Best of the day: working with J.E.V. on her homework, counting by 5's, counting backwards by 2's, spelling words, and reading.
Worst of the day: not having been to Mr. A's foundation yet!
________________________________________________________
Today the alarm clock went off, and I forced myself into waking. Then I reminded myself that I'm in God's hands here in Bogotá, and those two things made life right simple at five in the blessed a.m. And downright joyful. Plus, oatmeal for breakfast? Classic. :)
We took the school van to ECA, and when I got there, teacher's aide duties commenced. Getting the attendance folder from the main office (yes, I get to mark attendance. :) ), supervising the before school goofballing, and making sure Ms. W has what she needs.
Throughout the day, various similar tasks, identical exhaustion at the struggle to make children eat (which I still don't get), and then similar fun conversations with lovely people--teachers and students alike.
After school, I went to the alimentador (feeder bus) stop with the Torres family (a mother teacher aide with three adorable kids), and went along to the transmi with them until my stop at Prado, to tutor J.E.V. That was lovely. I don't know exactly what made the difference, really, between the successful heart-happy feeling of tutoring and the run-down feeling I get mid-day at school...but I loved the time with that dear girl. And her lovely family (they're the J.V. family who invited me to their church).
Then, I made my way home via transmi self-sufficiently, and walking home in time to catch the laughter wafting out the kitchen window from Marv & Judy's skype call with parents. I really enjoy these folks. :)
A chill evening, hopefully to catch some z's pronto.
Look at you, all bilingual without even knowing it. Pronto's Spanish. :)
xox
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Day 11
Best of the day: a lovely post-church lunch outing with several families and individuals from the congregation. :)
Worst of the day: wishing I could have made it up the mountain today with Mr. and Mrs. A. But there will be other times. :)
______________________________________________________________________
This cool breeze through the window, playing with my hair as I write, cannot be beat.
Hello, I am Ana Shalom, and I love Bogotá. :)
Since I last wrote, I passed my first day as teacher aide in first grade. I forgot to heat up the kids lunches enough in advance, so I rushed out at the last minute. Learning about soil was so engaging! I was starvingly hungry when I got to my lunch hour, and I very much enjoyed the bandeja paisa (a scrumptious bean soup with some beef and rice), salad, and platano chips. Then I sponsored the school bake sale, buying a cup of yummy vanilla ice cream with oreo crumbles. next it was back to work. I got to see the children practicing their la gata golosa dance for the cultural appreciation day that is coming up. Absolutely adorable, seeing the boys and girls walk up to one another (boys often looking more serious than I have ever seen them before), take hands, and dance towards the imaginary audience together. I helped with the afternoon math activities--a coin counting game, with American coins--and then helped with the get-ready-to-leave hyperactivity. I received several treasured hugs, and quickly prayed for these beautiful students in their respective weekend activities, hoping to see them all again, happy and well, on Monday.
After school, I took a public bus home with K, a Wheaton grad teaching kinder here, and then we met up at Crepes & Waffles with about twenty other teachers of ECA. It was a despedida (goodbye) for MM, the school's gym teacher, who is returning to Canada this week. He will be missed, that's for sure, and he seemed like muy buena gente (good people), the little that I did get to know of him. :)
Saturday morning, I got to sleep in. That was nice! But I am resigned to the fact that I am getting old, and that 8:30 wakeups seem like late enough. Proportional to 5:00, at least! I spent the morning watching an episode of Glee, skyping my family (and through that, watching another TV show with my youngest sister together), skyping an Ecuadorian friend, and doing various Italian grammar studies and exercises online. A well-spent morning, in my book. The afternoon proceeded to be tranquila, with lots of relaxing with Marv & Judy here at the apartment. I needed to refill the energy stores after this past week. Oh, and I got to skype with KW (a bestie from North) last night!
