Happy Hour and More Pizza

Last night, some of us girls met at Christy's house to have happy hour while watching the sunset.  Not to be a complete wine snob, but they served Barefoot wine (not the nice bottle I brought), and let's just say that as much as I would've enjoyed opening my bottle, I could barely choke down my glass of wine.  Eh.  The thought of it still sends shivers down my spine.  At least the company was good.  

This makes me want to get a patio set for me.  It's hard to hold a glass of wine on a hammock.  

 Cameras just do not do nature scenes justice.  

We visited this pizza place that's tucked in next to a gas station and doesn't look very appealing from the outside.  Everyone has said something about it, though, and I'm glad we went.  The pizza was good, and the views over the bay and city were beautiful.  

There was a clearer picture of us, but my face was...hmmmm...how shall I put this.....terrifying to look at.  Yes, I am wearing heels.  How was I to know we would walk over a mile to reach this place?  

Interesting Comics

I had to laugh when I saw these comics the kids turned in.  The point was to just draw something that involved negative numbers (in an effort to not only decorate my room but to also allow the artsy kids a chance to shine).  

 This girl spent hours plagiarizing Bill Watterson's work (obviously not understanding the assignment).  I recognized the comic from years of reading Calvin and Hobbes, not to mention that one of the students writing 'land of irony' on her paper caught my attention.  

 From what I've heard, saying 'hell' in middle/high school is no big deal, but this would've been a surprise from my kiddos last year.  (And, no, I do not understand the comic at all.)

Yes, shooting people, smiling about it, and having a dead guy with blood coming out is probably not the most appropriate topic for school, but it made me chuckle since a girl drew it.  

The Stroll

Instead of running today, I decided to explore a bit.  I started off going north, but all I found was a little convenience store and restaurant before the sidewalk ran out.  Heading back toward the normal grocery store I usually frequent, I kept walking past it and ran into all the night life in a crowded intersection of town.  This wasn't a touristy area...at all.  In fact, I would like to return and take pictures, but I'm not sure bringing my camera is a good idea.  I never felt unsafe, but I would prefer to get more of a feel for the place first.  

Anyway, while ambling along, I bought some pears and bananas from a fruit vendor.  The bananas were the least bruised ones I have seen while in Cartagena, and I appreciated the fact that they weren't covered in dirt and that sticky black banana stuff.  I realize this sounds trivial, but having yellow bananas is a treat.  

After checking out a street performer who was wearing a Michael Jacksonesque costume (full of glitter) and dancing, I bought an arepa con queso and a lemonade.  An arepa con queso is this thick, doughy, fried-on-both-sides bread stuffed with cheese and a surprise piece of ham.  It's quite good, but if I eat too many of those, I will have a heart attack.  The lady selling the lemonade squeezed a couple limes into a glass, poured sugar water into it, then ladled her concoction to the brim.  It was so refreshing and delicious!  I realize a walk isn't enough to burn off all those calories, so I just finished a salad because what better way to fight obesity than to eat more?  

On a completely different note, I have now lost two items (that I know of) to the wind.  A couple weeks ago, the cover for my air conditioning unit magically disappeared.  Looking outside today, I noticed that the thick comforter on my bed was missing from the line.  My maid seems to pick the rainy days to come, so nothing was dry last night when I went to bed.  Having learned that sheets and clothes banging against the windows can cause sleeplessness, I took everything but a huge sheet and the comforter down.  The comforter wasn't even blowing in the wind since it was weighed down by its own weight.  Running behind as usual this morning caused me to forget all about the stuff on the line.  It was raining anyway, so I just figured they wouldn't be dry.  Well, that was a mistake.  At this rate, I will be paying a butteau-load of money on replacing all the items I have lost.  

A Bike Ride

After church today, I met up with Christy and Leah to rent some bikes and explore the city.  Sundays are the best because the traffic isn't quite as deathly as on the other days.  

 This is the bay area where all the cruise and cargo ships dock.  

 I would like to say that I got a ton of exercise for the hour and a half we were riding, but a snake could've figured out a way to pedal faster.  It was a lot of fun, though, and we stopped at a homemade popsicle place to refresh ourselves. 

 It was a beautiful day.  I'm sorry I didn't take a picture of the ocean because the water was torquoise and clean, probably from the rains we had yesterday.  

