Basics Update

Mike where are you?

Medellin in the district of Antioquia, Colombia. More specifically the Urban Buddha hostel in the Laureles Barrio. Near the kitchen.

Mike where have you been?

Dallas

Bogota

Zipaquira

Villa De Levya 

Barichara

Santa Marta 

Parque Tayrona

Cartagena

And here... With a few places I stopped in for a few hours that don't really count.

Mike where are you staying?

I stay in hostels and budget hotels. Hostels are like college dorms only with more smelly people. Typically my room will have between 4 and 10 people snoring together at night. The range in price has been about $9-15 per night. 

Usually you share bathrooms and kitchens etc.

Mike what are you wearing?

I am rocking a grayish t shirt and blue-ish pants, socks and underwear. Two money belts and a bunch of random stuff in my pockets. 

I only have a small amount of clothes and just paid them to be laundered so right now it's like Christmas morning brand new clothes!  

Mike who are you meeting?

I have met a handful of Colombians mostly folks that are traveling around their own country, or students in a city away from home. It is hard to meet locals... I have also met a handful of Venezuelans, a Chilean an Argentine and a few various Europeans (Spaniards, Austrians, Germans, Dutch) oh and many many English speakers from all over the world.  Aussies, Americans and English being the most prominent, however one interesting thing about many of the backpackers in South America is that the majority of them have lived in other countries.  

For instance a Kiwi who lived in Spain for 5+ years translated the coffee tour for us in Minca.  The Israeli girl  I hung out with in Cartagena lived in Australia and Argentina for a bit. The Canadian I met in Bogota lived in Nepal and Mongolia.  The Americans who I've met in Medellin are working and living here.  

Mike how do you spend your days?

Mostly walking around, seeing the sights,  museums, churches, parks, statues, neighborhoods, shopping centers, whatever is catching my eye.  Sometimes I walk the wrong way intentionally just to see what I see.  But I have also relied on taxis and public transportation more on this trip than any trip before. 

In the evenings I usually chill at the hostel, meet people, watch tv or movies, journal or blog. Tonight we played poker (I lost $5).  I have also tried to do a bit of water color and drawing but it's been hard to concentrate with all the distractions (hostels are noisy). Also been reading a lot of the divergent series.

Mike are you eating?

Yes I am eating a ton.

Mike what are you eating?

Well I have made food several times, mostly veggies and pasta. Tonight I made a steak sandwich. Some days I just eat peanut butter and bread, oranges and candy.

I have had plain pasta a few times at restaurants...

Colombia has really good grilled and fried chicken. They give you plastic gloves when you eat the fried chicken. Also white rice and fries are almost always included no matter what you order... So i'm pretty set.  Though I must admit in moments of low blood sugar I've resorted to mcdonalds because I didn't want to worry about what I was getting.

Watermelon, canteloup, pineapple and clementines have also been a daily snack. 

My food anxiety has been pretty excessive, it's hard to meet people when you have a limited diet, don't drink or smoke. 

Mike what are you drinking?

2-3 liters of water a day plus coffee and pop and whatever else.

Mike who will win the World Cup?

Well obviously Germany is looking better, but that's why I am rooting for Argentina. The underdog could happen right?

Mike where are you headed next?

I might go on a day trip tomorrow to a town called Guatape (otherwise I'm just chilling here). Next stop is Cali, I am considering flying to Quito from there and skipping a couple places in southern Colombia that I had planned to visit (Popayan and San Agustin). I am eager to move on to the next country because it will be kind of like a milestone, a notch carved.  

Overall I have decided that I need to spend more time in less places. This is annoying to me but it will force me to slow down and give me time to adjust. Concentrate on some of the other goals like learning Spanish, writing and drawing. I am excited to look into teaching positions and perhaps find some volunteer work - but that can't happen if I am running from town to town each new day.

Mike have you been homesick?

I am certainly still in the process of grieving. Definitely missing people. It's been hard with the social media because I am still so attached - it's good and bad really. Too much time on the internet and yet it's really nice to know what people are up to. Having people at home checkin in with me and encouraging me as made this trip that much better so far.

Mike biggest surprises? Things you've enjoyed?

I have to say I was surpsrised I found peanut butter right away. I wasn't intending to have it, but it definitely makes me feel less anxious to know I can fall back on it for a tasty snack. 

I have been eating these delicious candies called sparkles. They are like 50 cents a pack and I usually buy 2. Similar to tropical flavored skittles. 

I also had an amazing strawberry Popsicle that had gum in it. I should really buy another one of those...

Nonsnack related...

I'm still really surprised how friendly and chill Colombians are. I mean it's been hard to meet locals but they are very very helpful whenever you need help. They go out of there way to make you feel comfortable, and ask for nothing in return.  

Other than that, I'd say I'm just really happy learning about new places, discovering little things, incorporating it into my previous experience. Sharing insights with the people I meet etc.

I do miss teaching.