Sunday, March 8, 2009
Pictures
For some reason I am not able to upload my pictures to Blogspot. So instead most of them are on facebook. Click Here to get access to my facebook album.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Safe and Sound
After an entire day of flying and driving I am safe and sound in Marquette. Overall it was an AMAZING trip. I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to go to Colombia. I do not have good internet right now so I can't post pics. I will try to get some up tomorrow. I love you all!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Final Day
It is my final day here in Colombia. We have spent the last couple of days traveling through beautiful mountains and valleys. They were full of farmers lowing with oxen. It was a very incredible sight.
We arrived in Tunja and went to a church to eat. It was wonderful and they were very welcoming. They sang a bunch of songs with us. The youth leader had worked at a camp in the US so most of the songs were from the camp. It was neat because we knew them and they would sing both the spanish and english versions.
We made our way to Villa de Leyvia. There we walked around downtown and I was able to get a bunch of gifts and souveniers for people. Then we stayed at a beautiful resort. We each had our own rooms and mine just happened to have five beds. We took a hot tub. It was wonderful to hear the frogs and the crickets after so many nights at the convent.
Tomorrow we wake up very early in order to get on the plane. Then we fly to Atlanta, then Chicago, then Green Bay. We will drive up to Marquette tomorrow night and I should be back by hopefully one or two in the morning. It will be a long day but I am excitedto sleep in my own bed.
I miss you all and look forward to see some of you and get to talk to the rest of you on the phone. I love you all!
Erika
We arrived in Tunja and went to a church to eat. It was wonderful and they were very welcoming. They sang a bunch of songs with us. The youth leader had worked at a camp in the US so most of the songs were from the camp. It was neat because we knew them and they would sing both the spanish and english versions.
We made our way to Villa de Leyvia. There we walked around downtown and I was able to get a bunch of gifts and souveniers for people. Then we stayed at a beautiful resort. We each had our own rooms and mine just happened to have five beds. We took a hot tub. It was wonderful to hear the frogs and the crickets after so many nights at the convent.
Tomorrow we wake up very early in order to get on the plane. Then we fly to Atlanta, then Chicago, then Green Bay. We will drive up to Marquette tomorrow night and I should be back by hopefully one or two in the morning. It will be a long day but I am excitedto sleep in my own bed.
I miss you all and look forward to see some of you and get to talk to the rest of you on the phone. I love you all!
Erika
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
A Day To Remember
Today was very very depressing. We went into the slums of all slums. The kind of town you see on tv commercials. We were just there to visit some people and take a look around. It was really sad. The houses were falling to pieces and people had nothing yet were very generous. I really will remember this day for the rest of my life.
We first went to a youth center. The kids were adorable. We played with them and talked with them about the struggles. Then we went to a senior center. At both places they were selling crafts that they had made. I tried to buy things from everybody and even though I left with a lot of stuff that I really don´t know what I will do with it was probably the best money I have ever spent.
I don´t think I will be able to post much for the next few days. We are heading about 5 hours north of here to a touristy spot. We will be staying at a resort. It seems weird after the day I have had today.
I love you all and miss you! I can´t wait to show everyone pictures!
Erika
We first went to a youth center. The kids were adorable. We played with them and talked with them about the struggles. Then we went to a senior center. At both places they were selling crafts that they had made. I tried to buy things from everybody and even though I left with a lot of stuff that I really don´t know what I will do with it was probably the best money I have ever spent.
I don´t think I will be able to post much for the next few days. We are heading about 5 hours north of here to a touristy spot. We will be staying at a resort. It seems weird after the day I have had today.
I love you all and miss you! I can´t wait to show everyone pictures!
Erika
Monday, March 2, 2009
Amazing Race
Hola,
Today was alright but a little bit more boring than the others. We saw a bunch of lectures about Colombia and the history and problems here. I definitely learned a lot about the country and it will help me to have a better understanding of the things that go on here.
Then we went to a hospital. It was a good experience to hear them talk about the health care but we didnt get to see much at teh hospital. I would have liked to walk around it more but I suppose with privacy issues it is hard.
The most fun part was when myself, Ross, Dave and Fred walked to the mall. It was a couple of miles but nice to exercise after so many hours of lectures. Ross was in search of a soccer jersey for a certain team. Him and I ran all over the mall trying to find one. It was great because we were getting to use our spanish with no translator. We were talking to a lot of people and getting a lot of directions. We were going all over the mall. I felt like I was on Amazing Race. It was super fun and I enjoyed it a lot. In the end we never found one but I am sure we will.
Well thats all for now. I love you all!
Erika
Today was alright but a little bit more boring than the others. We saw a bunch of lectures about Colombia and the history and problems here. I definitely learned a lot about the country and it will help me to have a better understanding of the things that go on here.
Then we went to a hospital. It was a good experience to hear them talk about the health care but we didnt get to see much at teh hospital. I would have liked to walk around it more but I suppose with privacy issues it is hard.
The most fun part was when myself, Ross, Dave and Fred walked to the mall. It was a couple of miles but nice to exercise after so many hours of lectures. Ross was in search of a soccer jersey for a certain team. Him and I ran all over the mall trying to find one. It was great because we were getting to use our spanish with no translator. We were talking to a lot of people and getting a lot of directions. We were going all over the mall. I felt like I was on Amazing Race. It was super fun and I enjoyed it a lot. In the end we never found one but I am sure we will.
Well thats all for now. I love you all!
Erika
Sunday, March 1, 2009
An Adventure of a Lifetime
Hello,
Once again I am writing from the convent. This is where I am staying for most of the time while I am here. I have both my own room and bathroom which is wonderful. I have a bit more time today so I will tell you more about yesterday and then about today.