Sunday morning, I headed out to the autopista bridge to meet up with two of the teachers at ECA. I walked to church with them, trying out a different church today. And I really liked it. It is called Comunidad Cristiana de Puerta Abierta--the Christian Community of Open Doors. The people, the worship songs (two of which were my favorites in Bs As), and the speaker (who, at ECA, is the school nurse), and the community time afterwards...all exactly as I like them. It is a small church, about a hundred in congregation, and so it could quickly feel like a family. I think I may have found my Bogotá church home!
After church, I met and talked with various people, getting to learn many names through my new friend JV, the parent of the first grader I will be tutoring next week. He certainly is on a mission to find me a nice bogotáno to settle down with so I'll stick around. Which, you know, he can feel free to do, from my point of view. :) I love to meet new friends.
Speaking of friends, JV and his wife invited me to lunch with them and some others of the churchgoers. Strategically placed in the young D's car for transport, I got to know the V's daughters and niece and nephew. It was a short ride to Pompelmo, where we ate a tasty lunch. I wish you could have been there! The appetizers were small Colombian empanadas and patacones (twice-fried plantain patties...TASTY), and then came the jugos...orange, lulo, strawberry smoothies, mandarin, and others. Golly, please let this be the place God has in mind for me in the future. South American produce...invincible, incomparable. :) My meal was a chicken breast with creamy mushroom sauce, rice, salad, and french fries. Riquísimo. Others had some crepes, some had beef, some spaghetti, and D had a rice and mix-o-meat-and-seafood dish...which I tried, and loved. JV started off our lunch together by inviting his nephew to ask me whatever question he wanted me to answer. Poor kid, a middle schooler, I'd bet, started with how long had I been here. I answered, "Una semana y media--a week and a half."
JV, not satisfied with such a simple and easy question, told his nephew to ask again. I mean, he said, look how well she answered you that one. (Cue a flurry of compliments on my Spanish.)
So this time he asked:
"Sabías desde niña que algún día querías venir aquí a Colombia?" Did you know ever since you were a little girl that you wanted to come to Colombia someday?
My response? With open face, and a forthcoming explanation, "no."
I then had the opportunity to share with the table my experience in Bogotá last summer. If you haven't had the chance to hear that, I apologize for having deprived you of a big old story in which God let me play a small part. Ask me sometime.
They were, of course, very impressed at how God used this experience to bring about such massive growth and change in Barrio Egipto (a neighborhood) and it's notorious gang community. Also simultaneously struck at the brokenness in their own country, and how that had to happen to visitors--especially a missionary group. But, as I told them in all honesty, that experience of meeting the people of Bogotá in the various organizations we worked with, AND dealing with the initial ugliness and eventual radiant beauty of the Barrio Egipto encounter--these were the things that made me know I'd have to come back here someday. I still think I'm coming back again.
Looking forward to this week, it should be fantastic again. I have school Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Thursday there is a no-car day, so the kids have off, and the teachers do professional skills conferences and workshops and some lesson planning. I don't think I am required to attend. So, I might take advantage of my new friend D's offer to tour the city a bit. Also, I can't wait for tutoring Tuesday and Thursday evenings, to get to know J & A more, and their daughters. I am quite content.
AND DADDY GETS HERE ON FRIDAY NIGHT!!! iuuuuuujuuuuuuuuu :D
xox
Worst of the day: wishing I could have made it up the mountain today with Mr. and Mrs. A. But there will be other times. :)
______________________________________________________________________
This cool breeze through the window, playing with my hair as I write, cannot be beat.
Hello, I am Ana Shalom, and I love Bogotá. :)
Since I last wrote, I passed my first day as teacher aide in first grade. I forgot to heat up the kids lunches enough in advance, so I rushed out at the last minute. Learning about soil was so engaging! I was starvingly hungry when I got to my lunch hour, and I very much enjoyed the bandeja paisa (a scrumptious bean soup with some beef and rice), salad, and platano chips. Then I sponsored the school bake sale, buying a cup of yummy vanilla ice cream with oreo crumbles. next it was back to work. I got to see the children practicing their la gata golosa dance for the cultural appreciation day that is coming up. Absolutely adorable, seeing the boys and girls walk up to one another (boys often looking more serious than I have ever seen them before), take hands, and dance towards the imaginary audience together. I helped with the afternoon math activities--a coin counting game, with American coins--and then helped with the get-ready-to-leave hyperactivity. I received several treasured hugs, and quickly prayed for these beautiful students in their respective weekend activities, hoping to see them all again, happy and well, on Monday.
