Change of plans
One of the two main reasons I decided to hop over to Peru while I’m in South America instead of another country was to visit a girl I have sponsored for the last several years (the other reason is Machu Picchu). It’s also on my list of things to do in life.
But this morning I received the disappointing news that the organization - which is phenomenal, by the way – I sponsor Belen through is closed for an entire month over Christmas, and no one is available to take me to visit her. I guess it was to be expected that holidays would impact when I could see her, but it’s too bad it’s not even an option at all.
Belen will be 12 in November. I began sponsoring her at least five years ago (probably more) and we have exchanged dozens of letters and several photos over the years. Our correspondence has been especially exciting lately because I can read her original writing rather than relying on the translation to understand her note. She always signs off with something along the lines of “with a big hug and kiss” and I would love to give her a real hug someday.
I guess I’ll just have to return to Peru eventually.
Oh, the excitement
Apparently the fact that I’m currently living in Colombia and teaching English to high school students is not enough excitement for my life.
If all goes as planned, I will be spending Christmas and New Years’ in Peru with my fabulous friend, Sheri. We are hoping to have two weeks to explore Lima, Cusco, Arequipa and Lake Titicaca. Machu Picchu is on our to-do list, as well as visiting a girl I have sponsored through Compassion Canada for the last several years. Sheri is the one who was brave enough to go skydiving with me, and we’re thinking bungee jumping over the Amazon jungle should be our next major thrill.
Sheri and I with our skydiving certificates. It wasn't the first adventure we had together and it won't be the last.
So, that’s December and early January. At the end of the month, my sister-in-law is due to have a baby boy and I am already impatient to meet my new nephew.
There will be another addition to the Brink clan in April, when my sister Lisa is due to have her third child. Another baby to spoil.
Though school here ends in July, I will heading back to Ontario in May to be a bridesmaid in my dear cousin’s wedding. She is going to be a gorgeous bride and I am thrilled to be able to be a part of her big day. It also gives me a great excuse to return to Canada for a weekend and hopefully have a few moments with my family (and the aforementioned new baby) before jetting back to Colombia for another month and a half.
Chrissy and her fiance, Joel.
I’m also considering a quick excursion to Vancouver on my way home from Cali to visit the other new nephew, but that’s still dependent on a few other factors. Like my bank account, for example. As always, donations of air miles and cash to Cheryl’s Travel Fund are always welcome.
Two months later
Two months ago I stepped off a plane in Cali, Colombia. It’s incredible that so much time has passed already; I have learned so much and somehow fallen into routine as a Christian school English teacher.
I have faced a number of challenges but have also experienced a ridiculous amount of joy. The students here are beautiful, warm and … sometimes inattentive, but we’re working on that.
The church here has welcomed me with open arms and the customary kiss on the cheek. Here’s some of my new friends.
Sarah, Luis, Magda, Lorraina and Julieta (with Cali in the background)
Eight more months to go …
Recap: Oct. 11 – 17
It has been a crazy week. I think this is the longest I have gone without blogging, and I apologize, but life is busy. To prove it, here’s my recap of this week.
Sunday – A group of my new friends here took me out to San Antonio, a really historic and artsy part of Cali. There’s a church hundreds of year old up on a hill, with a great view over the city.
The church in San Antonio with crowds of people hanging around inside and out.
We also wandered down one street with lots of locally-made crafts and jewelry before stopping for some shaved ice, which was basically a huge glass full of fruit with some ice at the bottom. Yum!
Monday – My incredible cousin and close friend got engaged to her Mr. Right and I am so excited for her … and the honour to be a bridesmaid in her wedding.
Tuesday – After our first day back in class, a friend drove me back to the government agency to get my passport stamped. I’m now allowed to stay in Colombia for another month.
Wednesday - There was a massive thunderstorm just as class was finishing, and my Grade 6 students freaked right out. They were asking me to pray and practically hiding under their desks. It was pretty much chaos but kind of hilarious at the same time.
Thursday – I’m finishing up the first unit with most of my classes, so we played some fun review games.
Friday - I gave my first test to Grade 11. Apparently it was really hard; even my best students had trouble with it. Well, now I know what not to do.
