During my stay in Colombia, I have gained a new family. Rosalia would most likely be an award winning teacher in the USA--because of her innate ability to cultivate relationships, to know her students, and to just kick ack and have fun. He husband, Pedro, treated us like family as well, even driving us to and from our hotel in Boca Grande to Compestre. Their son, Michael, thanked us TGC teachers, saying "You have made my mom so happy." Rosalia loves her students, and she will do anything she can do to enhance their world view. As a matter of fact, her former students, now college students, joined us for lunch, and they treated her like family, which was so refreshing to witness.
We ate a delightful lunch and then played a Spanish language game, where we had to memorize a set of 15 Spanish words. She rolled a dice, and if landed on us and we could not remember the word, we had to dance Mapale. I, unfortunately, failed in this endeavor after I repeated banos for the 5th time.
On the way to the home, Alli felt it would be a cultural experience if we rode the bus. In Cartagena, if a woman has a young child, no one will give up his or seat, but the young woman can give her child to another passenger to hold. In addition, people packed into the bus like sardines, so that you had to throw an elbow just to get off at your stop. Most people have to take the bus at least once or twice a month--because the government bans certain license plate numbers on a given day--and all motorcycles twice per month. I think forced public transportation is a wonderful concept, but they certainly could benefit from a bigger bus. A shout out goes to my colleague, John, who guarded the gourmet cake we bought collectively at Mira's, a fine restaurant located in the Centro. The cake, with its golden, caramelized sugar icing, is to die for.
Rosalia, upon receiving the cake, stated: "Yes! I get to participate in an American custom." In Colombia, bringing a guest a gift is not expected.
We ate a delightful lunch and then played a Spanish language game, where we had to memorize a set of 15 Spanish words. She rolled a dice, and if landed on us and we could not remember the word, we had to dance Mapale. I, unfortunately, failed in this endeavor after I repeated banos for the 5th time.
On the way to the home, Alli felt it would be a cultural experience if we rode the bus. In Cartagena, if a woman has a young child, no one will give up his or seat, but the young woman can give her child to another passenger to hold. In addition, people packed into the bus like sardines, so that you had to throw an elbow just to get off at your stop. Most people have to take the bus at least once or twice a month--because the government bans certain license plate numbers on a given day--and all motorcycles twice per month. I think forced public transportation is a wonderful concept, but they certainly could benefit from a bigger bus. A shout out goes to my colleague, John, who guarded the gourmet cake we bought collectively at Mira's, a fine restaurant located in the Centro. The cake, with its golden, caramelized sugar icing, is to die for.
Rosalia, upon receiving the cake, stated: "Yes! I get to participate in an American custom." In Colombia, bringing a guest a gift is not expected.