After school, I took a public bus home with K, a Wheaton grad teaching kinder here, and then we met up at Crepes & Waffles with about twenty other teachers of ECA. It was a despedida (goodbye) for MM, the school's gym teacher, who is returning to Canada this week. He will be missed, that's for sure, and he seemed like muy buena gente (good people), the little that I did get to know of him. :)
Saturday morning, I got to sleep in. That was nice! But I am resigned to the fact that I am getting old, and that 8:30 wakeups seem like late enough. Proportional to 5:00, at least! I spent the morning watching an episode of Glee, skyping my family (and through that, watching another TV show with my youngest sister together), skyping an Ecuadorian friend, and doing various Italian grammar studies and exercises online. A well-spent morning, in my book. The afternoon proceeded to be tranquila, with lots of relaxing with Marv & Judy here at the apartment. I needed to refill the energy stores after this past week. Oh, and I got to skype with KW (a bestie from North) last night!
Sunday morning, I headed out to the autopista bridge to meet up with two of the teachers at ECA. I walked to church with them, trying out a different church today. And I really liked it. It is called Comunidad Cristiana de Puerta Abierta--the Christian Community of Open Doors. The people, the worship songs (two of which were my favorites in Bs As), and the speaker (who, at ECA, is the school nurse), and the community time afterwards...all exactly as I like them. It is a small church, about a hundred in congregation, and so it could quickly feel like a family. I think I may have found my Bogotá church home!
After church, I met and talked with various people, getting to learn many names through my new friend JV, the parent of the first grader I will be tutoring next week. He certainly is on a mission to find me a nice bogotáno to settle down with so I'll stick around. Which, you know, he can feel free to do, from my point of view. :) I love to meet new friends.
Speaking of friends, JV and his wife invited me to lunch with them and some others of the churchgoers. Strategically placed in the young D's car for transport, I got to know the V's daughters and niece and nephew. It was a short ride to Pompelmo, where we ate a tasty lunch. I wish you could have been there! The appetizers were small Colombian empanadas and patacones (twice-fried plantain patties...TASTY), and then came the jugos...orange, lulo, strawberry smoothies, mandarin, and others. Golly, please let this be the place God has in mind for me in the future. South American produce...invincible, incomparable. :) My meal was a chicken breast with creamy mushroom sauce, rice, salad, and french fries. Riquísimo. Others had some crepes, some had beef, some spaghetti, and D had a rice and mix-o-meat-and-seafood dish...which I tried, and loved. JV started off our lunch together by inviting his nephew to ask me whatever question he wanted me to answer. Poor kid, a middle schooler, I'd bet, started with how long had I been here. I answered, "Una semana y media--a week and a half."
JV, not satisfied with such a simple and easy question, told his nephew to ask again. I mean, he said, look how well she answered you that one. (Cue a flurry of compliments on my Spanish.)
So this time he asked:
"Sabías desde niña que algún día querías venir aquí a Colombia?" Did you know ever since you were a little girl that you wanted to come to Colombia someday?
My response? With open face, and a forthcoming explanation, "no."
I then had the opportunity to share with the table my experience in Bogotá last summer. If you haven't had the chance to hear that, I apologize for having deprived you of a big old story in which God let me play a small part. Ask me sometime.
They were, of course, very impressed at how God used this experience to bring about such massive growth and change in Barrio Egipto (a neighborhood) and it's notorious gang community. Also simultaneously struck at the brokenness in their own country, and how that had to happen to visitors--especially a missionary group. But, as I told them in all honesty, that experience of meeting the people of Bogotá in the various organizations we worked with, AND dealing with the initial ugliness and eventual radiant beauty of the Barrio Egipto encounter--these were the things that made me know I'd have to come back here someday. I still think I'm coming back again.
