life as it is

It has been an incredible week so far. I have connected in such deep ways with so many new friends, I have eaten my first arepa, and drank my first mani juice. I had my first rehearsal with a beautiful group of 15 women in "Cantoria Cuarto Menguante", who I am so excited to get the chance to sing with, and I was honored to be a part of the first (wonderful) rehearsal of the new Batuta Symphonic Choir of Bogotá-- and I just finished making a great pasta dish to pass at my language school's international potluck tomorrow. I'll be leaving Bogotá to go to the northern coastal city of Cartagena to study Spanish, play in el mar, visit the Cartagena Centro de Batuta and just see a different part of Colombia on Saturday (so I won't be online next week!). I'll be back in Bogotá the following week.

I must leave with this quote that happens to be doing much good at the moment, reminding me to stay in the now, and to let go of all expectation. How about that painting? -C


'Peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is, 
rather than as you think it should be.'
-Wayne W Dyer

love.

amigos cheveres - cool friends

'Chevere' or 'cool' is a Colombian term that I hear all the time on the street, on the transmilenio bus, from my Colombian friends, in Spanish class, and now I too amd using it. Almost 2.5 weeks into my travels and I'm rocking it! Because there are too many stories to tell, and too many moments to capture, I'll just try to share a bit of my time here in Bogotá through images. The overwhelming theme since I last wrote is relationship- connection and friendship. I knew before I came down that making connections with people- young, old, local, foreigner, musician, farmer- was one of my main goals. I am quickly remembering how easy and fun it is to meet beautiful people when you are abroad. Say 'YES' to new friends (but keep the old). Love from, Bogotá

 

 I've been out salsa dancing for the past two nights- it's quite infectious and a blast. I don't have to lead, and pretty much everyone can dance! Colombianos enjoy teaching the gringa how to dance, and I get to learn how to move! When you go dancing in Chicago, (unless it's a blues club), you never know what will happen. At bars here- it seems everyone just wants to dance. When's the last time you danced to a new tune? These three photos are pros dancing- from the Salsa fest last weekend.

 Audience member rocking out at the Salsa fest! (And in perfect time too). Right in front of him was a man with a cowbell! More cowbell please.

 My friend Leah, (who I met at the language school, but will be here for 2 years), and me loving the view and the music.

 Last Monday was a holiday, so Maureen, Manu and his cousins (and 2 sweet dogs) went out to a beautiful lake/natural park area (below). What fun and how lucky am I to have met this lovely couple.

 We flew kites (August is kite flying month so there are hundreds of kites in the sky at every city park/place where they can be flown), had an amazing picnic and on the way home stopped and got fresh made ice cream!

 We also stopped and saw the view of the north side of Bogotá at dusk. I am flying free- at least trying!

 Me, Maureen y Manuel. Isn't that sky great?

Jenny y sus perros. They were so sweet.

 On Saturday, I invited a few friends over for Indian food that I cooked, and of course wine! It was a really nice evening- and I feel so lucky to have already met these great people. Axel, yo, Hanne, Jonn y Manu.

 Hanne and me! (She is super sweet- born in Norway, but lives in Paris)

 This is the place I'm staying for the rest of this month. It's been such a great 'home'. I think I enjoy the fact that I can cook my own food the most- besides having these new friends.

 End of the evening jam after a game of Cranium (in Spanish!)

 Sunday is free at Museo del Oro (Gold Museum). The history here...

I don't think I've seen that much gold in...well forever. This gold frog was one of hundreds of ornate jewelry, head pieces, and statues made of gold dating from way before the States were even an idea.

'viva la salsa' or 'I need to learn how to salsa pronto'

My top weekend #2 in Bogotá moments:
I can't believe this is my second weekend in Colombia already. I must say, I'm starting to feel more at 'home', understand much more of the language (like when people walk by me, I can actually understand many of the words I hear!) and I know the city layout and some neighborhoods a bit better (it's nice not to have to gmap every single route)!

1. Being at the Festival de Salsa in la Candelaria (see pictures above of a world class salsa troop), and eating a burger with Leah, then getting lost and finding my way again on the complicated, yet very clean and safe Transmilenio bus system. I also enjoyed getting to the Fest- walking past rows and rows of vendors of fresh sliced papaya, and other fruits I don't know the names of, corn and kabobs, and other street food, hand beaded jewelry, blankets, some cheap china made stuff too, llamas with silly outfits on that kids ride on, mimes, and really helpful locals who will answer any question you have.

