarding English and the chance to further improve her understanding of the language is one that she hopes she is able to take advantage of at some point. She sees the United States as a very powerful, developed country that is helping to better the world one day at a time.<br />
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Whether it is through her artistic drawings, bubbly personality, or sheer determination to succeed in everything that she tries, Nayomis has been one of the cornerstones of my classes here in Repelón. Despite her young age, I am fully confident that her future will be full of amazing opportunities and possibilities to both improve herself and the community of Repelón as a whole.<br />
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Michael Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338350800934360700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614294686183600827.post-81199261193013655242016-05-23T08:52:00.001-05:002016-05-23T08:54:37.080-05:00Faces of Repelón: The SecretaryAs my Peace Corps service comes to a close (only a little more than five months left), I wanted to take some time to focus on the people that have helped to make this experience so special and amazing. One of the main projects that I have undertaken during my time here is teaching English to approximately 30 community members, split over two different courses. These students have become very important to me and have helped shape not only my service here in Colombia, but also my views of the people of this beautiful country. <br />
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As a tribute to these amazing students, and as a way to give everyone a better idea of the people that I have been interacting with during my time here in Repelón, I am going to highlight a different student each week that I am currently working with. Hopefully these little snapshots will give everyone a greater idea and apprecition of the absolutely phenomenal people that have continued to amaze and support me.<br />
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Sitting in the back of the classroom, quietly observing the other students, 23-year old Johana Peña Ujueta is the ideal student. Always on time and courteous, she diligently attends class, takes notes, and participates when asked to do so. Sometimes her quiet demeanor can be deceiving, but her perception and ability to understand new cocnepts makes her a success both in and out of the classroom.<br />
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Born here in Repelón, Johana actually had the privelege of spending the majority of her childhood on the breathtaking island of San Andres, a Colombian gem off the coast of Nicaragua. She remembers walking along the sandy beaches with her older sister, Angelica, and younger brother, Ubaldo. Swimming in the ocean and throwing handfuls of sand at each other, customary actions for any child, were always a part of trips to the beach. </div>
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When not doing pirouttes in the water or exploring hidden caves and other exotic locations along the beach, Johana loved playing baseball with her mother, soccer with her parents and siblings, and with childhood dolls with her sister. PLay time eventually gave way to an education, where Johana excelled. At school, she aboslutely loved attending math class, but, interestingly enough, hated her English clases. Luckily, that isn't the case anymore!<br />
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Following high school, Johana moved on to college, where she received her degree in System and Technological Adminstration. She possesses a vast technical knowledge, ranging from graphic design to commercial web applciations, along with an understanding of Office 2010. All of these skills, plus more, have helped her flourish in her current job as a Technical Administrative Secretary at the local Repelón City Hall. <br />
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Despite not growing up in Repelón, her recent time back in the pueblo have reinforced her appreciation for the charisma and gentleness that the people here possess. Despite the extreme heat (it's good to know that foreigners aren't the only ones that are negatively effected by this!), she enjoys knowing she is helping to colaborate with people that want to better and advance the lives of the local people. <br />
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One of the things about Johana that I find most interesting is the fact that she is even in my class. As stated earlier, she despised her English classes. Just hearing the word "the United States" made her angry. Part of the reason was because it was forced upon her at school. She didn't have the option to learn other languages that she was more interested in. However, over time, those ideas have changed. As she grew up, she began to realize the advantages to having an understanding of English and eventually developed an interest in visiting Disneyland and Hollywood. Along with the USA, Johana would also like to visit Brazil, the Bahamas, France, and Dominican Republic. <br />
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It's always interesting to me what the motives students have for learning another language. In Johana's case, a childhood disgust has slowly turned into a new love and enjoyment. When classes first started, she never really particpated or provided answers. Her dedicated attendance told me that she was serious about learning. Little by little, her amount of participation has increased. It all cumulated into her volunteering to complete a review sentence last week for the very first time! I was so proud to see her finally have enough confidence to put herself out there. I'm excited to see just how much more she grows over the next five months!<br />
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Michael Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338350800934360700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614294686183600827.post-23706967289521397442016-05-19T20:10:00.001-05:002016-05-19T20:10:38.960-05:00For the Love of the Game
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over two
years ago, when I received my official invitation to serve with the Peace Corps
in Colombia, I knew that there was one thing that I was going to have to learn
how to fake: a love for soccer. The immense popularity of this sport in this country
is second to none. Life stops with the Colombian national team plays anyone.
However, here on the coast, the real passion and enthusiasm comes for their
local team, Junior.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Based out
of Barranquilla and a member of the top Colombian professional soccer league,
Categoria Primera A, this team has the ability to capture costeños all over the
coast on game day. Serving as the main Caribbean team in its league, it’s not
hard to identify Junioristas. Donning the red-and-white striped jersey,
complete with a cartoon doll’s face on the back, fans either flock to the
nearest television set or Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, to catch the
latest game.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since my
arrival here in Colombia, I have wanted to see a Junior game live and
in-person. I have spent the last year and a half plus watching games on TV,
while listening to my counterpart gripe over a loss and rejoice over a victory.
Finally, the perfect opportunity presented itself. My neighbor, Jaime, and two
of his cousins were heading to an upcoming game. He asked me if I wanted to
come along and I jumped at the opportunity. Derek and I headed up to
Barranquilla in preparation of the big game.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I never
truly realized just how much soccer really means to Colombians until this
experience. As Derek and I were trapped in horrible traffic on our way to the
stadium, Jaime was continually blowing up my phone, wanting to know where we
were. He was afraid of not being let into the stadium due to a misprint on our
tickets (they said that the game started at 7 pm, instead of the correct time
of 8 pm). This was my first clue as to just how important this game really was
to him and his cousins.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When we
finally arrived, we headed straight to a jersey vender so that we could
purchase the much coveted red-and-white apparel. Now that Derek and I looked
the part of die-hard Junior fans, it was time to enter the stadium. You could
feel the excitement for the match mounting as we neared the entrances. Our
seats were on the south side of the stadium. When I had informed my counterpart
that I was attending a Junior game finally, she gave me one piece of advice:
avoid the south side of the stadium! I quickly realized why she offered me this
warning.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sitting in
the second level, we had a perfect view of the field. With one of the goals directly
in front of us, I really couldn’t have asked for better seats. Directly below
us were the insane, ride-or-die fans that did not sit down the entire match.
