tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60895117705416315022024-02-19T04:31:03.620-08:00Response to ColombiaMicah Lyn Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241143875966238895noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089511770541631502.post-23801408575154637302020-12-22T11:18:00.005-08:002020-12-22T11:18:40.462-08:00There are fireflies here.<p>While looking for another file on my computer, I stumbled across a short text that I wrote in July 2017. As I've done for every summer (except this last one), I was visiting my family in Missouri when I wrote it.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">There are fireflies here. Where I grew up there were no
fireflies; they existed only in books. I remember thinking places where
fireflies exist must be magical. It seemed unreal that something living could
produce a brilliant yellow glow of light. There were so many things I
discovered in books, that I used to wonder if one day I would see them for
myself. Although Missouri might seem like the edge of nowhere, even Missouri
has magical things. Even here I’m given the chance to discover something new,
to have something that once existed only in my imagination become visible to my
physical eye. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s a thought I want
hold on to: that even in the most mundane places, even just beyond our porch,
we always have a chance discover something new. The adventure only stops when
we stop discovering the wonder in everything. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My sister, who’s been living here for several years now,
showed me how to make a “living lantern” (as she calls it) by sticking
fireflies in a glass jar. I was a little skeptical that it would work, but it
does. According to my sister, you have to have both boy and girl fireflies in
the mix for the fireflies to light up the jar. Though she might be making that
up. Even now my sister still seems to by trying to teach me about the birds and
bees. I suspect that her motive has
always been to make me blush. It used to be enormously successful. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<!--EndFragment--><br /><p></p>Micah Lyn Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241143875966238895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089511770541631502.post-84974009999093976152018-07-11T16:01:00.000-07:002018-07-11T16:16:06.277-07:00Discovering the World Cup in 2008<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I saw my first World
Cup match in July of 2008. On a military base. In Kyrgyzstan. Having never been
in the military, only a series of strange events would have put me there that
summer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">From July 2008 to August
2010 </span>I was a Peace Corps volunteer in a small mountain village in Kyrgyzstan<span style="font-size: 12pt;">. In early summer of 2010 peaceful protests began with the goal of forcing the
president of Kyrgyzstan out of office. The protests were met with violent government
repression. Hoping to deter the protestors, the president contracted snipers who stationed </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">themselves on the
rooftops around the capital city. As the protestors, mostly
university students, marched down the streets, the snipers aimed and fired. 81
Kyrgyz youth were killed over several days, and violence broke out across the
country. The Peace Corps program determined that the volunteers were at risk,
and the evacuation plan was set into motion.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A military base is the
last place on earth you would expect to find a group of Peace Corps volunteers.
And it would have been the last place on earth we wanted to be, except that
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village diets, most of us would have done just about anything for a balanced
meal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I don’t want to paint
an inaccurate picture here. I definitely hadn’t been starving. But I had been
hungry. A lot. My primary diet consisted of bread and tea. Breakfast was bread
and tea, lunch was bread and tea, and dinner was bread and tea. The next day started
out the same, with bread and tea, except that lunch was boiled sheep meat and
potatoes. While the male volunteers lost lots of weight and started to look
gaunt, the female volunteers didn’t. Apparently male and female bodies
metabolize carbohydrates differently. So while their malnutrition was obvious, ours
wasn’t. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">That was our physical state when we were evacuated to the military base. We were a motley group of about 30 malnourished
volunteers, who had become used to bucket-bathing on a weekly basis during the
summer (and less often during the winter). I can only imagine what the military
men and women thought of us. We often spoke Kyrgyz or Russian among ourselves,
made constant reference to strange Kyrgyz village traditions, and gorged
ourselves on the mess hall food. And we were shameless about it. When you’ve
been an outsider long enough, you get used to being ‘strange,’ to the point
where you stop caring what others think of you. So we got seconds on
Steak Night in the mess hall and took multiple showers a day. It was hard not
to when the food was free and we had almost forgotten what running water felt
like. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Then one night, one of
the massive tents on the base was particularly loud. I remember standing
outside in the dark and wondering what was going on there. The sound drew us
in, and when we entered the tent, we saw hundreds of men and women in uniform seated facing a large screen, where a soccer match was being projected. The U.S. team was playing. Looking back now, I wonder how many of the
people there knew the rules of the game. Certainly less than half. Probably
less than a quarter. I definitely didn’t. But when the U.S. team scored a goal,
the room erupted into cheers. A round of “U.S.A.! U.S.A.!” chants began and
didn’t stop for a full minute. While I cringe when I hear a “U.S.A.!” chant now,
at that moment it made me grin ear-to-ear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Today was the last
semi-final match of the 2018 World Cup, and while I watched the game (well
done, Croatia!), I couldn’t help but think back to my first World Cup match back in 2008. Although almost everything about my life is different, the happiness that the World Cup ignites in me remains the same. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br /></div>
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Micah Lyn Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241143875966238895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089511770541631502.post-45934505741197949072017-11-21T10:51:00.000-08:002017-11-24T16:50:47.706-08:00Why I Love and Hate Colombia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
***(Ver la traducción al español abajo)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt;">Recently, in the span
of about an hour, I experienced the best and worst of Colombia.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My phone was stolen 2
weeks after I moved to Medell</span><span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">ín. That’s not the “worst” part of
this story; it’s just the context for the rest of the story. Shortly after buying a new
phone at a fancy electronics store, I began to receive messages from my service provider,
informing me that I needed to register my phone by Nov. 4th or it would be
disabled. I guessed that it was new anti-theft law, so I accepted that I needed to register my phone. I tried to
do it online, but the system rejected my passport number.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So on Nov. 3<sup>rd</sup> I went to one of the three
“help centers” in this city of 3 million. I took a number, waited about 25
minutes, and then approached the desk where my number was shown. The
representative, a young woman, greeted me without a smile and asked, “What can I do for you
today?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Me: “I need to register my phone so that it's not
shut off. I received a message that I needed to register it by Nov. 4<sup>th</sup>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Woman: “Of course. May I see your local ID?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Me: “I don’t have a local ID, but I have my passport.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Woman: “We can’t register your phone with a passport.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Me: “Of course you can. I purchased the phone with my
passport number and foreigners are legally allowed to buy phones here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Woman: “We can only register phones with local IDs.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Me: “So you’re saying that I can buy a phone here but
not register it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Woman: “You didn’t buy it here, in this store. Did
you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Me: “No, but I bought it at an official store. I’m
certain that you can register it with my passport.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The woman sighs to display her annoyance at my insistence, turns to the representative on her left and
asks, “Can we register a phone with a passport?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The other woman responds with a simple, “Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The woman turns back to me, with no apology, smile or
sheepish look, says, "Your passport."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt;">I hand it to her. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt;">Then I sign a series of documents
that give the company the right to do whatever they like with my information.
Once again, perhaps for the hundredth time, I reflect on how Colombian laws
provide almost no protection for consumers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As we’re finishing, I feel the need to validate what
we’ve done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Me: "So now that I have registered my phone, it won’t
be shut off tomorrow, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Woman: “Oh, no. You’ve only begun the process of registering
your phone. It will take 10-15 days to finish the registration process.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Me: “What? How can I have until Nov. 4<sup>th</sup> to
register my phone when really I needed to have registered it 2 weeks ago? I
didn’t even own this phone 2 weeks ago!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Woman: “That’s not our fault. You came to register it,
and that’s what we’re doing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt;">In my frustration I repeatedly try to explain to her
the unfairness and illogic of all of this, but she merely shrugs. It’s not her
fault, not her problem. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt;">I fume and then I leave.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As I’m riding my bike home, my head swirls will all
the arguments against such a ridiculous process and complaints about the lack
of professionalism displayed by the woman. Then my bike chain falls off the
chain-ring. I stop on the sidewalk and flip my bike over to put it back on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">While I’m putting the chain back on the ring, a pair
of senior citizens stop beside me. They’re tiny, with white hair and they’re
holding hands. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The woman puts her face close to mine as she whispers,
“You shouldn’t stop here. They could rob you.” She motions with her head toward
some men in the park next to us. As I turn to look, she quickly adds, “Don’t
look at them!” I’m not in the best mood and now I feel like I’m being
criticized for choosing the wrong place to have my chain come off. I whisper
back, “I’m sorry, but I need to get my chain back on before I can leave.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The woman takes in my words and looks concerned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“We’ll stand guard then,” she states,
matter-of-factly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt;">I glance at the man and the woman again. Now it seems
like they’ve locked arms and have managed to create a defiant air. I smile.
They couldn’t fend off a stiff breeze, but the gesture is melting my heart.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Moments later my chain is on, I thank the couple for
their kindness, and we both go on our own ways. But my pissed-off attitude is
shattered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They didn’t have to stop and warn me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Once they had warned me and I ignored their warning,
they could have shrugged and continued on their way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They didn’t have to stay. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They didn’t have to do anything and nobody would have
criticized them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In Colombia there are a million ways that life is more
difficult than it has to be because of senseless laws, stupid regulations, and
endless corruption. Then there are millions of people who set aside their
interests and extend a hand to a stranger like me. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">------------------------------------PORQUE AMO Y ODIO A COLOMBIA-----------------------------------------</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">Hace poco, en solo una hora, experimenté
lo mejor y lo peor de Colombia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">Me robaron el celular 2 semanas después
de llegar a Medellín. Eso no es “lo peor” de esta historia. Solo es el contexto
en el cual se desarrolla el resto. Un poco después de comprar un celular nuevo
en una tienda en un centro comercial, me empezaron a llegar mensajes de Claro,
informándome que tenía que registrar mi celular antes del 4 de noviembre or
sería bloqueado. Supuse que existía una nueva ley antirrobo y acepté que tenía
que registrar mi celular. Intenté hacerlo por internet, pero el sistema rechazó
el número de mi pasaporte.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">Entonces, el 3 de noviembre fui a uno de las tres Centros de Atención al Cliente (en esta ciudad de 3 millones de
personas). Cogí un número, esperé unos 25 minutos, y me presenté en la ventana
donde se mostraba mi número. El representante, una mujer joven, me saludó sin
sonrisa y me preguntó, “¿Cómo te puede servir el día de hoy?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">Yo: “Necesito registrar mi celular para
que no se bloquee. Recibí un mensaje que decía que lo tengo que registrar antes del 4 de
noviembre.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">Ella: “Claro, ¿puedo ver tu carné de
identidad?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">Yo: “No tengo carné, pero tengo mi
pasaporte.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">Ella: “No podemos registrar el celular
sin un carné.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">Yo: “Claro que pueden. Compré este
celular con el número de mi pasaporte y los extranjeros estamos permitidos
comprar celulares aquí.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">Ella: “Solo podemos registrar los
celulares con carné de identidad.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">Yo: “¿Me estás diciendo que puedo comprar
un celular pero no puedo registrarlo?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">Ella: “No lo compraste aquí en esta
tienda. ¿O sí?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">Yo: “No, pero lo compré en una tienda
oficial. Estoy segura que lo puedes registrar con mi pasaporte.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">Ella respira profundamente para
mostrar la molestia que me tiene por la insistencia, gira al representante a su
lado y le pregunta, “¿Podemos registrar un celular con solo un pasaporte?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">El otro representante le responde con un
sencillo, “Sí.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">Ella me vuelve a mirar y, sin pedir
disculpas, sonreír, o mostrarse apenado por su error, me dice, “Tu pasaporte.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">Se lo entrego.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">Y empiezo a firmar una serie de documentos
que le da a la empresa el derecho de hacer lo que quieren con mi información.
