The Search for Jubilee in this month of June

Sorry it has been so long since I wrote anything.  The truth is I've been in a funk because it is the beginning of June and usually this means June Jubilee.

In Texas, a large number of friends have their birthdays in June.  School is also over.  The combination results in constant celebrating the entire month, hence June Jubilee.  This weekend was the graduation of the third class of students I taught (so proud!) and following the graduation, my friends (as is tradition) are packing up and having a week-long vacation somewhere in Texas.  I'm not with them (in spirit yes, physically no).  I'm so glad they've kept the tradition going and will really need to find a way to be there next year for Doublewide Cinco (yes, this vacation is called Doublewide because the first place we ever rented was apparently a Doublewide - according to my friend Andria who seemed to be some sort of expert in the topic).

Without the Doublewide and without my Houston friends, I'm struggling to feel the jubilation of June.  That's normal, right?  Yes, I have friends here and yes life, for the most part, is continuously surprising me with it's awesomeness... but for the moment June feels a bit less jubilant.

Thankfully it's only June 4th.  For the rest of the month I will focus on making my own sort of Colombian June Jubilee.  A friend and I have already discussed that we should go out more and enjoy the month because while we do have to work, we don't have to teach.  I also just stepped away from a bound-to-be-toxic relationship situation with my pride and self-esteem fully intact - definitely something worth celebrating if you ask me and a sign that my 29th year of life is going to be fabulous because I'm not acting a fool (quite as much at least...a little foolishness keeps life interesting).  Still, I am on the hunt for even more jubilation in this very special month.  I am open to suggestions and hope to share some stories and pics with you as the jubilee transpires. :)

Just a few pics to commemorate the wonderful tradition of June Jubilee and Doublewide:

Hot dogs, Texas Tea, and Rachael showing as the she "got your crazy"...what more could a person ask for?

First thing after my arrival in Texas last summer for the kickoff - a beer at Cedar Creek.

Love this B!

2 years ago, June Jubilee included skydiving on my birthday.

Ajiaco: What's Cookin'

I know I have written blogs about my Stage 2 Culture Shock and some of the things that have made adjusting to life in Colombia difficult...the food is NOT one of them.  It is AMAZING - the fresh fruit (and juice), picada, bandeja paisa, tamales, empanadas, canelazo...the list goes on and on of food and drink that I just can't get enough of but one of my all time favorites so far is Ajiaco.

It's been on my to-do list to try and make it - and seeing that this may be the first long weekend that I am not traveling, it seemed like as a good a time as ever.  Ajiaco is basically chicken and potato soup, it is served with mazorca (corn), avocado and rice on the side and on top of the soup you put sour cream (will the Colombia version of it) and capers which for me are what absolutely make the dish.  There was quite a bit of cutting and peeling and I learned a lot about potatoes (this soup has three kinds!) but overall it was pretty simple.

And it the end it was DELICIOUS!

The ingredients all laid out and ready to go.

Three types of potatoes - who knew?!

The final product - YUM!

My favorite things: Empanadas

I have an addiction: empanadas from El Kiosko.  If you lived two blocks from the place, you would too.

This place makes the best empanadas in all of Bogotá.  If you are not familiar with empanadas - here in Bogotá at least - they are fried pockets of dough (made of corn) filled with delicious things.  I always get carne (meat) but they have cheese and chicken as well...and everywhere you go they are a bit different.  You eat them with lime and aji (hot salsa...there are different kinds) - YUM!  I generally order water to try and balance the fried (unhealthy) deliciousness with something that my body actually needs, but they go wonderfully as well with Colombiana - a delicious soda made in, duh, Colombia.
 

I’ll Be Home for Christmas…

Was home for 10 days to celebrate Christmas with the family and to attend my cousin Casey’s wedding.  While I originally was not planning on returning to the States during my two years in Colombia, it was so nice to be home (even if it was for a very short visit).

Highlights:

·      Casey and Andrea’s wedding.  Absolutely beautiful, the service was only 20 minutes (nice work you two), and the reception was a blast.

·      Seeing tons of family and friends.  Shout out to Pears for flying to Connecticut to visit.  Shout out to Aunt Cathy for another delicious Christmas dinner.  Shout out to Silent Thunder (you know who you are) for becoming the new World Champion of Rummy 500.

·      Snow.  It was only flurries in Upstate New York, but I’ll take it.

·      BATH TUB!  Colombians just don’t know what they are missing.  There is nothing like a hot bubble bath to help you relax.

·      Went to the city with the family to see On A Clear Day… with Harry Connick Jr.  Great time with the family and a good show.

·      Driving.  TUK is out of commission because I took of the insurance on him when I moved.  Still it was great to get in a car and drive (and sing at the top of my lungs, of course).

·      Thanksgiving dinner x 2.  Both Grandma Naylor and mom feed me a delicious meal that included turnips and pumpkin pie with homemade whipped cream to make up for the fact that I was not home in November. YUM!

