Faces of Repelón: The Musician

Music 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Faces of Repelón: The Lawyer

Enter 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

A Journey Through Colombian Paradise

During 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.

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.

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!

A panoramic view of the landscape outside of our hostel
 

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!

Jordan and I enjoying one of the many rivers in the region
 

One of the many bridges we had to traverse during our hike in the Valle de Cocora

Hummingbirds at the Hummingbird House - it was quite a feat to get this photo!

The iconic wax palm tres that dot the valley - these trees grow to be as tall as 230 feet tall!

I felt pretty small standing next to this guy!

Buried under that delicious cheese sauce is some of the best trout I have ever had!

Beautiful views of the town of Salento where we stayed

Ready to embark on a tour of a traditional coffee farm!

Jordan practicing her coffee pod picking skills

Definitely not gonna quit my day job!

My first "tinto" (pure black coffee) here in Colombia - still not a fan and won't be converting anytime son...

I feel rejuvenated and ready to tackle the rest of my service here in Colombia (which is quickly coming to an end!)

Faces of Repelón: The Primary Teacher

I 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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

Faces of Repelón: The High School Graduate

A 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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...