happiness

I live in Colombia- which if you haven't heard, is the happiest country in the world. I think this is a good theme for 2013- creating happiness. My life just keeps getting better, and I am so enjoying living and learning in this beautiful country. Although living abroad definitely has it's challenges, especially when I am learning the language, and let's be honest, the ups and downs are the most extreme of my life, sometimes I feel really grown up here, in a serious way- but all that being said: overall I am happier here than I think I've ever been in my life. If I wasn't, I would be moving home, right?

Here are some pictures & ideas of happiness that I have found here in the past 2 weeks. A new goal: share and create happiness in the world. Cliché? Yes! Oh well. <3


<MY CURRENT INSPIRATION>
“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. 
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. 
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.” 
― Mother Teresa

“The only way to find true happiness is to risk being completely cut open.” 
― Chuck Palahniuk, Invisible Monsters

“It's been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will.” 
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

<SLIDESHOW>
21 REASONS WHY COLOMBIA'S PEOPLE ARE THE HAPPIEST IN THE WORLD. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/17/reasons-colombia-happiest-country_n_2490813.html?utm_hp_ref=latino-voices#slide=1992308

<FOTOS FROM JAN.>
top to bottom: parque chingaza- 1 hr. from bogotá (5.5 hr. hike that was entirely spectacular) * jump! on the hike * laughter on a rock with friends * 27 candles and mediterranean food * lovely amigos tom & leah  * friend olga * friends @ birthday * shakespeare reminder * amateur bouldering break on hike in chingaza

mom. my first lady. in colombia for christmas.

As anyone who has lived abroad (or in another state far away from their family and friends) will tell you, holidays are some of the most difficult parts of being so far away. Especially if you live in a very family-oriented culture, where not only do families gather every Sunday for the traditional Sunday lunch, but most holidays are spent with family, including Christmas and New Years. I was so very happy to have my beautiful mother here with me in Colombia for this time of year. Although it was not without the normal Brown challenges, including both of us getting a pretty nasty flu, we has some really nice moments. We were invited to my roommate's family Christmas with at least 35 spirited people gathered. Highlights of that evening included the reading of the Novena (the story of Jesus and traditional songs), midnight throwing of gifts, and dancing salsa late into the night (see photos above). We did a few touristy things, like Museo Botero and the breathtaking Salt Cathedral in Zipaquirá, and then spent New Years Eve/Day with my other friend, Alba's beautiful family near a pueblo called La Vega. The mountain photos are from that area. I'd have to say the highlight for me, other than just getting to hug my mom in person, was getting to have my new friends down here meet her. There is just something about Moms isn't there? Grateful I am.

Christmas at the family of Cata (family portrait: Jess is there in spirit!)

curry chicken dinner with Mom and (some of) my wonderful friends (dessert: homemade pumpkin pie that the Colombians actually loved! Score! <3

 museo botero (hence the 'large faced women' below)

monteratte

 ajiaco soup- hmm

 new years eve colombian traditions

 12 grapes, a wish one for each month that were eaten at midnight with champagne

family of Alba Lucia :)

 Alba, Me, Mom

 tradition #2: run around the town square with your (empty) suitcase if you would like to travel in 2013

 la Virgin de la Vega

 homemade ajiaco with the family of Alba

concerts and corie de coro

'Twas concert season here in Bogotá. (Some teachers in Batuta call me Corie de Coro). What a joy to have been able to work with these bright and spirited children. In December, we had two really wonderful concerts with my Batuta choirs. The students sang beautifully for only having worked together for less that a month and a half (with one rehearsal a week). It was really nice to see that not only were the kids please with their very first choir concerts, but the community of parents and teachers were also pleasantly surprised by their kids ability to sing as a group, learn all these songs in different languages and put on a 'professional' concert. I think these pictures and their smiles are proof that there is so much potential here in Colombia. Can't wait to see where we go from here. The pictures in the museum are of the women's group I am in- we did a concert of Latin American music in a beautiful Museo- and the concert was sold out, which is always fun! <3