Looking forward to this week, it should be fantastic again. I have school Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Thursday there is a no-car day, so the kids have off, and the teachers do professional skills conferences and workshops and some lesson planning. I don't think I am required to attend. So, I might take advantage of my new friend D's offer to tour the city a bit. Also, I can't wait for tutoring Tuesday and Thursday evenings, to get to know J & A more, and their daughters. I am quite content.
AND DADDY GETS HERE ON FRIDAY NIGHT!!! iuuuuuujuuuuuuuuu :D
xox
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Day 8
Best of the day: the moment this morning getting off the bus at school when Judy (host mom) smilingly shook her head at me as she walked past. "What?" I asked her. "Your ability to make people happy when you surprise them with your Spanish." :)
Worst part of the day: rain while I was en route to tutoring--meaning sopping, sorry, cold Converse.
___________________________________________________________
Today as I walked across the bridge of the autopista (main highway), I saw those mountains again, with a sunrise and some clouds, and I got goosebumps and smiles. :)
I helped translate again today, which I love, and so we went through various construction and fix-it tasks in several apartments. Then, it started to rain, and it was time to leave for the Portal del Norte (the closest Transmi stop--UNTIL Saturday, when I believe the Santafé Mall stop opens!).
Arriving with NG to the student's family's apartment a little past five, I listened and leafed through home decor magazines while NG tutored. I'm taking over for her next week, while she's back in the States for some visa paperwork. A, the student's mom, brought us café y galletitas con queso--so generous and sweet! After the tutoring, the parents and NG and I had lovely conversations about Bogotá, our families, our hopes and aspirations... All good stuff.
I am very tired, and ready for a good night's sleep. Tomorrow I start as solo full-on teacher aid in first grade for Friday and next week, while NG's away. Getting to know those beautiful kids better, and learning about the education process at the same time, is just fantastic.
Chau chau and blessings. xox
Worst part of the day: rain while I was en route to tutoring--meaning sopping, sorry, cold Converse.
___________________________________________________________
Today as I walked across the bridge of the autopista (main highway), I saw those mountains again, with a sunrise and some clouds, and I got goosebumps and smiles. :)
I helped translate again today, which I love, and so we went through various construction and fix-it tasks in several apartments. Then, it started to rain, and it was time to leave for the Portal del Norte (the closest Transmi stop--UNTIL Saturday, when I believe the Santafé Mall stop opens!).
Arriving with NG to the student's family's apartment a little past five, I listened and leafed through home decor magazines while NG tutored. I'm taking over for her next week, while she's back in the States for some visa paperwork. A, the student's mom, brought us café y galletitas con queso--so generous and sweet! After the tutoring, the parents and NG and I had lovely conversations about Bogotá, our families, our hopes and aspirations... All good stuff.
I am very tired, and ready for a good night's sleep. Tomorrow I start as solo full-on teacher aid in first grade for Friday and next week, while NG's away. Getting to know those beautiful kids better, and learning about the education process at the same time, is just fantastic.
Chau chau and blessings. xox
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Tired and content: Day 7
Best of today: being told by a Colombian: "You're not a gringa." (in the senses of 1. my dark hair, and the paler skin common in Bogotá, and 2. for my Spanish pronunciation and vocabulary) :D
Worst of today: admitting defeat.
______________________________________________________________
This morning arrived way too fast. Rrrrahhhhhhhhrghhh.
At school today, I jumped around again. I joined the Elementary students for chapel, where we sang and played fruit of the Spirit jeopardy (bet you didn't see that one coming! It was great). Then I worked with the 1st graders a bit, and then supervised snacktime and recess. Today the children were truly struggling with obedience and respect of their teacher and us, the teacher aids. It was so out of character for what I've seen (and what the teacher says has been this semester's norm) so far. Discouraging. I hope to see growth and maturity in them in the coming weeks...