Complete with a band consisting of trumpets, clarinets, saxophones, and enough
drums to wake the dead, they cheered and sang through the entire match, never
once stopping. Heck, they even sang and danced through the Colombian national
anthem!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The game
itself was fast paced and really entertaining. Luckily, we didn’t have to wait
too long for the first goal. About 5 minutes in, one of the Junior players
lofted a perfectly placed kick just over the outstretched hands of the opposing
goalie. The stadium, which ended up being about 75% full, erupted in an
euphoria of cheers, screams, and dances. It was unlike anything I had ever seen
before. The passion of these Colombian soccer fans far outshines that of those
matches and I attended in South Korea. The best part about the goal was that it
happened right in front of us! Bonus!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Junior
would score one more time before the end of the first half and went into
halftime up 2-0. But the excitement and entertainment didn’t stop there. Down
below us, a few of the “crazies” got a little too rowdy. An entire section
cleared out in a matter of seconds as police in riot gear descended upon the
assailants. As that was getting sorted out, a former Junior player, who was
apparently just amazing, suddenly appeared in the crowd. This appearance caused
the entire upper deck where we were sitting to rush forward to the front of the
balcony and lean over to get a look at this dude. However, they failed to take
into account the humans that were already occupying this space, mainly Derek
and myself. I’m just super happy that I didn’t crack a hip or a rib.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With the
start of the second half, order was restored to the stadium as everyone settled
in for another 45 action packed minutes of soccer. Despite the lack of more
goals, the ferocity of the players did not disappoint. The tenacity in the
stands was also an eye opening experience. With every near goal or poor pass, I
was instantly surrounded by sighs, shouts, and exclamations of disbelief. This
astute attention to the game and every detail just further proved to me that
these are some of the most dedicated soccer fans on the planet. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The game
ended with Junior in front by the same 2-0 score. Happy red-and-white fans
slowly filed out of the stadium, eager to celebrate the latest victory with a
cold one and some street food. This first Junior experience was an amazing one
that I will not soon forget. I absolutely cannot wait for the next opportunity
to cheer them on!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOf7izKicl_2HfvGEyYX2EOx6r5Eyotko0crXIUIfnbvBSXxuZGFnz9g9FxxI11ONvydjq2gRUkSuKOE__rwh7GNDuBuevIdPlCDSCRt8-4zaxxf7KW7MVSJ6RAhoc9syZl1res9GiEoAb/s1600/DSCF7790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOf7izKicl_2HfvGEyYX2EOx6r5Eyotko0crXIUIfnbvBSXxuZGFnz9g9FxxI11ONvydjq2gRUkSuKOE__rwh7GNDuBuevIdPlCDSCRt8-4zaxxf7KW7MVSJ6RAhoc9syZl1res9GiEoAb/s320/DSCF7790.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to cheer on Junior to a win!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWg4rCy1PX6tT535iaQO8TvmvuCrHV1w9KIoBo-etcLZVE0dcrfEJGi3buPET4TjF4qYz2QhFJsa_jxvds8DInCoLhFqjazv4DQbnducHfN8og0fyBwBeP_dnVBxVQayzbm0J3-W0quW5S/s1600/DSCF7804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWg4rCy1PX6tT535iaQO8TvmvuCrHV1w9KIoBo-etcLZVE0dcrfEJGi3buPET4TjF4qYz2QhFJsa_jxvds8DInCoLhFqjazv4DQbnducHfN8og0fyBwBeP_dnVBxVQayzbm0J3-W0quW5S/s320/DSCF7804.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "crazies"ready to go!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSI1vBgU7xofWAb1lYAMQeHCjuuEeOAN4yx3ouz7mbZ-aXUce-fYomJX0Ifbbg-HTJDaM5Kt7WFhs9T-ew4Tb4S_fzC6sBS1sAAWi756GKuilhDE44la_v6riH2mYkzajvdoFMkaHSTzjk/s1600/DSCF7825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSI1vBgU7xofWAb1lYAMQeHCjuuEeOAN4yx3ouz7mbZ-aXUce-fYomJX0Ifbbg-HTJDaM5Kt7WFhs9T-ew4Tb4S_fzC6sBS1sAAWi756GKuilhDE44la_v6riH2mYkzajvdoFMkaHSTzjk/s320/DSCF7825.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look close and you'll see cops in riot gear (they're wearing the bright green vests)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP1J_2CXaOPdNkRoobBpfYraf-vmsXPpNNLv18bhvZTIAXl8NSqKgLEMrlwRKTPzMQkNfA_KvOymgr_vNCe4VS79-7Dy7Ld13fFqkAgKeUP-baxuajpB9ctQSdbg87zT2s6QLx5yb2BMNc/s1600/DSCF7829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP1J_2CXaOPdNkRoobBpfYraf-vmsXPpNNLv18bhvZTIAXl8NSqKgLEMrlwRKTPzMQkNfA_KvOymgr_vNCe4VS79-7Dy7Ld13fFqkAgKeUP-baxuajpB9ctQSdbg87zT2s6QLx5yb2BMNc/s320/DSCF7829.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captivated by the action...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVeY-4G_43G8nIaNZs2v4bizfkNNoHPnTimFZDZalt2Na10EIVdQAenxATFEj4nwJRjZouYYqOQnf9aKrQqxEhY7L6qWx3O4IP6HVfEaVeqpfO9H9npiDXJVs5KHvO39aLiEYHAs99gFbd/s1600/DSCF7831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVeY-4G_43G8nIaNZs2v4bizfkNNoHPnTimFZDZalt2Na10EIVdQAenxATFEj4nwJRjZouYYqOQnf9aKrQqxEhY7L6qWx3O4IP6HVfEaVeqpfO9H9npiDXJVs5KHvO39aLiEYHAs99gFbd/s320/DSCF7831.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrating a Junior win!!</td></tr>
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Michael Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338350800934360700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614294686183600827.post-13469087267798178262016-04-11T11:30:00.001-05:002016-04-11T11:30:21.244-05:00Conquering an Ancient WonderMany people create bucket lists to help them organize things that they want to accomplish throughout their life time. My personal bucket list has had the same item occupying the #1 slot for a multitude of years: see Machu Picchu. This ancient wonderland has been on my mind since the early days of my existence (well at least I like to think that). When I lived in Washington D.C., I attended a day care that was run by a Peruvian woman. Outside of instilling my love for the Spanish language, she also talked a lot about her country and the many amazing things to see and do there. Hanging in the main playroom was a poster depicting Machu Picchu in all of its fame and glory. This early introduction, plus my continued interest in all things that have to do with the Spanish-speaking world, quickly placed this natural wonder at the top of my list.<br />
