First day in Santa Marta day before christmas

24th December

Well no chance of sleeping in here in Santa Marta.  First of all, I have a shop directly across the street which enjoys playing “musica” ALL THE TIME and as loud as possible.  It’s like being at my mom’s house all the time except here they play a varied mix of Caribbean, Colombian ranchero and dance music.  Then around 7 or 7:30 am, I was awoken by various knocks on the door when Augusto’s friends started to arrive to begin organizing, wrapping and preparing gifts to be delivered to the needy children in the community.  Padre (Father Augusto) had parents get their children (if they could write if not the parents wrote on their behalf) to the “little child” (baby Jesus for my non-Catholic friends) and ask for one toy they wanted most for Christmas.  Over 200+ kids wrote letters which were passed along to Father Gus.  Augusto was like Santa trying to get all us elves to match up toys with letters the day before Christmas.  It was nonstop commotion in such a tiny little house.  Padre Gus realized that he was short on many toys so he said he would have to go back into town to buy some more in the Christmas rush hour.  I offered $100 towards buying the rest of the toys needed.   He was so grateful to buy some more toys to fulfill the letters (thank you to everyone who donated towards my trip!)   

The letters were so sweet and although I couldn't speak too much in Spanish, I could understand some of the writing in Spanish.  We had a lot of fun reading the letters and matching them with the toys.  We also had a steady stream of people coming by to donate toys - one guy even dropped off a small bag.   Later we discovered he made a set of chairs and table for one of the little ninas.  The sentiment was so sweet but we had to re-glue everything back together several times as they kept falling apart.

It was a lot of fun being with various new friends that didn’t know a word of English and me not knowing a word of Spanish (actually I know a few but not enough to string together competitive conservations like they were having)

The day progressed and as we finished wrapping presents everyone scurried home to get ready for Christmas eve celebrations with the kids at the school.  Padre was expecting 400 kids to arrive at the school for a special Christmas Evening of prayer and play.   I had no chance to feel any jet lag the day after I arrived as I was ushered in and out of various places around the village to help with everything including checking on the Christmas Eve pasteles (a sort of Colombian tamale made with rice).

The kids really enjoyed playing loads of games with everyone and I could see why Padre is so well loved here as he gets so involved - including playing football (soccer for the yanks) and cops and robbers with the kids.  He is also a very fast runner!

We finished the kids christmas eve by passing out “obleas” which are Colombian desserts made out of a light wafer biscuit with a honey/butter/sugary type of spread smeared in between the wafers.  The kids went crazy eating them!

Before christmas eve mass we had a get together with people at the school to eat the christmas tamales.  These are made of rice, three kinds of meat:  pork, chicken, beef, egg, potato and one slice of carrot (tradition that the carrot soaks up the fat)  It’s all wrapped into a cassava leave then cooked for three to four hours.  Colombians here also drink a lot of soda and I have already had my fair share of drinking a sweet syrupy pink concoction of a soda that they seem to enjoy having at almost every party or festive occasion since I’ve arrived.  I am doing my best to stick to augua from now on.

Christmas Eve was a nice get together of about 25 people before mass and I can see how family is so important to the Colombians.  They really like to sit around with each other and  laugh and talk (with a lot of pink soda I might add).

Christmas. Part uno.

December 25, 2010

Power went out a couple of times due to the heavy rains and bad weather that Colombia has been experiencing and I didn’t think once of complaining as it meant the shop music from across the road was out too.  Hooray some sleep!   It was the best Christmas present I received (well almost ...)

It was early morning and already people knocking on the door again by 7:00 am.  

After coffee and some fresh mango (I had told Padre that I was looking forward to eating a mango when I arrived in Santa Marta so he grabbed one from a friends yard) for breakfast it was time to get ready to start delivering some gifts!

Oh wait I forgot to tell you that I also discovered that Colombians here in Santa Marta are always late.  We waited for some people to come over to Padre’s house to join us for passing out gifts in the neighboring barrio.  And we waited.  Then we waited some more.

