Faces of Repelón: The Secretary

As 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.

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.

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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.

 

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.

 

 

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

For the Love of the Game

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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!

Ready to cheer on Junior to a win!

The "crazies"ready to go!

Look close and you'll see cops in riot gear (they're wearing the bright green vests)

Captivated by the action...

Celebrating a Junior win!!

Conquering an Ancient Wonder

Many 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Fresh fruit at the market

Plaza de las Armas

Foosball in one of the plazas

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.

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.

Getting all packed up

The crew!

One of the many stunning views along the route

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Got my llama picture!! Another dream accomplished!

 

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.

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.

Guinea pig, all ready for consumption!

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...

The Tale of the 5 @ 5: Part 2

Tuesday Morning

4:45 am

There goes that alarm again. Better prepare myself for the "time" of my life!

4:53 am

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!

5:02 am

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.

5:11 am - Start (KM 0-1)

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. BEEP!

Distance Covered: 1 KM
Time Elapsed: 5 minutes, 25 seconds

5:16 am - KM 1-2

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!

Distance Covered: 2 KM
Time Elapsed: 10 minutes, 55 seconds

5:21 am - KM 2-3

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!

Distance Covered: 3 KM
Time Elapsed: 16 minutes, 15 seconds

5:27 am - KM 3-4

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!

Distance Covered: 4 KM
Time Elapsed: 21 minutes, 40 seconds

5:32 am - KM 4-5

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 tenths...one tenth...BEEP!

Distance Covered: 5 KM
Time Elapsed: 26 minutes, 57 seconds

5:37 am - Cool Down

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!

Here's the route that my handy dandy watch helps me track!

The Tale of the 5 @ 5: Part 1

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).

So without further ado, here is entry number one…

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!

Tuesday morning

4:45 am

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.

4:58 am

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.

5:01 am

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.

5:08 am

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.

5:14 am

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.

5:26 am

1^st 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.

5:32 am

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??

5:37 am

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. 

When 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":

1. Overly affectionate students

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.


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.

2. Farm animals gone wild!

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!

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.

3. Pueblo bus culture

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:

- Washing machine
- Rocking chairs (complete with occupants using them as seats)
- Queen-sized mattress (strapped to both the top of the bus and inside the bus)
- Bed frame and headboard
- Floor tiles
- Live animals, including, but not limited to:
         > Roosters
         > Chickens
         > Dogs
         > Birds
         > Piglets
- Lumber for construction
- Large sacks of rice, sugar, salt, etc...

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????

4. Club standards

Going out on a Saturday night, one is bound to go through the same routine:

1. Meet up with friends (normally half an hour to an hour late)
2. Head to the caseta/estadero/club
3. Order a round of drinks
4. Consume said drinks while trying to not go deaf from the blaring music
5. Dance to every fifth song with a friend or through an invitation
6. Repeat steps three through five

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.

5. Lack of punctuality

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!

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.

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!

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.

Pueblo Transportation

Living 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...

1. Moto

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.

2. Motocoches

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.

3. Bus

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.

 4. Bicycle

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.

5. Walking!

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.

Added Bonus: Mule Cart

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!

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?? ;)