<br />
When I received my Peace Corps acceptance letter over two years ago and found out that I would be serving in Colombia, I immediately put Peru on my list of places that I HAD to travel to. During one of the many professional development trainings that first year Peace Corps members are subjected to, the idea of traveling to Peru over Semana Santa (Holy Week) was floated around amongst a couple of the volunteers in my group. I jumped on that idea without hesitation and started planning the actualization of one of my greatest goals in life. Months turned into weeks, which turned into days. Finally, the day arrived. It was time to leave the heat-ridden coast of Colombia and head to the high-altitude of the Andes Mountains.<br />
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As Jessi and I headed to the airport in Cartagena for our long afternoon/night of traveling, we were unable to contain our excitement. Our first couple of flights were effortless. This even included my first time ever flying in first class! When we arrived in Lima, we knew that we would have to spend the night in the airport. However, as we tried to go to our gate, we were turned away and told that we would only be allowed through an hour and a half before our flight. This led to an extremely uncomfortable night of camping out in a back hallway with about 30 of our closest traveling companions as we slowly awaited for time to pass.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPOgjcjndty3YZ9qk28mpSdfLAvMFXC23cvbUyB53A4ywXG2xkIWlBhKTX4N7xD744HbrNeF0a591uHff6DlNpB5CnmUOQSZ2Rq9WkP7sYfHpZkkhVJThwfjtvlHla_ReeYx3X0GmxEH6g/s1600/058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPOgjcjndty3YZ9qk28mpSdfLAvMFXC23cvbUyB53A4ywXG2xkIWlBhKTX4N7xD744HbrNeF0a591uHff6DlNpB5CnmUOQSZ2Rq9WkP7sYfHpZkkhVJThwfjtvlHla_ReeYx3X0GmxEH6g/s320/058.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Finally it was time to board our plane to Cuzco. Flying over the Andes Mountains was nothing short of spectacular! When we landed in Cuzco, we zipped off to our hostel, where we slept pretty much the rest of the day away (waking only to go find food). Later that night, Caleb and Alex (one of the married couples in our group) finally made it. We all ventured out for dinner and then turned in for the night.<br />
<br />
The next day, we continued our tour of Cuzco by checking out the San Pedro market, Plaza de las Armas, and some other sites around town. Caleb and I prepared for our five-day, four-night hike to Machu Picchu,while the girls settled in for a week of relaxation and food. The realization that I was finally going to achieve one of the biggest dreams of my life made it hard for me to sleep that night. So, at 4:30 am when our alarm sounded, I bounded out of bed, strapped on my bag, and prepared to embark on the adventure of a lifetime.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh fruit at the market</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plaza de las Armas</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foosball in one of the plazas</td></tr>
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Caleb and I were picked up from our hostel by our guide, Winston, and taken to the van that would deliver us to our first stop for breakfast. The van ride to this location was filled with beautiful views of the mountains. At breakfast, we finally met the other people that we would be completing the hike with. In our group, there were 10 people - 5 from Canada, a couple from Chile, and a Peruvian, plus Caleb and I. Over the course of the week, we all became super close, which made the hike even that much more enjoyable! Caleb and I were able to practice our Spanish with other speakers outside of the Colombian coast, which was fantastic for both of us.</div>
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After breakfast, we hopped back into the vans and proceeded to the starting point for the hike. We unloaded all of our stuff and sorted out what we would be carrying with us and what would be transported by the horses. Having the horses to help definitely was a major plus as it cut down on the amount of gear that we had to lug around. We spent the next 30 minutes traipsing uphill, and then were rewarded with flat land the rest of the morning until we arrived to our camping site for the first night.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting all packed up</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crew!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many stunning views along the route</td></tr>
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Following lunch (and a brief rain storm), we set out in search of a hidden lake a bit further up from our campsite. The hike up was tiring (and an omen for what lay ahead for us the next day), but the reward was well worth it! The lake was absolutely beautiful! The blueness of the water reminded me of my excursion to Capri, a tiny island off the coast of Italy. A few brave souls (myself excluded) decided to venture into the ice-cold waters for a bit of a refreshing swim. The hike down was less arduous and we were welcomed with dinner and an early bedtime, as we were looking at a departure time of about 6:00 am the following morning.<br />
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The next morning, we were awoken with a knock on our tent and a cup of tea to help energize us for the day ahead. As advertised, this was definitely the hardest and longest day of hiking that we had to complete. The first three hours took us further up into the mountains and surrounding glaciers to a height of 4600 meters (approx. 15,000 feet) and some pretty spectacular views. After getting some mandatory group pictures, we ventured in search of another hidden lagoon. This one was just as spectacular, if not more so, as the one we saw the day before. We participated in a traditional Incan ceremony, which culminated in the construction of a small tower of rocks and then started the long hike down to our second camp.<br />
