Variety is the Spice of Life

Two-hundred and ninety-five days I have lived in Colombia. Many of these days have been spent in the classroom, while others are spent traveling cheaply along the coast or exploring the hidden gems of Barranquilla. To think that only eight days in the classroom remain in unbelievable.

Each day is a unique adventure, filled with unexpected twists and turns; therefore, describing a typical day is nearly impossible, but most days until recently usually followed a pattern that looked something like this:

The night before class: 

9:00 p.m.: In order to prepare for the following day, I set aside $3,400 pesos for the bus ride to school and $2,000 pesos for my breakfast of two bananas and a package of nuts. That's just under the equivalent of $2 USD. I fill my water bottle, pack my bag, and decide what to wear for the following day. With the excessive heat and exhaustion of speaking a second language, I sleep at least eight hours a night. Before falling asleep, I make sure to lightly spray my sheets with bug repellent so that the mosquitoes don't bite me during the night!  
The day of class:

6:05 a.m.: Off sounds my alarm! After washing my face, I usually dress in a pair of breezy pants and a tank top. I braid my hair or wrap it in a bun secured with a banana clip...a very popular fashion trend on the coast.

6:30 a.m.: Time to catch the bus. Even before 7 o'clock, I'm already sweating as I walk several blocks to the street where my bus passes. Some days I wait five minutes for the bus. Other days, I wait for 20 minutes. There are no bus stops; rather, when you see your bus approaching, you wave your hand in the street as signal for it to stop. The mornings are relatively quiet in Barranquilla, although many men along the street are already selling "tinto" (a small plastic cup of strong, bitter coffee) and "arepas de huevo" (eggs fried inside of a corn crust).

7:00 a.m.: Once I get off my bus, I walk into a "tienda" (a small store filled with a plethora of groceries and household items) to buy breakfast. As I walk several blocks to my school, I eat my bananas and wave to the students that I see en route to school with their parents. While some students walk, others ride on the back of a motorcycle. As I enter school, I greet the "portera" (the guard who stands at the entrance of the gated school) and make my way to my first class.

7:15 a.m.: Although class starts at 7 o'clock, students continue to arrive at school up to 30 or 40 minutes late. I begin class with songs...a favorite activity among Colombian students. Classroom activities also include chants with hand motions and completing activities in a textbook. Most rooms have air conditioning, which helps combat the heat.

10:00 a.m.: Descansa! During a brief recess period, students play soccer in an outdoor area in the center of the school. These resourceful students use an empty soda bottle when a soccer ball is unavailable. Others munch on chips and cookies from a small snack stand inside of the school. Being able to converse with my students during recess is my favorite part of the day. We often play hand games, like "thumb wars" or "rock, paper, scissors." The second-grade girls also love taking selfies on my cell phone.

10:30 a.m.: Back to class! During the last hour and a half of school, students are usually restless after recess, but we continue with our normal routine, sometimes consisting of group work or a dreaded exam.

12:00 p.m.: School's out! As I catch the bus home, salesmen jump aboard, selling everything from candy to coloring books. Sometimes a man representing a political party jumps onto the bus to distribute pamphlets about the upcoming election, while others will sing a salsa song or share a brief message about Catholicism. Ultimately, they are all looking for spare change in exchange for what they offer. The ride home from school in the afternoon is always much livelier than the ride to school.

1:00 p.m.: At lunchtime, I love cooking with eggs, quinoa, oats, lentils, and fresh fruits and vegetables. I usually go to a tienda once a week, spending about $20,000 pesos (or around $7 USD) on my supplies. I make sure to drink an overabundance of water and usually talk to my host family about the day while watching a soccer game.

2:00 p.m.: After eating is a perfect time to take a nap or call my mom! Being able to stay connected to my family is incredibly important and I am thankful for the strength that their support provides.

3:00 - 9:00 p.m.: The afternoons and evenings are spent completing paperwork for my Teaching English as a Second Language (TEFL) certification, attending a small Spanish class, meeting friends for dinner, reading, or seeing a movie. On Wednesdays, a ticket to the movie theater costs $2 USD! Obviously, planning for my next lesson is an essential afternoon routine!

Why are no two days alike in Barranquilla? Many factors contribute to the unpredictably of a day on the coast. During the powerful, heavy rainstorms of September and October, deadly rushing water races through the streets and halts all activity. Furthermore, an outage of water or electricity can delay the start of a day. "Puentes" (three-day weekends) occur frequently as Colombians celebrate a national holiday. Even a national soccer game can cut a workday short as Colombians prepare to watch the game.

If variety is the spice of life, then Barranquilla is the place to be. 

Seven Lessons from Barranquilla

Living in a new place for a year is an invigorating and intimidating experience, each day providing a plethora of learning opportunities. As I reflect on the past ten months, I am overwhelmed by what Barranquilla has taught me as I begin to transition into the next stage of my journey: 

1. Be thankful and express gratitude. I am indebted to my family for the constant love that they showcase to me. In countless ways, the give me the strength to tackle any task...whether it's in the classroom or kitchen. Calling my mom multiple times a day is not uncommon, asking her questions about everything from job applications to cooking beans. I am incredibly thankful for and humbled by the emotional (and financial, at times) support that they provide, as it enables me to perform my duties in Barranquilla to my highest level. Thank you!

2. Seize tasks with selectivity. In other words, learn to say no. Colombians are very persuasive in their techniques when asking for a favor; however, in being selective in that tasks that I undertake, I am able to dedicate my energy to that which is most pertinent and where my skills can be best utilized. Furthermore, self-control, the discretion to determine whether something is absolutely necessary, is something that I have also developed during my time in Barranquilla. For example, shaved ice with a sugary topping is (sadly) not essential on a daily basis, from both a health and financial perspective.

3. Treat yo'self. In contrast, celebrating victories (both big and small) is an important part of life abroad. Having goals to achieve and small rewards for my accomplishments inspires me to stay invested into my personal and professional aspirations. After a rigorous month of teaching, I spent $22 on a simple hotel room where I could spend the night in air-conditioning and watch television in English. The fact that a treat like this is so rare makes it so much more enjoyable as I celebrate achievements.

4. Explore on your own. Sometimes the most peaceful, beautiful moments of self-reflection and self-growth are those that are spent solo. Taking a moment to be independent in the strong, community-orientated culture of Colombia is rejuvenating. To venture to the beach for a day or tour a museum alone builds confidence and creativity as I inadvertently stumble upon minor hiccups along the way.

5. Don't think about it too hard! Investing my energy into over-analyzing circumstances outside of my control is draining. Sometimes the line at the supermarket is long and slow. Sometimes I find worms in the tomatoes that I am cutting up for lunch. Sometimes strange, unfamiliar men on the street make comments about my "blonde" hair and pale skin. In these situations, I can only control my reaction and move forward positively. 

6. Be content without closure. Knowing the long-term outcome of my time in the classroom is impossible. Will my student be the future mayor of Barranquilla? Will my student be a successful adult of character and integrity?  Am I making a difference? Revel in uncertainty. Embrace the mystery. I may never understand why a student clings to my arm all day, but I know that I am offering that student the stability that she needs in that moment. Everything happens for a reason. 

7. Share in each others' joy and sorrow. Latin Americans make no hesitation in expressing their feelings. Although I cannot always understand what I being said, I can recognize non-verbal cues and match these expressions. If a child is crying at school, I hug them and sympathize with them. If a co-teacher offers a smile or laugh, I can do that same. Connecting to the emotions of others is vital!

Thank you, Barranquilla, for a challenging, rewarding past ten months. I can only imagine what the final two months hold.