Half Time Game Plan

So last weekend was the WorldTeach Colombia mid-service conference. All the remaining WorldTeach teachers from each of the different sites convened in Taganga, a great little diving village about two hours away from Barranquilla, and swapped stories and brainstormed teaching ideas to make the second half of the year even more successful. But even more importantly, there was also some serious beach and R&R going on. We had a lot of catching up to do.

However, since it is a little more than "mid-service "(I am actually about 7 months in) it's about time that I reevaluate what the heck I am doing here. Rest assured, this is not the first time I have thought about this. I think about where I am going and my goals just about every day. But it is time that I officially admit it. I have had a ton of fun here and have kindof put the whole "goal-reaching" aspect of my time here on the back burner. While I could blame it partially on GRE studying before break, I have absolutely no excuses now. So here goes. My Colombia Status Report:

1) HEALTH
Eating healthy and exercising were two of my original goals for myself. I knew I would have some free time here and since I cook for myself, there is no reason not to try and do it a little more healthfully. Plus, with my sleeping problems getting worse, it certainly can't hurt to get the rest of my body functioning at top performance.

Ok, so first exercise: I was exercising fairly regularly at home, so theoretically, it should have been an easy one. Simply do it. And to be honest, I actually really like exercise. I just selfishly miss the cool nights in the US and my air-conditioned gym. But here, where it is a bazillion degrees out, the kids are wearing me out during the day, and I'm still struggling to get this whole "sleeping like a normal person" thing down, its a real challenge for me. Plus, I kinda like to keep my exercising to myself, and with a house full of athletes and a neighborhood where there are no secrets, its kinda hard. I was actually doing fairly well before summer break. I played soccer a couple times a week with some students after school and had 4 exercise routines (lasting about an hour) that I did at least 3 times a week. I used the same order every time and the routine was really good for me. I even mixed it up and went running a couple times. The heat just really gets to me for some reason. even at night. However, since break I have thus far completely fallen off the exercise bandwagon. I've actually been sleeping comparatively well, but I'm exhausted all the time and this makes for a very detrimental lack of motivation. I know I just have to get started and that the extra exercise will help to boost my energy level, but I haven't been able to bring myself to do it. That is until now. My new goal, mark my words, is to start exercising three times a week again. I will aim for Monday, Wednesday, Friday, but allow for some flexibility. However, my choices are running, the exercise routines I was doing before, or actually, aggressively playing a sport. I did play soccer once with the girls (which, since i havent played with people over the age of 12 in 10 years is pretty impressive in and of itself) but the exercise portion of the activity was less than impressive. Therefore, only real exercise counts. This goal is easy to keep track of and with a schedule, I should have absolutely no excuse not to do it. So there. punto.

Now onto healthy cooking. This has also proven to be somewhat of a challenge for me. Mainly because I have little idea as to what is actually healthy. Ok, in the US I was trying to eat healthier meals. I bought low- or no-fat versions of ingredients. I looked up healthy recipes online and made tons of fresh salads and great recipes with the fully stocked kitchen at my house. However, in Colombia, where my personal food budget is around $15-20 a week, I struggled to find ways to cook healthy meals simply, with few ingredients and without any fancy cookwear. For the longest time, we didn't even have an oven. So, once I started shopping for one on quite a budget, I found healthy cooking a lot more difficult. Yes I know, cheese and carbs = mostly bad. fruits and vegetables = pretty good. But I found myself a little lost as to what my alternatives were. So, I fell back on the easy, old favorites. Quesadillas, eggs, sandwiches, grilled cheese, stir fry, tuna melts, pitas stuffed with salad toppings, pita pizza, and even a little boxed mac & cheese after my sister visited. Not overly bad, really. But most involving bread and/or cheese. Probably not the best choice possible. I did start to make frozen fruit smoothies (when i coudl afford it) a new regular addition to my diet. I don't really like bananas, but once i froze them, added frozen strawberries, and some milk (no sugar added), it was like heaven. However, to be perfectly honest, overall I ate to survive, rather than to get my body exactly what it needed. So. with that said, my new goal is to do a little better. I bought a book recently about what constitutes healthy eating and what a balanced diet really looks like. I'm definitely hoping to reduce my intake of carbs and cheese and increase the amount of fruits and vegetables I eat. I just need to come up with some creative ideas for ways to do this. But living in a country where fresh crops are plentiful, and in a house where half the people drive their diet based off of healthy eating, I should have no problem getting the motivation I need to make this happen. What I need to focus on is the energy to put in the effort necessary. Totally doable, I think.

