Home...sort of!

Well, I am home once again. Or, to put it more precisely, I am with my family once again. I was home for a few days, but now I am skiing with my family in Utah for the week that my sisters have spring break. It's pretty sweet. Day one of skiing went really well.

How did I get here? Just a week ago I had such a crammed schedule of farewells that I had to turn people's meal or snack or outing offers down. I was sadly torn between leaving and staying. Even in the plane, the moment the wheels left the ground and I could see that beautiful Colombia from the air, the tears came. It's such a lovely country. I'll never be able to stay away for long.

Now to explain the silence of the last few days in Colombia. Friday, after round one of farewells to the kids at the Foundation, I had a sleepover with LB and we laughed and slept well.

Saturday, I ventured down south again to meet up with G and his family for the afternoon. His dear, Colombianly generous parents welcomed me to a Colombian food lunch--cocido boyacense (a yummy meat and potato varieties stew from a region called Boyaca). This with rice, chicharron, and lulo juice on the side. SO TASTY. :)
After second helpings, G and I set to viewing photos. Seeing pictures of our time and friends in Argentina gave us lots to laugh and smile about. It's just such a blessing to have had the chance to really, truly get more time with some of those great friends I made in Buenos Aires. G is one of them.
Then, G's sister K arrived with her cool boyfriend E. K decided she would give me a manicure. Wow, best manicure of my LIFE. Check out the photo. Uh huh. :)


After the manicure and obligatory photo taking that followed, we all piled into the car as it poured down rain and headed to the mall. We looked at window displays, took pictures, laughed. I caught sight of a shop called Totto, and wanted to go in. I had been wanting to have a Totto backpack for college...and with K's help, I found it. It's beautiful, and will remind me of it's beautiful country every time I see it.
When we had finished in Totto, we went up tot the food court for ice cream. I got tasty maracuya, G got avellana (hazelnut), K got pineapple, E got coco (coconut), and the parents got rum raisin and guanabana. After the ice cream had been fully enjoyed, we started for the car again. G got distracted by some (I'll admit) fantastic looking/smelling arepas, and so we stopped to get some. Mmm.
Piling in the car once more, we headed to the apartment of their son and his family. There was a birthday celebration for their mother-in-law, and I was allowed to tag along. I love the Colombian sense of family, and inclusion. It's beautiful!
We left the celebration after 9:30, cutting it close Transmi-wise, from a standpoint of the assumed truth that G would be accompanying me home and then returning home again. I love Transmi rides with friends, especially at the end of a good day with them. And carrying an awesome new backpack from Totto. :) We both got home safely, and slept well.

Sunday. The day to bid farewell to the great community of Puerta Abierta Church. Marv and Judy went to PA too, and I sat with them and with Diego, his mom, and his grandma.  Pastor E asked me up front for a sending prayer--along with my "parents from Bogota", Marv and Judy--and they prayed for me in English and in Spanish. Then I told them all "thank you" for the way they had accepted and blessed me even in such a short stay; for the beautiful community that they are. Then they gave me a purse from one of their church friends in Guatemala as a parting gift to remember them. Is it likely I'll forget them, or be able to go long without being back with them? Not on your life. :)
They were selling empanadas for a fundraiser after the service, but with so many goodbyes to say, I missed out. Then the V family and Diego and his mom and I went out to a mall called Floresta for the afternoon. I had ajiaco for the last time this trip. Mmm.
Then, they took me to some artisan shops to get some remaining gifts for friends. Success! When we had finished perusing, choosing, bargaining, and purchasing, we all sat down for a little break. That was when they surprised me with gifts: Diego's mom a Colombian cowboy hat keychain, J (youngest V daughter) a plaque explaining the meaning of my name/personality, S (the eldest V daughter) fabulous Bible verse fridge magnets, and Mr. and Mrs. V the outfit I had worn for a "mamacita" photo in our parody at ECA. :) Those lovely goofs. So dear.
We did some more shopping and some more eating--Crepes & Waffles ice cream, to be exact. That was a beautiful time of thanking each other and sharing how we had learned from one another--I and them--and how we would miss each other.
Then we headed home, and Diego and I went to Marv & Judy's to hang out and say our goodbyes. He is such a good friend. I will miss him a lot.
That was the night I packed. I did not want to waste anymore daytime hours in Bogota on packing, so I just stayed up and got it done.

Monday morning, I slept in and then went to the grocery store for Colombian goodies to take home. I met NG (fellow TA at school) for lunch--bandeja paisa, mmm--and we talked about life and laughed. Then I went to meet my friends K and N (from the Prado trip) and we went to a mall by the Portal 80 for a movie. "Esto Es Guerra"--This is War, about two spies with the same girlfriend. Very funny! It was in English with Spanish subtitles.
After that, we had some frozen yogurt and talked about everything, and we each traveled home.

Thus, against my will, we had arrived at Tuesday: the last day in Bogota, for now. I woke up, made a quick check that I had packed enough, got ready, and went to school to say my very last goodbyes. When I arrived (just in time for first recess) the kids were thrilled, and mobbed me like a celebrity. I have definitely been missing them.
I got through as many farewells as I could, and then I headed to the Foundation. On the way, I treasured the last bus ride, the last Transmi ticket purchased, the penultimate Transmi ride, and the last time being caught off guard by Bogota rain. When I got to Fundacion Internacional Maranata, I ate a yummy lunch and chatted with J and Mr. A a while. Then the kids presented me with a goodbye poster they had prepared with the help of their teacher. We all had some really amazing cake he Foundation had spotted in farewell, from funds that I know it does not have to give. Such a blessing. Then each kid said some words in farewell. Lovely!
After that, it was pretty much time to get back up north for dinner at Crepes & Waffles with Marv and Judy.
Marv had some salmon dish, Judy had a bread bowl with fondue cheese and mushrooms, and I had the crepes Ghandi--some delicious sort of Indian spiced crepe with cheese, veggies, and other tastiness. We were all very content. Then, during various excessively tasty desserts, we said our thank yous, farewells, and blessings. A nice time to tie things up.
We all walked home together and enjoyed a chill evening. Mr. and Mrs. A stopped by to say goodbye, and then I went to check on my packing and sleep.

Wednesday I woke up at 4, got to the airport, saw my friend A, who works at the airport, almost saw G for a final farewell (he flew to Buenos Aires the same day), and then got on the plane against my will. ;) I took pictures of Colombia from the air, listened to music, watched the movie, and lost my cell phone. Royal bummer. But, as I told my family (using a kind crew member's cell phone to let them know), I believe God is fully capable of bringing the phone back to me if he sees fit. Plus I got home safe and sound, so I am not the least bit worried. :)

I had plans Thursday and Friday to see some friends, and I will see more when I am home after "spring break". It's nice to be in my family again. As much as I've grown in all this time away, as much as I've learned, as many adventures as I've had--that first embrace with my sisters and parents will never know an equal.

xox