Padre suggested I take my small bags of numerous little gifts that my mom helped me wrapped for the ninas and ninos.  I had a very weighted down backpack full of small toys for girls and boys as well as some small gifts for some of the mothers and grandmothers.  I had no idea that we would be trekking up and down some muddy, treacherous and watery terrain for the next 3-4 hours looking for people who had no house addresses but just a name on their letter with their barrio address.  It was so hot, so humid and my bags were getting heavy in addition to carrying my camera bag but it was Christmas in Colombia!

All I can say is look at these pictures on my flickr.  You’ll see what it meant to me.  This was the best Christmas present!  It was a real blessing to see and experience handing out toys and presents to mothers and children who had nothing.  My favorite house (pictured here) was so humbly decorated.  The mother of two little girls was so gracious and overwhelmed to get toys for her children.  Padre explained to me that her husband passed away a couple of years ago and her mother (in this picture in the background) is blind.  I gave them some treats from my bag as well and the little girl ran over to her grandmother to tell her about it.  

Padre was like a real life Santa Claus - checking his long list of names to see who had received their present and who was left. 

Good news is that we were able to find almost all the children in the village even though there were no addresses on the clapboard shacks or dodgy brick type buildings.  I think next year Padre should ask parents to also write what kind of outdoor speakers they have as it might be easier to identify the houses.  Man the Colombians here love their musica!

Playing Santa Claus. Part Dos.  

So after trekking in the village all day it was time to prepare for some children visiting the school for more Christmas celebrations. And yes, it was still very hot, humid and rainy.

Around 4:30 pm we headed for the school to entertain the kids.  Padre said this was my opportunity to don the Santa Claus costume that I brought from the states.  It was actually saved from a 10k Santa run I did in London a few years ago which I had sent to my mom to use for her kindergarten class (and yes, sure enough my dad used it one year and stretched it out quite a bit!)  I also had to improvise a beard to go with it since the original was lost somewhere between the 10k and my dad delivering pizza to my mom’s Kindergarten class a few years ago.

You can see from the pictures that 

a.) The kids in Padre’s village had never seen someone dressed in a santa costume 

b.) no one cared if I was a woman dressed as Santa 

c.) even the adults liked Santa Clausine (see picture of Joseph the grounds keeper with his big smile)

Of course I am leaving the Santa costume here in its new home.  Next year I hope to see pictures of Father Augusto dressed as Papa Noel.

Playa y Jugos de Mango

December 26, 2010

My new friends Ladys, Mervin and Zuleima took me to the beach.  Even though we are very close (as the crow flys) to the playa we have to take two buses to get to one of the nice tourist-ca beaches.  We waited over an hour outside Garagoa but there were no buses direct to Taganga.  We had to take a bus into town and catch another bus to Taganga.

Anyone that enjoys a smooth and safe ride would probably not enjoy a ride in a busetta.  (mini vans fitted for 20-25 people)  No where else do you get the sense of community other than on a busetta.

Taganga is a sweet little  tourist town with many “jugos” and fruit stands dotted along the pedestrian walk way.  Apparently Taganga is known for being a bit of a gringo hippy beach spot as well as a destination for some Colombians. I was duly impressed by the first no motorcycle sign since arriving in Colombia.

I invited the girls if I could treat them to a jugos as I really wanted to try a mango jugos myself.  The drinks are made with fresh fruit and blended with either milk or ice water (I opted for ice water) and the strangest thing to me was the huge amount of sugar they added to the juice which isn’t really necessary as the fruits are so ripe and sweet. 

