Summer 2015

I successfully made it back to Medellin after a wonderful, and sweaty trip back to Iowa.  Witnessed marriages, large amounts of alcohol consumption and little baby bunnies in the back yard. It was amazing to see all my beautiful family and friends again.  

Upon my arrival to Medellin, I of course have been curious about the weather and ask Juan (the driver man) how it's been going.  After all the humidity, heat and bugs in Iowa I would love a peaceful pool day.  He proceeds to inform me its summer, which means it hasn't rained in more than two weeks. There was also a weather alert posted for the lack of water!  I felt bad, but was secretly pumped.  I told him how it always rains when I'm here and I'd love to just relax and enjoy the pool. IMMEDIATELY after this conversation in my rusty and broken spanish, there are raindrops on the windshield. Now, it's thunder storming. Thank you, Medellin. Rude. 

Rainy Medellin....

Alert: I have moved for the 3rd time in 3 years and super excited about this move! Pictures to come...probably in August.

Double Alert: leaving for Peru from the 16-29 and then Bogota for my last weekend of freedom before school starts on the 3rd. 

I LOVE SUMMER! 

Update!
Uh oh! It's been awhile again...it's hard to remember to update about my regular life.  I'll catch you all up real quick again, I went on the craziest "hike" I've ever done.  It was more like a rock climbing experience than anything.  At certain points I was completely on my hands and knees grasping at dirt trying to hold on for dear life.  This hike was called Cerro Tusa, the mileage wasn't that great but the climb was the hardest thing I've ever done.

The following weekend I started my fifth masters course, this one about incorporating technology into the classroom.  Surprisingly, quite useful information with a competent professor.  This program is turning out to be not so bad after all.  However, this week all of our projects are due so it will be another incredibly busy week.

This past weekend, I continued biking, doing yoga, and laying by the pool.  The weather has been absolutely gorgeous.  I biked up to school on Friday with a friend, and will be biking up again this Monday.

I'm on the verge of starting an intercambio (language exchange), teaching English lessons (to pay for Spanish lessons), and hopefully starting Spanish tutoring.  I'm not sure when I'll fit it all in, but I'm trying to figure it out.  I really need to start taking a more active role in improving my Spanish.  All the taxi drivers say I just need to find a paisa boyfriend to learn to speak like a native, I always tell them my Mom wouldn't like that.  :)

I know I keep promising pictures, and they are coming SOON, just need to find some free moments of down time...maybe in April??

Keep reading and reminding me to update this, if you want me to!
Love you all! Hope it's not too cold back home :))
aimee

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

Happy 2015!

Hello friends!
I just returned from the beautiful United States of America to my home here in Medellin.  After hearing much sadness and despair about my lack of posting on this blog, I have decided to rectify the situation.  I AM ALIVE.  I am happy, somewhat healthy (damn cold) and ready to be back in this beautiful, tropical city.  Since I last posted, I have moved apartments, met and bonded with my second class of fifth grade students, traveled to some awesome places, and been to Iowa and back!

This past fall semester I went on a motorcycle trip with two friends (I was a passenger, thank God) to the coffee region of Colombia.  We stayed in Salento, Armenia and at a coffee farm outside of Manizales.  This country truly is amazing.  I also went to Parque Nacional Tayrona with my good friend and coworker Kelsey over American Thanksgiving.  I have had some awesome experiences, and am so excited to see what the future holds for me.

After being at home in Iowa at Christmas time, I have come to realize just how truly blessed I am to have such wonderful friends and family that will always be there for me.  I am going to miss seeing these wonderful people SO much for the next semester, but I shall return in just a mere six months.  However, Al and Cathy already started the countdown to when I'm moving back to the states for good, so for those of you interested I have included that status as of this morning.

I promise to be a better blogger in 2015!
Happy reading!
much love in the new year!
aimee

PS. photos will be posted from some of my adventures in 2014!