The first 3 days

Hola de Colombia!

First of all. let me just say, there is no easy way to put this experience into words. Every day I wake up and look out the window and think that I must be dreaming.

It was a long trip, but everything went smoothly. I arrived in Bogota at 5 AM on Wednesday and was picked up and driven directly to the school! I hadn't slept in 24 hours but had meetings all day from 7-3. The next day after I was able to sleep and shower, I got many comments on my ‘new face.’ Culturally in this area, people are very aware of looks…and they iron everything they wear (which is bad for me because all my clothes have been smashed in a suitcase for 4 days now!)

I'm living in a beautiful little apartment with 3 other teachers from El Camino Academy. Here, they have washing machines but no dryers, the water only gets hot in the shower (although if you touch any metal while in there you will probably get shocked because it is electric), and you generally avoid flushing toilet paper. There are no outlets in the bathroom, and the only one in my room works about 50% of the time, if I push it in at the right angle =). Also, I never realized what a big difference in sound that double paned windows can make!

The people here are more than friendly and we have been invited to dinner constantly. The food here is so good and they always have my two favorite drinks…fruit juice (actually made directly from the tropical fruits!) and of course, coffee! We went to the grocery store one evening and people try to sell you things as you walk down the aisles. Similar to a clothing store in the States.

The public transportation system is pretty crazy…on our first bus ride to school, the bus decided to cut off two lanes of traffic to make an exit and side swiped a car getting it stuck in the hub of the bus tire. Sometimes there aren’t even lanes painted on the roads so this is not uncommon. Also, you have about 2.3 seconds to get on the bus when it stops for you. It will start driving while you still have one foot out the door! You have to have your money ready in hand too, especially if there are other people trying to get on.

I’ve been in the school everyday from about 8-4. I have met a few of my students already too! Oh, I may have forgotten to mention that I was switched to 3^rd grade...I’m so glad though because I think that it was supposed to be my class from the very beginning. School starts so soon! I have a teacher aid that is helping me set up the classroom, and will be in the room with me full time to help out anywhere I need her. She has been a tremendous help already!

PS. All of my websites come up in Spanish because of the network I’m on…it’s awesome!

Thank you for your prayers! They are very much appreciated and we are watching first hand how God is working here. We are looking forward to quite an exciting year!