I then proceeded into odd-jobs mode. Someone needed copies, and this sheet to be cut into this many sections. The playground constructors (from the Illinois team) needed some translating. The first graders had social studies to do, and that involved some writing, drawing and gluing, so I milled around the little desks with NG (friend, teacher's aid, from the States) with assistance.
Lunchtime with the teachers is always fun. One of the high points of the day, to be sure. I love the mix of Spanish and English I hear and take part in. Today NG and I were talking with and about some Colombians our age who've graduated from ECA and who we've both kind of gotten to know a bit (her more than I), and it was so exciting to put the pieces together from my mission trip to now. Plus I have a promised dance night with them! :)
The fourth graders had their trip to the library to check out books and return them, so I assisted in reminding them of library protocol--and we were read aloud (by my host mother) a wonderful book called Moosestache! By the way, the view from the library takes my breath away every single time. You're looking up straight into the mountains and the sweeping fog, or blue sky (depending on the time of day), and it's incredible. I might read more just to be in there!
After that came the hard part of the day. I had been assigned to J, a 4th grader in need of extra math help. I had glimpsed that on my daily schedule early on in the day, and had no idea how it was going to go down.
Now, I know 4th grade math is not calculus. It's not trig, it's not geometry...it's not even algebra. However, my weakness being math, how was I going to explain concepts I had to just memorize and not understand? And how badly I want to be able to help this girl--to be helpful to the school and for the teachers, but ultimately to J. Her (missionary) family's moved around so much that she has fallen behind, and I want so badly to be helpful, knowing just what being behind can be like.
But, as God humblingly showed me today, I cannot do it all. This was the first task I've been assigned that I realized I will not be able to fulfill adequately.
Defeat. Failure, feels like. I talked to the 4th grade teacher, and then together we talked to the principal to have a mutual understanding and figure this out. They were extremely gracious. The principal (SJ) was even showing me how this is what the body of Christ does. She explained in terms of not wanting the "hands" of the body to act as "feet"; they can, sure, but why not let the "feet" do the footwork. I felt a relief as I realized nobody expects me to be able to do everything perfectly. And, heck, even if they did, God never has and never will--and he faithfully brings me to my humbling place and makes me feel comfortingly small in his arms again.
Plus, he created Colombian hot chocolate. He really must love us, right? :) xox
Worst of today: admitting defeat.
______________________________________________________________
This morning arrived way too fast. Rrrrahhhhhhhhrghhh.
At school today, I jumped around again. I joined the Elementary students for chapel, where we sang and played fruit of the Spirit jeopardy (bet you didn't see that one coming! It was great). Then I worked with the 1st graders a bit, and then supervised snacktime and recess. Today the children were truly struggling with obedience and respect of their teacher and us, the teacher aids. It was so out of character for what I've seen (and what the teacher says has been this semester's norm) so far. Discouraging. I hope to see growth and maturity in them in the coming weeks...
I then proceeded into odd-jobs mode. Someone needed copies, and this sheet to be cut into this many sections. The playground constructors (from the Illinois team) needed some translating. The first graders had social studies to do, and that involved some writing, drawing and gluing, so I milled around the little desks with NG (friend, teacher's aid, from the States) with assistance.
Lunchtime with the teachers is always fun. One of the high points of the day, to be sure. I love the mix of Spanish and English I hear and take part in. Today NG and I were talking with and about some Colombians our age who've graduated from ECA and who we've both kind of gotten to know a bit (her more than I), and it was so exciting to put the pieces together from my mission trip to now. Plus I have a promised dance night with them! :)
The fourth graders had their trip to the library to check out books and return them, so I assisted in reminding them of library protocol--and we were read aloud (by my host mother) a wonderful book called Moosestache! By the way, the view from the library takes my breath away every single time. You're looking up straight into the mountains and the sweeping fog, or blue sky (depending on the time of day), and it's incredible. I might read more just to be in there!