2) SPANISH
OK, this is a huge one. I stopped studying Spanish to study for the GRE and it really hurt me. I lost a lot of time. Now, I plan to at least make the most of my last 4 months. Here are my main steps:
- I need to study at least 3 times a week. I have a textbook, a CD course, a dictionary, and a wealth of information online so I have no excuse not to study and practice. While I am conversing with people, I think of a million questions and words I don't know, but I never follow-through and actually figure them out. So my new goal is towrite stuff down more and actually study on a regular basis. I find that going to the nearby university is a great way to go because there are people going to classes around me and i dont have the internet there so i cant get distracted. It's getting motivated and out of the house that tends to be my challenge. Including this very moment.
- I checked 2 books in Spanish out of the library (The Christmas Story by Dickens and one by Gabriel Garcia Marquez). Neither very long (no more than 150 pages), but with lots of new vocabulary. So far its slow going, but I like the challenge. I also have Harry Potter, left behind by Marilyn, and Sherlock Holmes, which I bought awhile ago. So I have reading covered.
- I also want to listen and translate more songs (mainly so i can sing along better when I'm out, jaja) But also to pick up the everyday vocabulary and use the music to help me remember the words
- I also need to watch more Spanish TV. I'm thinking about trying to borrow some movies (where I can add Spanish subtitles as well) and maybe pick up a telanovela online.
- Lastly, I need a Spanish practice buddy. Right now, I have the assurance of two separate friends, both who need help with English for school. So hopefully one of those will come through. However, I am a little apprehensive practicing with people I know, and people who speak fairly good English at that. I'm also going to try to get to the Colombo center and see if they can set me up with someone. That way, we will both be on the same page, I hope. :) I'll let you know how it goes!

3) CAREER GOALS
So i really need to set up a special project. I want to get more involved in the program development aspect of the foundation and the issues that actually interest me, such as the challenges of internal displacement, economic development in an impoverished community, and the lives and concerns of the people. I really want to get more involved in the community so I am going to try and spend more time in La Playa and with my students and their families out of class. I still haven't decided exactly how I want to focus my career goals with the rest of my time here, but that is definitely something I need to work out.

4) SPIRITUAL GROWTH
I won't go into great detail here, mostly because this piece of my life is highly personal to me. However, a big part of this year was trying to figure out who I am, what is important to me, and where I want to go in life. Along with this comes my spiritual growth. I have gotten away from regular reflection, devotions, and church attendance, and I really need to fix that. I can feel it in my daily life and the decisions I make. Therefore, I am bringing these aspects back into my life in a big way. I actually tried going to a church this past sunday, but it was raining and after waiting an hour for services to start, I gave up and came home. I did a little self-meditation while I was there so it wasn't a complete loss. But I need to make this piece a bigger part of my daily life as I seek greater balance and health.

So there you have it. More exercise, more Spanish studying, more time with my kids and their families, and more spiritual growth and reflection. Doesn't sound too hard, does it? ;)

Summer Break....more planes than I ever need to see again

Wow its been a whole month. The sad thing is, its not that I had nothing to write about. So much has happened that each time I thought about writing, I didn't know where to start. So, instead of trying to write a lot about each thing, instead, I'll just pick up with summer break and give you the cliff notes version! Well, to the best of my ability.

GRE

So after I started studying, I realized that my initial goal was definitely not reasonable. This test is nothing like the SAT, or at least the verbal part is infinitely more difficult. for me, anyway. Sadly, I figured out early on that I was going to need to study a lot more than I had originally planned. Which meant that my Spanish studying, sadly, had to go on the back burner. A mistake that Margarita (the woman who owns our house and thinks she is my mother) reminds me of every chance she gets.

Anyway, I can only do the best I can do. So, I set myself a study schedule 2 months before the test and tried my best to stick to it. As far as me and study schedules, I didn't do half bad. While i didn't really take it too seriously (ie do more than flashcards) until two weeks before the test, I did create flashcards for the top 300 vocab words (and learned them all backwards and forwards), researched testing and question techniques, did at least one section of practice questions for each kind of question from my Kaplan Book, went through the ETS GRE math guide to relearn all the math I forgot from high school, took two full-length practice tests online, and went through most of the Number2 GRE test prep program (a great practice for anyone looking for another source of information). So come testing day, I had a pretty good idea of how I would do. My two practice tests had not gone well so I could only hope to do a little better on the actual test.

Overall, I did alright. Obviously not the original goal I set myself, but well enough to put me at least at the 50% mark for those accepted at all of the programs I am looking at. My lowest score was verbal (obviously) but I was still at the 92 percentile, which isn't bad. The vocab was definitely what killed me. I knew those 300 most common words, but there were just too many more that I didn't know. The quantitative went alright. 720, so nothing to write home about but good enough to not hurt me. And I did great on the writing section, which I think is the most important (though possibly easiest, I guess). a 5.5 out of 6. For me and timed writing, I'm definitely pleased. So ultimately, Lauren & GRE = success. Unless something changes drastically, I don't think I'll take it again. which is a huge weight off my shoulders. Now I can focus on Spanish! and maybe not get yelled at by my house mom. yay!

