A Kickball Kind of Day

The campers started asking to play kickball yesterday so today we gave the people what they wanted and played the favorite Boquilla pastime.  I would say that in La Boquilla 90% of the time girls are playing sports, they are playing kickball.  The other 10% get split between soccer, softball, and volleyball.  Now I am not sure why this is, but kickball is most definitely considered a girls sport in La Boquilla or at least after one year I have never seen a group of boys playing the great American P.E. classic.  Needless to say the girls had a fantastic time out in the scorching sun.

Tomorrow will mark the end of the two week Little Lebowski Peri-Urban achievers camp.  These past two weeks have flown by and I couldn't be more excited to end the camp with the decathlon and the handing out of the certificates we have planned for tomorrow.          

Dance of the Day: The Cupid Shuffle

One of the girls from the younger group getting ready to bat

Skits and Games

Yesterday the girls were placed into groups of four and given a location, i.e. the beach, a restaurant, school, or a park.  They were told the following day they were going to present their environmental protection--the current topic we are discussing-- skits to the camp.  Well today was that day and the majority of the groups got really into the project and had performances that were really impressive and some even made me laugh.  We then started the workshop on 'What Makes a Good Leader' and will continue with this topic tomorrow.

The girls couldn't wait to hit the beach and start playing after the taller!  This was because we started playing actual softball games and yesterday's game was tied at 2-2.  Unfortunately, I had to be the bearer of bad news and tell them that we would have to switch teams because there were girls that were there yesterday that weren't there today and there were some that came today, but missed yesterday.  Not to mention I didn't write down who was on what team--my bad girls.  In addition to having two fellow Peace Corps friends that are helping out at the camp, I talked to a few high schoolers and offered them leadership opportunities as 'camp counselors.'  So the games are really their time to shine.  They are the coaches of the two teams and have to create the lineup and shuffle their players in the field.  I am proud to say that with limited training, one Sunday I spoke to them and gave them a brief rundown of what their responsibilities would be, they are doing a good job coaching up these girls. 

Quote of the Day: One of the campers got a splinter during the softball portion of the day and one of our camp counselor said, "Don't worry I have a knife" and started going to work with the knife on the grils finger.

Dance of the Day: Gangnam style

One of the camp counselors teaching one of his players how to hit properly 

Recycling is Cool!

The workshop today was on environmental awareness and the benefits of recycling.  The day started off with a bang as we taught the 30 some odd girls the Soulja Boy dance.  There really isn't a better transition into trash than dancing to Soulja Boy.  My favorite part of the workshop was when we were discussing recycling.  Side note:  There is no recycling in La Boquilla and so everyone just throws everything together and it is all brought to the dump.  So with this in mind we spoke about recycling in terms of how products can be reused opposed to being thrown away.  As we spoke about what you can do with plastic bags one girl claimed, "make a dress."  Soon enough this answer was getting thrown out there for all sorts of different products.  Girls claimed to have dresses made from plastic bags, bags of water (that is how water is consumed on the coast), and two liter soda bottles.  Although I have never seen a recycled dress, I can only assume that it will be all the rage with the elementary school girls of La Boquilla next season.  I will keep everyone posted.

Dance of the Day: the Soulja Boy

Quote of the Day:  During the discussion on recycling, we were asking the girls how they could reuse certain products.  When the subject got changed to batteries, my friend said that you can take your used batteries into the city and dispose of them at a grocery store.  One of the girls though he was asking a question and just said, "No!"  We had to then tell her that this was not a question, but indeed a fact and all of the other girls had a good laugh.

Also I think this may have been the best day yet!

During a skit where I was given a red card for littering while playing soccer.9

Feast or Famine

Last Friday the camp was cancelled due to a number of reasons, but the main one being lack of attendance--famine.  However, my friend had the brilliant idea of changing the times of the camp--start earlier and no afternoon games-- and passing out some flyers over the weekend with my community counterpart.  Now roll around to earlier today and as we both showed up at 8:00 we were greeted by.....NOBODY!  As another one of my friends, guest counselor for the day, showed up at 8:10 we started to get a little nervous as NONE of the girls nor my community counterpart had showen up yet.  So I left my friends and went on a woMANhunt of La Boquilla at around 8:15.  I found my counterpart with six campers and we walked back to the school and waited.  We waited an entire hour and by 9:00 there were at least 40 campers that had arrived--Feast!!!!

