Hasta Leugo Colombia

 Hello again!  I am separating this into two posts because I do not think it would be fair to combine my last days in Colombia with my first days in Ecuador.  I spent quite a lot of my time in Colombia based out of Santa Marta due to my volunteer work and extended illness.  (I am healthy now! YAY!)  This means I did not get to do quite as many of the tourist spots as I would have liked but it does add to my list of reasons of why I should come back to Colombia in the future, the main one being, to do more work with the Mariposas. 

 This is the pizza guy, a man after my heart.  He spends all night whipping pizza after pizza out of the two part oven.  You can request your toppings, anything from chorizo to veggies to pineapple and ham or salami.  A slice is about $1.35 and I only need two if I am really feeling hungry.  I also found it pretty funny that his cart says Good Pizza instead of Bueno Pizza.  

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 I have also spent a large part of my time in Colombia with the lovely girl pictured above.  Lauren from Northern Ireland.  In fact, I spent so much time with her I was starting to pick up an Irish lilt.  Whenever I told people I was from Boston they thought I was from Southie.  She and I volunteered together and lived at the Dreamer Hostel together and I am already missing her!  One of the best and worst things about travelling, the wonderful friends you make but eventually you have to say goodbye.  However Boston, watch out for St Pattys day, I am trying really hard to get her to come up and visit.

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 This picture says it all.  I am working with Abraham, a fiesty little 4 year old who can be the most adorable thing in the world sometimes, and others a little bull.  This was my last day of teaching, and boy he did not want to learn.  Raphael is sitting across from me with Lauren making her work just as hard to get him to focus as Abraham is with me.  This is one of the biggest challenges with volunteering with the Mariposas, working through all the times the kids dont want to focus while sweat is dripping down your brow.  The great thing is I really felt like I saw improvement in the kids even in the short month I was there.  Progress!  May more volunteers continue this great task!

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 My last day.  =(  Hard to say goodbye, but I treated the kids to ice cream as a farewell gift.  I have always participated with various volunteer programs, enjoying the experience and the ability to help kids.  This is the first time I have become so attached to a specific program and really feel the desire to do more beyond the time and effort I have already given.  I hated saying goodbye.  Goodbyes are something these kids really have to get used to, because in this program volunteers constantly come and go.  I really want to be a volunteer that comes back into their lives time and time again, helping the program grow, and the kids grow.  The exciting thing is, my ability to communicate with the kids will grow too, enabling me to make that much more of an impact and stronger connection with the kids.  If you, my readers have any desire to volunteer or donate, please go to Fundacion Mariposas Amarillas.  You can also buy T-Shirts to represent the Mariposas around the world.  The profits go directly to the organization.  So I guess its not really goodbye, its hasta leugo (see you later) because I will return.

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 I spent some of my last days in Colombia in Cartagena, one day of which we went to Playa Blanca.  I am pretending to be the Little Mermaid here.  A pretty good rock to do it on I would say.  Luckily I still have my off key voice and managed not to hurt myself getting on or off this rock.

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 Cartagena is quite a beautiful city, particularly the old city.  It is a lot of funky architecture with lots of bright colors, balconies, and often times plants.  The city is extremely hot and humid, pretty much every day, year round (so I have been told).  My three days there were no different.  We walked around a lot and just absorbed the city vibe.

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Dad, this picture is for you, and I think you know why.  Miss you lots!

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So I have mostly finished Colombia at this point.  I say mostly finished because I am ending my trip there by flying out of Bogota on August 21st.  I am hoping to have about a week to play in Colombia before I leave but we shall see.  I really liked Colombia (minus the getting sick part) and feel like there is so much more to see and do.  Luckily, depending on the time of year, roundtrip tickets can be pretty cheap, so I can be fairly positive of my returning.  Some final notes on the country?  The coast needs to work on the whole flooding issue.  It only takes about 5 minutes of rain for the water to be halfway up your calves in the street.  Its pretty gross, particularly as many of the poor areas do not have proper bathrooms, including the schools I taught at.  YUCK!  Love the dancing and music.  Everybody dances here and its more than the bob back and forth.  I think thats absolutely fabulous.  Colombia is not as dangerous as everyone in the states thinks it is.  I swear!  I mean, its still dangerous, but so are most places in the world.  You just have to keep a head on your shoulders, eyes open, and make wise decisions.  I am sure I have more comments on Colombia but I am hungry and want to eat dinner before catching my bus to Gauyaquil.  Updates about Ecuador soon!

Pura Vida!