VISIT HOME

I'll try to keep this brief (please keep your laughter to yourself). Home was lovely. I got to sleep in a little, see a fair amount of my friends, and spend some time with family, too. I took the GRE right after I got back so I could get it out of the way. Then I spent a night in Philly with the girls. Chelsea came up from her summer in DC and Laura came out with us, too! I even got to see Lindsay & Mitch's new apartment, which was really nice. Then, the next day was a family picnic, with everyone. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. And the food. oh, the food. The rest of the week was full of doctor's appointments, running errands, and random dinners with friends and family. I spent 4th of July weekend in DC, which was nice. But, sadly not enough time. I drove down with Ashley and stayed with Kati. It was so nice to catch up with them and see what is going on in everyone's lives, but there were so many people I didn't get to see. By the time two weeks rolled around, I couldn't believe where the time had gone. Comida highlights: Gramma's maccaroni salad, Arbys, La Tolteca, steak Gorgonzola alfredo & Cesar salad at Olive Garden, Enchiladas in China Town DC, mom's baked mac & cheese, pizzeria pizza, dad's cheese and bacon quiche, and the list goes on and on.... I think I have a problem, really. Overall, a great visit home. And just enough time for my family to drive me crazy ;)

THE AMAZON

Anyway, I got back at like 7pm to La Playa, sin electricity or internet. No surprises there. Did see a lovely rainbow on the way home, however the ol' camera was out of battery. I was beat so I unpacked a little and hit the hay. I had it figured out that I could leave at 6 to grab the bus and be at the airport by 8 for my 10am flight. The only problem with my plan (I realized when I woke up at 5am to pack and get ready) was that my flight actually left at 8. whoops. Sooooo I showered and packed in, no joke, 20 minutes. By 5:35 I was out the door and on my way to find a cab to haul my ass to the airport (about an hour away). Of course, the one time i need a cab, there is none. Finally, a guy agrees to take me half way (because its so early????) and i can get a second cab the rest of the way. Eager to get my butt moving, I agreed. needless to say, two cabs later I was all checked in and sitting at my gate waiting for my flight. The time? 6:30. with an hour and a half to wait. I'm so glad I stressed about this. :)

Oh, but the travel adventures did not end there. I had spent all the money in my wallet on the cabs (which I had not planned on) so I only had 5 mil left. By the time I got to Bogota I was starving so I searched the terminal up and down for an ATM. losing my mind, I asked at the info desk. Surprise, surprise...Bogota airport, huge international gateway, has no ATM without a long hike involving leaving the building. So, to at least quell my hunger, I tried to grab a sandwich at Dunkin Donuts. Guess what. Bogota airport also does not accept credit cards. So.... I took my 5 mil to the pastry counter and managed to find a baked chicken pasty. It did the trick for a bit anyway.

However, the saga could not have possibly ended here. That would just be silly. Leticia airport charges an 18 mil entrance fee to leave the airport. I knew about this, but I had not planned on spending all my money on a cab or on Bogota airport (or Leticia for that matter) not having an ATM. So here I stood, backpack on back, at the counter, with 1 mil in my wallet and not able to leave the airport. Thankfully, an Australian guy offered to lend me the money if i let him tag along to my hostel, since he had no idea where he was going. So, extra friend in tow, I finally arrived at my hostel. My bag a little lighter than I planned and slightly more in debt.
Leticia was amazing, though. I had an incredible time. Once I explained that me and my new friend, Brendan, were in fact NOT a couple, I wasted no time planning out my long weekend. My cell phone reception failed so I couldn't hook up with Aisha and her boyfriend, who were already in the city, and I didn't get to Puerto Narino, but I did get in a lot of fun Amazonian activities. I spent two days in Leticia, Colombia and two days at a nature reserve in the middle of the Peruvian rainforest. After realizing that my hostel had moved and getting lost wandering leticia more times than I'd like to admit, I finally found my bank, met Brendan and some other guys from the hostel for dinner (at a place with unlimited juice! yay!), and got to see the parrots descend on the Parque Santander, where the birds land in thousands at dusk to prepare for their slumber in the trees. It was incredible. it felt kinda nice to be traveling by myself. I got to do what I felt like, when I felt like it. With hostels, there are always people to hang out with, but I got to have a little space, which I haven't had in a long time.

