In Manizales

Arriving in Manizales was a little bit of a trip, and a reminder of how different life in Colombia is from C.A. It wasn’t the first time I’d been a flight where an airport was closed for bad weather, but it is the first time they didn’t fly us to our final destination! The plane landed in Pereria a half hour late, and then Aires proceeded to put us all in a little buseta with the luggage stacked on top. I was supposed to have arrived in Manizales at 4:45, but ended up getting there around 9. No problem, but wouldn’t it make sense that if a flight is paid for they actually fly you there? Just curious, not angry, and more than a little sore by the time I got there...love being back in Colombia!

Manizales is much colder than it was when I was here two years ago for semana santa. The wool coat and scarf I got in Bogota were excellent purchases, even if I didn't end up doing much else there. It’s rained every day and for a good part of the day except for today (Saturday). I like being able to walk from place to place here, and the San Francisco-like streets are going to give me some nice calves after 10 months! The apartestudio that the Colombo had waiting for me is more than cute, and co-workers have been great so far. I went on a cold-weather chiva (same idea as warm weather, but just not the same), and have been happily falling asleep every night to my neighbor’s blaring vallenato and salsa. There’re seven universities here, so the city feels and looks young, and there’s so many events going on that my head is spinning, especially after two years in San Sal. Overall, people are so very nice. Work is a little slow for me now, trying to get used to a new schedule and the general chilliness (most definitely going to have yellow teeth from drinking large quantities of yummy coffee!).

Food is much cheaper here than I’ve become (re)accustomed to, but I’m going tohave to bring back a large bottle of hot sauce! I love being able to call friends here again, and my first visitor will be here in less than a week! Next week is the regional ELT conference in Pereria, which I need to get working on, but I'm still feeling a little conferenced-out after July. Other than that, my time is occupied cooking and reading, talking to Edwin through Skype, and some walking around if it's not raining.