What would you do if you didn't have to work?

What a blessing that I know without a doubt that my real "calling" in life is teaching. I left Austin feeling a little tired. Now, at the end of my trip, I find myself eager to come back to the classroom. While in Medellin, I was lucky enough to be placed with a really extradionary teacher. Casey, pictured below, is British and specializes in theatre. Which really reinforces how much we need to be doing movement, role playing and games with learning. I find myself the most excited I have been to attend his sessions and will incorporate some of his techniques in my classroom in a couple months. 

I am helping out in 2 different Barrios. Santa Domingo is the one pictures above with kids from 13ish - 25ish coming to learn English. 

Comuna 13 (below)

These classes are bigger, divided by abilities and have a range from teenagers to 50 somethings. 

Some of the Younger children just come and watch.

One commonality of the road is the way that you are often welcomed into new cultures. I cannot tell you how many Colombians I have met on the street or in these classes that invite me into their homes for meals, coffee or all kinds of adventures. It truly humbles me and warms my heart. And reminds me of how much more hospitable I hope to be in the future.

Hebrews 13:1-2 "Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers..." 

In all my years international escapades, this was the first time a family member came to meet up with me. Needless to say, I was elated when my brother, Tommy, arrived in Colombia for Semana Santa. The difference between traveling with family and friends is although both probably see you at your best and worst, there is a level of comfort and compromise that already exists without even needing words most of the time.

We spent 3ish days in Bogota & 3ish days in Medellin. In the traveling circuit Bogota has a nasty reputation in Colombia whereas Medellin gets all the clout. We had a wonderful time in both places.

Bogota 

 As we moseyed through Bogota, we happened in on a little bit of the Graffiti walking tour.  

The downtown governmental headquarters in Bogota 

One of the main reasons why Tommy came was to witness the "rockshow" of Bomba Estereo in their native Colombia.

Medellin 

Jardin Botanico 

It's Filled with all kinds of wild organisms. Notice the similarities?

Hiking "Pan de Azucar"

At any given time, it is could be raining somewhere in Medellin just as this picture shows. With the nickname of "the eternal spring" & the flower capital of the world there is a reason why it produces so many flowers. We got really lucky at the end of our hike and hopped on a bus right as it started to pour. 

We also rode bikes, salsa danced, enjoyed countless outdoor workout equipment & saw a few museums. 

Plaza de Las Luces

Comuna 13 

There is a depth to comuna 13 that is hard to articulate in a blog, especially as I get to know the some of the community through the different classes they offer. I think something that has struck me as ironic & interesting with the different cycles of art is that graffiti used to be such an underground "disdained form of art." Now it widely accepted, encouraged, publicly funded so much so that there are world wide graffiti tours. Just interesting to think of the different cycles of art. If you would also like to dig into a fascinating charla on hip hop click here

1 Chron. 16:11: 

"Look to the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always."