We were not expecting a turnout like this as last week we averaged around 12-15, a much more manageable number.  We soon split the girls into groups according to age and assigned each group a sticker.  The girls in the youngest group got pizza stickers, the middle group got animal stickers, and the oldest group got smily face stickers.  Then we went outside and PLAY(ED) BALL!

Dance of the day:  Movin' Like Bernie (If you don't know it search it on YouTube)

One legged relay race (picture taken by my counterpart)

Telling the girls the importance of 'squashing the bug' (picture taken by my counterpart again.  Isn't she the best?!)

Day 5

Canceled :(..........  Look out for day 6 on Monday

ULTIMATE!

We mixed it up today and instead of playing softball we played Ultimate frisbee!  The girls got a kick out of this and it was a good change of pace.  We ended the sports portion of the day with a furthest throw contest and my neighbor, who I have practiced frisbee with before, won by more than a few feet.  So she made her street--no street names here-- really proud!  Before the sports portion of the day we had a really good talk with the girls about health and exercise.  At one point the girls were giving us examples of healthy and non-healthy foods.  A few of the girls thought that fried fish and fried bananas were healthy food and so we had the difficult task of  explaining why they were not.  This was the first time this week where we could immediately see the girls starting to change the way they were thinking about a topic.

Best day of Little Lebowski's Peri-Urban achievers camp to date-- I hope to say this at least three more times over the next six days of camp.  

Outfit of the day:  A girl showed up to camp with what can only be described as a wedding dress

Dance of the day: Jump on it (Fresh Price of Bel-Air)

Feelin' Good About Ourselves Now

More girls showed up today for a pretty sweet workshop on self-esteem and an exquisite Macarena lesson.  After defining self-esteem, the girls were handed a sheet of paper as we came by and taped the paper to their backs (see picture).  They were then instructed to go around the room and write positive/encouraging comments on each others backs.  Finally, in true Peace Corps fashion we processed how we felt after reading the endearing comments.  Then it was off the the beach for some softball.  Egg toss was brought back by popular demand in addition to throwing relays and the always funny dizzy bat relay--the girls ran to a baseball bat and then spun around three times before wobbling back to tag their teammate.

Dance of the Day: The Macarena

Quote of the day: I was trying to get a group of girls to start the next activity as a sassy fourth grader told me, "Leave me here and let me finish my ice pop"

Some of the girls participating in the self-esteem building activity

 

Less Might Just be More

To start the day I got a call from my community counterpart that is helping out at Little Lebowski's Peri-Urban Achievers camp.  She told me she was going to be late because she had a medical appointment (she never came) and had all of the materials we were going to use for the day.  However,  now that I have been in the Peace Corps for a year I am somewhat of a self proclaimed magician when it comes to pulling ice breakers and activities out of thin air.  So not to worry, my friend and I put on a solid workshop.  However, I was a bit shocked, and at first a little upset, that only about a third of the girls showed up from the first day.  Nevertheless, I feel that the day was a lot more successful as we got to work one on one with the majority of the girls.  Not to mention they could not get enough of the egg toss game we played!

Dance of the Day: The Robot

Quote of the Day:  After being in the sun for a bit, a girl said, "I am burning up and you Gringos don't burn like us Black people"      

Little Lebowski's Peri-Urban Achievers Camp

A PC volunteer friend of mine (working in Barranquilla),  a community member, a few high school students, and myself are starting a two week leadership/softball camp for the girls of 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade in La Boquilla.  There will be a workshop followed by softball skill stations in the morning.  Then the girls will return home for a Costeño lunch break, three hours.  We will then return to the beach at 3:00, to a sun that has hopefully set a little bit, and play an actual game.  My goal is to write 10 blogs over the next 14 days; A blog per day of the camp.  These blogs will be short and highlight a cool workshop activity, a funny event, or some of the priceless quotes that these hilarious girls have already said.    