After that came the hard part of the day. I had been assigned to J, a 4th grader in need of extra math help. I had glimpsed that on my daily schedule early on in the day, and had no idea how it was going to go down.
Now, I know 4th grade math is not calculus. It's not trig, it's not geometry...it's not even algebra. However, my weakness being math, how was I going to explain concepts I had to just memorize and not understand? And how badly I want to be able to help this girl--to be helpful to the school and for the teachers, but ultimately to J. Her (missionary) family's moved around so much that she has fallen behind, and I want so badly to be helpful, knowing just what being behind can be like.
But, as God humblingly showed me today, I cannot do it all. This was the first task I've been assigned that I realized I will not be able to fulfill adequately.
Defeat. Failure, feels like. I talked to the 4th grade teacher, and then together we talked to the principal to have a mutual understanding and figure this out. They were extremely gracious. The principal (SJ) was even showing me how this is what the body of Christ does. She explained in terms of not wanting the "hands" of the body to act as "feet"; they can, sure, but why not let the "feet" do the footwork. I felt a relief as I realized nobody expects me to be able to do everything perfectly. And, heck, even if they did, God never has and never will--and he faithfully brings me to my humbling place and makes me feel comfortingly small in his arms again.
Plus, he created Colombian hot chocolate. He really must love us, right? :) xox
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Big brother and other grand reunions: Day 6
Bests of the day: Translating the entire day for a group from Illinois who came down to do repairs and construction around the school and the teachers' houses. The weather today--sunny and warm and blue sky with a few Toy Story wallpaper clouds. Being with amigos Colombianos. Finally, the moment in the Transmilenio (bus system here--gigantic and sprawling) station when I first caught sight of Felo.
Worsts of the day: Having to watch someone struggle towards understanding/accepting that this is not a time-oriented culture, but an events-oriented culture. The stress of taking the Transmilenio the first time, alone, while it was getting dark, and the rain starting to come. And wet socks.
All's well, gracias a Dios! xox
Worsts of the day: Having to watch someone struggle towards understanding/accepting that this is not a time-oriented culture, but an events-oriented culture. The stress of taking the Transmilenio the first time, alone, while it was getting dark, and the rain starting to come. And wet socks.
All's well, gracias a Dios! xox
Monday, January 23, 2012
Hot Cocoa: Day 5
Best of the day: When J, one of the first graders, asked why I hadn't been with his class all day long. After only two days in their class, and a different schedule today, I was already missed. :)
Worst of the day: Being too tired to chase children one minute longer after school today.
________________________________________________________________________
Another early morning today, getting to both the breakfast table and the bus stop on time. When I arrived at school, the elementary principal at ECA gave me a new and revised schedule for today: second graders, and a little time with the preschoolers.
I spent the morning doing teacher aide duties--filling water bottles, checking in attendance, checking homework planners, making copies, and meandering through the room during spelling time. I took the second graders to gym, and then the first graders to snacktime. That is like herding unhungry cats (and yet it's somehow fun). When do children switch to enjoy eating, rather than having it be a chore before playtime? I don't even remember "finish your food" as a command from guardians. Weird. :)
Then I helped with reading and math time in second grade, and then with their lunchtime. After that, I had a nice lunchtime chat with P, fellow gapper and former GEBC youth grouper. When naptime was over in preschool I helped get their backpacks ready to go home. They are precious!
After school, I helped supervise the kids of teachers, until it started raining. Then we all went inside, and I helped the first grade teacher get craft ready for tomorrow. It turned into me sharing my amazing-ankle-adventure story with both her and her primary teacher aid, both of whom have become my friends. It's amazing that I forget the amazing power of God's story of my own life sometimes. Wonderful refresher today. :)
Since then, it's been dinner, conversation, an episode of the Office, and dessert hot cocoa with host parents until bedtime. What a lovely Monday.
Worst of the day: Being too tired to chase children one minute longer after school today.
________________________________________________________________________
Another early morning today, getting to both the breakfast table and the bus stop on time. When I arrived at school, the elementary principal at ECA gave me a new and revised schedule for today: second graders, and a little time with the preschoolers.
