My walk to water

At 6:45 on Wednesday morning I got ready for school, put all my stuff in my back pack, grabbed my water jug and drove to rocky nook park. When I arrived I hung out with Brad, Ryan, and Owen for a few minutes before filling up our jugs. When we were all filling up our containers max was walking by the faucet with a heavy jug. He stumbled and tripped over the water spigot, we heard a snap and Tino yelled "call the ghost busters". The spout had snapped water rushed out all over the place an it created a little stream. After everyone filled there bottles we had a pouja and we were off. At first I was just walking in a clump of people with Brad but after a few minutes I was walking with only a few people. I walked for a while a few minutes and ended up walking in a little group with Brad, Gretchen and Grace. We were far behind half the kids, and far in front of the the other half of the kids. We walked and walked and walked in the hot sun with our fingers stinging and our biceps very sore. We talked all the way up and that helped take our minds off of the hard work. Every once in a while we would take a brake and rest. We kept going on walking on the hot scratchy gravel with our bare feet. We didn't complain or get frustrated. I think the reason we didn't complain is because in the back of our minds we were thinking about how people in Africa have to do this five times as far with twice as much water. After walking an meager distance of  a mile carrying a stingy two and a half gallons I realized how wrong it is that kids younger than us have to do a much harder version of this when we finally got to school and got inside we collapsed on the cool stone floor. We sat there for a few minutes and then grabbed our water and took it down stairs. That day I walked up to my first period class feeling good I did it.

My last day with Flavio

I woke up feeling sad on my last day because I had to go that day. I really wanted to stay longer but it was time to go. I got dressed and went in to eat breakfast. I had some wheat cereal and packed up my things. Flavio and his wife went to the airport with me. The bus ride was about an hour and I talked to Flavio for a while. I got there and Flavio walked me to my gate. "Flight seven two seven is now ready to be boarded" The flight attendant announced. Flavio's wife hugged me and I gave Flavio a high five before I left. I walked out the door, turned my head, and waved to Flavio one last time before I left.

My visit with FLavio day 2

I was gently shaken awake on my second day by Flavio. "It is time to wake up" I grumbled and swung my feet off the side of the bed. I got dressed and went into the main room. "Buenos dias" said Flavio's wife as I took a seat at the table. "Buenos dias" I replied. Flavio walked in and said "Today we are going to carnival in Bogota.” He said it with so much joy and excitement that I new it had to be a big deal. "What’s that?" I said. “Well, its a huge carnival were there is a parade with singing and dancing; there is food and sweets stands, and little shop stands.” Flavio told me. "Sounds fun" I say.  We quickly ate our breakfast and Flavio, his wife, and I walked to the bus stop. We hopped on the bus and rode to Bogota, the capital. When we stepped off the bus, I could already hear music from a few blocks away. We walked through a park and popped out on the side of a big road. There was a big parade going down the road with crowds of people sitting on the curb. There was music with dancers in costumes with many colors: reds, blues, yellows oranges, pinks, and much more. To save you the trouble of having to picture it all in your head I took a short video, which you can see above. When the long, fun parade was over, we grabbed some food. I had a plate of pork skin with potatoes, lime and salad, with a lemon-lime soda. It may sound weird but it was delicious and I would definitely eat it again. It was probably fried and it was crunchy, salty, savory, and was kind of like seasoned deep fried bacon. As for the soda… well, you can't go wrong with citrus soda. And for dessert I had a Columbian take on an “elephant’s ear”- a crispy cinnamon sugary pastry.

We looked around at the vendor stands for a while and then headed home I was very tired on the bus ride back. We walked to the house and I plopped down on the couch, exhausted. I read Calvin and Hobbes, talked, and showed Flavio Fruit Ninja on my phone until dinner. For dinner we had Chuchuco de trigo, wich is a wheat soup thickened with potatoes, peas, and ribs. We talked for a while and then I got ready for bed. As   I was lying in bed i reflected on my day and thought about how awesome it was and I was feeling very peaceful and happy as i fell to sleep.

My visit with Flavio day three

Some stands in
the same market
place as flavio's shop.

