Home for the Holidays

I've just returned to Bogotá after two weeks back in the northeast (USA).  It was a whirlwind of a trip but I fit in a lot.  It was a great balance of family time and friend time and down time.  There was also lots of snow, which I was hoping for but is never a guarantee.

These visits back home are never long enough but they always remind me of just how lucky I am to have such a loving bunch of people in my life.  The visit home was rejuvenating.  Quality time with family and catch-up time with friends from childhood, college, and work.

Thanks to everyone who squeezed in time to see me during the craziness of the holidays.  I am totally blessed.

Some highlights:

Family Time

Great time with aunts, uncles, and cousins.  So much delicious food!

Visiting favorite places - had to get my chocolate shake from Orbakers.

Walk down memory lane, in Joy.

Keeping with traditions, we attended the candlelight service and
then woke up to stockings, gifts and a delicious breakfast.

No visit home would feel quite right without Krochko QT.

Dinner with mom and dad before I left.  

Catching up with friends

1.  My best childhood friend is getting married (twice!) and I'm going to be in her wedding in June.  Very excited and so great catching up with her.

2. Jule and Sophia in town for a very brief visit.

Sophia came a bit earlier, so we had some time to hang with my family.

Continued catching up with cocktails and dinner. 

Then headed to a townie bar for some entertainment...

....which we dominated.
I feel both proud and embarrassed of this.

3.  JCI Reunion with guest star, KA

Catching up over drinks...

...and brunches...

...and dinners.

Celebrating the New Year

...with this view.

Love my time with these ladies and
really hoping for a reunion in Bogotá this July!

Christmas has arrived to Colombia

Today was the official start of Christmas in Colombia and it definitely felt that way.

At my school, today was el día de fraternidad.  Every year in the first week of December the whole school is divided into groups and we travel throughout the city to visit homes for the elderly.  We spend a month collecting food and money to buy gifts that we then bring with us to share with the folks living in these homes.  We only spend about 3 hours at the homes, but the time is very special.  There are not really words to describe the beauty of children and elderly people singing, talking, laughing and interacting.  We share in a tradition of novenas and gozos, a series of prayers in songs (a week early).  Then the students pass around Christmas pictures and colored pencils for the elderly folks to color and make Christmas cards.  Some just want to talk, and there's a lot of that too.  Before we leave each person is given two gifts - a bag of Christmas cookies and a winter hat.  I didn't end up getting pictures of this because I was busy talking with the people in the home (I could actually communicate with them this year - very exciting!) and encouraging the students to initiate conversations.  My fifth graders were very nervous in the beginning but by the end of our time there had made some friends and were telling me all about the amazing people met and the stories they heard.  So special!

In the evening, my friend Natalia invited me to her house to light candles with her family.  The 7th of December is the official start of Christmas in Colombia.  On this night, families get together for dinner and to light candles outside their homes, in the windows, etc. to light the path for the Virgin Mary on her way to Bethlehem.  It is a beautiful tradition as it brings together the family and the community, as everyone is outside lighting candles.  It is also beautiful to see all the candles lit as you walk or drive down the streets throughout the city.  Additionally, there are fireworks.  It's a big deal.

I don't have official family here, which can be difficult especially on days like this one, but Natalia's family has been kind enough to adopt me.   We all helped Natalia to decorate her apartment for Christmas (many families wait until this day to decorate), we ate arepitas with hogao, and then we went outside, lit candles, said a prayer, and listened to some Christmas music.  Later in the evening, I rode with Natalia when she took her aunt and mother home.  The city was gorgeous and there was a peace that you could feel and see as families and in some cases neighborhoods were sitting outside together with candles lit.

Natis' Christmas tree

I made the bow for the door. :-)

Arepitas y velitas...Christmas begins Colombian-style!

I love traditions, as I mentioned in my Cookie Day post, and this tradition is one that I might have to continue whether I am in Colombia or not.

Bringing a Tradition to Colombia

My family has always been big on traditions and Christmas time is loaded with them:  Christmas Eve pagaent when Bubba and I were younger, now the Candlelight Midnight Service; Opening stockings on Mom and Dad's bed before we go downstairs to open the gifts; Dad puts the lights on the tree, I make the bows for the tree; Dad makes the mashed potatoes; Mom always has ham roll-ups and a Christmas punch with ginger ale, orange juice and cranberry juice... the list goes on and for sure things change a bit here and there with time but one tradition that I have missed for many years has been the tradition of Cookie Day.

Since I can remember, my mom has hosted Cookie Day.  Two of her friends, Sara and Joanne,  and my mom each plan 3 - 5 cookie recipes.  They all congregate at my house and spend the day making their recipes.  At the end of the day the cookies are split among the three of them and everyone leaves with a whole lot of different kinds of cookies to share with holiday visitors and with friends and co-workers, teachers and family during the holiday season.  It is awesome.  It's a laid-back day with lots of catching up on the latest gossip and life stories and lots and lots of laughs as the individuals try out (and sometimes fail with) new recipes and problem solve around specific directions (for example, to crush candy canes is it best to drive over a bag of them several times with your car or smash them with a mallet?!).