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The hike down, which included a stop for lunch, was long and a bit treacherous. We ended up descending close to 1500 meters over the course of 5 hours, which is quite an accomplishment. A brief rain shower greeted us just as we were heading out from lunch. I also managed to wipe out on a small waterfall and will probably carry that scar with me for a while now. Battle wounds just make the experience even that more memorable! Upon arrival to our second campsite, we were all pretty exhausted. We claimed out tents, played some cards, enjoyed each others company at dinnertime, and then turned in for the night, knowing that the toughest part of the journey was behind us.<br />
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The third day consisted of covering another 13 km on foot before being picked up by a van and driven to our third campsite. The hike itself was very easy, as it was completed along flat ground that wound through the mountains. We did encounter one little blip along the way. Apparently, a couple of days before, a part of the road had been taken out by a landslide. Parts of the trail that we hiked along have been eroding away for centuries. Finally, part of it just gave way. We were able to cross safely, but the supply trucks and vans had to find alternate routes to reach the next destination. We arrived to our campsite in time for lunch and a friendly game of soccer. That afternoon we were given the opportunity to give our weary limbs a much deserved break with a trip to some hot springs. The warm water soothed our aching muscles and served as the first "shower/bath" for most of us since the start of the hike. That night, we enjoyed the company of other hiking groups with card games, dancing, and conversation.<br />
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The fourth day started off with a high-flying zip-lining trip! While I have had my fair share of zip-lining experiences throughout my travels, this one provided me with a few firsts. I completed a zip-line that was over one kilometer long, "flew" upside-down, and completed the adventure Superman style! That's right folks, face first,flying above the trees. It was pretty sweet! This was a great way to start off the day and saved us about 10 km of walking that day. We met up with the rest of our "family" at Hidroelectrica, our lunch spot.<br />
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From there, we continued hiking through the afternoon to our final destination for the night, Aguas Calientes (or as Caleb liked to call it "Machu Picchu City, formerly known as Aguas Calientes"). Here, we were rewarded with a night's stay in a hotel, with a real bed and hot showers. It was a prize well earned! We chowed down on some pizza, figured out our return trip back to Cuzco the next day, received instructions for entering Machu Picchu in the morning, and capped things off with a group dinner and some World Cup qualifying soccer matches. Once again we were subjected to an early nightcap, as a sunrise hike awaited us the next morning.<br />
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At 4 am the morning of the fifth, and final day, we arose and made our way to the base of the mountain that would lead us to the vaunted Machu Picchu. The 40-minute hike started out in pitch blackness and ended up with us surrounded by misty clouds. We were some of the first people into the park. Although we were initially greeted with a blanket of clouds that hid the ruins from us, a small wait resulted in a great revealing of the landmark we had all set out to conquer.<br />
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Luckily for Caleb and I, we were in no great rush, as our train back to Cuzco didn't leave until almost 8 pm that night. So we were able to stay at the ruins well into the afternoon. This afforded us the opportunity to see the clouds really clear off and provide us with some just spectacular views. The site itself was larger than anything that I could've ever imagined. We received a tour from Winston and then were allowed to do some exploring on our own. Caleb and I made our way to an old Inca bridge and to the Sun Door, which was an additional kilometer hike above the ruins. As the clouds continued to roll in and out of the valley, we were treated to beautiful landscapes and the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1OPRydFFxXtOMkDdJ8ybe9_fyCFR-LwV7etSx4Oml0jGdiPT0vAXBHU1RioIyZWM0IhDaOX28ASBfOLKu40dK5qbGlQts9Xsec8DadHRVKVNwlgEWZW9NRTOR-Ul3zfB5_prMeMUEP7k/s1600/DSCF7629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1OPRydFFxXtOMkDdJ8ybe9_fyCFR-LwV7etSx4Oml0jGdiPT0vAXBHU1RioIyZWM0IhDaOX28ASBfOLKu40dK5qbGlQts9Xsec8DadHRVKVNwlgEWZW9NRTOR-Ul3zfB5_prMeMUEP7k/s320/DSCF7629.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Got my llama picture!! Another dream accomplished!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Akt5c5r59OV09utooHZa7NgaGUcZ5Ca0OCy60Y9U8c3AefLz69C_j_2PkhLgkytr9iJ23nhZdJA7vUvHBfL0i3NeAv-0GdHJ0IliFD4zSgXmfEwf5wShWiPTa2gqb4VDL7ri1Y56GywR/s1600/DSCF7685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Akt5c5r59OV09utooHZa7NgaGUcZ5Ca0OCy60Y9U8c3AefLz69C_j_2PkhLgkytr9iJ23nhZdJA7vUvHBfL0i3NeAv-0GdHJ0IliFD4zSgXmfEwf5wShWiPTa2gqb4VDL7ri1Y56GywR/s320/DSCF7685.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhvG6XYRaGyoMWuAbe1XdZbTz9788Nf-PmMz1OfhLDfqnmJj9LBGfbrx_nrxCOTi3ed_nwxXsomdE8unM8bblyh2TsI1vG_GNyE3XRuy6bCYD5Nfu_3eku3So65KarY0CJVcMC50sjkea/s1600/DSCF7690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhvG6XYRaGyoMWuAbe1XdZbTz9788Nf-PmMz1OfhLDfqnmJj9LBGfbrx_nrxCOTi3ed_nwxXsomdE8unM8bblyh2TsI1vG_GNyE3XRuy6bCYD5Nfu_3eku3So65KarY0CJVcMC50sjkea/s320/DSCF7690.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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As we headed back down the same path the we had trudge up not even 8 hours prior, the state of awe and appreciation that I was in was incredible. Knowing that I had finally checking the leading objective off of my bucket list left me with a sense of accomplishment and pride. It also set me to thinking what my new #1 bucket list item would be (I'm thinking visit South Africa). We made it back to Aguas Calientes, treated ourselves to two large pizzas, collected our belongings from the hotel, and headed to the train station. The subsequent train and bus ride put us back in Cuzco around 11:00 pm, exhausted, but definitely satisfied.<br />