We watched these guys throw their net into a huge circle and begin to pull it in.  Quite often, I see guys doing this from my apartment.  I'm not sure how many fish they catch each round because the bus always picks me up before they pull the whole net in.  

Once we dropped off the bikes, we headed to Crepes and Waffles to eat a late lunch.  We sat outside in the shade, but as time went on, I was covered in full sun.  Needless to say, one could call me Rudolph now.  

Girly Girl

  I'm a wee bit embarrassed to admit this, but I do believe people may start thinking of me as a girly girl.  Two things happened yesterday that lead me to believe this:
1.  A student asked if I had a lot of clothes.  When I laughed, told her no and asked why, she replied that I still hadn't worn the same thing to school yet.  I know Jill would be proud of me at this moment, but I think I may have over-packed, especially since I probably have another week's worth of clothes before the cycle begins again.  
2.  I went with another girl last night to get a pedicure.  That's normal, right?  I didn't want my heels looking all rough when there's not a good excuse to not have them done (like it's too expensive).  Well, I ended up getting a manicure, too.  To some, this would not be such a big deal, but I haven't had nail polish on my nails for at least ten years, and even now, my fingers feel heavy.  The most disturbing issue is the fact that I'm kind of liking the splash of color.  Plus, I had another friend invite me over to her place today to get my nails done by her lady.  Since I was already getting them done, I told her next time, which means my mani isn't a one-time thing.  Ahhhh!!!  Did I mention that getting both costs just ten bucks?  hehehehehehehehe

  

A Bit of Bragging

   I'm sorry!  I just can't help it!  I must share what I came home to today.  In the future, I will try to limit the food pictures (unless there's something so magnificent/disgusting that I must post it).  

    Last week, my maid tells me that she gets bored cooking just rice and veggies and would love to do the shopping and cook me something with a bit more flavor.  How could I resist?  Well, it was a good call on my part because here are my meals for the next week.  Starting from the left is salad (even has cooked mushrooms and peppers in it), homemade dressing, plantains marinated in who knows what (incredibly sweet and tasty), tender, marinated beef, coconut rice, and of course, a huge Tupperware of fruit.  All of it is absolutely delicious, which is a huge problem because I want to continue eating even after I'm full.  Oh, the problems of my life.  

Isla Cholon

Today, a group of eighteen teachers rented a boat and stopped at various islands throughout the day with the main stop being Isla Cholon.  The water temperature was perfect, and the visibility wasn't too shabby either.  

 When we arrived at Isla Cholon, the beach was packed with boats, and we originally had to swim a bit to reach the shore.  This is an uninhabited island with mostly mangroves covering it, but the locals from nearby villages come to sell jewelry and food.  They had fresh fish and lobster (for a price) they cooked up right there.  

 Our next stop was much quieter and had a nice long stretch of white sand.  The water wasn't quite as clear as there was a lot of debris from trees in it.  Plus, there were biting fish.  Poor Elizabeth had a chunk taken out of her bottom.  Luckily, they avoided me, but I had also gone on a walk with some other girls along the beach so wasn't in the water for quite as long.  

 The way home itself was an adventure.  The tempestuous sea tried at every opportunity to throw us off the ship, but we hung on.  Waves sprayed at us from every angle until we were drenched through and our mouths full of salt water from laughing and screaming so hard.  Thank goodness the drivers seemed to know what they were doing.  

Being rather famished from a tough day of treading water and hanging out on a boat, I decided to try my hand at ordering a pizza.  Let's just say my Spanish is much better in person when the people can see what I'm pantomiming.  I did end up getting some, though, so that's all that really matters.  

That's right: there are two pizzas.  There was a special, and I decided to save money by ordering two.  Now, I know these look halfway large, but believe it or not, they are just personal pizzas.  Small, really small, which is why I devoured them both.  Aaahhhhh......

The Find

Yesterday, I went on a mission to buy the Lonely Planet Colombia book.  I once again went into el Centro and found a bookstore I had passed last week.  They didn't have the book but pointed me to another store to try.  This went on a few more times until I had scoured every street.  Needing to refresh myself, I stumbled upon a flower market I hadn't seen before in the locals' area of shopping.  A man had a stall from which he sold homemade juices.  I ordered a maracuya (passion fruit) juice for $1.50 and was impressed with how large it was.  It came in those tall tin containers that shakes are made in and was delicious.  I do believe I should return every week just to test out all the fruits Colombia has to offer.  