It was a deliciso treat before we ventured on our hike to Playa Grande - the main beach which is sandwiched between two massive hills.  You can take a boat to reach Playa Grande bay but we opted for the view and the exercise (and saving a few pesos) to hike 20 minutes on a cliff hanging hill to reach the beach.  I must admit that part of the hike was a bit nerve wracking for my fear of heights but the view was worth it.  It was also reassuring to know that the Colombian policia are keeping an eye on the gringos.   I had a personal bodyguard named Jamie who walking behind me 1/2 way to the beach.  He spoke incredibly good english.  

Just as we started our descent towards Playa Grande bay the girls spotted two lorros (wild parrots) sitting in a tree.  To see these beautiful birds in the wild with full tails was amazing!  

We arrived on a very full beach at mid day and there was barely an empty spot on the sand but we got lucky.  I opted for an immediate dip into the water to cool off as it was so hot and humid which I’m not used to.  Like a typical tourist beach there were numerous vendors walking up and down the playa selling everything from ceviche to beach clothing.

Next time I will kindly ask them no azucar.

LAX to Panama, Panama to Bogota, Bogota to Santa Marta ...

So I finally have figured out my internet access which means I pack up my laptop and power cord and head to the internet cafe across from Father Augusto's house.   It's super cheap for me to use the wifi but I haven't had much time to dedicate an hour or so in the cafe as Father has been keeping me so busy!

Here is the first blog post from the start of my journey to Santa Marta, Colombia:

December 22, 2010

Heading to Santa Marta

Departed LAX at 1am.  My sister was kind enough to take me to the airport on 23rd December with three HUGE bags.  I nixed the boxes in packing stage 3 as they were too cumbersome to pick up and carry (as well as heavy!)

I printed out Copa Air instructions last minute and it was on the way to the airport I read the small print about embargo of extra baggage at Christmas (even though I did ask when I booked my ticket if I could pay for extra baggage they told me yes).  Hmmm was going to be an interesting check-in!

I knew LAX pre-Christmas was going to be pretty crazy so I opted to leave the house early and we arrived (after a pit stop at Peets Coffee) around 9:30 pm.  There was no line yet for Copa Air - just a few travelers in front of me.  So upon arrival at the desk the Copa Air check in guy asked how many bags and I said “three” to check in.  He said no way as it’s an embargo during Christmas.  I gave him puppy eyes and explained that I was told I could purchase an extra baggage fare when I purchased my ticket.  I then explained that all the heavy bags are for some children in Santa Marta, Colombia who need a Santa this year.  After some to-ing and fro-ing he spoke to his manager and said they would let it slide.  I thanked him profusely and said we’ll say a prayer for him in Colombia!

It was a long check out process but after paying $150 for the extra baggage I was on my way with boarding pass in hand a couple of hours to kill at LAX.  I said goodbye and gave him some of my mom’s homemade chocolate chip cookies with walnuts to say thanks and god bless.

Oh he did write down his name on one of the Copa Air luggage tags and asked if I could please write a nice thing about him to customer service online.  I obliged and said I would write a nice thing about him and hope to send him a picture from Christmas when I get back to LA as well.

December 23, 2010

LAX to Panama City

Flight to Panama City was uneventful.  I was so sleepy no need for any sleeping aids as I conked out and missed all the bad food and drinks served on the plane.  It was christmas so as expected the flight was full of people returning to their places of origin to spend time with loved ones.  I awoke an hour or so away from Panama City.

Flying into Panama City was lovely as it was morning and the view was beautiful.  I had never pictured Panama so picturesque!   Maybe it was just good weather and a nice sunrise but it seemed like a place to check out on my future travels.

Panama City to Bogota

Awaiting at Panama airport was uneventful.  My only amusement was seeing the “flying dogs” hot dog stands throughout the airport.  Only an hour and half flight from Panama City to Bogota but the runaway was busy and it seemed like we were on waiting on the tarmac for almost an hour.  Gulp.  My connection in Bogota to Santa Marta was only an hour and although everyone kept assuring me that was plenty of time I was getting nervous that tI would miss my connection - in particular with three heavy bags to pick up and re-check in through customs.