2. Exploring the large (bigger than Central Park) Parque Bolivar. And by explore I mean: watching kids of all ages fly kites, taking off my shoes, feeling the grass with my feet and joining a free outdoor yoga class half way through, running/walking around a lake in the park, challenging myself to keep running, even when my lungs said 'we need oxygen', people watching.

3. Dancing to a live Pacific Colombian band at a mini festival of Pacific Music, and sharing stories with new Colombian (and American) friends.

4. Eating really good food: eating soup at my new found excellent vegetarian restaurant right near my language school and, purchasing tons of fresh veggies at a market for $5,000 col. pesos (about $2.50 USD).

5. Catching up with friends and family back home. Can you believe my Mom got a dwarf bunny?

6. To top it off, tomorrow is a holiday (not sure which one)-- but it means we have no class, and I get to go on a day trip with Maureen and Manu and his cousins. It'll be my first time out of the city since I've been here. I'm one lucky chica to be here, now.

tejo

rocks. mud. dynamite (real). beer and food (fresh grilled potatoes, yucca, and meat). =  tejo, a colombian sport.

what a blast. pictures will show that our team wasn't too bad either (see rock in the middle of slab of mud, consequently setting off the dynamite, which meant more points for us!). maureen and manu (my wonderful hosts) took me out for a game of tejo. yes, i was as perplexed as you are. you just have to come to colombia to play!

on another note: the sunrise from my bedroom window is incredible, although the picture doesn't do it justice. 

must. go. study. spanish. verbs.

mango

I sat there, letting the juice drip down my chin, my hands and face covered in bright orange liquid from the fresh mango I'd bought yesterday on the street- a half of a block from my apartment. The outside was sticky with the sweetness, when I peeled the green-orange-yellow dotted skin from the soft fruit beneath. I let the pulpy fiber strings get stuck in between my teeth, relishing the feeling, instead of fighting it like I did before. They are long and won't come out easily but I didn't care. The more I ate it, the more I enjoyed it. Remembering when my mother would cut up perfect looking mango, never as sweet as this- but she too enjoyed it. I think now I know why. I ate the whole mango, down to the core- yup- I ate it right up.

pop. Bogotá: 10,763,453 people ~ elevation: 8,612 ft.

mas photos- mostly of the birds-eye view of the city!

finding my feet in Bogotá...

Slowly, but surely (and with lots of beautiful new friends guiding my way) I'm beginning to find my footing in Bogotá.

*Embarrassing situation #1: I have been traveling around the city primarily by taxi because they are safe and so cheap- and until yesterday, I didn't realize it is incredibly rude to slam your door shut in Colombia. Now, I'll be gently shutting all doors- thankfully no one yelled at me yet (although I might not have understood what I was being called anyway!)

*Invigorating instances: met the director of the new Batuta choral program and many other kind Colombians and Americans

listened to Colombian-Jazz fusion group

hiked up and down Monserrate with my new friend Yuri

tried my first Colombian banana (so sweet!)

learned how to call for a taxi in Bogotá

enjoyed an evening of homemade burritos and games with my wonderful hosts Maureen & Manuel and their friends

found my way to and from the atm and grocery store on the 'parkway' with no hesitation

tasted my first South American avacado

!Bienvenido a Bogotá!

I am here in Colombia! My trip was so smooth, and already, as you can see below-- I am diving into a beautiful culture. On the plane, I got to sit next to a teenage boys soccer team, who instantly became interested in telling me about their country and where I should visit, then was picked up at the gate by my friend Cris Campbell, then not 2 hours after we landed, I was sitting in the rehearsals that Cris and his colleagues were running of all the best young string players from around the country. The teachers all worked together with the main director during the tutti rehearsal, with no ego and an incredible sense of team. Wow- I've never seen anything like it at home. Then to an amazing dinner of Asian-Colombian fusion with Cris and his kind friend and conductor, Carlos Andres- where I tried yerba buena tempura, flan de coco and of course, Colombian beer! Hasta pronto. ~