Living in Colombia is wonderful.  Life is simpler.  But still, at times, I miss the traditions and the comfort of family and friends.  As with Thanksgiving, I decided that not being in the United States would no longer be an excuse for me to miss out on the things I love.  Sure, turnips and cranberry sauce are things I simply cannot get, but make time with friends a priority here and re-creating traditions can be done.  Today was a perfect example.

  

I hosted my very own Cookie Day with two of my friends, Tiffany and Marisa...my English-speaking friends.  We each agreed on making two recipes.  We started at noon and ended at 7:00 pm.  We had some successes and some recipes that we were less-than-psyched about but overall it was a success.  We got caught up on life, laughed as we listened to funny stories from each other (especially Tiffany who is currently processing a life transition from living the high-life to living....well, to living with a bit less stuff and a few more people....hehe).  We ordered pizza and took a short break to re-energize and then ended the day with at least 6 dozen cookies each.  AWESOME!

  

It is such a joy, knowing I have people in my life here in Colombia with whom I can re-create these traditions.  It was also really special to create this tradition here.  As far away from home as I am, this day helped me to realize just how connected I still am to life and family in the States and to think about how much of who I am is connected to all the experiences my family created for me growing up.  I am so blessed and so thankful for that.

Giving Thanks

I did it!!

I successfully hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for 20 people!

I have been planning this for weeks - I sent out the Evite, I planned the menu, I tested some recipes for pies, checked in with Grandma Naylor about the best way to freeze pies, learned that freezing a pumpkin pie was not a good idea, and this weekend I cooked all the elements of a Thanksgiving dinner that I could given some of the Colombian limitations (no cranberries, no sweet potatoes).

The menu

Appetizers:  

• Ham Rolls ups (family tradition) 
• Crudité with two cream cheese dips (one with bacon and onion; the other with onion soup mix and red pepper)
• Camembert cheese and crackers

Dinner:

• Turkey  
• Stuffing
• Gravy - Thank you Tiffany!  She arrived just in time to help me with this difficult task but I think I could do it on my own now...maybe.
• Vegetable Medley
• Mashed Potatoes
• Squash Casserole (mom's recipe)
• Buttermilk Biscuits (tiffany's recipe)

Dessert:

• Pumpkin Pie
• Apple Crisp
• Whipped Cream 
• Vanilla Ice Cream

 Everyone seemed very happy.  The turkey was so juicy and flavorful.  I've never seen my parents marinate the turkey for Thanksgiving but I decided to stick with recipe that I found and I think I'd recommend it for the future. Soooo tasty!  The most popular item was probably the pumpkin pie because it simply does not exist in Colombia - It was so fun to introduce so many of my friends to this delicious dessert.

The whole event was quite hectic...did I mention there were 20 people in my tiny apartment?!!  Still, I wanted to make sure we didn't completely forget the purpose of Thanksgiving so I made a poster for people to write the things for which they are thankful.  I think it came out well - and it definitely showed the variety of personalities that were visiting. 

Overall, such a great day!  Definitely an event I will want to repeat in the future. 

More exploring

Since my last visit to el centro, I have been creating a list of all the things I want to see and do.  Surprise, suprise...so unlike me...
Anyhow, at 7:30am Juan Carlos and I hopped on a bus with list in hand and did not stop until 4:30pm when we got on a bus to head back home.  We covered quite a bit of ground and I forgot to take photos of everything!  (Too caught up in the moment!)

First stop:  La Puerta Falsa for the best tamal in Bogotá. Maybe the world.  

Tamal with chocolate and agua de panela accompanies by almojabana, queso, and pan.  This was NOT a light breakfast.

  

Next stop:  Juan Valdez.   La Puerta Falsa does NOT serve coffee, despite being in Colombia.  Loved the restaurant, but still needed the coffee.

Stop #3: BOOKSTORE!  Part of the Centro Cultural Gabriel García Márquez, this bookstore was BIG.  And not every book was wrapped in plastic, per usual, so I could actually peruse for real.  Delightful.

Stop #4:  Popped into La Casa de Moneda...but realized I'd already been.

Stop #5:  Another stroll through La Candelaria.  I just can't get enough.

La Candelaria - I love it!

Stop #6:  Break to try Chicha...at 10am.  Gross on multiple levels.  This is a fermented beverage made of maiz (corn).  It is very strong...and pretty terrible.  You could nurse this over a great conversation on a Friday evening...but on a Saturday morning it's best to take a few sips to say you tried it and dump the rest down the drain.  Thanks to my friend Hillary for telling me about this must-try...check.