Una vez más, por lo que puede ser la centésima vez, pienso que las leyes
colombianas favorecen siempre la empresa y no protegen nunca al cliente.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">Cuando casi terminamos, se me ocurre que debo validar lo que hemos hecho<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">Yo: “Ahora que hemos registrado mi celular, ¿no lo van a bloquear mañana, cierto?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">Mujer: “No... Apenas empezaste el
proceso de registrar tu celular. Puede demorar 10-15 días para terminar el
proceso.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">Yo: “¡¿Cómo?! ¿Por qué me dicen que tengo
hasta el 4 para registrarlo cuando realmente lo tenía que registrar hace 2
semanas? ¡Ni siquiera tenía este celular hace 2 semanas!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">Mujer: “No es nuestra responsabilidad.
Viniste a registrarlo y lo estamos haciendo.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">En mi frustración, una y otra vez le
intento explicar la falta de lógica y la injusticia de lo que está pasando. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Ella se encoge de
hombros. No es su problema, no es su culpa.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">Me enojo y salgo de la tienda.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">Mientras estoy manejando mi bicicleta hacia mi
casa, todos los argumentos en contra de ese proceso ridículo me dan vueltas en
la cabeza. Silenciosamente me quejo de la falta de profesionalismo de la mujer.
Y, en ese momento, la cadena se me sale de la bicicleta. Me paro en el anden y le voy una vuelta a mi
bici para tener mejor acceso a la cadena. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">Mientras intento devolver la cadena a su
lugar, una pareja de ancianos paran a mi lado. Son súper bajitos, con cabello
blanco, y se toman de la mano.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">La mujer se acerca su cara a la mía y me
susurra, “No deberías parar aquí. Te pueden robar.” Con su cabeza indica a unos
hombres en el parque a nuestro lado. Giro a mirarlos y ella me dice rápidamente, “¡No los
mires!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">No estoy de buen humor y ahora siento que
me están criticando por escoger el lugar equivocado en el cual permitir que se
me salga la cadena. En voz baja le digo a la señora, “Disculpe, pero necesito arreglar la
cadena antes de irme.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">La mujer me escucha y se ve preocupada.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">“Entonces nos quedamos aquí hasta que termines,” ella dice, directa y francamente.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">Le doy una mirada al señor y la señora. Ahora parece que se han entrelazado los brazos y tienen un aire de desafío.
Me sonrío. Son tan débiles que no podrían con una brisa fuerte, pero el gesto me hace derretir el
corazón.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">Poco tiempo después la cadena está en su
lugar, les agradezco a la pareja por su amabilidad, y todos nos vamos por
nuestros caminos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mi mala actitud está
destrozada.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">No tenían que pararse y advertirme sobre el
peligro.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">Después de advertirme y cuando ignoré su
advertencia, podrían haberse encogido los hombros y seguido el camino.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">No tenían que quedarse conmigo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-TRAD">No tenían que hacer nada y nadie les
habría criticado.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="ES-TRAD">En Colombia hay un millón de maneras en
las cuales la vida es mas difícil de lo que debería ser debido a muchas leyes
sin sentido, reglamentos absurdos, y corrupción extensa. Pero también hay
millones de personas que se olviden de sus intereses y les extienden la mano a
desconocidos como yo. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Micah Lyn Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241143875966238895noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089511770541631502.post-4962360744438639332017-09-06T18:05:00.001-07:002018-01-03T10:14:09.562-08:00Fear Paralyzes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I’m afraid. And that scares me. Fear paralyzes. It makes us
stay when we should go. It keeps us silent when we should speak. It keeps us
running when we should stop. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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This isn’t my usual state. Despite regular failures, I try
to live fearlessly. But too often I let my fears cage me. Right now I fear not
finding a job that I love, not finding someone to share my happiness with, not
finding the right place to put down roots. That’s a lot of fear. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Luckily, at this point in my life, uncertainty is not a rarity.
A quick look back provides a lot of perspective:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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10 years ago (2007): I was in
university and I didn’t know what I’d do with my degree (International Studies)
after I finished.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
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5 years ago (2012): I was teaching
in Colombia. I love teaching, but I wanted to do something different in the
area of education. I just didn’t know <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">what</i>
or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">how</i>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Now (2017): I’ve got the degrees
and experience necessary to do the work that I’m passionate about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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If this trend continues, in 5 years I’ll probably look back
and wonder why I let myself worry or stress about the next step. Whatever it
is, it will help me continue to grow. Between now and then I might have many
relationships or I might have just one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
may live in just one country or a half dozen. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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There are a lot of things that we can’t control. But we can
control how we live each day. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I want to be more kind, curious, knowledgeable and
courageous each day. Wherever I am, whatever I’m doing, whoever I’m with<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> –
there’s nothing that can stop me from reaching those goals.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fear paralyzes; hope strengthens. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Micah Lyn Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241143875966238895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089511770541631502.post-51012039427466988472015-06-13T08:56:00.000-07:002017-11-24T16:57:51.406-08:00Time Travel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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There’s a folder in my old computer’s D-drive that’s titled “Smart.” It’s between a folder called
“SamsungRecovery” and another called “SMART Notebook 11.” Curious of its contents, I clicked it
open. Inside reads: “This folder is empty.” Figures. ;)</div>
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<br /></div>
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Solo existimos por un momento porque en el siguiente, ya somos diferentes: cambiados por el momento que vivimos.</div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
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<br /></div>
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I keep a journal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It's a Word file that </span>I’ve kept it since 2007 and it's my most valued material possession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It turns out that we don’t remember things as
they were, because we aren’t who we were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our memories are tainted (airbrushed, embellished, whittled down, etc.)
by all the experiences that separate us from that time, that moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My journal allows me to step back in time,
into a world written by my former self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s not objective, and that’s the point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is my history, as I perceived it, as I
experienced it, unaltered by subsequent knowledge and perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I haven’t written in the journal since January, marking the
longest stretch of time without an entry since I began writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These last 4 months have been a
whirlwind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was taking 5 classes and
doing a 16/hr./wk. internship during my last semester.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only needed 3 ½ credits but there were too
many classes that I wanted to take and I couldn’t resist. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I was caught up in dealing with Boston’s
snowiest winter on record, writing papers and doing projects, socializing, and
suddenly, one by one my classes ended and final project were submitted and it
was over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My year at Harvard – finished.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was a great run!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The International Education Policy program pulled people from all
corners of the globe together; people who’ve seen, experienced and done amazing
things and know how to live hard: people who imagine a more perfect world and
believe that education can take us there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>People who, by birth, breeding, or dumb-luck, have learned to be
shameless in their celebrations of life and full of love for people known and
unknown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While sometimes too ambitious,
sometimes too diplomatic, sometimes too traditional in their ways of thinking
and ways of being, they are kind and exuberant to the core.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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I went to Cambridge with many prejudiced expectations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought that I’d find myself surrounded by
students of privilege, self-importance, and arrogance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I worried that I wouldn’t belong, that I
would rage against this school for the elite, while nevertheless secretly
feeling lucky that I had been accepted by it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What I found was that many others had those same fears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many were, for better or worse, a lot like
me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I won’t summarize my experience here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Summarizes are like inkblot images compared
to the real thing; they never do it justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will, however, offer some highlights:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- Dancing a choreographed Bollywood-style dance at the HGSE
Multicultural Celebration<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- Pre-gaming, gaming, and post-gaming the Harvard-Yale football game</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- Singing “A Whole New World” and playing games around the
Thanksgiving leftovers <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- Performing “Stay with Me”- a rendition of “Stand by Me”
that we wrote for our economics professor</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
- Crashing every Kennedy School Friday Social during Fall
semester<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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- Crashing every Design School Friday Social during Spring
semester<o:p></o:p></div>
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- Freezing, being ambushed, and planning an emergency
evacuation during a humanitarian disaster simulation in the national park<o:p></o:p></div>
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- Dancing at the Latin America Learns conference after-party</div>
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- Editing the “Greatest quotes” surprise video for Prof.
Felipe’s spring course</div>
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- Preparing for and pulling off the IEP graduation flash mob<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So another chapter in my life is over and while time will
alter my memory of it, it represents another amazing experience that I
feel overwhelming grateful for. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Micah Lyn Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241143875966238895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089511770541631502.post-83228116273275392432014-04-06T11:53:00.000-07:002017-11-24T16:59:05.444-08:00My Memories, My Master's, My Idea<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">This blog consists
of 3 parts: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">My Memories: contains personal reflections about life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">My Masters: describes the Master’s program that I'll be starting in the fall and
what I hope to do after I graduate<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">My Idea: humbly proposes a solution to exploitative labor conditions around the
world<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Read the
parts that you want to read; this is not required reading. :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">MY MEMORIES</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">My memories
are stored in a folder on my desktop.
That thought crossed my mind and was almost gone before I realized how
strange it was. I have a folder that’s
titled “Memories with M” and in it I keep pictures and conversations that I’ve
saved and don’t want to forget. My
memory has been ‘externalized’ to my computer.
I know that with time my memory of those events, of those moments, will
fade, and because now it’s all still too fresh, too poignant, I can’t stand the
thought of losing those memories. So
I’ve stored them. Whether I will review
them later or not, time will tell. But
for now it’s comforting to know that I have them: that they are there, still
real and still vivid and I can relive them when I want to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">(<b><u>Spoiler alert</u></b> for SLAUGHTERHOUSE
5)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">That reminds
me of a book I read: Slaughterhouse 5.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Without giving away too much of the story, in this World War 2 book
(based on real events), the aliens who abduct the principle character pity the
human race because of our narrow perception of time: we only can experience the
present.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">For us humans, the past cannot
be re-lived and the future cannot be experienced at will.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">They describe this as if we were living life
with a tube attached to our eyes that only allows us to see a small fraction of
our lives at a time. The aliens in the book have a less linear timeline, and
can experience any moment of their existence whenever they choose to.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">How they manage to do anything is not quite
clear.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">For most of us, if we were able
to step back (or step forward) into the happiest moments of our lives whenever
we wanted to, it would hard not to spend all of our time there.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">We have no choice but to continue forward,
hoping that many wonderful moments are waiting to be discovered.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">I’m
continually amazed by how quickly memories can fade. For 2 years I lived in a small village in the
Tian Shan mountain range, in the middle of the largest land mass in the
world. My life consisted of going to
school, teaching classes, making bread, serving tea, and walking around town
visiting neighbors. Nobody in my town
had running water, our bathroom was a wooden box built over a deep hole and was
20 yards from the house. The place where
I bathed with the rest of the women in my community was on the other side of
town. In winter there was no salvation
from the extreme cold reaching to negative 40degrees Fahrenheit. It was an intense and very valuable
experience, but when it ended it was as if a door closed to that world and that
life disappeared. When I left
Kyrgyzstan, I traveled on to India for a few weeks, returned home for a couple
of months, and then came to Colombia.