Day 1

In addition to the workshop my friend and I decided that we better teach these girls a dance a day.  So todays task was the Chicken Dance.  After finding out that there was no internet --I should have known-- we had no choice but to sing/hum the song while demonstrating the dance.  And as you can imagine the girls had a field day and the laughter was plentiful.  However, after they calmed down a bit and learned the moves, they all danced the Chicken Dance like I thought only a true Gringo could.

Getting Schooled by Women

One of the highlights of my service thus far has been working with a local NGO, FHES.  I was approached by the NGO when I first arrived in La Boquilla and eagerly took the opportunity to HELP teach english.  However, guess what?.......‘help’ wasn’t the word that they were looking for.  I believe the correct word was TEACH.  So after arriving to my first class totally prepared to HELP and unprepared to TEACH, I was told I had three hours and the class was mine.  So after the lady kindly introduced me she saw herself out of the room and I was thrown to the 13 Boquilleras.  At this point I felt like I was standing center stage and there was a spotlight shining right on my face, and I recall sweating like that was the case.  So, I did what any PCV would do and just fought through it to survive until the next meeting, which I told myself would be much better.  

Now after a year later, and many better meetings, we meet two to three times a week and the class has turned into more than just an English class.  We teach each other about music, food, religion, and these ladies always have plenty of La Boquilla gossip.  A few of the highlights so far have been learning to dance Chapeta, possibly against my will, becoming an official taste tester for food that is often brought to class, learning how to make rosary necklaces, and most recently how to shop at a ‘flea market.’     

During a greatly planned food lesson, if I do say so myself, one of the girls asked (in english) to use the bathroom.  I said yes and didn’t think twice about it.  However, when she came back 15 minutes later with a handful of clothes I didn’t know what was going on.  Then before I could ask Gerledys what she eats for breakfast, the rest of the ladies left the room and charged at full steam down the stairs to the lady with a bunch of clothes laid out, in no particular order, on the ground.  For the next hour I observed and learned how to properly navigate a pop up flea market in La Boquilla.  These women are something else!   

  

Angeles Somos, One Fine Day

Getting started right outside of school

 As I checked my Facebook on the night of Halloween (celebrated here in Colombia, but not with an evangelical family) I found a message from one of my co-teachers.  It read, 

“Mike, Tomorrow we have an activity called "Tintililillo" in school:, no classes. But you will be with us, ok. We'll do a "Sancocho"

I quickly did some research by asking my host mom what “Tintilillo” was and she told me that it is part of the celebration for Angeles Somos.  This holiday is celebrated here in La Boquilla and Cartagena on November 1st.  The students go from house to house in the morning asking for fruits and vegetables and sing a little song while banging on pots and pans.  The ingredients that are collected are then brought to the school for the Sancocho.

What is a Sancocho you might ask?  A Sancocho is a big soup that can be filled with anything from corn on the cob, bananas, potatoes, yucca, peppers, chicken, ribs, and much more.  However,  not all of the students did their early morning sining and thus came to school with nothing.  So some quick thinking teachers told them they to pay a few hundred pesos (25 cents) if they wanted to eat.  

When all the ingredients and money were collected the teachers then came up with a list of what they were still missing.  As two teachers headed to the store to pick up the rest of the ingredients on a moto, the rest of us went outside to enjoy the humidity and if it weren’t bad enough, start a fire for the soup.  My counterpart kept saying how Sancocho was her favorite food and that it is much better when cooked on a open fire.  So we split up and collected some kindling and threw some egg cartons on the fire to really get it going.  As if I weren't drenched in sweat already... 

As the teachers started cutting up the veggies they sat me down in a plastic chair in the shade because I guess it was obvious I didn’t know what I was doing or I looked like I was going to pass out from the heat.  Meanwhile I bet you are wondering where all of the students are at this point...well at least you are now.  And to answer that question, some were playing soccer in the classrooms, others were dancing champeta and reggaeton, and some even found drums and started playing their own music.  So as you can imagine the bulla (see costeño dictionary) level was very very high.  

We finally found a pot that would serve 110 teachers and students and began throwing all of the veggies and meat into the iron vat-- I am sure there was a strategy, I am just not aware of it.  Then we SAT.  I mean we really just chatted, listened to the kids play drums, and occasionally checked the soup for the next FOUR hours.  If you know me, you know I can’t sit still for long, but for some reason this time was different.  Maybe it was the student generated funky drum beats or the thirst quenching apple soda, but I just sat there chatted away for longer than I can ever think of.