<br />
The following day, which was Saturday, was filled with rest and recuperation. Jessi and Alex had booked their trip to Machu Picchu for this day, so Caleb and I took advantage of this and laid around the hostel and exerted as little energy as possible. We met up with the girls when they came back from their trip, had dinner, and ended up going out with a few of the people from our hiking group. Sunday was filled with finally trying guinea pig (a delicacy in this part of the world) and some last minute shopping. We returned to the hostel and packed our bags, sad to see our trip come to an end.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMBWl3uWpHF4nS3wHlxY2gUCghE3q7QQKhwIuPYg7i-uD7F-Ex1N7W_b5oPQeaDytOPtVfqdAN02RroPDvkwKofdK_BC65hZHH-q9TimLSnti53Cg9dE5dCdVtfPdRLf_vBU5vKDmIdzF/s1600/DSCF7708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMBWl3uWpHF4nS3wHlxY2gUCghE3q7QQKhwIuPYg7i-uD7F-Ex1N7W_b5oPQeaDytOPtVfqdAN02RroPDvkwKofdK_BC65hZHH-q9TimLSnti53Cg9dE5dCdVtfPdRLf_vBU5vKDmIdzF/s320/DSCF7708.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guinea pig, all ready for consumption!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The journey back to Colombia was very uneventful. We were greeted by the same old humidity and heat as we disembarked from the plane in Cartagena. The cool, mountain temperatures were now a thing of the past. Since coming back from this trip, I've had some difficulties getting back into the swing of things. I keep dreaming of my next trip and being able to check off more items from my bucket list. I only have about 7 months left in country before my service is up. I intend on taking full advantage of my remaining time here by spending as much time as possible with my community members and working on strengthening friendship bonds. While I am glad to be back on the coast, the memories of finally making it to Machu Picchu will endure forever...<br />
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Michael Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338350800934360700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614294686183600827.post-36317431301722830482016-03-03T09:15:00.002-05:002016-03-03T09:15:23.416-05:00The Tale of the 5 @ 5: Part 2<b>Tuesday Morning</b><br />
<br />
<u><b>4:45 am</b></u><br />
<br />
There goes that alarm again. Better prepare myself for the "time" of my life!<br />
<br />
<u><b>4:53 am</b></u><br />
<br />
Swooping through the air, I finally land on a familiar surface. The prickly hairs tickle my backside as I am securely fastened in place. The next sensation is that of my main button being pushed. Time to spend the next 3 minutes trying to hook up with the local satellites. This GPS function of my job is a bit of a drag at times. If only he would stop walking around, I could do this job so much easier!<br />
<br />
<u><b>5:02 am</b></u><br />
<br />
GPS signal has finally been found and established! Only had to restart the process three times! Message sent that I am all good to go and record this upcoming exercise routine. Now all I gotta do is wait for that sweet permission to start tracking.<br />
<br />
<u><b>5:11 am - Start (KM 0-1)</b></u><br />
<br />
BEEP! Finally, the wait is over. The seconds consistently tick by as a steady rhythm is found. There's a slight uptick in elevation - and back to flat ground again. A second increase in elevation signals the fact that we are still on the main road in town. Two minutes down and the first change in course has happened. A turn to the right introduces a bit of a quicker pace. The end of the 1st kilometer is ticking down as we pass by one of the many school, IE John F. Kennedy.<b> </b>BEEP!<br />
<br />
<b>Distance Covered: 1 KM</b><br />
<b>Time Elapsed: 5 minutes, 25 seconds</b><br />
<br />
<b><u>5:16 am - KM 1-2</u></b><br />
<br />
BEEP! An immediate right signifies a second change of course. Gotta make sure I'm keeping up with all of these changes! Everything seems to be falling nicely into place this morning. Looks like these early morning runs are paying off. With a consistent pace, I can tell that his endurance is improving. Whoa - major dip in my elevation reading. Looks like the land isn't quite as flat around here as I've heard. Nearing the end of this kilometer, we make another turn, this time to the left. Hello plaza and IE Maria Inmaculada! I'll be seeing you again in a little bit. BEEP!<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Distance Covered: 2 KM</b><br />
<b>Time Elapsed: 10 minutes, 55 seconds</b><br />
<br />
<b><u>5:21 am - KM 2-3</u></b><br />
<br />
BEEP! Following a slight right-hand turn, the pace and rhythm have once again leveled out. Just keep trucking. A slight struggle up the hill and a veering off to the right brings us back to the main road. This portion is highlighted by the passing of IE Jose David Montezuma Recuero,the third school in town. Only a few slight blips in the elevation radar as this stable, flat surface provides an opportunity for smooth sailing. It appears that this part of the run is the easiest, as the pace barely changes, and is actually a bit quicker than the previous two kilometers. BEEP!<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Distance Covered: 3 KM</b><br />
<b>Time Elapsed: 16 minutes, 15 seconds</b><br />
<br />
<b><u>5:27 am - KM 3-4</u></b><br />
<br />
BEEP! Off the main road once again, we are now covering familiar ground. I am ready and prepared for the elevation and direction changes. If I'm correct, we are passing IE John F. Kennedy again, which means a turn is in the works. (GPS detects a turn to the right) Man, I am good! Pretty soon, there will be bit of a major dip (GPS records a decrease in elevation of about 5 meters) It looks like a career in tracking and recording is in my near future! As we come up on the plaza and IE Maria Inmaculada again, I can sense that the end is near. BEEP!<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>Distance Covered: 4 KM</b><br />
<b>Time Elapsed: 21 minutes, 40 seconds</b><br />
<br />
<b><u>5:32 am - KM 4-5</u></b><br />
<br />