We arrived in Bogota only about 10 minutes late and I was itching to get off the plane and figure out where to pick up all that luggage and get my connection.  Thankfully I’m not shy on asking directions (even in my broken spanish) and people kept pointing.  I had my boarding pass in hand and kept pointing to the 3:00pm time and then they would rush me through various lines.  By the time I arrived in the customs area (wow and I thought Heathrow was a nightmare!)  Bogota looked long and strange with various lines zig zagging about worse than a 1970’s cinema line for the original Star Wars.  I ran up to a lady in customs and said “Santa Marta!”  She looked at my boarding pass, looked at me and said “C’mon!!” in Spanish (ok, ¡vamos!)  I felt like a VIP as she put me right up to the front window of customs were a guy that looked about 16 years old working the customs desk asked me to fill out this long form.  I wrote as quickly as I could and gave it to the customs guy and as he rolled off questions I just said, “yo no habla espanol mucho.”  he just shook his head and stamped it and gave it back to me and said “vamanos.”  The nice lady then grabbed my hand and whisked me through to luggage and said get my bags (there is a lot you can understand when rushed through an airport in different languages trust me)

I was looking for a cart and there were NONE.  I asked one of the luggage porters where I could get one as I pointed and he kindly grabbed a lady going through the exit gate and stole hers for me - my first example of Colombian people being so nice!

I thanked him profusely and went to my luggage belt and patiently (actually very impatiently) waited for three huge bags to come through with my name on them.  I waited.  And then I waited some more.  Finally the customs lady came running up to me and asked where my luggage was and I pointed and shrugged.  She looked at her watch then tucked under the belt wall and yelled something at the men on the truck unloading the bags onto the belt.  Suddenly my bags started to appear and just as I was going to use what was left of my energy (a few hours sleep does that to you) she helped me throw those bad boys on my trolley grabbed the last one and started running yelling “follow me quickly!”  (again all in spanish but I understood)  I got to cut in front of another queue for going through customs with my stamped form then cut in another queue for putting my luggage through screening then a final queue cut-in at connection re-check-in where she looked at my boarding pass and threw my bags on another belt.  She looked at her watch again and said “RUN for gate 6 as fast as you can!” (thankfully I knew the word six in spanish - seis)

I started my sprint out of a busy departure area and up an escalator, through security (oh, actually one more queue I cut in as I pointed to my boarding pass and said “por favor!” as I did the fastest security pass ever.  I ran down the hallway towards gate 6 sweating with my belt and boarding pass in hand.  I arrived at gate 6 just at the tail end of boarding - whew!

It was 2:50 pm and my flight departed at 3:00 pm.  I sat down at my window seat, said a little prayer of thanks for getting me and my luggage on the flight to santa Marta and tried my best not to raise my arm to the guy next to me (I was sweating profusely by then).

Bogota to Santa Marta

I arrived in Santa Marta early by 20 minutes.  I guess they had good winds.  Santa Marta is a small airport nestled right on the Caribbean ocean.  It was a bit overcast and stormy looking upon arrival.  Departing the plane I could feel an immense change of temperature hitting me in the face - HOT and HUMID.  I guess my bags were thrown on last as they were almost the first ones to come off the belt this time - hooray!  They all made it.

There are no self service trolleys so you have to ask a porter to assist so someone kindly grabbed my bags and was in a hurry to get me out the door - which he did.  I had my bags on the curb looking for a short priest with a boyish face named Father Augusto to come met me but alas no Farther Augusto.  I then had this porter asking me for his tip (which I unfortunately didn’t have time to change any money in Bogota when I was making my 3 minute dash through the airport to catch my plane).  I explained toe the guy to wait or come back for his tip as I’m waiting for my friend but he persisted on waiting with me and my bags.  Sigh.  I waited.  And then I waited some more.  Finally two guys came up to me and asked if I was ok.  I said I was waiting for my ride and the porter didn’t want to go away as he would think I’m stiffing him.  They spoke to him in spanish and he walked away while grunting.  I said thanks and introduced myself.  They offered to dial Father on his mobile for me (as my US SIM card doesn't work abroad).  They rang Father and he said he was on his away as he didn’t realize my plane had arrived early.  The brothers spoke very good english and they were waiting for another brother’s plane to arrive after mine.