Yesterday:
We woke up in the morning to a delicious breakfast of baked egg, bread, fresh squeezed juice and the best cocoa I have ever had. It was actual chocolate and they had fresh milk to go with it. We then took a bus up the mountains overlooking Bogota. It was beautiful and really gave us an idea of how big the city is. I found a piece of grafitti that was my name so I took a picture with it. Speaking of grafiti it is really neat here...true art around every corner. We took many pictures from the hills.
Then we went to this church up on a mountain. It is a very popular thing to do in Bogota. People come from all over the world to climb the mountains on their hands and knees all the way to the alter of the church. I can´t imagine how hard that must be. We were lazy and took the gondola or cable car. It held forty people on a tiny cable. I do not like heights. I do not like feeling claustrophobic. It was definitely scary but I survived. At the top there was a church and a market area. I bought a mask made out of clay from Northern Colombia. It is cool and has a lizard on the top.
After that we went to the government plaza area. It is scary because all over Bogota there are guards with very intense guns. We are assured that they are there for our safety but it is still scary. There were a lot in the square also. Lacey you would have hated it because there were literally thousands and thousands of birds that clearly had no fear of humans.
We then went back to the convent to listen to some people about the Emmaeus Road Foundation. It is the reason we are here and is a really great program.They provide meals for displaced children and also scholarships for school.They have put 890 kids through high school or college. It is really great.
Today:
Once again we woke up to a wonderful breakfast. This time Tomales(corn sstuff steamed in banana leaves). To be honest I didn´t really like it but it was still very nice. The fruit here was wonderful. Then we went to a church service in this garage. It was cool because there were so many people in a little tiny space. Paige and I spent time in the Sunday school room and the kids were all really cute. They were all really sweet. I brought them some gum and beach balls and things like that. They loved them.
We have wonderful tour guides names Nataniel and Estella. We visited some of their family a poorer part of town. The hospitality of people is amazing even though they have very little. It was good to hear about some of th struggles that people have here in Bogota.
Then we went to a wonderful lunch. It was huge. They kept on bringing more and more appetizers so we all got a chance to try a ton of food. I can tell you I have not gone hungry on this trip.
After lunch we spent some time on the countryside. It was so beautiful. TOns of flowers and fresh fruit and just beautiful mountains. Again the hospitality was amazing. I got the most beautiful rose of my whole life that a woman had grown in her garden. The flower industry is huge down here. One of the women made us Empanadas and they were so good.
Overall it has been a wonderful couple of days. I really do love it here. I can´t wait for the rest of the trip. I hope everyone is enjoying their spring breaks. I miss you all and am excited to talk to all of you and share our spring break stories. I love you!
Erika
Once again I am writing from the convent. This is where I am staying for most of the time while I am here. I have both my own room and bathroom which is wonderful. I have a bit more time today so I will tell you more about yesterday and then about today.
Yesterday:
We woke up in the morning to a delicious breakfast of baked egg, bread, fresh squeezed juice and the best cocoa I have ever had. It was actual chocolate and they had fresh milk to go with it. We then took a bus up the mountains overlooking Bogota. It was beautiful and really gave us an idea of how big the city is. I found a piece of grafitti that was my name so I took a picture with it. Speaking of grafiti it is really neat here...true art around every corner. We took many pictures from the hills.
Then we went to this church up on a mountain. It is a very popular thing to do in Bogota. People come from all over the world to climb the mountains on their hands and knees all the way to the alter of the church. I can´t imagine how hard that must be. We were lazy and took the gondola or cable car. It held forty people on a tiny cable. I do not like heights. I do not like feeling claustrophobic. It was definitely scary but I survived. At the top there was a church and a market area. I bought a mask made out of clay from Northern Colombia. It is cool and has a lizard on the top.
After that we went to the government plaza area. It is scary because all over Bogota there are guards with very intense guns. We are assured that they are there for our safety but it is still scary. There were a lot in the square also. Lacey you would have hated it because there were literally thousands and thousands of birds that clearly had no fear of humans.
We then went back to the convent to listen to some people about the Emmaeus Road Foundation. It is the reason we are here and is a really great program.They provide meals for displaced children and also scholarships for school.They have put 890 kids through high school or college. It is really great.
Today:
Once again we woke up to a wonderful breakfast. This time Tomales(corn sstuff steamed in banana leaves). To be honest I didn´t really like it but it was still very nice. The fruit here was wonderful. Then we went to a church service in this garage. It was cool because there were so many people in a little tiny space. Paige and I spent time in the Sunday school room and the kids were all really cute. They were all really sweet. I brought them some gum and beach balls and things like that. They loved them.
We have wonderful tour guides names Nataniel and Estella. We visited some of their family a poorer part of town. The hospitality of people is amazing even though they have very little. It was good to hear about some of th struggles that people have here in Bogota.
Then we went to a wonderful lunch. It was huge. They kept on bringing more and more appetizers so we all got a chance to try a ton of food. I can tell you I have not gone hungry on this trip.
After lunch we spent some time on the countryside. It was so beautiful. TOns of flowers and fresh fruit and just beautiful mountains. Again the hospitality was amazing. I got the most beautiful rose of my whole life that a woman had grown in her garden. The flower industry is huge down here. One of the women made us Empanadas and they were so good.
Overall it has been a wonderful couple of days. I really do love it here. I can´t wait for the rest of the trip. I hope everyone is enjoying their spring breaks. I miss you all and am excited to talk to all of you and share our spring break stories. I love you!
Erika
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