And I’ve been here since then (except for a 6-month excursion to
Brazil).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">This world
exists completely separate from the world of Central Asia. Everything is different: the climate, the
language, the food, the clothes, the social norms, the gender roles,
everything. There are so many things
about Colombia that I love, and so many that I hate. Here is where I fell in love for the first
time, where I experienced my first heart break, where I learned that life goes
on, where I discovered that who I am is constantly changing. Where I realized that experiences don’t
define me (though they do shape who I am).
Some advice:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Don’t define yourself by your failures. Don’t define yourself by your successes. Define yourself by your friendships and by
your kindnesses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">MY MASTER'S<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">This fall I’m
going to begin a Master’s in International Education Policy. According to the website, the program “is designed
to develop students' capacity to think critically and systematically about
educational inequality and educational reform, to analyze policy alternatives,
and to evaluate policies and programs.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Upon
graduating my goal is to return to Colombia and work with community activists,
nongovernmental organizations, and policy makers to reform education in order to provide Colombian youth with the analytical skills that they need, not just to make better lives for themselves, but
to make a better country for all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">MY IDEA:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Lately (all
the time) people tell me “The problem is that there’s just not enough work for
everyone.” While that is generally
accepted as a feature of today’s world, it actually makes no sense
whatsoever. How can lack of work be a
bad thing? Now we have machines that can
plant, harvest, process, produce, fabricate, etc. most of the things that we need
on a daily basis, reducing the physical labor that is needed. We have computers to do much of our
calculations, data processing, graphing, etc.
And so, now that technology can do so much for us, we have to do less. The comment: “There’s just not work for
everyone” should be met with applause! Yay, less work for everyone! But what we’re seeing is that many people get
trapped working a lot while others are un-employed or under-employed. Those who have jobs feel a constant pressure
to work longer, harder, faster, better because if they don’t there are 10
people lined up who could replace them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">So my
solution is the 4-hour work day.* Everyone
would work 4 hours a day and be paid a living-wage for those hours. The government would ensure that all of their
basic needs are met (education, health, housing), and they would receive promotions/bonuses
based on performance. The better you
work, the more you would earn. Those 4
hours would be much more productive because people would be more energized and
focused, and they would have more free-time to focus on other things outside of
work. The additional costs of employing
twice the number of workers would be made up in reduced chief officer
salaries. In order for everyone to have
basic living and working conditions, others would have to earn substantially
less. The top 5% could no longer enjoy
the extreme wealth they currently have. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">We have the
capability to produce everything we need without so many people subject to
harsh, exploitative conditions. It’s
time to change the system. All our “advancements”
are not contributing to a higher quality of life. It’s time to ask ourselves “why not?” and
begin to demand that changes take place.
“There’s not enough work” should be a cause for celebration, not for preoccupation.
With a 4-hour work week, we would have
more time to educate our children, explore, discover, invent, cure, entertain, create;
the possibilities are endless! But until
we begin to question the assumptions that this system is based on, we will
continue to belong to the most advanced slave plantation in history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">*I don’t know
how feasible this really is, but surely there are better ways to organize labor
than the current system. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Micah Lyn Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241143875966238895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089511770541631502.post-86003969213599593722013-11-23T13:50:00.000-08:002017-11-21T16:29:40.067-08:00Expectations vs. Reality<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I have better things to do.
I do. If I’m going to be able to
afford a master’s program in the states, I’ll need scholarships, so I should be
applying for those. But something has
inspired a nostalgic feeling in me (maybe it’s the rain), and because I can’t
shake it, I’ve decided to give it a voice, give it words. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ve been living in Rio de Janeiro for almost 5 months
now. When I was counting the days until
I could go back to Colombia, time went by painfully slowly. Now time’s passing at a more mixed rate; at
times it flies by and at times it almost stands still. Like I said, it’s been almost 5 months...<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rio is not what I expected it would be. (By the way, that’s true of every place that I’ve
ever visited.) There’s only so much you
can imagine when you see pictures, watch movies, and read about a place. Stereotypes, while almost always based on
something real, never completely describe reality. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Here are a few big surprises about Rio:<o:p></o:p></div>
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- Rio actually is more beautiful than in the pictures. MUCH, MUCH more beautiful. Oh yeah, and those mountains that you see in
the background? You can climb those any
time you like and get a breath-taking view of the city.<o:p></o:p></div>
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- Rio can be REALLY COLD (12C in July) and it’s often cloudy
and rainy during the winter months.<o:p></o:p></div>
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- Most Cariocas (people from Rio) don’t actually dance Samba
(or anything else for that matter). They
appreciate music, but generally prefer to just listen while drinking lots of
beer with friends<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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- Brazilians come in all shapes and colors, so even someone
as white as me could be Brazilian (in fact most people assume that I am
Brazilian until they hear my accent).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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- Here the cat-calling is minimal during the day. At night however, it’s normal (even for
Brazilian girls) for a guy to try to kiss or grab you as you walk by. (In Colombia cat-calling occurred constantly,
but nobody ever tried to touch me)<o:p></o:p></div>
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- Brazilians hate to say “no.” So they often just say “yes” and leave you to
discover later that they really meant “no.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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- Brazilians can be simultaneously intensely proud and intensely
critical of their country.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Those of you who travel <o:p></o:p>know that everywhere you go is subject to comparison to everywhere you have been. And because I’ve been in Colombia for the last 2 1/2 years, I often find myself comparing the two places. While Rio has a lot of incredible things going for it, it is also missing a lot of things. Zona Sul is filled with the noise of cars and people, but you don’t hear music in the streets. Where are the picós? Where are the people sitting outside and talking to their neighbors? They don’t sell arepas anywhere and there aren’t any juice carts. No zapote, no nispero. And something else is missing too. Maybe it's just my imagination, but I don’t see as many people smiling. I don’t hear as much laughter. And my heart aches for Colombia again…</div>
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By the way, I read about Colombia regularly: about the agrarian protests, the international festivals, and the peace-talks with the FARC. When I read about the protests, I was proud of the Colombian people for standing up to the government. In cities around the world, Colombians united to express their support for the farmers. I saw a video on youtube of Colombians in front of the Eiffel tower holding up signs that read: “Dear Santos, Here in Paris, we know about the agrarian protests.” The Colombians living here in Rio organized many events to declare their support of Colombian farmers and their outrage about the government’s response. At work, in the morning before any teachers or students came, I read newspaper articles or watched youtube clips of the protests, and filled with pride, love, and concern, I let my tears fall onto the desktop. <o:p></o:p></div>
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When I leave Rio, I will miss:<o:p></o:p></div>
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- the beaches<o:p></o:p></div>
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- the mountains<o:p></o:p></div>
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- the views<o:p></o:p></div>
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- the easiest job EVER<o:p></o:p></div>
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- beach volleyball on Mondays<o:p></o:p></div>
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- the sunset as seen from Arpoador<o:p></o:p></div>
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- the Carioca accent<o:p></o:p></div>
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- my foreign friends who have been discovering this amazing country with me<o:p></o:p></div>
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- my local friends who have been amazing companions on this journey<o:p></o:p></div>
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- the guy selling tea on the beach who always say “Mate! Mate con limaoooo!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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- my hot shower ;)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p>(list to be continued…)</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Micah Lyn Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241143875966238895noreply@blogger.com0Rio de Janeiro, Brazil-22.9035393 -43.209586899999977-23.3715503 -43.855033899999974 -22.435528299999998 -42.564139899999979tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089511770541631502.post-29814352036888305632012-12-15T05:58:00.002-08:002017-11-24T17:13:57.618-08:00Una conversación 'familiar'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Desde enero hasta junio de este año (2012) viví en
Bucaramanga, en la casa de dos personas locas y divinas: Tania y Julio. Llegaron
a ser personas muy queridas para mi. En julio, cuando regresé a vivir en la costa, Tania se
mudó a Rio de Janeiro. Julio sigue viviendo en nuestro apartamento
en Bucaramanga. Ahora Tania está en Bucaramanga, visitando a su familia. Anteayer tuvimos una conversación ‘familiar’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Esta es la conversación entre Tania, Julio y yo.
Tania a Julio le dice "mata" como apodo y a mi me dice
"maiquis." Decidí postear esta conversación porque
muestra lo que más me gusta de Colombia: la amabilidad y el sentido de humor de la
gente. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;">***Del contexto, entiendo que el verbo "acoste</span><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 16px;">ñ</span><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;">arse" significa "volverse coste</span><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 16px;">ñ</span><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;">o". ;)</span></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tania 9:47pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mata, Maiquis nos olvido<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Julio 9:47pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">a mi no ;)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">estoy hablando con ella<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">jajajajaja<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">pero porque yo la salude<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">jajajajajajaja<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Micah 9:48pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">jajaja! tanis! me acabas de saludar!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tania 9:48pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">a mi no me hablado listo maiquis<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Micah 9:48pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">yo siempre te saludo y resulta que no
estas alla!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tania 9:48pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">ahora se acostenó y nos olvido<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Julio 9:48pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">a mi nunca<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tania 9:49pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">a mi tampoco. toca buscarla<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Julio 9:49pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">si no la saludo, no me dice nada<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">juete es que va tocar darle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tania 9:49pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">lo missssmoooo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">como cambia la gente, no mata??<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Micah 9:49pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">jajaja! mentira! son ustedes que nunca
responden!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">grrrr! y ahora no me hablan sino solo se
hablan DE mi! mira como cambia la gente!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tania 9:50pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">eso siempre ha sido asi maiquis<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">es que esta vez tas presente<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">bueno Maiquis cuando llegas?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Julio 9:51pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">jajajajajajajaja mentiras maiquis tu eres
la niña de la casa<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">jajajajajajajajaja<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Micah 9:51pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">cuando llego? pensE que ustedes iban a
venir a la costa! vamos a Tayrona juntos!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">(vengo de esta familia de locos?)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tania 9:52pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Maiquisssss claro como tu estas a 3 horas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Micah 9:53pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">pero Tanis! no me habias dicho que querias
pasar unos dias en la costa?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Julio 9:54pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">jajajajajajaja<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tania 9:54pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">ya mi familia no va<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Micah 9:56pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">pero TU si puedes! viniste sola o
estas con Jascha?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tania 9:56pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">sola pero Jascha llega el 19<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Julio 9:56pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">con la remona en las costillas
jajajajajaja<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tania 9:57pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">visita tu familia Maiquis<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">cierto Julio?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Julio 9:57pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">si claro<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">yo la dije que esta es la casa<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tania 9:58pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">si eche pa su casa<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Micah 9:59pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">vengan a la costa despues de la navidad!
