"How can you just sit there and not help the children?" And we couldn't. We just couldn't sit there and not help the children.

So, I wrote this whole post about 4 days ago. it was fabulous. It talked all about Kristen's visit and the exciting things we did. It went through the highs and lows of the week and discussed the things that I learned. I posted it. Reread it. it wasn't half bad. In short, I was pleased.

Now, I return to continue my exciting Colombian saga, only to realize that my last post is not here. at all. gone. Perhaps it was the internet. or maybe just Colombia reminding me that absolutely nothing works here the way you expect it to. Lesson plans. School schedules. In any case, I will have to put off my topics for today and try and recap a little about what i talked about before. It won't be the same, but I'll do my best. Heck, maybe it will be better!

So Kristen, my sister, visited last week!! It was soooo nice having her here. I got to show her all of my favorite things about Colombia and it definitely reminded me about why I love it here. However, her visit also reminded me a little of home, and the things I left behind. Even watching her miss the little things about daily American life (like air conditioning), left me with a bitter taste in my mouth. However, she also brought a suitcase full of American goodies, so I recovered quickly. Looking back, after two and a half months here, the following is a summary of the things I absolutely adore about Colombia, and the things I miss about home:

Things I miss about the US:
- family and friends
- consistent electricity and internet
- the ability to take a hot shower (I realize its 90+ degrees here but I'm weird)
- air conditioning
- my token comfort foods (I love rice and beans, but they can only take me so far. I need some fresh milk and homemade mac and cheese in my life)
- the American love of schedules and keeping people informed (I'm a planner)

Things I adore about Colombia:
- The kids, who are always full of love, hugs, kisses, laughter, gifts, and encouragement (exactly what I need)
- The fresh fruit and vegetables!!
- Street food (not exactly the most healthy, but nothing beats a good empanada or chuzo)
- Crepes and Waffles (noticing a pattern? I'm in trouble, but don't worry.... its the good kind :) )
- the Colombian people are the most friendly and helpful I've ever met
- the Colombian love of holidays
- Latin dancing! (even if my own skill falls embarrassingly short)
- being in a place with so many interesting, historical, naturally beautiful places to explore
- the beach (nothing like the rolling waves to do some good thinking, and sunbathing)
- the ability to challenge myself (it can be hard, but that's what life is for)

A day doesn't go by without me finding myself frustrated by some change in plans or some situation in which I can't express myself the way that I want to. Still, a day doesn't pass that I am not extremely happy and thankful to be here. I am continually learning about myself and feeling myself grow in new and different ways. In the span of a few minutes, I will leave a classroom in which my lesson-plan flopped, no one paid attention, I broke up two fights, and left a child crying, feeling like a complete failure as a teacher. Then suddenly, I will run into a favorite student, smiling from ear to ear. He will inevitably yell "Profe!" run up, give me a hug, and ask me to teach him another question in English. Or grin while he repeats one of our silly inside jokes. or perhaps I will see another favorite student, who can't speak a word of English, but has the patience of a saint while i stumble through the Spanish I do know, and even calls me her mother. And I can't help but smile. This is why I came here. And I think that my sister got a taste of this while she was here too.

Sure, we visited Playa Blanca, a picturesque Caribbean beach, and Cartagena, a gorgeous colonial port city. We did touristy things in Barranquilla, like go to the market and out dancing, and American-like things, like go to the mall and see a movie. We even ate at Crepes and Waffles (my favorite restaurant)... twice. We crammed a lot into the short week she was here. However, I think that going to school with me one day is a memory she will definitely carry with her for a long time. She was sick with a bad sunburn and the usual Colombian digestive challenges, but the kids adored her! They showered her with gifts and drawings, some even better than any I had ever recieved. They hugged her, kissed her, asked her questions, danced for her, even escorted her hand-in-hand around school. One class even said they liked her better than me, which I won't take personally since she wasn't making them learn anything. Sometimes I think that God put kids on earth to remind us of all the good in the world, and why we are here. To think of the situations some of these kids deal with at home, its hard to believe that they are still so happy and excited. I don't know how you can meet these kids, know these kids, and not want to help. Not want to give everything you have, every piece of yourself to make their lives easier. Some days, I can't even bear the thought of leaving them. I hope that Kristen got a small dose of this. So when she looks back on the crazy country without air conditioning and where you can't flush the toilet paper, this place with beautiful beaches and friendly people, the country where few people speak English and communicating can be a struggle, I hope that she remembers the children. and how love can transcend any language barrier.