·      Electric blanket.  I received a lot of awesome gifts but as I’m writing up this blog, I’m lying in bed SO grateful to have this new electric blanket to protect me from the wet cold that often invades Bogotá.

The Cottrell cousins at Casey's wedding

So much to be thankful for!

So it was definitely a bit sad when Thanksgiving arrived and I found myself riding in the van to school - the only one aware that this very big holiday was in progress.   I found myself missing turnips (that Grandma Naylor makes special for me...because I think I might be the only one in the family who eats them); missing walks in the woods bundled up with hats, gloves, and scarf; and missing the same family stories that are told every year and somehow seem to get funnier with each telling of them.

Still, as it is a day to give thanks - there is certainly a lot that I am thankful for.  I made sure to use this day to let all my students know what it is about them that I am most thankful for.  I wrote them each a thank you note and before I passed out the note I explained what the holiday is all about.  They loved it - and many of them took the time to say what they were thankful too.

Also, I wasn't alone for the holiday.  My cousin Drew flew down to visit during his long weekend (Wednesday through Sunday).  It was so nice to see a familiar face and not feel like I was totally isolated from the Naylor/Cottrell clans.  I signed him up for an all-day tour of the city on Thursday because I had to work and then on Friday he came to school with me and helped teach 3 of my classes.  So fun!  Every night we went out for great Colombian food, drinks, and fun.  On Saturday, what was supposed to be a quick lunch up in the mountains turned into a road trip because on our way down the road was blocked so we had to drive an hour away from the city before we could connect to another road that would lead us home.  It ended up being an awesome addition to Drew's trip, as he got to see the Colombian countryside.  So thankful for Drew's visit, as sharing with someone else reminds you of all the wonderful things that you have in your life.

I've also been overwhelmed by life lately.  This is the time of the year where the work starts piling up - there are holiday parties, Secret Santa games, final exams (which means LOTS of grading), Christmas shopping, packing, I've also squeezed in a visit to Ecuador scheduled for December 7.  So what does this have to do with being thankful?  Well, the reason that a lot of the work is becoming overwhelming is because I have developed a nice little network of friends here.  I now have lots of plans each week - and so the quiet nights I used to have at home are dwindling.  I am back to needing to work on the balance - but I so thankful that I have wonderful people to experience Colombia with!

Bucket List...so much to do!

So I've mentioned my Bucket List in this blog before but I've never shared it publicly.  It's a work in progress and some things I've already done (they are crossed out).  There are also things I feel tempted to add and cross out because I have done them and I want to feel like I'm making progress...but that's kind of beside the point.  The typed version of my Bucket List was finally created around April or May of this year as I was preparing for graduation and thinking about my next steps.  Until then it was written in bits and pieces in my journal.  I'm including it here for a few reasons:

1. I was just reading it tonight and thinking about how much I want to do while I'm here in Colombia... it's exciting but also overwhelming but it helps me set goals.
2. Accountability.  There is a lot I'd like to do while I'm in Colombia and the time is flying.  The "visit all countries in South America" goal is already looking like it's probably not going to happen in the next two years - there's so much to do in Colombia itself!
3. For suggestions.  What very cool and important things am I forgetting?  There are lots of places that I'd like to visit that I have yet to add.  But please send places, activities, important milestones my way for consideration.
4. For company and/or assistance.  If there are things on this list that you'd like to do as well, let me know and we'll start planning it. :) If there are things on this list you can help me with, let me know that as well.

Again, I'm always looking for new experiences and adventures, so this list is by no means getting in the way of my spontaneity or openness but it also ensures that I'm not sitting around twiddling my thumbs and it keeps me going on those tough days when I'm feeling lonely or defeated.

Some of the things are more serious than others...and again, its a work in progress.  I'm a bit nervous sharing this...but you're supposed to one thing every day that you're afraid of, right?
And so, without further ado, my bucket list:

1. Become fluent in Spanish   My Spanish will never be perfect but I can work and live in Spanish, so we're going to say "fluent".
2. Learn to drive a stick shift.
3. Visit all 7 continents.
4.  Live alone.
5.   Live in another country for at least a year.
6. Have an article/paper published in a journal or magazine.
7. Visit these major sites:
• a. The Great Pyramids
• b.   Great Wall of China
• c.   Taj Mahal
8. Float in the Dead Sea
9. Take a road trip across the United States (focusing on the northwest national parks)
• Grand Canyon
• Grand Tetons
• Yellowstone
• Redwood Forest
• Lake Tahoe
• Rocky Mountains
• Drive the California coast
• Visit New Mexico
10. Run a marathon (Glad I can say I did it but…yuck.)
11. Run a half marathon in another country (I’ve already done the marathon – and HATED IT…but I love running and 13.1 miles is pain free!)
12. Achieve debt freedom!
13. Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro
14. Visit Jerusalem
15. Visit all 50 states
16.  Learn to knit
17. Go on a meditation/yoga retreat in India
18. Present at an international conference
19. Take my parents on a vacation
20. Skype monthly with my brother…not doing so well with this one Bub
21. E-mail my grandparents monthly
22. Sell my artwork
23. Learn to sail
24. Get PADI certified (scuba diving)
25. Swim with sharks…to get over my fear
26. Go running in a sports bra - no shirt (and feel comfortable doing it!)
27. Plant a vegetable garden that can feed me and my family
28. Learn to surf
29. Complete a New York Times crossword puzzle
30. Meet my Texas B’s for a vacation (aka Double Wide #?) in another country
31. Milk a cow
32. Get to a point where I can donate 10% of my earnings to others in need 
33. Buy a house                         