One guy is an eye doctor and the other works in Bogota and the brother that had just arrived with his family is some famous singer/actor in Colombia.  He walked of the plane and everyone was surrounding him to take pictures with his phone.  The brothers were very nice and gave me their mobile in case I needed anything while i’m in santa Marta.

Father arrived 10-15 minutes alter and after packing my bags in his borrowed car I asked for some pesos to tip the porter.  I ran back to the porter and gave him his tip and he had the biggest smile on his face (as if to say “hey!  you didn’t stiff me after all!”)  Sí.

On the drive to Santa Marta I asked father were I would be staying and he said they have arranged for me stay in his house since it’s the closest to the school and church.  Ok, on my way to live with a priest.  This will be a new experience for me ...

We arrived at Garago which is Father's barrio (neighborhood) which is one of the many barrios outside the city center of Santa Marta.  It’s not on the beach but more inland towards the mountains.  Father’s house is the corner house in the village and directly across the road from the school / church.  His house had a zillion people buzzing around inside upon arrival.  They made me a nice “wellcome” sign and showed me my room which they had been recently renovated especially for my stay.  Father said after all the investigation he decided that he wanted to setup the room for guests to come and stay for future volunteers so I’m the first.  It is a simple house - two bedrooms and one bathroom, one small kitchen area and a storage area that is more outside than inside because there is 1/2 a roof over it.  It is very simple accommodation but there is electricity and running water (although only one temperature:  cold and the shower is really a hose that comes out of the wall with no shower head).  I have had a lot more to contend without so electricity and running water with a toilet inside the house is good!

I was ushered in and everyone was so helpful in getting me settled.  I also learned int he first 30 minutes that Father’s house is the heart of the community where everyone comes and goes and helps him with various things from cooking to cleaning to getting the church or school ready for whatever he is doing.  I gathered that Father Gus is rarely alone as someone is always knocking on his door for something.  He is not just the spiritual leader around here but he is everyone’s good friend, family member, confidant, cake maker and joker.  Yes, this was going to be an interesting volunteer experience!

Elves and Christmas angels

Well this weekend flew by!  I spent all weekend down at my folks doing packing round 1.  I am working today and tomorrow at the Disney Lot (couldn't pass up making a few bucks) and will head back down Tues night to finish packing (round 2) and then I depart very late on Weds night (packing round 3).

My mom was my little elf helping me wrap all the small gifts we purchased for the boys and girls in the Santa Marta village where I'm headed.  I want to take loads of things so the smallest toys (match box cars, plastic toys) were the best to purchase.  Father Gus said there are about 200 kids but I'm not sure if I'll have 200 so he will have to guide me on whom to play Santa.

I also packed up loads of medals and rosaries which my aunts and mom donated.  Like I said before, I have never taken so much stuff.  I hope I have no issues with transporting all this good stuff.  I am paying extra to take two large boxes that will cost me $75 per extra bag/box which will be $150 extra on top of my airline ticket. But it's worth it!

It's still not too late if you want to make a donation towards my trip or call or email before I depart Weds evening.  Colombia is having the worst rain in 40 years but thankfully I'm headed up to the very northern part of the country where the rain isn't so torrential.

I packed loads of clothes, shoes and educational materials such as crayons, pens, pencils, scissors that my mom kindly donated from her old teaching supplies.  My mom was more of a Christmas angel as she spent hours with me tediously wrapping each little toy in a bag and tying a string on it.

