It's been a while since I last made a video. I've officially been in Colombia six months now.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Thursday, December 29, 2011
December in Colombia
Hey Everyone
Here is a video describing some of the traditions that people have here in Colombia during December.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
:-)
Here is a video describing some of the traditions that people have here in Colombia during December.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
:-)
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
One Month In
I've been in Colombia for one month now and here is my first video entry. As the weeks go by I will continue to post more videos describing my experiences.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Torn Between Two Worlds
Monday, September 12…as I drove away from my house and out of DC I felt an incredible pain. I was crying, I had an empty feeling in my stomach and my heart physically hurt. This feeling was familiar…last time I felt this pain was March 6, the day I left Colombia.
I couldn’t believe it, I had no idea that leaving DC was going to hit me that hard. I was supposed to leave Saturday September 10th but I postponed my drive as much as I could. Monday morning everyone was at work so it was easier to leave then. That day I realized that I would always be torn between two worlds – my life here in the states, specifically Washington, DC, and my life with my family in Colombia.
I can’t say that I love one more than the other and I can’t say that one is better than the other. They are unique and special to me in their own way. It would be ideal if I could merge the two to become one, but then I don’t think they would be as special. I don’t think I would treasure my life and my experiences as much. But boy does it suck to leave one.
Sitting in my grandmother’s house, cousins coming in and out, aunts arguing, uncles telling jokes, all while eating some of the most delicious food I’ve had in my life to me is pure bliss. I am so happy when surrounded by my family. Beyond happy.
Then picture me sitting in my house in DC, eating brunch that I cooked with my friends, drinking mimosas and laughing, non-stop laughing…again pure bliss.
How do I choose between the two? I can’t. I just can’t say that one is better than the other. I can’t pick one over the other. I have to live in both. Back and forth between two worlds.
I can only think to thank God for giving me two amazing worlds filled with people that I love and show me love and support in return. I can’t be upset; I can’t continue to ask “why do I have to be apart from the people that I love so much?”
Instead I have to be grateful for these two worlds that I am torn between.
I couldn’t believe it, I had no idea that leaving DC was going to hit me that hard. I was supposed to leave Saturday September 10th but I postponed my drive as much as I could. Monday morning everyone was at work so it was easier to leave then. That day I realized that I would always be torn between two worlds – my life here in the states, specifically Washington, DC, and my life with my family in Colombia.
I can’t say that I love one more than the other and I can’t say that one is better than the other. They are unique and special to me in their own way. It would be ideal if I could merge the two to become one, but then I don’t think they would be as special. I don’t think I would treasure my life and my experiences as much. But boy does it suck to leave one.
Sitting in my grandmother’s house, cousins coming in and out, aunts arguing, uncles telling jokes, all while eating some of the most delicious food I’ve had in my life to me is pure bliss. I am so happy when surrounded by my family. Beyond happy.
Then picture me sitting in my house in DC, eating brunch that I cooked with my friends, drinking mimosas and laughing, non-stop laughing…again pure bliss.
How do I choose between the two? I can’t. I just can’t say that one is better than the other. I can’t pick one over the other. I have to live in both. Back and forth between two worlds.
I can only think to thank God for giving me two amazing worlds filled with people that I love and show me love and support in return. I can’t be upset; I can’t continue to ask “why do I have to be apart from the people that I love so much?”
Instead I have to be grateful for these two worlds that I am torn between.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Horseback Riding in Pucón, Chile
I've always wanted to go horseback riding. It looked like fun. In Colombia my family goes horseback riding a lot, especially during Medellin's annual Feria de las Flores in August. It's a 10 day celebration of Medellin's culture and, more importantly, the beauty of it's flowers. But anyway, in the Fall of 2007, while studying abroad in Santiago, Chile a group of friends and I traveled south to Pucón, a beautiful mountainous area with a nice river, very secluded...nothing like the busy city of Santiago.
Some of us thought it would be nice to go horseback riding so we signed up for a three hour ride. Lesson to those going horse back riding for the first time: don't go for three hours! Go for less time so that you don't end up soar for the next two days. Once it was over my legs were hurting and I could barely walk.
The first 45 minutes of the ride I was praying for my life. Now I am a short girl, and being high on top of a horse made the fall to the ground look extremely long. I of course was given the horse that didn't like to stay behind our tour guide, no, my horse felt the need to get ahead of the whole group and go his own way. I was told to control him and to stay with the group, ya like I was going to be able to do that. Luckily after a lot of pulling and tugging and "No" and "quedese" (stay) my horse managed to stay put. Then I had trouble dealing with my horses' constant need to bend down and eat grass or drink water. I leaned forward with the horse screaming and praying that I wouldn't fall. I get that he needed to eat but I would have loved some type of signal or warning beforehand.
Towards the end of our tour we came across a small river and one of the horses got scared and leaned up and back, tossing my friend my to the floor. After that I was definitely holding on for dear life. My friend was alright and we were able to get past the small river but then our guide thought he would take us through an even longer and deeper river. Immediately we said no and he was forced to find another way to take us.
Overall the trip was fun. I am thankful for the experience and glad that I can cross it off of my bucket list. But I don't plan on doing it a second time.
Some of us thought it would be nice to go horseback riding so we signed up for a three hour ride. Lesson to those going horse back riding for the first time: don't go for three hours! Go for less time so that you don't end up soar for the next two days. Once it was over my legs were hurting and I could barely walk.
The first 45 minutes of the ride I was praying for my life. Now I am a short girl, and being high on top of a horse made the fall to the ground look extremely long. I of course was given the horse that didn't like to stay behind our tour guide, no, my horse felt the need to get ahead of the whole group and go his own way. I was told to control him and to stay with the group, ya like I was going to be able to do that. Luckily after a lot of pulling and tugging and "No" and "quedese" (stay) my horse managed to stay put. Then I had trouble dealing with my horses' constant need to bend down and eat grass or drink water. I leaned forward with the horse screaming and praying that I wouldn't fall. I get that he needed to eat but I would have loved some type of signal or warning beforehand.
Towards the end of our tour we came across a small river and one of the horses got scared and leaned up and back, tossing my friend my to the floor. After that I was definitely holding on for dear life. My friend was alright and we were able to get past the small river but then our guide thought he would take us through an even longer and deeper river. Immediately we said no and he was forced to find another way to take us.
Overall the trip was fun. I am thankful for the experience and glad that I can cross it off of my bucket list. But I don't plan on doing it a second time.
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