Realizing that finding the prized book in an actual bookstore might be like finding a single tick in an elephant's thick hide, I stopped at a hostel I frequently pass.  The guy there showed me their book exchange rack (which was pathetically stocked), and lo and behold, there was the Lonely Planet Colombia book.  And, not just any LP book, but the most recent edition of it.  I do not have a book to trade yet but offered to buy it from him.  Instead, he told me to just bring any book when I am finished with one.  So, there you have it: I now have my research material for traveling during the holidays!

The Start of School

The first day of school was yesterday.  I am teaching two classes each of sixth and seventh grade math.  Plus, I have a group of seven eighth-grade girls that I see twice a week to give remedial math help to.  The poor girls; that's their elective.  

 The kids were mostly well-behaved, but I can already tell there's going to be a couple students who add some spunk to class.  

 As I'm sure you can tell, my room is sparsely decorated.  The teachers back home would have a heart attack if they saw my stark white walls and lack of any foofy stuff.  Plus, due to the scantiness of decorations, I have a map taped to the wall (yes, taped, because all the walls are made of cement, and nothing, and I mean nothing, gets through them).  The place feels quite homey to me, especially with the blinds open and sunlight pouring in.    

 On the bus ride home, what was supposed to be a twenty-minute ride turned into an hour.  We still don't know the reason, but I guess the traffic just jams up occasionally.  I was wishing I had been on a motorcycle because they are able to zoom in and out of the small cracks in traffic.  

 If it hadn't been for my stinkin' high heels, I would've walked the mile it was backed up and gotten home much faster.  

Today I brought a book with me just in case, but of course, it was smooth sailing.  

Exploring el Centro

This past Sunday, a fellow teacher, Elizabeth, and I met up to walk around el Centro.  Most of the restaurants inside the city walls are quite pricey, but we found where many of the locals hang out.  For $4.50, we got a full meal: fish soup, rice, beans, stewed beef, patacones, salad with avocado, and iced tea.  The iced tea was desperately needed because the day was a steamer, and the diner didn't have A/C.  

We walked around for several hours enjoying the life of the place.  Notice the beautiful colonial architecture.  I'm standing in front of Pedro de Heredia's statue, the founder of Cartagena de Indies.  He wasn't a very nice guy.  

Of course, one can only go so long without ice cream, so we stopped in this cute gelateria.  The best part was the ice cream was made of real fruits and had only natural ingredients in it.  I guess you could say it was a healthy snack.  At least, that was my reasoning for getting three scoops.  

Crib Crawl

     Last night a group of teachers went on a crib crawl, which is mainly a chance to see where everyone lives.  We visited eight apartments and spent some time in each one having a drink and snack.  One could definitely tell who is spending more on living quarters.  There is a building a few blocks from me where some teachers live.  Their views are spectacular as their balconies open up to the whole ocean, allowing them to see the sunset every night.  Out of the newbie teachers that participated, I am definitely glad I have my apartment.  It is well decorated, has great views and is well taken care of.  Plus, I served the better drink, wine, so that had to count for something.  
     We ended up at Matt's place in el Centro, the middle of the walled city.  This place was incredible.  When coming in off the street, there was a hallway with a bathroom and laundry room.  Once upstairs, he had a huge kitchen that opened up to a large patio and garden area.  From there, you could take a metal staircase leading up to a rooftop patio and Jacuzzi area.  Back down by the kitchen, the other side opened up to his room/sitting area.  There were two queen-sized beds and two long couches.  Finally, there was a balcony overlooking the cobble-stone street.  Unfortunately, this place has its drawbacks.  One, the utilities are way more expensive since it's in the walled city and everything is older.  Two, there are mosquitoes there since no ocean breeze filters its way in.  And, three, he pays three times more than I do for this place, more than he gets paid every month.  He enjoys it, though, and it's a great place for a get-together.  
  On a completely different note, the avocados are delicious here.  Becky made guacamole, and it was addictive.  I do believe it's time I try my hand at making some.....or, even better, have my maid do it! 

First Holiday!

Yesterday was the national holiday Battle of Boyaca, a decisive battle for the liberation of Colombia against the Spanish led by Simon Bolivar.  That's right: I've already had a day off!  Every time I walk towards the old city, there are people in a grassy area by the wall (surrounds the old city) flying kites.  Yesterday was especially busy, with several kite vendors on the outskirts of the park selling all sorts of kites: princess, superhero, animals, etc.  There are carts with food and an overall familial atmosphere.  The sea is right across the street, so the conditions for flying are superb.  