The clock struck 6:00, six hours after I arrived at school, and the soup was finally approved by my counterpart as, “delicious” and we dug in.  Go figure a soup that takes six hours to make is a little tastier that my FAMOUS George Foreman grilled chicken.   

Some students lining up early for their bowl 

Finished product

My soup

One Year in Country

One Year In Country

The other week marked one year in Colombia and we were all DTF (Down to Fiesta).  After the great weekend festivities I could hardly believe I have been on the coast for a year now.  I still vividly remember meeting Taylor on the bus ride from the airport to the hotel in Miami and meeting Mike D, my roommate for the first night in the hotel room.    

 The days can go by slowly, but they months always move quickly.  I can’t even believe it is almost November which marks Carnival in Cartagena and before I know it, it is going to be the last day of classes December 8th.  So after a year on the Coast of Colombia I put together a survival dictionary of some Costeñol (because what they speak here is hardly Spanish) words that I have accumulated here thus far.  Some letters I still don’t have words for, but I will fill them in as I learn new phrases in the next year!  One great year down and I can’t wait to see what the next year brings.   

Areap- fried dough with anything from egg to cheese inside 

Bulla- Noise 

Champeta- music with african roots that is really popular in La Boquilla

Del Carajo- really cool

Eche- A derogatory interjection 

Filo- hungry 

Guerro- liquor 

Huepaje- a yell of joy; often heard while dancing (well)

Inmundo- something horrible 

Junta Comunal- a group that plans events in the community

K 

Liso- Very friendly person and can be quite touchy as well 

Marimonda- a typical costume for carnival 

Nojoda- directly translating to don’t F***, but it is used more like “are you kidding?”

Ñapa- Ask for this when getting fruit and they throw in a couple extra    

Oiste- really meaning did you hear, but here it is used as “O.K?” 

Pillas- hurry up

Qué mas- What’s up?

Raspa’o-  Snow cone  

Sapo- a know it all in class

Tinto- coffee

U

Vaina- thing
Wera- Usually spoken at parties when someone does something strange

X

Y

Zapote- one of my favorite fruits that is amazing as a blended juice with milk

Jumanji Scene

I am no meteorologist, but based on the fact that it is raining almost everyday (sometimes twice) and occasionally strong winds and lightning accompany the pouring rain, I would say the rainy season is fast approaching or we are in the midst of it over here in La Boquilla.  The other weekend there was a terrible storm on Saturday.  The rain was falling by the bucketful, the lightning was horizontally lighting up the sky, and the strong winds actually provided a brief relief from the dreadful humidity.  Despite not having power and part of my host families roof caving in, the storm served as a nice change of climate.  Yes you read that right....THE ROOF CAVED IN.  

Photo taken from my host sister's facebook

Surprisingly the roof caving in and the power going out-- “la luz se fue Mice (my family has trouble pronouncing Mike)”-- did not seem to phase my family that much when it happened on Saturday.  However, that attitude would be short lived because like I mentioned, it is raining nearly everyday now.  So just like clock work on Sunday around 6:00pm, the rain started with a drizzle and then it was as if a switch was flipped and the drizzle turned into a full on downpour.  Now a storm and a gaping hole in the roof do not equal a pleasant night.  I soon realized that I felt like I was Robbin Williams in the Jumanji monsoon scene that Sunday night.  

 "Every month at the quarter moon, there'll be a monsoon in your lagoon."

Immediately after the rain turned into a downpour, the flooding began.  The water started gathering, ankle deep, in upstairs rooms and in the downstairs landing.  Soon after the storm began we split up in teams and my host mom and her sister were upstairs brushing the water, with brooms, down the stairs--creating class three rapids-- and my host brother and I were sweeping the stair rapids out the front door, with two other broom--we own a lot of brooms.  

The very next day my host family decided it would be best to get the roof fixed, no argument there, and after tossing a bunch of things that got ruined by the water to the curb, I am still living in Jumanji, only this time it is the bat scene.  

