Last Day

Today is my last day here in Colombia because I leave tomorrow for the States early in the morning. I'm going to miss his wonderful place and all of the incredible people that I've met this trip. I can't wait to come back and experience it all again!

Cartagena

Absolutely LOVED Cartagena! It is such a beautiful city like everyone says and there really is no other city like it. Also love being tan;)

Cartagena!

Milking cows

Skyping

Loved getting to Skype with these fun fourth graders today!

#Thatawkwardmoment...

1. That awkward moment when you can't have a conversation with someone because neither one of you know the translation of a word in the other language.
2. That awkward moment when your telling a funny story but no one laughs because in Spanish the translation isn't funny.

Encuentro con Cristo

Today was my homeroom's "Encuentro con Cristo" and I really enjoyed it. We went to the sanctuary of the soon to be (March 2) first Colombian Saint, Blessed Laura Montoya. Then, we split up into our teams and did activities highlighting material things vs. fundamental things in our lives. First we did a fun game where each team had a store and they can cut items or pictures out if magazines to sell to other girls and each girl gets money to go around to buy things. But, the stores are allowed to sell things that you can't actually buy but people want in their lives-perfect legs, living in a foreign country, people. Then we went back inside and each team would have to pay the "bank" its dues and if they had money left over-from each girl buying things and the store selling things- the team got to go to the leaders' of the Encuentro con Cristo store, which was a store of sentiments-love, respect, listening, honesty, trust. But each item in this store was really expensive, this was all to show that if you spend all your money and time on material items, you won't have time to get the fundamental things that are really "expensive" and take effort to get. We also did the activity where you have a jar, big rocks, small rocks, sand, and water. First they ask you in what order should you fill the jar to be to fit s the things. So you start filling the jar item by item from the biggest to the smallest-the other times that I've done this activity, whoever is leading the activity asks, after putting each item in the jar, if the jar is full and you say yes until you see that the water is the only thing that can fill the jar, the water representing God, but this time they did it differently-and at the end they explain what each item represented. The jar represents our lives, the big rocks are the things in our life that are most important and take the bigger part of our lives and we have to put them in first to be able to fit them in, next comes the small rocks, which represent big parts of our lives, but aren't the latest part, like sports we play, privileges in our lives, or groups we are a part of. Then comes the sand, which is the material items in or lives that aren't necessary or fundamental to us. Last is the water, which in this version, also represents material items, but material things that we sometimes have to fill the "holes" in our lives. I loved seeing this demonstration again, because every time I see it makes me stop and think if I'm putting my "big rocks" first in my life. Then at the end we get read letters from friends ad family that right to you nice words if support or what your "Encuentro con Cristo" means. It was a really great experience and I loved doing it with this great group of girls here.

#Thatawkwardmoment...

1. That awkward moment when you start rambling off to your Spanish speaking friends in English.
2. That awkward moment when asked where you live, you respond "El Tesoro" (mall in Medellín).

Happy Valentine's Day!

Trending in Colombia:
1. Infinity signs in Sharpie on your wrist and inside of your ring finger.
2. Being "forever alone".
3. Crocs-Flashback to the lower school days. Really wish I would if known this and kept my crocs:)
4. Having princess/barbie journals, backpacks, and stickers-SO JEALOUS!
5. Being a full out Twilight/Justin Bieber/One Direction fan.

Today

Today I went to "Indiana", a mall in Medellín, where Patricia and I met up with Margarita and Francisco-cutest couple ever who are close friends with my grandparents, and we went around to all the stores to go window shopping and talk. It was a ton of fun and we went into this art store where these three friends all work together and all paint their own paintings. These ladies were so nice and once they saw I was interested in their work and art in general, they showed me some other cool projects they were doing and explained who had painted what and it was so cool how these three women make a living doing what they love, working with their friends, and making incredible art. Tomorrow I actually am starting an art class/session with a local artist to creat something (don't quite yet know what) but super pumped to start that! We also went into this other "locally made" store that had some other really fun little stuff and cute bags. After walking around we went into a restaurant called "Casablanca" to have some snacks-and it was so delicious! And possibly the best empanadas that I've had all this trip.

#Thatawkwardmoment...

That awkward moment when you are trying to help a friend out in English class and the teacher says you are wrong.

Fin de Semana

Este fin de semana pasada yo estaba con los Acevedos (Cecilia, Dario, Daniela y Paulina). Sabado yo fui en metro y metro cable, con Cecilia y Paulina, para un panorama de muchos lugares en Medellín. Fuimos al Parque Explora, al Planetario de Medellín, al Jardín Botanica, al Biblioteca de España y para comer muchos comidas ricas (obleas y mango con sal y límon). Despues, cuando regresemos a el apartamento, yo fui con Cecilia a la piscina y a la turco. Ese noche, fui al cine con Los Acevedos para ver "Lo Imposible" y Dario y Cecilia vieron "Lincoln". Domingo, caminemos a una mercado de personas del campo (Farmer's Market). Despues, fui a la piscina otra vez con Cecilia y esanoche, regresé a mi casa. Mañana yo voy a ir a El Tesoro (centro comercial) con mis amigas del colegio y estoy muy emocionada!

First Day of School!

Today I started school in Colombia in La Enseñanza. It was so much fun and the girls were super friendly and my "Acompañante de Grupo" or my home room teacher is really nice and welcoming. Only complaint is I have to wake up at 4:45-5ish because the bus picks me up at 5:45-6ish and school starts at 6:30 until 2:30. Otherwise, today was a phenomenal day and I can't wait to keep going to school there for the next 2 months. Side note-I had my second empanadas today from "Carulla"-the equal to a Fresh Market-and it was delicious!

Unexpected People

Today has been a great day! My flights were easy and smooth and I have met a lot of interesting people along the way. First, in my UM room in Dallas I met a 16 year old girl, Victoria, who was actually flying from Ecuador to New York, so I got to practice my Spanish. Then on my flight from Dallas to Miami I met an old women who was very sweet and smiling (and spoke Spanish;)), who, when later talking with her, found out her husband was coincidently from Colombia. I also met a very nice man on my Dallas flight who I talked in Span-glish with--super fun. Later in Miami, in their UM room, I met a girl who was actually on my flight to Colombia and had grown up in Medellín and lives there now. Then on my last flight from Miami to Medellín, I met another old woman who was as nice as can be and knows of the school I am attending. Also on that flight, I met a stuard, and he was one of the friendliest people I had met all day. I can't wait to meet more exciting and interesting people in the next 2 months.

Almost ready!

All set and packed for my flight tomorrow, which has been delayed twice:/.I can't wait to start this amazing journey and live this opportunity to its fullest. Meeting new people, learning a new language, and broadening my horizons are just some of the things I can't wait to do and I'm excited to see what Colombia holds in store for me!