Cooking Class

Yesterday after school, a group of us rode the bus to Tania's apartment building.  We all brought something to contribute to our first ever Colombian cooking class.  When we arrived, everything was nicely laid out.  

 They started by giving us a cup of fruit with a scoop of ice cream on top.  The Colombians also add heavy cream and cheese to this treat, so of course, we had to try it that way.  It was good, but I think I prefer having it without.  

 There were several different jobs to do: peeling and cutting three different types of potatoes, washing and cutting chicken, rinsing out the rice, peeling and cutting corn on the cob, etc.  What's pretty amazing about all this is that normally, only one person would be making the whole meal.  I'm beginning to think the maids do not get paid enough.  

We made two types of juices: lulo and maracuya.  They are both sour by themselves, but after adding a pound of sugar, they are delicious and refreshing drinks.  (The Colombians really enjoy their calories.)

 While waiting for the meal to cook, we witnessed another beautiful sunset.  

 The time has arrived!  Four hours later, we all sit down to eat Ajiaco, a typical Colombian meal.  The soup on the left was quite tasty as the broth is the water from boiling the corn and chicken.  Added to all this was heavy cream (surprise, surprise) and avocado.   

I'm sure the cleanup would've been horrendous, but Tania's maid and the waiter she hired did it all.  We have talked about learning how to make empanadas next; I can't wait!

Pampered

Today was a lazy day.  The school provided a wonderful breakfast set out on nice tablecloths with flower centerpieces.  After a meeting or two, they then provided lunch.  (How I love free meals!)  

It was also the first day for my maid, Guadalupe, to clean my apartment.  I know, I know, a maid? But you're only one person!  Well, if I don't help support the locals, who will?  Upon returning home, my house was clean, some of my clothes ironed, towels and rugs washed, and my favorite, dinner made.  In these containers are beans, rice, vegetables and fruit..enough for three days or more!  Now I'll just have to figure out how to heat everything up as I do not have a microwave.  Maybe a toaster oven...?

Oh, and one more thing: my air conditioning is fixed!  Wahoo!

I can't take it anymore!

This is the painting I look at every time I stand at my kitchen sink or sit to eat.  Although it definitely has a Caribbean flare to it, I cannot help but empathize with the fish.  Though I believe the artist painted them to be dead, they seem to be staring up in horror at a giant, bearded man with an ax and an evil snicker.  The fish on the bottom has apparently given up and is dejectedly awaiting his fate.  Since depression sinks in whenever I see the poor souls, I have decided that this is where I'll be hanging some of the pictures I brought with me.  As much as I'd love to give the fish a final resting place on the bottom of the ocean, the landlady might notice (who wouldn't?), so I'll have to stick with putting them under the bed to be seen only by Bella and whatever roaches decide to crawl through.  

My Humble Abode

The Guest Bathroom

Kitchen

Still in the kitchen...washing machine

That's right: no dishwasher

Dining room table

Sitting area

My view off the balcony (yes, that's the ocean)

Obviously, the bedroom with some interesting storage areas

Sideways bathroom (can't figure out how to flip it yet)

My weirdly-shaped shower

So, this is pretty much my apartment.  It is very small but livable.  While trying to boil water for tea this morning, I realized I had no idea how to start the stove.  Turns out, I have to use this flimsy match to ignite the gas.  Lovely.  I'm getting a LONG lighter at the store today.  And actual cooking in the oven..forget about it.  

My shower is only cold water, which turns out to be quite refreshing after the constant downpour of sweat emitting from my body....ALL THE TIME.  Upon returning from the store yesterday, I was covered in gritty sand that had stuck onto all the sweat.  Showering is a definite must here.  

The one small glitch here is that the AC is broken.  Someone will come out to look at it next week, and I haven't actually needed it yet, but I don't know if the ocean breezes will always be here.  

The views from my place are quite beautiful.  To the east is the Cartagena River with the slums; to the south are skyscrapers lit up during the night; and to the north and west are crashing waves and seagulls floating through the air.  I literally have to just walk out my building, cross the street, and bam, I'm on the beach.  Does life get any better?