"At night they fly, you better run, these winged things are not much fun" 

My host mom told me that bats were living in the roof and when it caved they all entered the house.  So now around five bats fly down the stairs throughout the day and the ones that can’t find the front door are mercilessly swatted at, by sandals, and killed by one of my host family members.  I would estimate that around 25 bats have been slaughtered in the house since the roof caving incident.  Granted those are only the ones I have been around to see.   

I am pretty sure this is what I looked like the first time a bat flew within inches of my face. 

Today was a Good Day (In Pictures)

Getting Ready

It wouldn't be a Boquilla event if there wasn't a little pre-event praying 

Awards

Set list

Dance break

3rd graders

4th graders

 Belting out Adele

Too cool

Last years winner singing Hillary Duff

Eyes closed and ready to go

WINNER!

Moonwalking to Billy Jean

Getting into some Aerosmith

"By the rivers of Babylon"

After announcing the winner...They agreed 

All of the participants with their certificates 

1st (on the right), 2nd (middle), 3rd (left) 

Giving the winner her two lollypops and trophy 

My little cuz getting in on the painting

Cuerpo de Paz

Getting a shout out via the mural

Finished product

Today Was a Good Day (In Words)

Five weeks ago in one of my material development sessions with High School English teachers, where topics range from chatting about Friends to chatting about CSI Miami--oh and material development--, I was presented with the idea helping out to plan and judge the 2nd annual English Song Festival.  My initial thought was, “WOW! we are actually going to start planning for an event an entire month in advance!”  I immediately said YES and believe it or not we started planning that day--I am still waiting to wake up from this dream. 

After three weeks of planning we had the names of nine high school participants, two elementary school groups, balloons, american flags, american flag lollypops, a painted backdrop, and three trophies.  So we were more than ready for the event.  However, it wouldn’t be a Peace Corps project if things went exactly as planned.....so the High School teachers brought to my attention that September 7th, the scheduled day of the event, the Colombian national soccer team had a game and thus not all the students would be in school and they were worried that perhaps some of the participants may not show and that the audience attendance would suffer as well.  By the way it is totally acceptable to miss/leave school early to catch the game with no questions asked.  I LOVE this country!  

With this new knowledge we decided to push the date back to the following friday, the 14th.  But to be quite honest now that I have been here for a year I know better than to assume that one thing let alone all things are going to go as planned, so this little change didn’t phase me much.  Additionally, it gave me the opportunity to work on my newly gained appreciation for looking on the bright side--key for all PC volunteers.  So my bright side equated to me getting to watch Colombia beat Uruguay 4-0, hone in on my judging skills--writing numbers on paper, and most importantly practice more with my two elementary school group participants.  By the day of the competition I had no doubt in my mind that my 3rd graders were going to sing the Days of the Week song flawlessly and that my 4th graders were going to present their skit sin errores.

Two days before the English song fest, I was approached to participate in the celebration of the 40th anniversary of a sector of La Boquilla--Now thats more like it, last minute planning.  I never thought that a town as small as La Boquilla could be broken down in sectors.  However, I now know that the 40th anniversary of the sector, 14 de Septiembre, turned 40 on....... September 14th.  The celebration was going to involve food and drink (obviously), a drum circle, and the painting of a mural for peace.  Soon enough September 14th seemed to be shaping up to be one of my best days in the PC yet!

Both events exceeded all my expectations and I could not be prouder of all the participants in the English Song Fest!  Especially my two elementary school groups who preformed like ROCK STARS.  After the competition, three fellow volunteers and I walked over to the 40th anniversary party and promptly left our mark by adding a few designs to the already beautiful mural and called it a night.  

Just another day in La Boquilla.   

    

4th Grade Fashion Show

Some of the 4th graders

I figured it was about time I write another post about how my English classes are going.  And like the title suggests I just finished a big unit on clothing in one of my 4th grade classes.  Like all of the units this was both co-planned and taught (way easier written than executed).  So after a few classes of drawing pictures, playing games, and working on plenty of pronunciation my co-teacher and I decided that the students were ready for a fashion show to end the unit.  The students were supper stoked about this because for once they could choose what clothes to wear to school instead of the usual uniform that consists of a white shirt and quasi blue sweatpants.