haz lo por mi! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">uf! los papas colombianos siempre joden
tanto?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tania 10:00pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">si senorita<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Julio 10:01pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">huy le voy es a dar por esa geta pa que
aprenda a respetar a los taitas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tania 10:01pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">eso saque el juete<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Micah Houston 10:02pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">(dos locos...)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">los extraNo tanto! aun peleando y
amenazando!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tania 10:03pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">uyyyy Micah Maria Perpetua<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">que vas hacer el 24 y el 31?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Julio 10:04pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">ala toco voltearle el mascadero pal otro
lado<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tania 10:05pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">el guarguero Mata el guarguero<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Micah 10:05pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">no sE que voy a hacer el 24, de pronto en
Cartagena o Santa Marta<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">estas amenazas no me afectan para nada
(porque no los entiendo!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tania 10:08pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">explicale mata<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">se fueee<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">uyyy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Micah 10:11pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">maldito...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Julio 10:12pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">bueno si quieres regalo debes estar el 25
en casa<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Micah 10:13pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">cuando las amenazas no funcionan, empiezan
a sobornar? ustedes van a ser grandes papas!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Julio 10:14pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">jajajajajajajaja<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">funciona<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Micah 10:15pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">jajaja! bueno. pero Julio, cuando vienes a
la costa? no tienes vacaciones en diciembre/enero?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Julio 10:16pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">no, yo acabo de empezar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Micah 10:17pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">o sea que estabas de vacaciones hace poco
y no me visitaste? no sabes nada del concepto de "obligaciones
familiares"?!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Julio 10:17pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">jajajajajajaja no, cambie de trabajo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">jajajaja<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tania 10:20pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">jajaja<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Micah 10:22pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">cambiaste de trabajo? ahora donde estas
trabajando?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Julio 10:24pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">en piedecuesta<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Micah 10:25pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">pero antes no trabajabas en piedecuesta?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Micah 10:32pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">bueno mis amores, voy a dormir, tengo que
madrugar mañana<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">besos y abrazos!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Julio 10:33pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">si pero en otra oficina<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">bueno niña a dormir que mañana hay que ir
al colegio<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">chao matica<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tania 10:33pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">chaooo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">10:34pm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Micah Houston<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-CO" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">que descansen y decidan venir a pasar la navidad conmigo!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
Micah Lyn Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241143875966238895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089511770541631502.post-28531361920209496722012-09-23T16:05:00.002-07:002012-09-23T16:05:20.676-07:00Time and Place<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I’ve been here in Barranquilla for over a month and a half
now. So many times I’ve thought “I need
to write. I need to record my thoughts
and my feelings so that they don’t just disappear into the air...” That’s really what this “blog” is. A chance to voice some of my inner thoughts. To not lose sight of me as I’m walking… <o:p></o:p></div>
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I don’t recognize the girl that came to Colombia a year and
a half ago. I can
see her in my memory; I can step back into her body and see those moments/days
through her eyes, but she’s strange to me. I’m not her anymore. I’ve changed and I’m not sure how. What’s different now? When I think of her, she has such a
simple view of things. Uncomplicated. That girl had already experienced a
lot, but she hadn’t seen into the depth of her soul. The experiences of the
last year and a half have showed her a lot more about herself, others, and the
world. And
converted her into me. I
wouldn’t go back and undo the change. I could wish that I could undo the hurt
I’ve felt and I’ve caused, but…I needed it. It hasn’t damaged me (as I feared that
it would). If it left a scar, it serves as a reminder of a lesson learned. My only hope is that what I’ve learned will one
day allow me to comfort someone else who needs it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We tend to always think that we are the exception. It’s a silly trick that youth plays on all
the young. We observe others messing up,
making mistakes, and we think that we <i>would
never</i> do that. We think that we’re
smarter, wiser, more experienced, more self-controlled, disciplined,
you-name-it, we’re <i>different</i>. And then life shows us that we’re just as
capable of extreme stupidity as the next guy.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Pause. Breathe. Reflect.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Two phrases
caught my eye today: One was the marketing
phrase for a plastic surgery center.
Below the picture of a perfectly shaped women, it read “Dare to be
happy!” The second was the headline of a
local sensationalist newspaper: “They killed him for his cellphone.” I’ve been here a year and a half and that’s
not the first time that I read about someone being killed for something small
(the last time it was a baseball hat). Should
I be getting used to it? Is that what’s <i>supposed</i> to happen? What is this world?<o:p></o:p></div>
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But it doesn't matter really, because I'm too busy to do anything about it. My work is crazy. I’m at the school about 60 hours a week and when I go home I keep working:
planning, correcting, scheduling, trying desperately to give things some kind
of order. I never imagined that a
teaching job would demand so much from me.
It’s been good because it’s given my life more structure, something that
it’s been missing since I stopped being a volunteer and started being a
renegade. :) <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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After <i>much</i> delay,
my master’s classes started on Friday. There
are 12 students in the program. Classes
are from 5pm-9pm on Fridays and from 8am-6pm on Saturdays. The first unit is called The Philosophy of
Social Sciences and it’s taught by an enthusiastic philosophy professor who
reminds me of a friend from Cartagena. Identical.
Except that one is 30 years older than the other, 1 foot shorter, and he
doesn’t have the other’s characteristic clown smile. The class consists of 24 hours of lecture
followed by 12 hours of student presentations.
Our grade for the class is based on a final essay and a 1-hour
presentation. <span lang="ES-CO">Good luck Micah. You just might need it… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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I just had an interesting conversation with an elderly man
in the coffee-shop where I’m sitting to write this. His nationality: “citizen of the world.” His accent: European. <span lang="ES-CO">His features: Scandinavian. His
name: Ricardo Julio Caballero Villa. It
was a great conversation. </span>He’s an
artist and draws for different magazines and newspapers around the world. The last thing he shared with me was both the
simplest and the most shaking: “I was
talking to my granddaughter in France and she said to me 'Grampa, you’re an
immigrant in this world. <span lang="ES-CO">I’m a native.'" </span>She was referring to technology. She was born into it; it’s been part of her
experience since she entered this world. He hasn’t. His existence was different, and now he has
to assimilate. Although he was laughing,
tears brimmed in his eyes, “It’s like the final scene from Planet of the Apes," he told me. "The main character goes back to earth and
finds it completely changed and falls to his knees and screams at the
heavens. When my granddaughter said that
to me, I felt like that. I realized that
my world is gone.” I didn't know how to respond. </div>
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<br /></div>
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He’s not the only
immigrant in this world. And it’s not
just time or place that makes us immigrants…</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Acepto que no entiendo todo lo que pasa en el mundo. <span lang="ES-CO">Solo quisiera entender mas de lo que pasa en mí. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES-CO">(I accept
that I d</span>on’t understand everything that happens in the world. I just wish I understood more of what happens
in me)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Small delights:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-hanging out the door of the bus in the early morning,
the wind in my grinning face<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-laying down in a grassy park in the sunshine<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-dipping my finger into the jar of peanut butter<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-dancing down the sidewalk with my earphones in, conscious
that I look silly and delighted that I don’t care<o:p></o:p></div>
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-being with a family<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Micah Lyn Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241143875966238895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089511770541631502.post-91739791733081223782012-07-29T15:49:00.000-07:002017-11-24T17:20:36.881-08:00Directions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I’m sitting in Juan Valdez in the historic center of Cartagena. Juan Valdez is the Colombian equivalent of
Starbucks. It’s expensive and elegant
and most of the people here aren’t from Cartagena. Cartagena.
I first came to this city a year and a half ago as a Peace Corps volunteer
and I left it 6 months ago in order to experience life in another part of
Colombia. And now I’m back to the
coast. It’s strange the turns life
takes. Sometimes all we want is to get
from point A to point B and each detour is incredibly frustrating. But often, in the middle of it all, we don’t
realize that point B is really point F and it’s necessary for us to pass
through points B, C, and E in order to learn what we’ll need to know when we
actually get to point F. That’s how I’m
choosing to see it anyway…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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In May I decided that I didn’t want to stay in Bucaramanga
until the end of the year. In my often overly dramatic mind: I <i>couldn’t</i>. Although I had made some great friendships
there, the city itself and the culture seemed too American to me. Almost everyone I knew had the same routine:
work from morning to evening, go home, watch TV and take care of household
stuff, go to sleep, and repeat it again the next day. Sound familiar? That’s life, right? Maybe it is. But I don’t want that to be <i>MY</i> life…<o:p></o:p></div>
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So on June 15<sup>th</sup> I traveled to Cartagena (a 12-hour
bus ride from Bucaramanga) to apply for jobs here before traveling to the
States to visit my family. Taking a
motor-taxi around the city, I stopped by every bilingual school to present
myself to the administration and give them my resume. Previously I had sent out dozens of emails to
these schools, but hadn’t received any reply from them. I’ve discovered that in Colombia, emails are
very easily ignored. So without having
scheduled any interviews, I googled the schools’ addresses, showed up in my
nicest top and skirt and asked to speak with the coordinator. I repeated that process 3 days later in
Barranquilla. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I was definitely torn between the two cities. Cartagena has something happening every day for
the week. There’s always a group of
people that get-together in the center or in neighborhoods close-by. I doubt that there’s another city in Colombia
with such a great atmosphere. And it’s
centered around the tourism. Every day,
week, month new people arrive in the city and are anxious to meet locals and
experience the best aspects of the city.
Some stay for days, others for weeks, and others never leave. The locals and tourists are equally happy to
be in each other’s company and share about their lives and experiences. <span style="background-color: white;">But in Cartagena those are the divisions: local and tourist.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">And because of my light-Scotch-Irish
features, even if I lived here for 20 years, I’d always be placed into the
latter group.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">I’m a foreigner, it’s
true.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">But a foreigner who lives and
works here is quite different from one who’s here for the week or weekend.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">I’m a foreigner, not a tourist.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">So, as much as I LOVE this city, I feel like
the city itself pushes me away even while it embraces me.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">So in August I’ll be moving to Barranquilla.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">The school where I’ve chosen to work is
called the British International School (Colegio Britanico Internacional). It’s
a very elite school located at the north end of the city.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> I'll be teaching math, social studies, and English.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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About the city:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Barranquilla is the 4<sup>th</sup> largest city in Colombia
(after Bogotá, Medellin, and Cali) and is located 2 hours east of Cartagena
on the Caribbean coast. Although it’s known
for having the largest Carnival outside of Rio de Janiero, tourists rarely
visit the city during the rest of the year.
It’s more organized and has better transportation than other cities on
the coast, but it doesn’t have the same charm and magic of Cartagena. Two days ago I traveled to Barranquilla to
find a room to rent there. School starts
on August 8<sup>th</sup>, so I’m planning on arriving a few days before to get
situated. I found a room in a nice
apartment building in the north end of town that will be close to my work and
to the university where I’ll start studying in August. About that…<o:p></o:p></div>
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Last year I began to consider the possibility of getting my
Master’s degree here in Colombia. I had
visited the campus in Barranquilla and I had begun to imagine myself studying
there. I looked into the application
process and saw that applications were accepted in November for programs that
begin in January. That was last winter. My plan since then has been to apply this
November and start classes in January 2013.