I woke up on my third day grinning ear to ear because I was so excited to try new food and do more fun and interesting things. I got up and ate a little breakfast and Flavio told me he wanted to show me his shop and the town. We put on our jackets and stepped outside, some of the people and houses we passed by were a bit sketchy and a little scary. We got to his shop and he pulled away the tarp covering the front of the stand I helped him take things out of bins and put them on display I helped him sell things for a while and then I walked around with Flavio's wife we looked at little stands and things. I bought a cool bracelet for my sister that I thought she would like. I passed by a shop that had really cool wood carvings and I love wood carvings. I had my eye on a wooden turtle but I decided not to buy it. We walked back the way we had come and I saw the turtle again and it was calling to me. So I changed my mind and bought that to. "Conozco un luger estupendo para comer el almuerzo" (i know a great place for lunch) said Flavio's wife. We walked a bi and then came to a little wooden stand. I smelled fried food but something else smelled strange. I had two pieces of grilled seasoned chicken and two beef. I dipped them in hot sauce and I was enjoying myself until I found out what the weird smell was, I found out by Flavio's wife having me eat it... I was eating my chicken and drinking a soda when Flavio's wife said "proba lo" (try this) "Qué es" (what is it) i replie "solo come" (just try), they were little black things that looked kind of like bugs, I picked some up and popped them i my mouth. I crunched down and my stomach churned. It was gooey and bitter on the inside but the outside was crunchy and salty and spicy. I thought that it was like the same spiciness of ants. and then I knew what it was. Ants. I gagged I wanted to spit it out but that would be impolite. I gulped my soda and ate a piece of beef. Flavio's wife just about died laughing while I felt like my stomach was going to explode. We finished lunch and walked back to Flavio's shop I helped Flavio for a little while and then we headed back to the house. When we got back to the house I wanted to show flavio a movie that I really like called a better life. I thought it was a good movie to watch because it is very meaningful and has a good message. By the time the movie was over it was time for dinner. We decided to go out for dinner at a traditional columbian food restaurant. The place looked a little run down but I was happy to try new food. I ordred    bandeja paisa it is a bunch of food on a big plate, it came with grilled steak. ried pork rind, chorizo sausage, with rice and beens that is topped with a fried egg and some sliced avocado. It was so delicious I can't even begin to describe it. I also tried some Chunchullo, stuffed and fried cow intestines. By then I had figured out that in columbia about seventy percent of meat is fried. For dessert I had  rice cooked with coconut milk and sugar. We walked home with stuffed tummies and smiling faces when we got back i got in my pajamas and we talked for a little bit and than went to bed. Before I fell asleep i thought about how i had a great time in Columbia and that i was sad that my visit was so short.

My visit with Flavio day 1

I woke up at 6:45 this morning, happy and very excited because I was going to Columbia! I quickly put on some clothes, ate breakfast, brushed my teeth and I was off. On my way to the airport I looked at my tickets to see which terminal my plane was leaving from and what my seat number was. I arrived at LAX about 2 hours later. I ran into the airport went through security and took a seat in my terminal. A few minutes later I got on the plane. First class was awesome the seats reclined they were all cushiony and I had m own TV in front of me. It felt kind of strange flying in luxury before going to a place with many poor people. When I got to Medellín I got off the plane and went over to baggage claim. I got my bags and walked to the bus place. I bought a ticket to Yarumal, I sat down on the bench and waited for bus. I was exhausted it was seven thirty at night and I really wanted to go to bed. The bus ride was an hour long and when I got to Yarumal I grabbed my bags and had to walk a few blocks to Flavio's house. 435 was the address. I walked to the house, I was really creeped out because it was really dark I knocked on the door and examined the place. It was one story and looked pretty small, I was fine with that though. I knocked on the door and while I did that I thought about how relieved I was that Flavio spoke English. I did know how to Flavios wife standing in the doorway speak some Spanish but not all that much.  The door swung open and I saw "HOLA" she said. She was tall and she had brown hair and green eyes. "Hola" I said. I went to shake her hand but she pulled me in and gave me a hug. She seemed like a very nice lady. Flavio walked up and said hello to me they led me inside and told me that I could have a seat on the couch."Tienes sed" (are you thirsty) Flavios wife asked me. "Si" I replied. She brought over glass of water and I gulped it down thirstily I talked with Flavio for a while and then Flavio's wife told us that it was time for dinner. I could smell it and it was probably one of the best smells in the world. We had Ajiaco; a chicken soup with potatoes, corn tomatoes, capers, and avocado and guasca, which is a special herb grown all throughout the Americas that gives the soup its distinct flavor. We also had Arepa on the side which is a bread made from cornmeal kind of like a pancake. I was happy that they eat so well because I am a huge food person. We chatted a bit and then Flavio's wife said "Usted probablemente cansado" (you are tired aren't you) she asked, "muy cansado!" (very tired). With that we cleared there little table and they led me to a little bedroom. Their house had 4 rooms including the bathroom one medium bedroom, a small bedroom, the main room with the small kitchen and, a bathroom. The room I slept in was their son’s room he was older and had already left the house. They put some sheets on the bed and I brushed my teeth said good night and got in bed. I was very tired and within five minutes I found myself drifting off to sleep. 

Communication

In Columbia most people speak spanish.



 "hello":   Hola


 nice to meet you:  encantado/encantada

thank you:  gracias

please:  por favor

I am hunrgry: tengo hambre

I am thirsty: tengo agua

Whats up:  que pasa

it is good:  es bueno

how is it:  como es

Happy birthday:  feliz cumpleanos

yes pleas. si por favor

transportation

I am going to Yarumal columbia. I am flying on American Airlines first class from LAX to MDE. The flight is eight hours and twenty minutes there is one stop at MIA.