Wow. Well I`m finally in Colombia, 18 hours later than I was originally supposed to arrive. Some of you know of my unbelievably terrible luck with airlines, and that luck once again reared its ugly head. But I got through it and I'm here, albeit a bit late. The thing I think was particularly difficult about all my delays was the weird state of limbo in which I felt caught: I had said all my goodbyes and packed up all my things, and was still feeling plenty of sadness from that, but didn't yet get to experience the excitement and distraction of a new place and people and language. It feels good to be in a real world again, not in an airport!
Don't think that my waiting stopped when I arrived in Bogotá, however. Immediately upon arrival at the airport I was whisked by my more seasoned coworkers to the office of DAS, which is kind of like ICE (Immigration, Customs and Enforcement) in the U.S. Because I have a visa for longer than 6 months, I have to get a cedula, which is the photo ID card that every Colombian (and aliens like me) must carry at all times. Apparently you're not allowed to smile for the ID photos - let me tell you, mine is not pretty, particularly since it was taken outside against a blue sheet hung on a wall. But whatever.
In some ways, being here in Bogotá feels rather familiar: I've been here before, even to this very apartment in which I'm staying, and I spent a week in training with the other volunteers also here, so I already know them a bit. We`ll see how that changes when I'm having to settle in San José, which will happen quite soon: Julia, the other new volunteer who arrived two days ago, and I leave Saturday! As much as I might like to spend a few days hanging out and getting familiar with Bogotá, I´m looking forward to starting the next little phase of my life there....
Anecdotes, reflections and analysis about community-based non-violent resistance and human rights issues in Colombia and the rest of Latin America
5 comments:
So glad you are finally there, enjoy and know you are loved. MB
On my arrival in Colombia, as an 18 year old exchange student, I made it fine to Bogota, but because my flight had been delayed, I had missed my connection to Bucaramanga. Fortunately, my host family had an eldest son studying in Bogota so he came and got me and took me to the home of a friend of the family so I could spend the night and make the connection the next day. I remember that he took me to Pizza Hut for dinner because he said my stomach was probably not ready for local food. I don't think I got my cedula for several weeks, but that was 1986. Some things have obviously changed since then.
Blessings on your continued journey!
Glad you made it! Keep us posted.
Hope you're doing well down there, awaiting your next update with baited breath... if that's how you say that!
Yay! Glad you made it to Colombia. Can't wait to hear how things pan out for you in San José.
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