On July 11<sup>th</sup> I sent an email to the coordinator of the Master’s
in Psychology program at the university asking him which books he would recommend
as preparation for the Master’s. I
mentioned in my email that I wanted to begin the Master’s program in
January. He responded that the Master’s
in Psychology would start in August, and that they were about to close the
admissions process. I was
devastated. It was too late and now I’d
have to wait 2 years before the next program opens. Nevertheless, the coordinator asked me to
send him my resume to see if I could be a potential candidate. The next day I traveled to Barranquilla for
an interview. Five days later they
notified me that I had been accepted into the program. Classes start next month. Yikes.
If I hadn’t sent that email about the books, I would never have known
that the program starts in August. In
November I would have learned that I had missed the application deadline (by
months!). It’s a miracle that it all
worked out. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So that’s it. My life
has taken another turn and yet it seems like all the pieces are falling into
place. It’s so tempting to keep
squinting at the road I’m on, trying to figure out where it will lead me. But who knows? Maybe life is meant to be taken one step at a
time.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Micah Lyn Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241143875966238895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089511770541631502.post-17084639512418605042012-04-22T17:33:00.001-07:002017-11-24T17:18:03.375-08:00Situations<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
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Situation 1: At the police station. Surrounded by 5 male police officers. Smiling mischievously, one of them asks me “Why do you
look so scared?” What I’m thinking, but
not saying: “Colombia. Police
station. Five guys with guns…” I just smile, and soon they're trying to entertain me by showing me fake $100 bills and explaining how fingerprinting works.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Situation 2: Walking down the street yesterday, I smelled
pickles. It happens in life that you can
go a long time without smelling something familiar, and then one day, when you
smell it again, it’s like waking up from a dream. I had forgotten about pickles. They had ceased to be part of my world until,
just like that, they re-entered it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Situation 3: It’s mango season. Even here in the city, it’s noticeable. In the park that I walk through on my way to
work, the ground is now scattered with green mangos that are busted open and
exposing their bright orange interiors. It’s
charming. Until you consider that a
mango falling from 40 feet above you could sting a little.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Situation 4: I woke up today to the sound of rain hitting my
window. That’s not easy for someone who
comes from the rain capital of the world.
It sounded like pebbles shattering against the glass. But the real surprise came when I went into
the living room. It was as if the
apartment had been re-located to the base of a waterfall. I felt like I was IN a river, consumed by the
sound of the water around me. There’s a
saying here “Abril: mes de lluvias mil” (April is the month of a thousand
showers). Yeah, that’s an
understatement. But it was a magical
moment. Those moments don’t come very
often. Honestly, the last one that I can
remember clearly happened about 7 years ago.
I had just pulled into the university parking lot, when it began to
snow. It was early and the sky was still
completely dark. I was the only one
there. And I just stood there, my face
tilled up to the black sky, staring at the flakes as they emerged from the
darkness above me. They were big and fluttery
and there was a silence that I felt inside and out. Even after 7 years, that
moment, that memory, is still amazingly vivid in my mind. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
History: A few days ago I saw a woman selling roses in the
street. It’s something that I’ve seen a
dozen times here in Colombia, but something that always gives me a strange
feeling. Six years ago, after watching a
Colombian movie called the Rose Seller, I decided that my place was in
Colombia. The movie is about a young
girl who runs away from home and begins selling flowers in the street. It’s a tragic story, not filmed with actors
but with people who actually lived in the streets of Medellin. Street children. Drug addicts.
Gang members. After watching the
movie, I couldn’t stop thinking about Colombia.
While there are many places in the world were help is needed, few
compare to Colombia in terms of constant and prolonged conflict and social
struggles. “There,” I decided, “is where
I need to be.” It was a long road to get
here, but I made it somehow. And now,
when I see someone selling roses in the street…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Modernity: I’ve been here 15 months. I have a nice apartment (which I share with 3
young professionals), I enjoy my work (4 hours a day, from 6am-11am with a 1
hour break), and I live in the land of eternal May. The weather hovers between 65 and 85 degrees
year round. Currently, in the afternoon
I volunteer teach English at a foundation in the northern part of town. It’s the part of town I was told I should
never go to. Everyone told me that if I
went there I would certainly be robbed, raped, and killed (not necessarily in
that order). While I may be trying to
paint myself as a fearless adventurer, the reality is that I’ve become
accustomed to hearing dark-predictions whenever I go into parts of town that
belong to a lower economic sphere. I’ve
realized that those fears are often exaggerations. And it helps that I never carry anything
worth stealing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bucaramanga is a pleasant city. Most of the neighborhoods are well organized,
clean and full of apartment buildings of about 20 stories. The northern part of town lies in a deep
valley and looks like it belongs to another country. There, the houses are cement block-houses
that attach to one another and more streets are unpaved than paved. I take a bus to get there and then catch a
“pirate” back to the center of the city.
A “pirate” is an unofficial, unmarked taxi that you can recognize when
the driver slows down in front of you and shouts “center!” through the open
window. In between arriving and leaving,
I spend 3 hours with students in grades 6-11<sup>th</sup> practicing dialogs,
learning verbs, and trying to show them that they are capable of determining
what their futures will be like. After
all, the neighborhood is called “esperanza.”
Hope.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Each time I go to the north, the same thoughts tickle my
mind. “What if I had been born
here? What would my life be like? What
kind of person would I be? Would I have finished high school? Would I have gotten pregnant at a young age?
Would I have become a sad statistic or would I have found a way to make a good
life for myself?” I am so fortunate for
the family that I have and the opportunities I’ve been given. Unbelievably fortunate. And yet, so often, I am completely
ungrateful. I look at those around me,
who are earning a lot, have nice things, don’t worry about expenses, and I
think “That’s not fair. I’d like to be
able to live like that.” Why is it
always our tendency to look at those who have more and get jealous instead of
looking at those who have less and being grateful? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While I like it here in Bucaramanga, I don’t imagine myself
here for much time. Something just doesn’t
fit. And so I spend hours thinking about
where I SHOULD be. Something I’m
beginning to realize (finally!) is this: WHERE I am, is less important than WHO
I am. In other words, wherever I am, I
need to take advantage of the challenges and opportunities to grow. Hopefully, I'll remember that tomorrow. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Seattle, I miss you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cartagena, my heart is still there with you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bucaramanga, thanks for welcoming me here.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Micah Lyn Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241143875966238895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089511770541631502.post-29257662040983156822012-03-07T12:09:00.000-08:002012-03-07T12:09:13.413-08:00A new CITY, but no PLACE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="ES-CO">It’s been two mon</span>ths since I decided to change my life via a change of location. I said goodbye to the Colombian coast and moved into the center of the country, to a small city called Bucaramanga. I feel like the wind must have carried me here because, now, after just 2 short months, I can’t remember why I decided to re-create my life here. When people ask me, I always answer “I wanted to experience life in another region of Colombia” and while that’s true, it doesn’t really answer the question “Why Bucaramanga?” <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">During my year in Cartagena, I had felt alienated by the tourism there. My appearance immediately caused me to be associated with a group that knows and understands very little about life in Cartagena. While I wanted to be accepted as a part of the community, I felt myself separated by unseen barriers from everyone else. I felt a push to look for a place where I could actually belong. Sending out my résumé to various schools, institutes and universities around the country, I received a job offer in Bucaramanga that sounded appealing and, fearing being deported after my visa expired, I accepted the offer. Then, in my last 2 months in Cartagena I found the connection to the community that I had been longing for. I met people that while they weren’t senseless to my foreignness, they were still sensible that that was only one aspect of who I am. The timing couldn’t have been worse. My decision to leave had already been made. The day I left Cartagena, I felt like my heart would break. Even the excitement of visiting a new place couldn’t drown my sadness for leaving a place (and people) that I had begun to love. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">My first several weeks here were miserable. Even though I desperately wanted to like my new home, my heart was unwilling to accept it. Instead of seeing the beauty and the lovely aspects of life here, I just mourned the differences between here and the coast. I remember feeling waves of nostalgia hit me and take the air out of my lungs. Crying was a regular part of my daily routine. But now, while I still wonder why the wind carried me here, I have learned to appreciate this new city and new life. The people are polite, the city is well-organized and clean, the weather is perfect, my job is fun and very low-stress, my co-workers are sweet and funny, and my housemates seem to enjoy my company as much as I enjoy theirs. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But even though everything seems to be going well in my life, lately I’ve felt lost, out of place, and without direction. I haven’t been doing the things I imagined myself doing when I came to Colombia. My dream was to work with disadvantaged teenagers, find ways to encourage them, help them define and outline their goals and make good decisions so that they can reach them. It seems so simple and yet the logistics of it aren’t. There are few points where my life crosses with the lives of kids in difficult situations. We’re in the same city, but we belong to different worlds. Even if we had a reason for interacting, why should they listen to me, believe what I say about them and their potential, or accept my advice? My solution to this dilemma has been to use English as a door into their lives. As a volunteer English teacher I have a chance to speak to them from a position of authority, develop trust with them, support them in their problems and encourage them in their dreams. At least that’s the idea. But it’s been two months and I’ve been too caught up in my own stuff (visas, work, housing, friends, etc) to dedicate myself to finding a school that will accept my offer. I’ve been ME-focused. And now that my situation is comfortable, I wonder “Is this it? Is this what I’ve been working for: a comfortable life? Don’t I want something more? To contribute in some way to making the world a better place? To help those who haven’t been as fortunate as me?” And I make myself a cup of coffee (the best coffee in the world!) and make plans about how SOON I will start <i>doing</i> the things that <i>say</i> I came to do… <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>In the last 2 months, I've...<br />
<br />
-traveled to Venezuela to get a Colombian work visa<br />
<br />
-changed houses 3 times<br />
<br />
-spent about 200 hours Skype-ing with people back home and friends from Cartagena<br />
<br />
-developed the perfect quick-fix lunch (turkey sandwich with lettuce, tomato, mayonaise and mustard)<br />
<br />
-rediscovered that true friends are there when you need them, even if you had selfishly abandoned them for a while<br />
<br />
-taught 5 groups at the Colombo (Level 3A, Level 4, Level 8, Conversation 2 and Conversation 3)<br />
<br />
-lost my cellphone and dropped my new cellphone about 15 times<br />
<br />
-felt perfect, inexpressable happiness followed by deep, soul-shattering pain<br />
<br />
-started and (temporarily) stopped learning Portuguese<br />
<br />
-crashed a free university dance class for students (I attend every Thursday, and I think everyone knows but nobody says anything...)<br />
<br />
-experienced, momentarily, what life is like in a small Colombian town<br />
<br />
-<br />
<br />
-<br />
<br />
And the odds are good that tomorrow will bring new experiences, new frustrations, more opportunities to screw-up, learn, grow, and continue questioning..........................<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></div>Micah Lyn Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241143875966238895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089511770541631502.post-35791740812356054572012-01-15T07:10:00.000-08:002012-01-15T07:10:56.463-08:00A Symbol<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">As I was cleaning my room this morning, I found my Peace Corps patch that I received when I finished my Peace Corps service in Colombia. When I saw it, I froze. Standing there, I stared down at it. It’s the symbol of an organization that has had a huge impact on my life over the last 3 ½ years. The logo consists of an American flag, in which the stars ripple and are gently twisted until the final star looks like a dove. The flag reminded me of a conversation I had a few weeks ago:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">During my last couple of months in Cartagena, I fell in love with the city. After trying to make friends for a year, I finally found a group of people that I could spend time with, enjoy, admire and learn from. We went out almost every day of the week. It was marvelous! One night, we went out dancing and finished the night in a neighborhood called Getsemani at a salsa bar with a dance floor. As we were leaving, we passed a parked-vehicle that had pictures of several flags on the back of it. I saw the American flag and reached out to touch it. In the exuberance of the moment, I think I murmured something like “Home!” My companions chuckled and we continued without on our way without comments. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It was a week later, when I was sitting talking to a friend, that he reminded me of that night. He said “Do you remember when we were walking and you saw the American flag and reached out to touch it?” I smiled, wondering if he was going to start teasing me about being a <i>gringa</i>. He continued, “That really impacted me. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that moment.” He looked away, searching for the words to express his thoughts. “Here, every time we see the American flag, it’s accompanied by images of the military. A symbol of imperialism. In the news, people in foreign countries are burning it. It’s always something negative.” Deep pause. “Never had I seen someone react positively to that flag. Then I saw you touch it. I saw your warmth for that symbol of your country and I realized that it’s not all about war and capitalism for you.”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">I don’t know if he saw the tears come to my eyes. I don’t think they made it into my voice as I explained what the flag means to me. I know about the ugly side of American foreign policy. I studied it. I know the wars we have caused, directly and indirectly, while trying to protect our economic interests. It hurts me to think that my country has been one of the primary causes of so much suffering, especially in Latin America. Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Chile, Argentina, <i>Colombia</i>….<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But for me, the flag doesn’t just represent the military and government interests abroad. It represents a place that has offered me such opportunities and such freedom. A country that while very imperfect still, for me, is a symbol of a remarkable faith in humanity. <o:p></o:p></div></div>Micah Lyn Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241143875966238895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089511770541631502.post-40922810732582538282011-12-03T05:43:00.000-08:002011-12-03T05:43:53.343-08:00Goodbye Peace Corps<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Where to begin? This is always the hard part. I only sit down to write in my blog once a month and I have to man-handle myself to keep me seated in my chair long enough to produce something. And as those of you who have been following my blog this year can testify, that <i>something</i> is just about <i>anything</i>. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This is probably (almost certainly) the last blog I will write as a Peace Corps volunteer. Who knew when I joined Peace Corps in July of 2008 that it I’d still be serving in December of 2011, 3 ½ years later? Peace Corps has been good to me. My life in Kyrgyzstan was tough. Really, really tough. But I learned so much through my experience there that I otherwise may not have ever seen or understood. Now Peace Corps has brought me to another continent, this time in <i>my</i> hemisphere, to teach me more about the world and about humanity. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Everything has been different this second time around. Instead of freezing winters huddled around coal-fed stoves, the tropic sun warms my skin and bleaches my hair. Instead of visiting a public bathhouse (with all the women of my community) once every few weeks, I have a private bathroom and I shower daily. Instead of travelling 2 hours to a neighboring city to use the internet, I have wifi in my house. And instead of going months without access to fruit or vegetables, I buy the most delicious and exotic fruit from street venders and eat it wherever and whenever I like. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But there are some similarities. In both countries, divided by oceans, culture, climate, and religion, one similarity is that the education system is completely broken. Students who don’t study, still pass to the next year. The biggest lesson to be learned in school is that studying isn’t important, because no matter what everyone passes in the end. While no teenager in the world <i>wants</i> to study, it’s their parents’ responsibility to make sure that they do it. To make sure that they understand that one has responsibilities as well as rights. That success requires effort and determination. Without those lessons at home, the teacher’s work in the classroom multiplies 100 fold. And if that teacher doesn’t have disciplinary support from the school’s principal and vice principal, the task nearly impossible. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And just like in many places in the U.S., schools focus on preparing students for standardized tests and not for real life. The teach them to memorize facts and quickly find key information in a text, but don’t teach them to be critical of the source of those “facts” or to analyze the information contained in the text to be able to apply it to real life situations and decisions. Parents, family, friends, citizens, I appeal to you! Education is the foundation of a healthy, rational, flexible, and industrious society. An investment in education (quality based) is the best investment we can make. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Having stumbled into education, I continue in it as something I love and am passionate about. I still haven’t decided where I’ll be working or living next year, but somewhere here in Colombia (si Dios quiere). After two months of sending my resume to anyone and everyone, I received two job offers that are both very appealing for different reasons. Before I got any job offers, I was having to serious think about a border-jump to get a new visa. I was considering crossing the border into Venezuela, Panama or Ecuador so that upon re-entry I would be given a tourist visa that would give me more time to find work. Thank God it now looks like that won’t be necessary. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I have been very blessed to be able to live like I do. I hope I never take it for granted. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Goodbye Peace Corps. <o:p></o:p></div></div>Micah Lyn Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241143875966238895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089511770541631502.post-26254958714409783312011-10-27T18:04:00.000-07:002011-10-27T18:04:24.710-07:00A Different Route<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">While some people attempt to make their blogs coherent and cohesive, uniting their ideas toward a clear, educating conclusion,<span> </span>I prefer to go another route.<span> </span>I call it the “What the…?” route.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">THE START:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Over the last 2 days I’ve helped 2 elderly women cross the street.<span> </span>That makes me a hero, right?<span> </span>Yesterday was the first time in nine months that I’ve had the opportunity and then today, surprisingly, it happened again.<span> </span>Both were delightful encounters.<span> </span>While most Colombians assume that I don’t speak Spanish and try to talk to me using gestures, these women seem to assume that I’m a local.<span> </span>I don’t know if it’s failing eyesight or just a motherly-desire to welcome all into the fold. Here’s how it happened:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">I was looking for my opportunity to cross traffic when a little lady approached me from a few feet away, asking “Are you going to cross?” <span> </span>Before I could answer, she had her arm in mine and was saying, “I’ll cross with you.<span> </span>It scares me to cross these streets!<span> </span>It’s so dangerous!”<span> </span>I hid my smile at her openness and responded “Yes! It’s terrible.”<span> </span>She continued, “Just yesterday a man was hit by a bus right over there.<span> </span>So of course I’m cautious.”<span> </span>Of all the dangers in the world, crossing the street has never been one that scares me.<span> </span>We were across the street in less than a minute and as soon as we were on the other side, she released my arm, waved at me as if she were going off to war, said “Thanks so much!” and was heading in the other direction.<span> </span>That was it. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">FROM EARLIER THIS MONTH:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Although it seems like our progress in English class is painfully slow, I’m enjoying getting to know the students more.<span> </span>Currently my counterpart and I are working on a presentation on relationships for all the students at our school.<span> </span>The idea is to do the presentation in each group (there are 4 groups of 10th graders and 3 groups of 11th graders).<span> </span>A week ago Monday was the National Day of “No” to Pregnancy.<span> </span>Obviously they meant “no” to adolescent pregnancy, though that wasn’t clear in the title. The statistic that I read was this: In Colombia, one in every 3 adolescents living in situations of poverty is pregnant or is already a mother.<span> </span>One in three.<span> </span>Incredible.<span> </span>This year we have 4 pregnant girls in 11th grade.<span> </span>It’s hard.<span> </span>There are so many factors that make it hard to make smart decisions in relationships: machismo, a very sexual culture, lack of role models and parental control, lack of employment opportunities, etc.<span> </span>In our discussion we focus on how men and women view relationships differently, how love is different than sex, what is self-esteem, and how to be assertive.<span> </span>I think it’s information that every teen needs to know.<span> </span>They’ll make their decisions, but I’m hoping that through this presentation they will be better equipped to make the right decisions for them.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">SIDE NOTE:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">The tiny ants on my desk have suddenly grown to regular size sugar ants.<span> </span>If they continue growing at this alarming rate, I might have to ask them permission to stay in my room…<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">JUMP TO NEW TOPIC:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">I’ve been thinking about my mom a lot lately.<span> </span>I’ve recommended that she read this blog several times, but I’m quite certain she’s never made it here.<span> </span>For that reason, I feel perfectly safe writing about her now.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">My sister and I are very close in age, so whatever my mother said to one of us, went for both of us.<span> </span>As I walked to this café where I am currently sitting, I had to jump off the sidewalk several times because the people walking toward me couldn’t consider stepping behind one another so that others could have some space on the sidewalk.<span> </span>Every time this happens I think “Ok everybody, single file!” because that was what my mother always said it to us.<span> </span>As children, every time we were walking side-by-side and someone needed to pass she said that.<span> </span>When I repeat it in my head, I think it’s her voice I hear.<span> </span>Mothers, do you know that your voice will always be in your child’s head?<span> </span>Do you know that when they are 25 they will still hear the words you spoke to them when they were little?<span> </span>I love my mom.<span> </span>I adore her and admire her intensely.<span> </span>She hasn’t done everything right, she hasn’t had the life she probably imagined having when she was young, but she is strong and loving and kind.<span> </span>And to me, those are the traits that make a person worthy of admiration.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">IN UNRELATED NEWS:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Two days ago my counterpart Jesus and I were leading a discussion: Myths about Sex.<span> </span>Here’s the scene:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thirty eleventh grade students were all sitting scattered around the classroom and Jesus and I were sitting next to each other. He was talking about STDs and how in some cases the diseases eat-away at the sexual organs, they discharge puss, and other really gory details.<span> </span>Suddenly, he turns towards me and says to everyone, “Micah knows about this.<span> </span>She has lots of experience with it.” He nodded at me in a ‘go ahead’ way, and continued “Ask her!”<span> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I stared at him horrified.<span> </span>What?<span> </span>What was he saying? <span> </span>Surely I misunderstood him… The students looked at me stunned, waiting for some kind of explanation.<span> </span>I sat staring at him, trying to figure out what he had MEANT to say.<span> </span>At my look of confusion and the students’ initial repressed laughter, Jesus realized that he might have forgotten to include some context for what he had said.<span> </span>He hurried to explain “What I mean to say is that she works at a center for pregnant teenagers and the stories they tell about infections and diseases are terrible.”<span> </span>But the students were already lost to their laughter.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">OTHER THOUGHTS:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">I have 1 ½ months left with Peace Corps.<span> </span>My service ends on December 16<sup>th</sup>.<span> </span>While most volunteers will go home to spend Christmas with their families, I’ll be staying here.<span> </span>If I still haven’t found work by that time, I will be <i>desperately </i>searching for it.<span> </span>I still don’t know where or how or what, but some things have recently become a lot clearer for me.<span> </span>God’s with me in this, He’s got something in mind.<span> </span>It may not be something I currently want or hope for, but it’s exactly what I need.<span> </span>The stress is diminishing even as the need to find work is growing.<span> </span>Some things don’t make sense.<span> </span>Sometimes it’s better that way.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></div>Micah Lyn Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241143875966238895noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089511770541631502.post-40737250294415455082011-08-29T15:48:00.000-07:002017-11-25T12:45:26.136-08:00By bus at night<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span closure_uid_nc0b9y="110" style="font-family: "calibri";">Last night I saw a kitten fighting with a cardboard box.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a tiny, dust-colored kitten, more fur than anything else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The box lid-flaps were folded shut and the kitten was sitting on top and boxing them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its weight as it jumped caused the flaps to open and digest the kitten whole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After that, I just saw a bouncing box.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kitten continued fighting the box from the inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t clear to me whether this was its strategy from the beginning or if it was merely adjusting to the change in situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few more knocks from inside the box and the kitten’s head emerged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It clawed its way back on top of the box and lay resting for a moment, content in its victory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But gravity was on the side of the box, and once more the cat’s weight caused the top flaps to collapse and down into the belly of the box it fell again. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I felt like there was a life-lesson to be learned from that scene, but I was too tired to catch it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My eyes closed involuntarily and my head bobbed with the jerking bus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Luckily, after falling asleep for a moment on the bus, my panic about missing my stop usually keeps me awake for the rest of the ride.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">You see so much from the window of a bus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially late at night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The city is the dirtiest at night and the least appealing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Throughout the day, people drop their garbage carelessly on the ground and it accumulates in the streets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At night (and sometimes during the day) people pick through the trash looking for bottles, cans, and anything that can be recycled for cash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last night, on the 20 minute bus ride I passed about 20 people who seemed to be living in the streets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was one young person but most were older.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All were as dirty as the streets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you think when you see homeless people?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you wonder what THEY think about?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you wonder how they view their situation, their world, OUR stares from inside the bus?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you see homeless people, what do you think?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do you feel?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most importantly: what do you do? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The reality of a country is never how you imagine it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I once picked up a travel book, and on the first page the author expressed how, when he finally got to a country he had been trying to visit for years, it was exactly as he had imagined it would be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I put the book down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s no way that was true and I wasn’t in the mood for fiction. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Cartagena, the city where I live is surprisingly developed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In certain ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The major streets are paved and the buses and taxis (and motorcycle taxis) that fill the streets are usually nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are 6 cinemas that show new movies on the same day that they are released in the states.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot of my students have internet in their homes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Personally I have WiFi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the teachers have laptops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is that what development is?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ease of life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The idea exists here that if you study hard, work hard, get an education, you can be successful and live the life you want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After 8 months here, I still don’t know how real that is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People talk about how jobs only exist for those with connections and that for an honest man it’s hard to get ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every time I take a bus there’s an average of 4 people who jump on and try to sell their wares (bracelets, bananas, snacks, bags of water).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Officially, those people are “self-employed.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently it doesn’t matter that what they earn in a day keeps them well below the poverty line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">One day I did the math to see how much a man would earn if he sold the whole box of gum that he carried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I priced it at a bulk-food store and checked how many packages it contained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would earn about $2.50 if he sold all 100 packages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the bus that I was on, I was the only one who bought gum from him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He earned 2.5<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">₵.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bus ride itself, if he had had to pay for it, would have cost him $0.75. A bag of water costs $0.25.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two-fifty doesn’t go far.