Bogota Bound...

Hi!

After a brief blogging hiatus, I'm finally back! Yesterday I tried to upload pictures from the alligator farm in Miami (amazingly cool) along with pictures from Paris, Brussels, Rome, and the Netherlands, but blogspot didn't seem to be working properly.  Pretty typical, actually--blogspot and I definitely have a love-hate relationship. Quick summary: I left LA June 4th and flew to Paris with my best friend, Rachel. We had an incredible time visiting the main sights, eating crepes, and getting lost every single day.  I then met up with Federico, and we went spent the majority of our time in Brussels and Rome, both of which were beautiful.  I was then in Michigan for two fast-paced weeks.  Papa and I had some quality bonding time together in Old Mission, a quick visit to Nat in Pittsburgh, and lots of fun with Don, Lydia, Yo, and Mom for the 4th of July. 

So, I'm sitting here on Don and Yo's super comfortable couch, and it's 10:00. I'm enjoying my last morning as a stereotypical American, as I sit here sipping a Starbucks cinnamon dolce latte listening to "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay (current obsession). I'll be leaving for the airport in exactly one hour, and even though I felt cool as a cucumber two minutes ago, my stomach now has major butterflies. 

For those of you that don't know, I will be in Bogota, Colombia for six weeks.  Why Colombia? Well, starting back in September, I started thinking about applying for funding from Marlborough's professional development fund.  Recognizing that teachers need to practice their skills and participate in the active learning process, Marlborough is usually very generous with their funding. As a Spanish teacher, I'm lucky to be able to classify living abroad in a Spanish-speaking country as "development of my foreign language skills." So, a long story short, I applied for funding to live in Colombia and take classes while living with a family, and it was approved.  

I thought about going to lots of countries, but eliminated Spain (too many Americans), Chile and Argentina (weird Southern hemisphere schedule), and Guatemala (too close to Mexico). Then, my good friend Federico mentioned out of the blue that I should go to Colombia and stay with his family.  Colombia has intrigued me ever since 2003 when I wrote my first Spanish research paper on the devastating effects of el narcotrafico, but I never would have thought of going there by myself.  Staying with Fede's family seemed liked the perfect solution, and everything was arranged and set to go by December.  It seems like so long ago, and I can't believe that it's now time to go. 

A lot of people have asked me how Mom and Papa feel about me going to such a "dangerous" country, but I think Colombia has been unfairly given a bad reputation.  Our sensationalist media only focuses on the kidnappings, murders, and cocaine, but vast improvements have been made in terms of security within the last five years.  Granted, there are certain areas of the country where I won't be going, but Bogota is quite safe...so I'm told. 

So, here I go.  Mauricio, Marta, and Santiago Segura are meeting me at the airport when I get in...eek! But really, despite the tears when I said goodbye and my occasional moments of feeling like I'm going to vomit, I am ridiculously excited.  I've been missing Latin America ever since I left Mexico, and I canNOT wait to speak Spanish all the time and just absorb Colombia like a sponge. 

Much love to you all,

Gina