BEEP! The pass through the plaza leads straight into a right-hand turn. The home stretch has begun. I can sense that he knows it too, as the pace quickens slightly. The end of any run always seems to bring this type of urgency out of him. Up the incline we go and back to the main road. IE Jose David Montezuma Recuero flashes by in a blur (according to my sources, that is) and the light at the end of the tunnel is finally realized. The last quarter kilometer brings the quickest pace yet. Hope this doesn't hurt him - I rather enjoy this line of work and would hate for something to prevent me from doing it. Five tenths of a kilometer...four tenths...three tenths...two<b> </b>tenths...one tenth...BEEP!<br />
<br />
<b>Distance Covered: 5 KM</b><br />
<b>Time Elapsed: 26 minutes, 57 seconds</b><br />
<br />
<u><b>5:37 am - Cool Down</b></u><br />
<br />
Another successful run in the books! I'll be sure to hold onto the latest data until it is time to turn it over to all interested parties. Looking forward to a nice re-charge later today in preparation for tomorrow morning!<br />
<b> </b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the route that my handy dandy watch helps me track!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Michael Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338350800934360700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614294686183600827.post-41633421505037104952016-02-29T12:41:00.002-05:002016-03-02T10:48:54.655-05:00The Tale of the 5 @ 5: Part 1<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Running has
become a relatively recent new passion/hobby of mine. During my time in South
Korea, I joined a running club, more so because a friend of mine semi-pressured
me into it. However, I quickly fell in love with an activity that I had done
everything in my power to avoid since junior high. I have since continued
running here in Colombia. I have talked about my runs with the police chief on
various occasions, but I have never really given a detailed account of what the
morning laps around town really entail. The next series of posts will be
devoted precisely to that. Each post will be told from the perspective of a
different thing or person involved in the morning 5 @ 5 (5 KM @ 5 AM). </span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border: none; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm;">
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So without further ado, here is entry number
one…</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The darkness is comforting. Nestled amongst the
tissue paper and walls of my box, I am suddenly awakened by a sudden jolt. Is
today the day?? My journey takes me out into the front room. I see many of my
other friends, just chilling on the shelves, trying their best to attract the
next customer. The lid is removed and florescent light comes flooding in. I’m
taken out for the first time since my arrival to the store. The sensation of
laces being strung through my eyelets excites me. Finally, the moment I have
been waiting for is here! At last, I’m going to my new home!</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Tuesday morning</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">4:45 am </span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There goes
that alarm again – must be about time to get up. I faintly hear the sound
of footsteps making their way towards me. Yup, it is time. As I fly through the
air, I know that another early morning journey through the pueblo is about to
start. In goes the foot. Next, my tongue is adjusted and pulled tight. Finally,
the laces are stretched snuggly, formed in perfect bows and secured with a
double knot. Looks like we’re ready to go.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">4:58 am </span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Quickly,
the cool feeling of the linoleum is replaced by the newly laid tile. We must be
outside. Suddenly, the tile vanishes and gravel and sand are encountered. I
hope that this crunching sound doesn’t wake up the barking guardian of the
house – not my ideal way to start the day. The ground slightly rises as we stop
at the garage door. After a few seconds of no movement, we are off again. The
gravel and sand have given way to pavement. We are finally breached the outer
wall. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">5:01 am</span></u></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The terrain
changes once again. Instead of the smooth paved roads, jagged little pieces of
rock jab me. This is my least favorite part of the morning routine. Does he not
realize how uncomfortable this is for me?? How am I supposed to support him
when he treats me this poorly? Ah, good – we’re back on more comfortable
ground. We’re changing directions, taking a right just in front of that sewer
cover. Just a few more feet and we’ll be ready to go.</span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></u></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">5:08 am</span></u></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Here comes
a familiar face. Over the course of the past few months, I’ve become well
acquainted with the brand making its way towards me now. After a mandatory
greeting, we are off once again, retracing the path we just forged no more than
two minutes ago. All of the discomforts and comforts from the previous journey
re-present themselves again. </span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></u></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">5:14 am</span></u></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The black,
tarry pavement signifies that our weekly ritual is about to begin. I’m lifted
off the ground for a few seconds and then placed back down. This action is
repeated multiple times – it’s all just part of the ritual. Finally, after much
anticipation, we’re off. The usual far-off “beep” helps clue me in that my rate
of use is about to increase tremendously. As we settle into a rhythm, I do my
best to stay on the course and provide the support needed.</span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></u></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">5:26 am</span></u></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">1<sup>st</sup>
lap is done. Despite a few elevation dips, the pace has remained the same.