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I’m sorry this blog is so scatterbrained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m still going to post it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s more than 2 weeks overdue as it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, I hope that it helps you picture Colombia in a more concrete way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The unknown can never be exactly as you imagine it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter how clear the picture on the discovery channel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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Micah Lyn Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241143875966238895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089511770541631502.post-77254820801289166302011-07-20T10:38:00.000-07:002011-07-20T10:38:31.108-07:00Debilitating heat<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The word “debilitating” has taken on new meaning due to my studies of the Spanish language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As some of you might know, the word “debilitating” is derived from the Latin word “débil” meaning “weak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So in this expression we refer to a heat that makes one feel weak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here in my room, with the temperature hovering around 106, this heat is tangible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes you feel like you’ve just finished a marathon, mostly because you’re sweating as if you had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Summing up my astounding strength of character and determination, I find a way to push through the heat: air conditioning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s air conditioning in the teacher’s lounge at my school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sure beats showering with cold water and then laying naked on my tile floor with the fan blowing directly at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That cool feeling doesn’t last long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not like I’ve tried it, I’m just saying…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before I left for vacation in the U.S. we finished second period at my school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This marks the halfway mark in the school year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfully about 2/3 of my students passed English, compared to 1/6 the first period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems like were making some progress, not just with the students’ knowledge, but also with their attitudes towards learning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the past it seems like their teachers were in a hurry to move them on to the next grade, whether they knew the material or not. Obviously, this led to a complacent attitude in them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Based on their behavior, their internal dialog must have been something like: “School is just a required waste of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll be here while I have to, but you’re not getting any more than the bare minimum from me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that bare minimum was really almost nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope and pray that they’re beginning to see the value of a good education and that all good things require sacrifice. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I try to understand where these kids are coming from, but it’s hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I was a poor kid from a broken home, I had a lot compared to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Poor kids in poor neighborhoods, violence around every corner, lack of support from adults around them, media that declares that what you are is what you have and what you look like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hunger, abuse, waste, frustration, anger, hate, disillusionment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they’re 16 and 17 and trying to make some sense of something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they’re brave, funny, playful, smart, compassionate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quite amazing really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’ll do whatever I can to help them overcome the obstacles and be a source of joy and hope in this world. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For those of you that want more concrete details about my life:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m still working Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at my high school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Thursdays I still volunteer at a foundation for pregnant teens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my free time I go to the beach and try to stay cool while not getting burned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel guilty about not being around my family more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes me sad to think of all the things I’m missing as my niece and nephew grow up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m ok with the sacrifice I made in coming down here, but it hurts that my family also had to make a sacrifice in letting me go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I’ve got a pretty good idea of what my life will be like for the next 6 months, but after that I’m clueless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s tough being unsure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My friends and family, I love you all dearly!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re in my heart, my thoughts and my prayers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cuidense!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Micah</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div closure_uid_txt91n="102"></div></div>Micah Lyn Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241143875966238895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089511770541631502.post-71228641565368936872011-05-21T22:09:00.000-07:002011-05-21T22:09:39.976-07:00Mucho Mas Mayo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Coastal beaches, domineering mountain ranges, enveloping jungle: Colombia has it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But who has Colombia?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">During our training in Barranquilla we learned about the significance of the Colombian flag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The flag is simple, it has three stripes that run horizontal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The widest of the three and the one that occupies the top part of the flag is yellow, underneath that is a blue stripe, and then a red stripe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The yellow stripe, we were told, represents the gold that exists in abundance in Colombia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The blue stripe represents the waters that flow generously in almost all parts of the country: Colombia has shores on the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, as well as many rivers that form a complex, perilous system that empties into the Amazon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The final stripe, the red one, represents the blood of the people that was shed to gain independence from Spain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the flag was adopted as the symbol of the nation, who could have known the blood of the people (the red stripe) would continue to flow in a struggle for control of the country’s resources and wealth (yellow and green stripe)? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another topic (or is it the same topic?):</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This week there has been a festival called Mucho Mas Mayo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a festival celebrating art, music, dance, and afrocolombian culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All over the city for the last 5 days there have been concerts, poetry readings, dance performances, and discussions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today the final concert was held in the historic district in the Plaza de la Paz (The Plaza of Peace).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It began at 8pm and the crowd was mostly composed of youth ages 16-24.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Various hip-hip, rock, and rap bands performed on the center stage, and on a side-stage local breakdance and hip-hop groups displayed their skills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was in the center of the crowd, standing in front of the stage with my host brother Esteban.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bands were good, with messages of hope, peace, and respect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything you would expect from a production sponsored by the local government.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then a heavy metal group took the stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as the lead singer began screaming into his microphone, commotion erupted on my left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked over and suddenly a circle was opening up in the middle of the crowd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was pushed back, along with everyone around me, to make space for….what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I soon discovered that the space was for fighting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Young men who entered the circle, entered with fists flying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It became a swirling mess of young men pushing and punching one-another, dispelling rage and energy in the most violent of ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The group performing on stage seemed only encouraged by the chaos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one point the lead singer shouted “Jovenes Cartageneros, quiero que se maten!” (Youth of Cartagena, I want you to kill each other!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My stomach turned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stood there, watching the crowd, those plunging into the fray, and those standing near me, just observing the mania.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The main band of the night hadn’t played yet, but I was ready to leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we walked away from the Plaza, we discussed what was happening there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Esteban had seen one of the kids get a tooth knocked out, and Yamina (a teacher-friend) talked about the influence of drugs at this kind of event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The night’s events now make sense and yet are so contrary to how things should be. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t have a conclusion for this blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t think of anyway proverbatize what I saw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want more explanations and, even more, I want solutions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today is my 4 month anniversary in Cartagena…</span></span></div></div>Micah Lyn Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241143875966238895noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089511770541631502.post-39993754762275452622011-04-14T14:28:00.000-07:002011-04-14T14:28:30.404-07:00Chronicles of Cartagena<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Story of a Girl:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yesterday my counterpart at work, Jesus Antonio, told me the story of one of the girls in our 10<sup>th</sup> grade class; let’s call her Laura.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is her 3<sup>rd</sup> year at my school and her 3<sup>rd</sup> attempt at passing 10<sup>th</sup> grade. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The quintessential teenager, she pays attention in class, most of the time, does the assignment, some of the time, and nods as the teachers talk to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But other students began sharing stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some girls came forward and said that Laura was pressuring them into selling themselves for sex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A new female student at the school said that she had been invited to Laura’s house, and woke up the next day without a clue about what had happened the day before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last thing she remembered was that Laura had given her something to drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now Laura’s been expelled from the school (‘thrown out’ as it’s literally translated from Spanish).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The school’s psychologist said she couldn’t help her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now the police are involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What has happened to this girl in her life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What will become of her in the future?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are so many stories here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many things that are hard to see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My students seem to be more ‘world wise’ than me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Among my 11<sup>th</sup> grade students there is one boy who is already a father, and three girls who are expecting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today I read that Colombia, and Cartagena (my city) in particular, has the highest rate of unplanned pregnancies in teenagers in all of Latin America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the website where I found this information, I also found some answers to questions that I’ve had about this city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I discovered that in 1993 the population of Cartagena was only 500,000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today it is over 1 million.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has doubled in size since my 11<sup>th</sup> grade students were born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why the flood of people?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People come escaping violence in other parts of the country. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some come looking for work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They come with hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet how often is that hope realized?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many find what they’re looking for?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead they find a city that doesn’t know to support the people that that live within it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every day the news is flooded with violence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unemployment here is higher than almost anywhere else in the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other statistics are equally sobering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now that I’ve begun to see the reality of this city, I want to help so badly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I am feeling a little unprepared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A little unsure about ‘how?’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have, however, decided where to start: my school. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a great opportunity!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have access to hundreds of teenagers from difficult situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll share with them all the skills and experience I have and, who knows, maybe I can find a way to motivate them to create positive change in this city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe in the power of people committed to changing what they don’t like in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The evidence of that power is everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Changing topics completely:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My birthday was 2 days ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just happened to fall on a Tuesday, my hardest work-day of the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Tuesdays I have 9 hours of classes, starting at 6:40am and ending at 6:30pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a long day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This Tuesday, like every Tuesday, I showed up early to school, found the key to the classroom, and began preparing for the first lesson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Students began trickling in after the time to start the class had already passed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My counterpart, Nelly, came in late too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She smiled and asked me how I was, as she always does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t want to make a big deal about my birthday, so I hadn’t mentioned it to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our first lesson is 2 hours long and we taught for about an hour before Nelly informed me that the students had to meet with the school coordinator in their classroom. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I quickly wrapped up the lesson and we sent them on their way to their usual classroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Nelly told me that the coordinator wanted to speak with the teachers too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we went.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon approaching the classroom I heard the excited shouts, “Here she comes!” and caught sight of the balloons!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took a step back and looked at Nelly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked delighted and guilty and took my hand to keep me moving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had decorated the classroom and prepared a surprise party for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How sweet!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They made a party schedule, sang me three different birthday songs, read poems, made speeches, and shared soda and snacks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had pooled together money to buy me a giant fruit basket. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s a rumor at the school that I don’t eat candy, and only eat healthy snacks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the sake of setting a good example, I haven’t disabused them of this notion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Great kids!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In each class throughout the day, it was the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The students sang and clapped and howled, made speeches about my greatness, and presented me with something they had made or purchased for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am so grateful to all of them for trying so hard to make me feel special on my birthday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">During a 3 hour break from 9 to noon, I caught a bus down to the historic center of Cartagena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the part of town that attracts tourists from around the world and gives Cartagena the reputation of being such a beautiful city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The city has been preserved almost exactly as it was in the 16<sup>th</sup> century.