Back in Colombia

It´s a weird feeling to be back here, at times it feels like home and at times it feels like I´m in a foreign country.  Many happenings force me to remember that I´m no longer in good old Iowa.  To mention a few: a man selling candy on the street stopped to relieve himself, holding his box of candy in one hand, his other hand occupied, and his eyes staring at me.  Awkward.  Did he have the good graces to at least face the bushes?  Of course not, thank goodness it was dark and he was at least partly in the shadows.  The brazenness of public urination here is just plain shocking.  Men pee everywhere, and I mean everywhere.  I'm sure you're all pleased with my maturity in reporting such wonderful sightings in Colombia, you're welcome.

Another reminder that Colombia is so different from Iowa that I experienced this week, as my friends on Snapchat already know, was the mandatory transit police stops that we went through each morning on our way to school.  Transito was stopping each bus to check for the appropriate paperwork, is my understanding.  We were stopped three days in a row before they started to just let us through.  The police like to make their presence known, which I suppose is a good thing.

I went for my latest check up on the status of my eyes.  I am happy to report that I have 20/20 vision and zero negative side effects from the LASIK.  I am ecstatic to not have to worry about contacts, contact solution, cases, glasses, etc.  So happy with my decision, and fingers crossed everything continues to go smoothly.

Lastly, I was able to take my bike out for a quick spin around the block (up the mountain 7km) with Kelsey yesterday.  We turned back after the threat of thunder and dark clouds, which turned out to be nothing, just a couple sprinkles.  However, after our last scary experience coming down the mountain in a rain storm, it's always better to be safe than sorry!  We look forward to many rides this semester and I have set the goal to get up the mountain in under an hour before the end of the school year!  (Not sure if it's possible, but I'm going to give it a whirl.)

Picture post is soon to follow!
much love to all in my shorts and tank top, enjoy the snow!
aimee