Happy to be checking this item off my list.  Never again...well, never say never I suppose.

Stop #7: El parque de la independencia.  It was pretty cloudy and about to rain, so we didn't linger tool long.  Will need to return another day...with a good book.

Stop #8:  El Museo Nacional.  Definitely need Juan Carlos with me for this.  I had a lot of questions about the history and about the vocabulary. :)

The museum is in an old prison.  Absolutely gorgeous inside and out.

Stop #9:  La Macarena for lunch.  It was raining when we left the museum but I wanted to check out La Macarena...so we booked it with my tiny pink umbrella to a street filled with what all seemed like wonderful restaurants.  We chose the Mexican one.  I've been missing Texas a bit lately.

After lunch, the sun was out and on our way to bus I spotted this:
 

Seems fitting for the weekend...but certainly bizarre for the middle of Bogotá.

Great day...but I'm exhausted.

Valentine's Day in Colombia

 

What a lovely surprise!

A New Year in Colombia

I flew back to Colombia for the New Year because I didn’t want to miss out on too much.   The holiday was spent at a club in Anapoima with my boyfriend and his family.  (Yes, I currently have a boyfriend but I will not be writing about this in my blog.  If you want to be nosey, I understand, just shoot me an e-mail) :-)

Anyhow, the club was beautiful with pools, bar, restaurant, golf course (I don’t play), and comfortable rooms.  The weather in Anapoima is absolutely perfect – minimal humidity, 80s during the day, high 60s at night, a continuous gentle breeze and beautiful scenery.  We arrived in the afternoon of New Year’s Eve, ate some lunch, took a nap, and then festivities began.  It was nothing out of the ordinary but it was wonderful – great food, drinks, and dancing.  The one thing I have to say about Colombian events is that there is always good music and everyone dances – like really dances with real steps and turns, etc.  It is so much fun.  Was nervous to spend so much time with Juan Carlos’ family but they were a hoot – and I some how managed to hold my own with my Spanish.  I think this is a good sign – I’m actually learning Spanish!  Who would have thought?!

We spent another two days in Anapoima sleeping lots, eating well, and enjoying the sun.  It was an excellent way to kick off 2012.

Happy New Year to all.  Let’s make it the best year yet…seeing that according to the Mayans it’s our last. ;-)

Juan Carlos and I at the New Year's Eve celebration

With Juan Carlos' family

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

El día de la fraternidad

Christmas has arrived in Bogotá.  The lights have been hung on every building and with the switch from November 30 to December 1, the feeling has completely changed.  This is good and bad.  For whatever reason Christmas lights and Christmas generate feelings of warmth and happiness deep within my core - probably connected to memories of Christmas pageants, opening up stockings at the foot of my parents' bed, and Cookie Day with my mom and her friends.  This time of year, however, also brings life to a level of hectic that I have never been comfortable with.  Schedules at school constantly change, there are too many parties to attend (usually on school nights when I have too much due the next day), and everyone wants to play Secret Santa (here, it's Secret friend....that's another story).  Still, while my school has been slowly driving this uber-organized gal (me) insane with the regular surprise additions in the schedule that result in canceled classes - this Friday's schedule change was a delight.

This Friday was the día de la fraternidad. I think translated it's "day of brotherhood (and sisterhood)".  On this day the entire school headed to the nursing homes throughout the city to bring gifts, music, and love to the "ancianos" of Bogotá.  My group was a group of about 150 students and we were visiting with about 150 elderly folks.  We arrived to this beautiful convent (supposedly most of these homes are NOT so nice, so it was nice to see one place doing things right).  The elderly adults were in a giant sunroom waiting for their guests.  I had no idea what to expect from the students but they were incredible.

First, they spread out the through the room simply saying hi and finding a place to sit.  Then the novenas began.  I think I might need to explain novenas in another post (next week when they officially begin in Colombia) but briefly - Novena de Aguinaldo is a series of prayers that Colombians say during the nine days before Christmas.  Because our school ends the day before the novenas officially begin, I think they've decided to get in an extra round of the novenas.  Each day of the novena includes a series of reading AND songs.  We spent about 20 minutes going through the reading and singing the song.  Thankfully it's the same song over and over and I had a student to help me learn the lyrics.  The songs are fun and the students brought guitars and tambourines to liven up the performance.

Following the novena, the students spread out again throughout the room and colored pictures of Christmas scenes with the members of the nursing home.  Everyone was laughing and telling stories and having a wonderful time.  I was so impressed by the kindness and the maturity of the students.

Our stay only last about 2 1/2 hours but it was an absolutely wonderful way to begin the holiday and to remind me of the things that really matter.  There will always be work and stress, but it is important to relish in these moments and take time to notice all the beauty, kindness, friendship, and love that does exist in this world - even when it's sometimes hidden by all the yucky stuff.