Saturday - I just spent the last two hours on skype talking wedding plans with my cousin and a trip to Peru with my friend, Sheri. There is plenty to be excited about in my world. But now, I should probably get some work done. I have tests and homework assignments to grade, tests to write for next week, and lesson plans to do.
Chao, chicos!
Snapshots of South America
I can hardly believe I’ve been in Colombia for seven weeks already. Here’s a few more photos of my experiences in South America.
Lightening flashes across the sky during a thunderstorm over Cali.
Mangos ... yummy!
A view of the city from dieceocho, a highway through the mountain range.
Playing pictionary with some new friends.
Siloe ... probably the most dangerous area in the city but it's beautiful at night ...
... bonita, no? I quite enjoy the view.
If I had 36 million dollars
If I won the lottery, say $36 million or something like that, I know exactly what I would do with it.
I would travel to space.
The billionaire founder of Canada’s Cirque du soleil will rocket to international attention after blasting off into outer space to host one of the most unique spectacles in human history …
He started as a street juggler and fire-eater and, because he was the best at math among his group of performing friends, Laliberte was put in charge of a little performing troupe that would eventually become the world-famous Cirque du soleil.
That business venture helped Laliberte become wealthy enough to plunk down $US35 million for a seat on an old Russian spacecraft and a stay aboard the International Space Station.
This guy is definitely my hero of the day. How cool would staying on the International Space Station be? Even just the travel to and from earth would be freakin’ amazing. I may have to make my list 101 things to do before I die … or 102, cause I don’t actually play the lottery.
The only problem with an adventure like this: you could never do anything to top it.
I made it!
I’m finally here, in beautiful Cali, Colombia.
The journey was long, the airport a little crazy, the Spanish hard to follow … but I made it. Tomorrow I begin prep for my English classes – I’ll be teaching grades 7 to 11.
Photos to come soon, I hope!
Only hours to go …
Soon, so very soon, I’ll be boarding a plane to begin my journey to Cali, Colombia. It all seems surreal still, but I am extremely stoked.
A new bank account has been opened to provide my missionary support funds, travel insurance has been purchased. My clothes are washed, my luggage packed. I purchased a suitcase to accompany Eduardo after realizing the duffle bag I planned to use was simply not big enough. Man, I have a lot of things.
At 10:51 p.m. local time – if all goes as scheduled – I’ll be landing in the city that I will call home for 315 days.
Even though I will desperately miss my family, I cannot be anything less than eager and excited about this opportunity God has opened to me. I can’t wait to begin teaching the high school students, settling into my new room and exploring the city as much as my blonde hair will allow.
One word pretty much sums my emotions up: WOOOOO!!!
Rock Lake
For the last summer, my extended family (aka. the Vogel clan) collected near Bancroft in a lodge/cottage on Rock Lake. We’re growing every year, and now we’ve become too large for the area to sustain us, so we’re searching for an alternative for next August.
Despite the sadness about it being the last year, we thoroughly enjoyed our time together. Especially because my immediate family was in one place for the first time in nearly two years.
Here’s some photos of the week.
There was some pretty intense volleyball games.
The three youngest babies, all in a row - Allie, Sierra and Beniah.
Rock Lake - so peaceful.
The three Brink grandkids - Allie, Jacob and Kellon.
The sun setting over lily pad lagoon, as we call it.
Allie celebrated her first birthday ... and quite enjoyed her cake.
The night sky over Rock Lake.
That’s a quick summary. Good times all around.
Roller coaster ride
I am scheduled to leave for Colombia in less than two weeks now. I’m super excited, but the quasi-stressful preparations have made the process quite a roller coaster.
I still don’t have my visa. The consulate needs more paperwork, which is making my departure date much less concrete. I’m not a fan of last-minute stuff …
Yesterday I finished moving out of the pink-shuttered house in Ottawa – my room is now bare and, well, no longer my room. I’m officially in transition, without really a home anywhere. It’s nice to have all of my stuff in one place again, though that place is a complete disaster at this point. Eventually I’ll be all organized and packed.
Only 13 days to go … (if all goes as planned)
Cheryl