Colombia!

Finally I've remembered to add more pictures from Colombia!
I've made two photo albums, which are linked

here

and

here

Please feel free to browse a small selection of my fabulous month in Colombia! I took so many pictures of fruit and flowers and people and different things that make Colombia so unique.

My experience was so wonderful mainly because the people that I met were so incredibly warm and welcoming. They didn't make fun of my Spanish, but overly complimented it and would encourage me to try again if they didn't understand me. Julian's friends all told me how great of a friend he has been to them, even after not seeing each other for almost 5 years.

We met cousin after cousin after cousin. I couldn't believe that his family was so big, until I learned that each parent had 7 siblings. 14 aunts and uncles make a lot of babies! There were even new cousins who Julian hadn't met before.

The food was very different-- lots of breads and dishes made from corn, lots of meat, and rice every day. Every day we would have an oatmeal drink called Avena (which I'm learning to make) and fresh fruit juices that have crippled me for life from drinking any kind of concentrated juice.

We were pampered. Julian's mom was so happy to have him home and to finally meet me, that we were a little spoiled... I have to say that I didn't mind at all, although I did want to help more. I was shooed out of the kitchen if I was trying to do dishes, so I learned to be sneaky to help as much as I was allowed.

I went on walks with Julian's mom, where we talked about Julian, God, love, family, and differences between Colombia and the US. It was such a blessing to have quality time alone with my Machita, who has such a sweet and fun disposition.

Julian's dad liked having me there too-- we ate lots of cookies together. He was very interested in sharing Colombian desserts with me (in part because he enjoys the desserts so much and it gave him an excuse to eat them). It was fun to hang out with him, and especially to see him interact with our nephew, Cristian, who he was always poking and teasing.

Cristian was especially kind to me and spoke very slowly, with lots of gestures, until I finally understood. We did tend to break things together... While we were playing with a volleyball we broke a lamp, and while we were at a friend's house we jumped on a trampoline and it ripped down the center. But other than that we had a lot of fun together.

Monica came home during the last few days I was there, which was a nice surprise because originally she was going to stay in the US longer, and I wouldn't see her because she was going to leave the US while I was in Greece. Although she was really busy with school, we still got a chance to go out in the city together and go to a salsa festival.

The only troublesome part of Colombia was my lack of independence. Because my Spanish isn't fluent, it was a bad idea to go off on my own, in case someone wanted to take advantage of my not understanding something. Towards the end, I was allowed to go around the neighborhood on my own, although I never stayed out for very long.

Those are just a few of the many experiences I had in Colombia. Next time we go, I look forward to having better Spanish (I hope!!) and being able to travel a bit so I can see more of the country. The people living in the large valley between the Andes mountains (where Cali and several other smaller cities are located) are incredibly warm and open to guests, and so friendly.

*airport*

*beautiful Cali, Colombia*

I'm on my way to Greece, during my never-ending airport hopping journey. I left Colombia yesterday morning, very sadly, then flew to Panama, then to DC. This morning I left DC for NY (where I am now) and tomorrow morning I'll be in Athens, Greece. From there I'll take a train to my conference on Saturday! I think after this I won't want to travel for quite awhile. So far there haven't really been any snags in my travel plans other than being taken into screening by the anti-narcotic police in Colombia (who apparently thought I was a drug mule... I was x-rayed and came out clean!). Other than that it's smooth sailing (so far, cross your fingers!)

I had a fabulous time in Colombia. Julian's family is so wonderful and amazing, and they welcomed me with open arms. We got to see a lot, but most importantly I got to meet a LOT of family and some good friends. More pictures will come, probably when I'm supposed to be working on my thesis ;)

Here are a few:

*our first day!*

*with lots of colombian paraphernalia*


*el gato de cali*


*with niece Valeria, nephew Cristian and Donna Raquel*


*with my new primitos*


*giggling with Mamita Lucrecia, Julian's grandma*

*dancing with Cristian at a cousin's wedding*

*Machita on her birthday*

*fantastic dancers at a salsa festival*

*with the amazing chiquitina dancers*

Saludos desde Colombia!

I´m in Cali, Colombia, with my husband and his wonderful family. I don't think I'll be able to add pictures now, but I'm taking many and will share them when I have more time. If you want to contact me, emails are welcome, or you can call Julian's house at 011-572-430-6932.

*Athens*

*Julian and Monica with Tom and Anne Walker*

Last weekend we made a whirlwind trip to visit Athens, Ohio, to visit some friends/family and to show Monica where Julian and I studied and where he lived for almost four years. Herber came with us, and we spent a very short weekend relaxing at the Walker's, hanging out with friends and walking around Ohio University. The long drive was exhausting (and on the way to Athens we got a bit lost in the back hills of West Virginia), but it was a really wonderful opportunity to show Monica a really special town, and it was refreshing for me to be back in Ohio. I loved seeing the farms and the country on the drive. It was really weird to be in Ohio and not see family, but there will be more trips in the future when we have more time!


OU:

*the linguistics building, my old home*


*where we'll have the wedding ceremony!*

*we ran into friends alberto and margarita by the library!*

*at night we met friends for a drink-- daniel, hiuyin, me and julian*

*married couples: maria, carlos, me and julian*

WALKERS:

*anne cooking delicious Colombia breads for our brunch*

*bartley was bothering the chickens*


*giant garden!*

*giant apples*


*mmm pears!*


*hiking in the woods*

*visitors and hosts*

Sightseeing around DC

Since I've been back we've been trying to do a lot of fun things in the DC area, since we only have about 2 weeks left with Monica. What's in two weeks? Well, in 2 weeks Julian and I are going to Colombia! I bought the tickets last night-- I'll fly to Colombia for about a month, then to Greece for a week and a half-- then no more traveling for awhile! While we're really excited to go to Colombia (I'll meet his parents for the first time and he hasn't been home in 4.5 years), it's bittersweet because Monica will be here until September, alone. So we're trying to make the most of our time together, and have been going to beaches, museums, going out dancing, and hanging out together.

We went out dancing at a local club called ECitie:



Later that week we went to a huge club called Ultrabar in downtown DC-- it had 4 floors and was like the clubs you see in movies-- a massive group outside waiting to get in, lots of lights, smoke and security guards. Luckily, we were on the guest list ;)




After the club we walked around the area and saw Chinatown.

*spy museum*

*national portrait gallery*

*chinatown!*

This past weekend we went back to the beach at Chesapeake Bay, at Breezy Point. The water was kind of dirty there, but there were nets to keep out the jelly fish. Sadly, the net didn't keep out a little jellyfish which stung Monica :( Luckily I knew that you should pee on the sting to ease the pain!


Then we went to Baltimore! It was a lovely city, until we got a parking ticket and realized that our car had been broken into. Monica's purse was stolen, as was Julian's GPS. The police said they must have known we had a GPS because they can see the ring of dirt left by the suction cup which holds it onto the windshield. Then they found Monica's purse hidden in the trunk. Although we had a really nice time in Baltimore, it was a bit ruined by the theft...

*after dinner we listened to a ragtime band at the harbor*

*then we rented a dragon paddleboat!*

This coming weekend our plan is to make a quick trip to Athens, Ohio so Monica can see where Julian and I studied and meet his host family, the Walkers. Our last weekend here, we are hoping to go to Ocean City. Plus we have to make more small trips around DC!! A lot to do, but a lot of fun!