Aye, aye, aye-aye...so many updates

So its been what feels like forever. So long in fact that I can't even remember if I told my class I was giving them their quiz this week or next week. There has been so much that has happened in the past 2 weeks that I don't think I'd be able to dedicate the energy or time into blogging it all. Instead, I'll do one of those super-easy, super-cheezy bulleted list of things that should infact all have their own post. If there's something that catches your eye and you want a juicy story on, let me know and I'll blog about it later.

• Having Syd here was freakin amazing. I just wish I wouldn't have been in such a horrid funk for most of it.
• Sometimes all it takes is one stray thought or reminder to send you spiraling into a state of confusion and unnecessary panic.
  
• Tayrona is paradise and pictures won't do it justice. Nuff said.
• I have serious problems when it comes to heights. Trekkin it to Pueblito was a real challenge, not because it was a hard hike (which it is) but because I was on the verge of panic attacks for 2/3 of it.
  
• HoboHookahs and hammocks are amazing on their own, but when you combine the two, now that's just even better.
• Cruise ships are f-ed up and need to stop making life miserable for those foreigners who aren't the "omg-i've-set-foot-in-colombia-and-even-though-i'm-here-for-5-hours-i'm-going-to-buy-people-tons-of-souveniers-so-everyone-will-know-and-it-will-look-like-i-know-the-real-country" tourists and, oh i don't know LIVE THERE
• Cartagena is hot. Mompos is hotter.
• Traveling makes it easy to turn acquaintances to new friends to old friends almost instantly.
• I have a new perspective and appreciation for Catholicism.
  
• Cock fights are not for me.
• "Safe" is a relative term and in reality, any place can become unsafe circumstantially.
• Horrible things can sometimes take you from terrified, to angry, to frustrated, to appreciative all in one fell swoop. And in the end, after shaking you to your core, change your outlook for the better.
• First impressions are often wrong. However first impressions that you have about an entire population for 2 months shouldn't be able to be destroyed in 2 minutes by 2 assholes. No, this first impression is sticking like super glue: Colombians are the most genuine, caring, and supportive people I've encountered to date.
  
• I think I'm the first trainee ever to need to replace a second cell phone in a 2 month period and I think I deserve some sort of award for that.
• Don't box people in based on their previous reactions; sometimes they may surprise you.
• The more Spanish I learn and speak the harder it becomes to speak proper English. It frustrates me beyond belief but I know I have to let it go or my Spanish will suffer.
  

I sooo excited!!!

At this very moment one of my favorite ladies in the world is on a plane to Colombia and in mas o menos 9 hours we'll be jumping up and down, hugging in the airport.

I. Can't. Freakin. Wait.

AHHH!!!

Tensions Eased

Friday afternoon about 100 students and faculty members were glued to the one TV that sits in the cafeteria at Tecnológica. Its usually too noisy to hear what's on, but on Friday anything above a whisper was met with a gigantic wave of "shhusshhh" coming from the rest of the crowd. We all sat anxiously watching Uribe try to negotiate a resolution to last weeks escalating problems.

In the middle of the broadcast, the news cut away to a report saying that a second senior officer, Iván Ríos, had been killed by his own men. The Colombian Defense Minister says that this is proof that the FARC is falling apart and I sure hope he's right.

The end result: Uribe apologized to Ecuador, Chávez said he only ever wanted peace, but most of all a restoration of diplomatic ties between the countries.

Preocupada

Saturday morning brought rejoicing and high hopes for the long awaited peace in Colombia after the news that Raúl Reyes, a high ranking commander of the FARC, had been killed. Jenny was literally bouncing around the apartment as we were glued to the news and truly thought that only good things would come from it. However our excitement was short lived as the tables turned and tensions emerged between Ecuador and Venezuela.

The situation has now escalated beyond belief and everyone can feel the tension. Chávez and Correa have deployed troops to the border, have expelled ambassadors, and shut down embassies. Venezuela has stopped all trade with Colombia, which is hurting thousands of businesses in Colombia and people in Venezuela as trucks filled with milk and meat are waiting to cross the border.

Chávez has been accused of giving 300 million to the FARC, while the Ecuadorian president has been accused of having meetings and offering support with FARC leaders. Both countries are allowing the FARC to hop the border and receive sanctuary and President Uribe is threatening to file suits with the International Criminal Court against Chávez for harboring terrorists.

The dispute seems to be carving up the hemisphere, with Chávez, Correa, Nicaragua and the rest of South America pitted against Colombia, the U.S. and most of Central America. What I'm having trouble wrapping my head around (aside from what is going to happen if the problem continues to escalate...) is why the hell any of the countries would want to be helping the FARC. The long awaited peace in Colombia, who's bloody history with this conflict has caused so much pain to this entire country, would be good for everyone.

Colombia has come so far in the past decade in terms of improving safety, changing the image of the country, and restoring a strong sense of nationalism. The economy has been improving and everyone thought things were headed in the right direction to set Colombia up for a better and brighter, more peaceful future. Why does the pigheaded, big mouthed, all talk and no action Chávez have to go and threaten everything these people are working towards?