Guess all this practice is finally paying off. As we round the corner, signifying
the end of lap #1, I feel a wet sensation seep through my sole. We were doing
such a great job of avoiding those annoying puddles – oh well, looks like I’ll
just have to dry off when we’re done. </span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></u></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">5:32 am</span></u></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Great! It
looks like we have picked up an unwelcomed passenger. Stuck between my tread
protrudes a piece of gravel, irregularly shaped and causing more problems than
needed this early in the morning. Apparently we aren’t stopping to remove this
little visitor. Did I mention that I despise passing through non-paved sections
of the pueblo??</span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></u></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">5:37 am</span></u></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The end has
finally come! The pace has slowed down immensely and that nasty little rock has
finally been removed! Now my favorite part of the morning routine – the walk
home! Soon, I’ll be resting back on my shelf, preparing myself to go through
this process all over again the next day. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
Michael Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338350800934360700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614294686183600827.post-3442721265580184652016-02-14T18:21:00.004-05:002016-02-14T18:21:53.054-05:00When the Odd Becomes the Norm...Every culture and country comes complete with things that to the casual, outside observer would appear odd and strange. It's these "quirks" and differences that make living in new cultures outside of your innate comforts exciting and interesting. When I first moved to Repelón a little over a year ago, there were definitely things that caught my eye as odd and extreme. However, today, I rarely even bat an eye when these events occur. Here are some of the things that my pueblo has taught me to embrace as the "new norm":<br />
<br />
<b>1. Overly affectionate students</b><br />
<br />
In the United States, teachers are drilled on the importance of maintaining space between themselves and their students. Physical contact of any kind is severely frowned upon. Primary teachers are taught the art of the side hug. Secondary teachers do their best to form bubbles around themselves so as to avoid possible lawsuits or sexual harassment cases. Here in Colombia, this just simply does not exist.<br />
<b> </b><br />
<br />
Every morning at school, I am greeted by hugs and a kiss on the cheek from the female students and various, elaborate handshakes from the male students. Colombians are very affectionate people.Why let the institution of "school" change that?? I still remember the first time that a female student approached me and tried to give me a kiss on the cheek. I started profusely sweating, as my eyes darted around the school to see if any other teacher or administrative staff member was watching me. I was expecting the police to show up at any moment and haul me away for making inappropriate contact with a minor. Needless to say, all of my anxieties and awkwardness surrounding this practice have disappeared during my time here.<br />
<br />
<b>2. Farm animals gone wild!</b><br />
<br />
As I have mentioned many times before, I grew up on a farm in a small town in Iowa. We raised sheep when I was younger, and my grandparents, who live about a mile up the road from my house, still raise cows and pigs. I have been around farm animals my entire life and have no issue dealing with the unavoidable smells and noise associated with have live animals. Here in the pueblo, many of the same animals exist as well. The only difference is that they roam free and do pretty much whatever they want!<br />
<b> </b><br />
Pens and pastures are a thing of the imagination. Why keep animals locked up when they can just roam free through the city?? The sight of pigs and cows meandering up and down city streets has become such a daily occurrence that I don't even think twice about the oddity of it. Just last month, a friend of mine visited from the Atlanta. As we did a tour of the pueblo, she was in awe of the fact that pigs just wandered freely and did whatever they wanted. It made me realize that this isn't "normal" to an American. Heck, I've even been delayed on my walk to school by herds of cows lazily walking through town, having not a single care or worry in the world.<br />
<br />
<b>3. Pueblo bus culture</b><br />
<br />
In my last post, I wrote about ways to get around the pueblo. One of those ways was by bus. Since a large majority of the people living in the pueblo don't have a personal vehicle, the bus becomes the only source of transportation for not only bodies, but other items as well. Over the last year, myself and fellow volunteers have seen the following being transported on a bus:<br />
<br />
- Washing machine<br />
- Rocking chairs (complete with occupants using them as seats)<br />
- Queen-sized mattress (strapped to both the top of the bus and inside the bus)<br />
- Bed frame and headboard<br />
- Floor tiles<br />
- Live animals, including, but not limited to:<br />
> Roosters<br />
> Chickens<br />
> Dogs<br />
> Birds<br />
> Piglets<br />
- Lumber for construction<br />
- Large sacks of rice, sugar, salt, etc...<br />
<br />
Now, boarding a bus becomes some what of a game. What fun and inventive items are going to be transported back to the pueblo today????<br />
<br />
<b>4. Club standards</b><br />
<br />
Going out on a Saturday night, one is bound to go through the same routine:<br />
<br />
1. Meet up with friends (normally half an hour to an hour late)<br />
2. Head to the caseta/estadero/club<br />
3. Order a round of drinks<br />
4. Consume said drinks while trying to not go deaf from the blaring music<br />
5. Dance to every fifth song with a friend or through an invitation<br />
6. Repeat steps three through five<br />
<br />
While this may seem a lot like a night out in the states as well, there is one glaring difference: age requirements. It is super common to see parents with their small children (between the ages of 2 and 5) out well past midnight. Primary aged students weave their ways through the throngs of adults dancing and enjoying the night. Bachillerato students awkwardly congregate in the corner and try to act cool. Age limits do not exist here in Colombia. There are no bouncers at the door checking ID's to make sure that patrons are over 21. This type of night life is just such a part of the culture here that no one thinks twice about having everyone participate in it, no matter what their age.<br />
<br />
<b>5. Lack of punctuality</b><br />
<br />
One of the biggest things that I have had to try and let go of here is my concept of time. Americans are notorious for their punctuality and desire to squeeze as much into a day as they possibly can. This spans the generations, as my mom remembers going to church every Sunday growing up a child. Even though mass didn't start until 9:00 am, her family always arrived by no later than 8:30 am. Gotta make sure to get that pew!<br />
<br />
Showing up somewhere thirty minutes early is simply unheard of here along the coast. I have had to seriously adapt my views on what "on-time" really means. This caused many frustrations and misunderstandings when I first moved here. Friends would say "Let's meet at 7 tonight in the plaza." Being the American that I am, I would show up at 10 'til 7, and then proceed to wait for 30-45 minutes for everyone else to show up. I quickly realized that meeting times were just arbitrary numbers used without any real meaning.<br />
<br />