I had a few ideas of what the students were going to wear--i.e. glamorous dresses, button down shirts, soccer jerseys, etc.  However, there were a few surprises as well.  My favorite being the one student who clearly forgot about the assignment, went home during a break and could only find one wool glove, but insisted on walking down the runway nonetheless.  However, I was not surprised that the girls got way more into this activity than the boys.  And by into it I mean EVERY girl turned into a Colombian high fashion model and did the whole walking down the, 4th grade girl created, runway....pausing at the end...... sticking out the ‘skinny arm’....doing their best Blue Steel (Zoolander).... turning..... and walking back.   

After the students were done strutting their stuff they had to say both their name and a phrase we had worked on.  So it went a little something like this: Hello my nom es Edgar an I am werrin pant, a tee chirt, an a hut.  To date this has been the most fun classroom activity I have co-planned and taught.  If only everyday could be the 4th grade Fashion Show! 

'work it'

Blue Steel

Your a tiger!

It’s Been Awhile (first two lines are to be read like the horrible song with the same title)

It’s been a while since I posted on my blog.

And Its been a while since I updated yall. 

Sorry for that...

Family at my dad's Boquilla style birthday party

So to catch everyone up, my most recent occurrence has been me going to Bolivia to reunite with my family--minus my brother-- and then all of us coming to Cartagena--including my brother and his girlfriend.  I had the greatest time with them and although I had not seen them in 10 months, after a brief 30 minute ‘catching up session’ it was like I had never left.  I was so happy to show them the amazingness that is Cartagena, but even more excited to show them where I have been working, what I have been doing, and where I have been living in La Boquilla.

Trip highlight:  Although my dad’s birthday is in July, my host family did not know this, and I wanted to show my family how we get down in La Boquilla.  So I told them it was his birthday.  I felt a little bad telling them this, but I figured since we payed for the entire party and everyone had a great time, there was nothing to worry about.  In typical Boquilla fashion there was enough food to feed the whole town, everyone danced, and the LIGHT beers were flowing like wine (Dumb and Dumber reference).  More importantly my family got to meet all 11 family members that I am currently living with, the 6 that are always here and 4 cousins from venezuela that are here for two months. 

However, don’t think for a second that those were the only people there because when my host family throws down the whole town knows about it.  So there were a bunch of neighbors, other Boquilleros, and cousins that live down the dirt road.  It was a magical night that was full of dancing--my dad with my host mom, my sister with a seven year olds and myself with a four year old neighbor-- and quotes.  My favorite quote of the night had to be when my four year old host sister came up to my family, after they were trying to get her to dance, only to tell us, 

“My mom says I can’t dance because I’m Christian.”  

-Four year old Evangelical 

It instantly became a vacation favorite and was repeated with frequency.   

My family has since left, but not before leaving me with Twizzlers, Peanut butter and more.  I really do miss them a lot, but I am very excited to get back to work and have a busy month ahead.  I hope to get another post up within the next fortnight, but for now enjoy a few pics.

My dad at his birthday party with a few of the guests

My host sister (getting the piggyback ride) and my cousin that lives down the dirt road, as mentioned above

More of the crew

Me and my host mom dancing salsa per usual 

Fiestas del Pescador (one month later)

The crowd on my street at the 4:00am opening ceremonies.  This was the first time everyone was able to see the three beauty queens---Kind of a big deal

Every year La Boquilla has a huge four day fiesta in honor of their patron saint.  This year the festivities started June 22nd and ended the 25th.  As it was my first year experiencing the fiestas del pescador I had no idea what to expect.  I did however, pick the brains of some locals, but even with their help what I witnessed was something both different and unforgettable.  La Boquilla transformed from a small fishing town to a bustling city for four straight days--it was as if the population tripled.  The events of the long weekend included a 4:00am parade, boxing matches, a bike race, concerts, drum circles, dances, more parades, and it all ended with the crowning of a new beauty queen.  The winning teen was from La Boquilla, beating out the candidates from Tierra Bomba and Boca Chica (two other fishing towns).  

Crowd at the boxing match

Two high school students exchanging some punches on the makeshift ring that was constructed on the softball field.   

I couldn't believe how many people came to La Boquilla.  

The three beauty contestants (In the middle is the La Boquilla representative).

Late might Vallenato concert with well know, in Colombia, singer Farid Ortiz

 La Bopquilla really put on quite a magical fiesta for their patron saint