The next morning, I left at 630 for my rainforest stay. We picked up breakfast at a small cafe and then headed to the small bank of the river that served at the city's port. It took between 1-2 hours to get to the bank of the river where we could hike to the reserve. But on the way, we got to see all of the fisherman at work on the Amazon and spotted some of the infamous pink dolphins. They were way too fast for me to get a good picture, but my one goal for the trip was met. chulito, I could go home a happy camper. My companions on the trek were an Irish couple who were just coming for the day and a Chinese couple, studying abroad in Bogota. The tour I had agreed to was actually all in Spanish. With the vast availability of tours in English, one might wonder why I chose to do one entirely in Spanish and stress myself out. Well, the Chinese couple really needed someone to go with them, and I actually liked the challenge. The Irish couple didn't speak any Spanish at all, so for the first half a day, the Chinese girl translated a bunch for them. But I found that I knew what he was saying even before she said it in English. Then, after they left, she didn't translate at all. :) Yes, that's right. I held my own.

The place we stayed was AMAZING. it was on Markesh Lake in the middle of the rainforest. There was a huge dock, with hammocks, tables, and canoes for relaxation. The lake was covered with water lilies and full of exotic birds and piranhas. There was even a baby manatee! The first day, we hiked through the rainforest and learned all about the flora and fauna. Then we relaxed on the hammocks on the dock, I finished my book, with the sound of the forest in the background. I think I could have laid there forever. It was then followed by a lovely all-you-can-eat buffet lunch of fresh fish, chicken, plantains, rice, sancocho, and fresh fruit juice. I took my plate out to the porch, and watched the macaws fly among the trees. After lunch, we went to feed the monkeys. Oh, yes. you heard me. we took out a canoe, went right up to the edge of the jungle on the other side of the lake, and fed the monkeys bananas OUT OF OUR HANDS. It was sooo cool. They came onto the boat and everything.

After the monkeys, the irish couple headed out with the rest of the people staying at the reserve. It was so peaceful. So we headed out onto the lake again to go PIRANHA fishing, with just a stick, tied with a string, and a hook with raw chicken. It involved a lot of waiting and a lot of technique, but eventually, I caught one! yay!! They have teeth and everything. and we even got to cook our catches for dinner! Once the sun set, the sky was spectacular. I have never seen so many stars in my entire life. Plus the milky way and both dippers! I just layed out on the dock and watched the sky. However, when I wasn't lost in my thoughts and the night sky, I was paddling in search of crocodiles. Oh, yes. you heard me. With just a rickety canoe and a guide between me and the crocodiles, we went out into the lake at night. At first, all you could see was their red eyes glowing. Then we got closer and could actually see their heads. It was pretty cool.

The next morning, I woke up for a 5 o'clock boat ride to "watch the jungle wake up." But my roommates didn't seem to wake up in time, so it was just me and the guide. But this meant that I got the monkeys all to myself. Sadly, i hadn't had time to shower so the pictures aren't fabulous. but i did get to hold like 3 monkeys so it was still worth losing some sleep. and then i got to nap on the hammocks as the sun came up. Breakfast on the porch was relaxing as usual, and a few cool birds came to visit, a toucan and a bunch of macaws! I did a little more fishing, a little more hiking, a little more playing with monkeys.

Then, I headed out early to see a man about a jaguar. My guide had told me that there were jaguars in the jungle and that there was a place I could go to see one. However, it started to rain, so we hiked quickly to the boat pick up point. I waited in the rain for awhile, then my guide put me on a boat and told me to ask about the tiger when i got there. The whole adventure was a little comical. Here i was, alone on a rickety canoe with 5 peruvian workers who don't speak English, heading down the amazon (to where, I have no idea), to see a man about a jaguar. When I get there, the guy at the dock tells me to go up some mud stairs, where I'm greeted by a group of children emerging from a bunch of shacks, each children carrying some baby animal from the Amazon. We had baby monkeys, baby 3-toed sloths, baby parrots, and a baby jaguar! I'm sure that there were so many animal rights abuses going on, but it was still so cool. I even got to hold the jaguar in my arms! Totally worth the adventure.

Back in Leticia, I finally got to take off my mud boots (of which I had two left feet), and relax again. I went out for a few drinks with some other people from the hostel. We got 3 mil caipirinhas and talked about our travels. There was a guy from Germany, 3 people from Switzerland, and two girls from Ireland. It was really neat to hear their perspectives on Colombia and South America and where they were headed. The next day, I did a full walking tour of the area. I spent the morning in Tabatinga, Brazil for breakfast. Then I wandered through the market back in Leticia, which leads right up to the Amazon River. So, I sat for awhile and people-watched, watching the boats dock and unload goods for the market, and taking a bunch of pictures of the daily goings-on. Then i did a little shopping in Leticia and sat in Santander park for awhile and read. It was a really nice afternoon. The whole trip was fabulous and I would do it again in a heart beat. It was the perfect way to adjust myself back to Colombia and remind me why I love this country so much. I'm definitely not ready to be done here. In fact, I'm already starting to worry that 4-5 more months won't be enough. :( A great vacation. A perfect break.