This in turn has caused me to become a bit lazier! I have stopped arriving to places early and deliberately show up late - I still normally end up being the first one! For example, last November, I organized an end of the year celebration for the students of my community English classes. We decided on starting the event at 4 pm, knowing well that this was never going to happen. I finally showed up around 6 pm, two hours after the stated "start" time, and WAS STILL THE FIRST PERSON! It just blew my mind!<br />
<br />
Through the course of my Peace Corps service, I have adapted to so many new norms and ways of life. With a little over nine months remaining before I head back to the United States, I'm excited to see how many more of these new "norms" I can identify and enjoy before the hustle and bustle of American life re-consumes me.<b> </b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://bloggingabroad.org/blog-challenge" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Blogging Abroad's Boot Camp Blog Challenge: Starting January 2015" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-22" src="http://www.bloggingabroad.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Blog-Challenge-2016-e1450836003273.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a></div>
Michael Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338350800934360700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5614294686183600827.post-2925595650637265592016-02-10T10:33:00.002-05:002016-02-10T10:38:37.170-05:00Pueblo TransportationLiving in a small, rural pueblo presents itself with plenty of challenges and obstacles. Power is lost without warning. Air conditioned rooms are a luxury. Running water is something found in the large, bustling cities. Despite these perceived limitations, there is one thing that is relatively easy to access and use: transportation. Getting around the pueblo itself and to other surrounding areas is fairly easy and straight forward. Below are five of the most common ways to get around a Colombian pueblo...<br />
<br />
<b>1. Moto</b><br />
<br />
Easily the most convenient and popular option of locals, motos can be found at pretty much every street corner and major intersection in town. For less than $0.50 USD, you can be transported anywhere in town that you would like. Motos also run between pueblos and are sometimes the only option available when a bus is missed or time is an issue. Locals are not afraid to transport any item on a moto, as I have personally witnessed pots of sancocho, bookshelves, and queen sized mattresses moved on the back of a moto.<br />
<b> </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYrMftvNAZKb46XNxl7rvcVK3bb8Lj5cMRNYWcvFh80TI7C96KK2p46_5yws6ql4IzhYJqh89f6j4erKus48OWhEDIzmr7BfpBAHEHui_ws_yHfRDD_NwKAAKANMr1R9I8Sy06Om0QdeR/s1600/BeFunky+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYrMftvNAZKb46XNxl7rvcVK3bb8Lj5cMRNYWcvFh80TI7C96KK2p46_5yws6ql4IzhYJqh89f6j4erKus48OWhEDIzmr7BfpBAHEHui_ws_yHfRDD_NwKAAKANMr1R9I8Sy06Om0QdeR/s320/BeFunky+Collage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>2. Motocoches</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
These three-wheeled bikes are almost as popular as motos. Used mainly by large groups of people wishing to travel together or people with lots of luggage/groceries/items, motocoches provide a bit of a safer, slower ride. Prices are normally a littler higher to use one of these (closer to $1.00 USD), but when trying to transport lots of items, the slight uptick in price is definitely worth it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-qiZ_ibW9-R2e-C6r7JDKUOwq-sSNWurW6izR0pvfiTGrnrz2-UkF158zeoX8ouMrK9I9IPmlyuWkLu2tqNi0RRF6UWb_VPiLV5g22_xwnqxhH3pkUr0_aZRGE3B9L7c6dtHYJclZ5JJ/s1600/DSCF7272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-qiZ_ibW9-R2e-C6r7JDKUOwq-sSNWurW6izR0pvfiTGrnrz2-UkF158zeoX8ouMrK9I9IPmlyuWkLu2tqNi0RRF6UWb_VPiLV5g22_xwnqxhH3pkUr0_aZRGE3B9L7c6dtHYJclZ5JJ/s320/DSCF7272.JPG" width="275" /></a></div>
<b>3. Bus</b><br />
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When traveling outside of the pueblo, the most effective form of transportation is the local pueblo bus. These colorful vehicles are normally adorned with various decals, ranging from Looney Tunes to pictures of Jesus to American flags. These buses are marked with the name of the final destination, usually painted across the front, just above the windshield. Most also provide a small plaque stating the name of the pueblo where the bus is headed. Getting on the bus early and finding a seat, preferably by a window, is a necessity as the bus tends to fill up quickly. The lack of air conditioning can make the commute extremely uncomfortable some days. Buses leave once every hour, more or less on the hour, starting at 5 am, with the last bus leaving town around 4 pm. From Repelón, the two-hour bus journey to Barranquilla costs roughly $3.00 USD.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_54sm5jVH5mC8czkFttAtIxd2ONCGF_kTIu7cpjaXO4-sfzzBICM2b0Sut5MvePx4Cfeh7xZuVCTiwfUBZcQdeFVuj87ZzfFLUBS_kGKut7bGyshDf5WiN_gSp-mqTgJK_VPf44ShjHd/s1600/DSCF7271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_54sm5jVH5mC8czkFttAtIxd2ONCGF_kTIu7cpjaXO4-sfzzBICM2b0Sut5MvePx4Cfeh7xZuVCTiwfUBZcQdeFVuj87ZzfFLUBS_kGKut7bGyshDf5WiN_gSp-mqTgJK_VPf44ShjHd/s320/DSCF7271.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>4. Bicycle</b><br />
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The bicycle is also a popular way to move about the pueblo. Used by all ages, biking provides for a more relaxed, controlled ride. One of the really interesting things here is how people use their bikes. It is very common to see two or three people on one bike - one person sitting on the bar between the seat and front tire, one person on the seat, and someone else hanging on the back wheel. Also super common is seeing grown adults (usually men) riding bikes designed for small children. While an amusing spectacle, I personally cringe every time that I see this, just thinking about how uncomfortable that ride must truly be.<br />
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<b>5. Walking!</b><br />
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My personal favorite and preferred way to get around my pueblo is by walking! Everyone in town is always in shock that I choose to walk the ten minutes to my house from school every day. I am constantly bombarded with cries of "but the sun - it's going to turn you black!" To this, I quickly reply "that's the goal!" One thing that I've come to understand and appreciate here is how Colombians judge distance. It is not uncommon to see a Colombian take a moto three blocks - anything to avoid extra steps! While the heat does sometimes make walking absolutely horrendous, I love the exercise, along with the ability to greet and converse with others that I encounter.<br />
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<b>Added Bonus: Mule Cart</b><br />
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The occasionally mule cart will make its way through town. Normally used by local farmers transporting their goods from the finca to town, this form of transportation always adds a bit of adventure in maneuvering through town. Getting stuck behind a slow moving mule is almost the same as following a combine back home during harvest season - you aren't going to be getting anywhere anytime soon!<br />
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With the various difficulties that living in a pueblo can present, it's nice knowing that getting from one place to another is relatively easy and stress-free. It'll definitely be an adjustment when I finally return back to the US getting used to the pace at which everything moves, including transportation. I'm also going to have to retrain myself in the art of driving, something I will not have done for over two years! The accelerator is the pedal on the left, right?? ;)<br />
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Michael Owenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18338350800934360700noreply@blogger.com0