Sunday, July 15, 2012

Standing in line?

So the bad news is: I don't have any pictures. 


The cool news is: My camera fell into a waterfall while I was horseback riding in the Valle de Cocora.

With your cooperation, I will try my best to let you in on what's up.

I feel the need to actually talk a little bit about what I have been up to rather than solely what I'm thinking about, such as in all of my other posts, so:



(Personally, although I had the time of my life doing everything, It may be kind of boring to read, so I won't be offended if you skip over this one)


Photo One: A never-ending view of a cocaine farm... JUST KIDDING--> plantain farm (Too far? I hope I don't get in trouble for that...) located at La Finca de Morelia. 
Being from Saskatchewan, when I hear "farm", flat golden fields come to mind. But here, "farm" (finca), is more like what I would picture... a jungle. Funky trees with upside down banana-looking things, and in between- coffee plants!! :) I took a bean off a plant and put it in my wallet but I can't find it now :(

Photo Two: Standing in line for the Rapidos (a ride) at Parque del Cafe.

While I was standing in line, some complex ideas shaped into words. I'm thinking about including them at the end of this blog if your interested in reading them.

Photo Three: I'm standing on a "raft" (made of a few bamboo-like sticks tied together by some string) paddling with another bamboo-like stick at La Playa Alto. (Tall beach....?)

We hopped off every now and then and swam in the rapids. We pulled up to shore and walked two thousand miles (mas or menos) to a SUPER SIC waterfall! There we took a quick (freeeeeezing) dip.
Photo Four: ---------

This would be Valle de Cocora.... How sad :(

BUT, let's pretend that didn't happen! And now we have....



Photo Six: Chilling in (another) waterfall at the Termale de Santa Rosa de Cabal.
Natural hot springs: best thing ever. It's like a super mega giant hot tub, what could be better?


Photo Seven: I'm hanging on for dear life as I zip-line across Panaca.
Panaca is kinda like home- cows, goats, chickens, dogs, cats, you name it. They even have pigeons for display, how exotic...

Photo Eight: En buuuuuuuuus en Peirera!
No mentiras- I never took a bus in Peirera BUT I was there. Sorry, I'm sure this is only funny to me... BUT If you know a little bit of Spanish, this video is hilarious!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RGzQv_rK2M&feature=related


Yesterday, I had the chance to volunteer with an organization que se llama "Bocalana."

If I could, I would do this every single day of my life. This organization cooks and prepares food and delivers it to the homeless people all around Bogota. 


You never know if you're going to end up on the streets. I heard a story that one man had everything. A regular everyday normal guy (lol if you know the vid) and one day he lost his parents. Lost in a world of alcohol and drugs, he ended up on the street.

Today, I got to participate in a march against poverty with Un Techo Para Mi Pais. 



And, I baked an Oreo- M&M cheese bake with Aleja! :)
(For Jose's birthday tomorrow)

Sorry, this post has been a little un-interesting, so if you have the time and any interest in poetry, I've included a message I would like to share: 



standing in line



Purpose. Position. Fate.
Those three things that wouldn’t wait
For me to take them off
To soak. To wash. To rinse
And ever since…
I can’t satisfy this ever-itching cough
At the back of my throat.

I thought about backing out
But such delineation is humiliation
When why we’re here, nobody knows.
When each word is so absurd
I wear and tear them like my clothes
And underneath, my naked figure
Uncomfortably holds this pose.

I’ve got two tickets in my hand
They're for the ride. But it’s more about my pride because,
If I split them down the seam
I’d be splitting up this dream
This steam, we work a lifetime for
That fogs up the only realistic war- this internal battle
This freedom that we flaunt
Not doing what we should, we're doing what we want.

Because sometimes, some of us realize
Nobody ever gets off.

Because sometimes, some of us realize
And catch this ever-itching cough
At the back of our throat
And no matter what we said, and no matter what we wrote
To get us here, mean nothing.

You could give one ticket to the kid eating off the street
But he’s hungry, and not you.
You’d be giving up your seat
Because half of what you got won’t get you anywhere
And giving half of what you got still won’t make things fair.

One more step forward, one look back
But this time you can’t see past the black
Because you’re so close to the front
And by nature, we’re too blunt
To turn around and leave the line
When everybody else around you- is acting fine.

Nobody gets off, but you’re still going to board
Because that’s what everybody else is doing.
Nobody gets off, but it’s something you can afford
Because that’s what everybody else is doing.

You want to try and ask why you’re there.
Why you’re waiting, and why you don’t care
About anything but the two tickets in your hand.
Why the person at your front and the person at your back
Aren’t mentioning the fact that…

Nobody Ever Gets Off.

One more step forward, one last look back
Purpose. Position. Fate.
Those three things that wouldn’t wait
For you to take them off
To soak. To wash. To rinse, so you could see them clearly.
And ever since…
You can’t satisfy this ever-itching cough
At the back of your throat.
At the bottom of your shoes.
In the first song on your ipod.
On the screen of your cell phone.
On the dash of your car.
On the keyboard of your computer.

One last step forward,
Because it’s your turn next.











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