Target was also a lifesaver this weekend as well.  I purchased boxes of small candy canes (3x for $5.00!)  I will be the first Santa or Father Christmas these kids have ever seen!

Pray for me that I am able to get all this stuff down there safely.

I am so excited (alas a bit tired though after a busy weekend at my parents house)

More soon!
xHeidi

Getting ready?

Well I thought it would be a good idea to begin getting ready for my trip to Colombia.  I thought I would start by getting the Lonely Planet Guidebook (always a winner with me when travelling)
It's brand new and shiny and now sitting in my bag.

I have loads to pack up for this particular trip.  I have never before ever wanted to take so much in one go (well it's Christmas)   Big packing at my parents house this weekend ...

Thanks for everyone who has donated towards my volunteer trip.  Much appreciated!

xx

Heading to Colombia for Christmas

Hey everyone!
Here is a new blog for my anticipated trip to Colombia.  I guess I need to share a few things so you know why I'm going, when and what I'll be doing.

Why Colombia?
I have always wanted to visit South America and in particular Colombia.  I hear it is a beautiful country with beautiful people.  I was lucky to have met a friend in London who is from Cali, Colombia.  She is a wonderful person so I figure Colombia must have more like her.

No, seriously why are you going to Colombia next month?
Actually I planned to go when I met this kind priest from Colombia (seriously).
I met Father Gus when he was visiting California this past summer.  I had the opportunity to hear about his community in Santa Marta and the people he is serving in a very impoverished area in Northern Colombia.  He was intrigued by my career experience in marketing, international, photography, social media and my passion for adventure!  He asked if I would be interested in visiting and of course I jumped at the chance to be of service and experience a new part of the world.

What will you be doing?
Fr. Gus has asked me to help with everything.  I am going to look at opportunities for creating sustainable businesses in his community.  I'll also be taking my digital creative kit to help with a possible website, photos and filming.  I will also be working in the community teaching English at their local school in the barrio.

Who are you going with?
I'm going tout seul.

Really?  You are not going with a group or organisation?
No.  I volunteered to go and help Fr. Gus get something going so that hopefully a volunteer holiday can be created for future volunteers or missionaries wanting to visit and do work in Santa Marta, Colombia.  My hope is that I can help create something so other people (Catholic or not) can go help people in beautiful Santa Marta.

Aren't you scared?
Heck no!  The people that really know me - know that I love adventure and I love to travel to adventurous places.  Anyway, I have Fr. Gus and some nuns praying for me so I should be ok.

Is Colombia safe?
Yes, I'll be fine.  I'm going to Colombia not central Mexico.

What will you be taking with you?
Besides my creative kit to create stuff I'll also be packing my brain, my experience and my passion for helping people.

When do you leave?
I depart December 23rd just in time to arrive for Christmas in Santa Marta.

Why go at Christmas?
I could think of nothing better than to celebrate Christmas with people that have so little except each other.

How long will you be going for?
I'll be going for 6 weeks

Do you speak Spanish?
Trato de hablar espanol (I will learn)


How can I help you?
I am paying for this trip out of my own pocket and taking as much as possible.  I'll be buying lots of little toys for girls and boys, educational supplies and of course taking my own supplies to do the work I need to do.  It's Christmas and if you were thinking of sending me a card or even sharing a small little gift please don't buy me anything.   Instead I'm asking if you could kindly donate any amount through PayPal or through my website.

I may need to donate to a family for my accommodation (I still don't know where I'll be staying yet) but no worries I'm not worried.  I am really excited to work with people that desperately need my help and put my experience and skill sets into action.

Will you keep us posted on your travels?
Of course.  I will be blogging here and taking many photos along the way.

Will you do any dog stories while you are doing your volunteer work?
I'm sure I will.  If I don't find the dogs - the dogs find me.

OK, if you have other questions email me.

Thanks for reading my new blog and for any support you can lend helping me help people very much in need.

Muchas gracias!

Heidi