While in DC for the summer…

1. COMPLETE a crossword from the Express during my morning commute to
2. Go on a 6-mile long run each weekend      
3. Volunteer while I’m there
4. Attend the Quaker meeting house on a Sunday
5. Go to the Phillips Museum in DC
6. Organize Thirsty Thursday for my 10 weeks there
7. Visit the library of Congress
8. Shop at Eastern Market
9. Shop at a Farmers’ Market
10. Visit Peggy and Jack
11. Dim Sum in Chinatown
12. Spend a Saturday or Sunday at Busboys and Poets perusing their amazing bookstore, sipping coffee, writing/sketching, and reading;
13. Eat a cupcake from Cake Love
14. Visit the H-Street Corridor
15. Visit Columbia Heights

While living in Colombia…

1. Visit all the countries in South America
1. a.  Peru (Machu Picchu, Lima, etc.)
2. b.   Equador (Quito, Galapagos, etc.)
3. c.   Visit The Guyanas all at once (everyone tells me there’s no point…but I need to decide that for myself)
4. d.   Buenos Aires, Montevideo
5. e.   Brazil
6. f.   Venezuela
7. g.   Chile/Patagonia
8. h.   Paraguay
9. i.    Bolivia
2. Dance salsa in Cali (with the full realization that I will be terrible in comparison to everyone else)
3. Take a class (cooking, art, etc.) taught in Spanish OR take Spanish classes
4. Draw/paint again
5. Maintain a blog to document my experience
6. Give a presentation in Spanish
7. Date a Colombian (come on!  I had to include this!)
8. Plan a program/activity/lesson between U.S. students and Colombian students (connected students in Colombia and Rwanda instead...I'm letting it count)
9. Visit Villa de Leyva
10. Go rock climbing in Suesca
11. Hike around Guatavita Lake
12. Buy a bike and use it to explore the city on Sundays
13. Sleep in a hammock
14. Visit La Ciudad Perdida
15. Learn how to use the Transmilenio
16. Finish 100 Years of Solitude … I’ve tried several times but then got disrupted for a few weeks…this time I will FINISH it!
17. Attend a professional soccer match in Colombia
18. Visit Medellin

UPDATED:

1. Participate in a Tough Mudder

Alright folks, what do I HAVE to add... think BIG! :)

Rain pants, macaroons, and friendly encounters

So not sure what exactly people blog about. I wanted to make this more of a regular thing but I don't have anything profound to say. I tried to jot down things that I should write about but sometimes lists just stress me out.

But just five minutes ago I ate a cranberry macaroon and thought, "Wow, there is some gooooood stuff in my life right now and I should share this with others". Now that I'm writing I'm questioning whether or not anyone really even reads this but if you do here are the greatest things that happened to me today:

1. I met a new student in my program to catch him up to speed (because he did not attend the summer session). We had a great conversation about saving the world. It was fuel for my week...or maybe just until tomorrow when I have ANOTHER great conversation because great discussions seem to be a new trend in my life.

2. I rode my bike in the pouring rain...to hot yoga at 6:30 in the morning...then to campus for coffee with the aforementioned colleague..and then I bought RAIN PANTS!! My bike ride home was amazing. I look a bit ridiculous but it feels very cool to know that I am helping out my environment by not driving my car, I'm getting exercise, and I'm not letting any amount of precipitation get in my way.

3. Hot vinyasa flow yoga. I had to give this its own bullet because it's incredible. Incredibly challenging - it's HOT HOT HOT and fast-paced but I leave feeling invigorated, cleansed,and strong (Ok, I also feel a bit light-headed at this point but my instructor assures me that as my body adapts to this rigorous activity I will feel less of this). Try it if you can. It's the best.

4. Great food. The concept of having time to appreciate my food is new to me - but I'm going to try and remember this when I feel like I have no time. It really makes a difference. I've baked bread (some attempts have been more successful than others), cooked some great meals, and have shared some great meals with new friends.

So, that's all I've got. Perhaps not proper blogging content, but that's all I got.