I spent the morning doing teacher aide duties--filling water bottles, checking in attendance, checking homework planners, making copies, and meandering through the room during spelling time. I took the second graders to gym, and then the first graders to snacktime. That is like herding unhungry cats (and yet it's somehow fun). When do children switch to enjoy eating, rather than having it be a chore before playtime? I don't even remember "finish your food" as a command from guardians. Weird. :)
Then I helped with reading and math time in second grade, and then with their lunchtime. After that, I had a nice lunchtime chat with P, fellow gapper and former GEBC youth grouper. When naptime was over in preschool I helped get their backpacks ready to go home. They are precious!
After school, I helped supervise the kids of teachers, until it started raining. Then we all went inside, and I helped the first grade teacher get craft ready for tomorrow. It turned into me sharing my amazing-ankle-adventure story with both her and her primary teacher aid, both of whom have become my friends. It's amazing that I forget the amazing power of God's story of my own life sometimes. Wonderful refresher today. :)
Since then, it's been dinner, conversation, an episode of the Office, and dessert hot cocoa with host parents until bedtime. What a lovely Monday.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
A walk in the park: Day 4
Best of the day: Sitting in the apartment-side park reading in the afternoon sun.
Worst of the day: The moment when the rain came and pushed me inside.
_____________________________________________________________
Today I went to church with a few of the ECA teachers, to a church that uses the school's auditorium. It's called "Vida Bogotá". WHAT a LOVELY thing to be back in Spanish church services again! We sang several songs that I knew, and the sermon was well-delivered, and I very much enjoyed the whole thing. After the service, I spoke with a couple ECA folks, and talked with R, a student who had visited Glen Ellyn Bible Church a few months back. We talked for a short while--it's just so nice to reconnect where I never was sure I could here. :)
I rode home on the bus with the ladies, and had lunch at their apartment. Tasty pasta. Then I went back to the apartment I am staying in for the afternoon. I went and figured out how to get into the park right next to our apartment, and then spent an hour or so just sitting on the bench, reading in the sun, and listening to the gritas (shouts) of the kids on the fútbol pitch. It was nice. Soon, though, the weather changed (as in Bogotá it is wont to do), and I got cold and was beginning to get soggy.
I was able to skype with family after that, and then welcomed Marv & Judy (my hosts) home from their weekend trip to "hot country". I got slightly less envious when I saw all of poor Judy's vicious bug bites...
I'm about to start a full week, and am very excited at the prospects it holds. I might serve as translator some of the days for a work team that has come down from somewhere in Illinois. How cool is that?
Sending love. xoxo
Worst of the day: The moment when the rain came and pushed me inside.
_____________________________________________________________
Today I went to church with a few of the ECA teachers, to a church that uses the school's auditorium. It's called "Vida Bogotá". WHAT a LOVELY thing to be back in Spanish church services again! We sang several songs that I knew, and the sermon was well-delivered, and I very much enjoyed the whole thing. After the service, I spoke with a couple ECA folks, and talked with R, a student who had visited Glen Ellyn Bible Church a few months back. We talked for a short while--it's just so nice to reconnect where I never was sure I could here. :)
I rode home on the bus with the ladies, and had lunch at their apartment. Tasty pasta. Then I went back to the apartment I am staying in for the afternoon. I went and figured out how to get into the park right next to our apartment, and then spent an hour or so just sitting on the bench, reading in the sun, and listening to the gritas (shouts) of the kids on the fútbol pitch. It was nice. Soon, though, the weather changed (as in Bogotá it is wont to do), and I got cold and was beginning to get soggy.
I was able to skype with family after that, and then welcomed Marv & Judy (my hosts) home from their weekend trip to "hot country". I got slightly less envious when I saw all of poor Judy's vicious bug bites...
I'm about to start a full week, and am very excited at the prospects it holds. I might serve as translator some of the days for a work team that has come down from somewhere in Illinois. How cool is that?
Sending love. xoxo
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