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s cooler there than where I live because it’s right on the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rock walls that surround the city are 5 feet thick and you can sit (or lay-down) in the windows of the wall and enjoy the quiet and the view of the Caribbean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s how I spent the latter part of my morning: in a key-hole shaped window in a 16<sup>th</sup> century rock wall, overlooking the sea, wondering “How lucky am I to be here?!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While walking to the wall, I stopped at Juan Valdez, a Colombian Starbucks-styled coffee shop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I paid 8,000 pesos ($4) for a blended coffee drink and drank it slowly over the course of an hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nobody bothered me and I was perfectly content to sit and watch the passersby through the café window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was my first drink at Juan Valdez.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It cost about ½ of what I make in a day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Possibly the best and cheapest birthday present I’ve ever given myself!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I left Juan Valdez there was an indigenous woman sitting on the corner with her young daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was braiding her daughter’s hair and begging for money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always feel strange about giving people on the street money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that it just supports a reliance on others and keeps them trapped in the cycle of having to beg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve always said that it’s much better to support a local foundation that works to alleviate poverty than to give money directly to people who beg in the streets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Essentially, I feel guilty when I don’t give them money (because even on my Peace Corps salary, I can afford it) and I feel guilty when I give them money because I know that it doesn’t create real change in the life of the person who is begging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On my birthday, it was much easier to not give in to the guilt: “I’ve got 2,000($1) in change from my coffee drink at Juan Valdez. It’s my birthday present to her.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I handed it to her and continued walking toward the wall and toward the view of the sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To my friends and family, I miss you all dearly!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m happy to be where I am, but it costs me deeply to be away from you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope that all is well in each one of your lives, that you’re always learning and growing, and being a blessing in the lives of those around you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a privilege to know you, and I am grateful for your friendship and your love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Con un corazon lleno de cari<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">ñ</span>o,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Micah</span></div></div>Micah Lyn Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241143875966238895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089511770541631502.post-28502830402952003132011-03-14T06:19:00.000-07:002011-03-14T06:19:03.579-07:00Human Essentials<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="ES" style="mso-ansi-language: ES;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear Friends and Family,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="ES" style="mso-ansi-language: ES;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thank God it´s Friday!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each week seems long and yet the time is flying by. I can’t believe I’ve been here for over 2 months!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Incredible! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s what I’ve been up to lately:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="ES" style="mso-ansi-language: ES;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I teach classes in the mornings and evenings Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Thursday I don`t go to the school, but instead I go to an NGO called ¨La Fundacion Juan Felipe Escobar Gomez.¨ This fundation works with pregnant girls, ages 13-18, from the lowest socioeconomic classes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Colombia the economic divisions are oficial and each family has a place in the socioeconomic hierarchy (they’re divided by “strata”: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>stratas 1 - 6).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are 150 girls in the foundation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They come daily for technical classes on cooking, sewing, child care and now: English!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some have already had their babies, others are pregnant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some bring their babies to the sessions, others leave their babies with family members at home. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="ES" style="mso-ansi-language: ES;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know these girls;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we`ve just met, and we come from different worlds, but I know them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know their thoughts; I know their struggles; I know their hopes; I know their fears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One thing I’ve learned in my short life: everyone is the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re all unique of course, but we’re all the same in the essentials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all have the same hopes, fears, wants, and needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all need love and affection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all fear that things won’t work out the way we hope they will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all want to be happy and not be in need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These girls, like most girls, struggle with self-esteem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They look for love and affection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They look for support and ways to reach their goals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They worry; they hurt; they struggle; they smile; they laugh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’M super excited about working with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I can learn a lot from them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world is a difficult place, but it’s full of beautiful people! Cliche? Sure. True? Absolutely.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="ES" style="mso-ansi-language: ES;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know this isn’t much and doesn’t touch on my life here very deeply or directly, but it’s all I feel inclined to write right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love and miss everyone at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could use your prayers if you have time to spare some.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peace and love today and always!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="ES" style="mso-ansi-language: ES;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">-Micah</span></span></div></div>Micah Lyn Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241143875966238895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089511770541631502.post-81923961026287304202011-02-13T16:20:00.000-08:002011-02-13T16:20:38.155-08:00Cartagena<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="ES"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear friends and family,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="ES"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lonely Planet describes Cartagena as “a fairy-tale city of romance, legends and sheer beauty. Cartagena de Indias is an addictive place that can be hard to escape. This is the place to drop all sightseeing routines. Instead, just stroll through Cartagena's maze of cobbled alleys, where enormous balconies are shrouded in bougainvilla and massive churches cast their shadows across leafy plazas.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="ES"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The historical center of Cartagena is exactly that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Breathtaking, mesmerizing, captivating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, of course, there are many sides to everything and Cartagena is no exception.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The real story of Cartegena is a tale of many cities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Downtown Cartagena, the part the Lonely Planet focuses on, gets a fair amount of attention from foreign travelers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two cruise ships arrive weekly with tourists to deposit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shops in that sector include the most expensive clothing stores, jewerly shops, and cafés.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other neighborhoods, such as mine, Cartagena is a concrete jungle with few charms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are few trees and no parks or fields for children to play in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their playground is the street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beyond those neighborhoods, the city opens up, the concrete fades into dirt and the city mixes with the jungle that borders it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the city´s edge you can find two extremes: stunning wealth and heart-wrenching poverty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gated-communities and shanties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="ES"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is Cartagena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is my home.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="ES"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Everyday I walk to my school and i`m usually there from some random time in the morning until the evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>School has been in session for two weeks now and I´m still following Peace Corps` recommendation that I observe classes before beginning to teach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The students are very reserved with me, which is something that I didn´t expect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I`m told that once they get used to me, they´ll open up and it´ll be hard to set boundaries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The English program at my school seems well developed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many people here on the coast recognize the importance of English and are eagar to learn it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I work with two local teachers and we teach 10th and 11th grade (there is no 12th grade in the Colombian education system).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next week I`ll start teaching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I`m excited about the lessons I`ve been putting together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love this age group and I`m hoping to see a lot of growth in their English capabilities as well as in their intelectual, social, and emotional development.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="ES"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In my free time I´ve been researching organizations that work here in Cartagena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My desire is to work with kids who have had to drop out of school for various reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve visited 2 organizations so far but haven’t found a place where i’m needed and I can do something meaningful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="ES"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve been really fortunate in everything I’ve encountered so far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a terrific family and I feel super comfortable in my home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have my own room with a private bath and shower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Running water just for me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fantastic!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My host family consists of a woman in her mid-fifties, Ruth, her husband Oscar, their 19 year old son Estéban, and Yamina, a woman in her 40s who rents a room with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are all very warm and welcoming and are careful to make sure that I’m feeling at home, and checking to make sure that things at school are going well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m really grateful for their care and attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have the Independence to come and go as I please and yet when I want to be with family, they’re here to talk and sympathize with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t imagine a better family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="ES"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m going to stop here and post this before I get distracted and let it set for another week on my laptop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I miss you all but I’m glad I’m here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope that winter is passing at the rate you’d like it to and that spring is promising to be a great time for everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With love from Cartagena,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="ES"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Micah</span></span></div></div>Micah Lyn Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241143875966238895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6089511770541631502.post-30960416230472287522011-01-18T15:17:00.001-08:002011-01-18T15:17:57.591-08:00Training Days<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear friends and family,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Where to begin?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s been 2 weeks since we arrived in Colombia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two weeks in Colombia and we’ve spent very little time outside of the hotel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although we are Peace Corps Response volunteers, because of the unique situation in Colombia, we are required to participate in a 3-week long training process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every day we sit through sessions regarding safety and security, health and vaccinations (shots for everyone!), and teaching methodologies and resources.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all look at the training as an unnecessary, bureaucratic evil, but one that we’re willing to deal with in order to have the financial and security support of Peace Corps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our experiences outside the classroom have been really positive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The worst elements of Latin American culture are surprisingly absent here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The staring, cat-calls, harassment, super high levels of privatized security (ie guys with guns), are minimal here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can walk down the street, go shopping, take the bus, do almost everything without feeling too out-of-place or foreign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A girl in our group commented yesterday that she was almost missing the “movie star affect” that she’d become used to in her last assignment in the Dominican Republic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not completely gone, but neither is it completely overwhelming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another pleasant surprise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spend most of my evenings in the central park here in town, meeting people, talking, getting to know the city and occasionally playing volleyball.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve made some great friends with amazing insights into Colombian culture. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every day the temperature hovers between 75-95 and is sunny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It hasn’t rained here yet but we’ve been warned to be careful when it does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The city streets turn into flood-rivers (“arroyos”) that can sweep cars away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Signs posted along the worst streets depict water lines and a human skull: “Don’t cross the arroyo. Arroyos kill!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rule of thumb is that the higher the curb, the worse the flood-rivers can get there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some curbs are nearly 3-feet high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who would have thought that the scariest thing I would face in Colombia would be the rain!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This Friday we finish training and move to our work-sites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will be working in an ‘educational institute’ in Cartagena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The institute is similar to a technical school for students in 10<sup>th</sup> and 11<sup>th</sup> grades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Students from all over the city can choose to take classes there in the afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The institute teaches English, technology, craftsmanship, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m really curious to see how it works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last Wednesday we found out where we would be going and I couldn’t be more thrilled about moving to Cartagena!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That’s everything for now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cheers to new adventures!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With love from Barranquilla,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Micah</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div>Micah Lyn Houstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11241143875966238895noreply@blogger.com2