Day 2: Glimpse of the Medellín city!

28 June, Thursday 

Induction today consisted of sharing about one another's countries!!

Latin Dancing! 

Needless to say, the Singapore/London culture could not have been more different from the Mexican/Brazilian/Peruvian cultures. Latin culture is really interesting, with a myriad of foods and sceneries and buildings (Peruvian pyramids to Brazilian football stadiums) and cláro, latin dances! Such a variety - Salsa, Samba, Tango, etc! All the swinging of hips and shuffling of feet - I must learn some of these dances! Totally inspired by the live demonstrations by my very suave colleagues .

Amidst my presentation, there were cheers and request for a Singapore dance. What!? The only dance of significance I can think of is the Lion Dance really.

In the afternoon, we went on a short tour of the city! My first time on the Metro! I was literally bounding up on it like a kid. Also, I get incessant inquisitive stares just about everywhere I go. I am like a living specimen of Asian colour for the Colombian people. Hmm if I manage to shake off that discomfort, it really is an honor. (only half-joking!) I hope I represented Asians well. Perhaps in time I will respond by an amused stare instead of averting eye contact and grabbing my ostentatious red bag protectively around my hips.

Pictures!

In love with Colombian skies and clouds

The estacíon near EAFIT!

Gor-geous

Because Medellín's a city in a valley surrounded by mountains, many
houses are situated on the slopes of the hills

Joáo (ha funny typical expression!) and Alicia (from Mexico!)

Universidad Antioquia (another university)

Imagine studying on a campus like this

And it just gets better.
Walked around the fountain, and guess what - A rainbow!

A museum within the campus, cool stuff. Our 'tour guide', Alejandro
who has been conducting the induction lessons and who studies in this uni 

The lift up to the station

Botanic Gardens! 

Locals chilling and playing music and selling stuff

Roofed to block sunlight in order to grow delicate Orchids 

This restaurant grows its own vegetables and herbs O.O

Downtown Medellín! (City Centre) 

The bustle of people downtown is amazing! Stalls selling food, shoes, toys; boys carrying trays of sugar cane juices walking up and down the street - it was amazing! I wanted to take more photos but Alejandro instructed me to keep my phone zipped up in my bag the moment we stepped out of the station hmm. Feeling severely dissatisfied hm.

Work of famous Medellín artist - Fernando Botero
He's famous for portraying all things fat, from animals to women to babies! 

In the night, Mario brought Mafe and I out for dinner, and it reminded me so strongly of home! Maybe more Malaysia. The streets were littered with coffee shops and people and Latin music. Mafe says at 2am deep in the night, people will come out on the streets and start dancing Latin, outside cafes playing classic Latin music. This I have gotta witness! 

Day 1: AIESEC EAFIT

27 June, Wednesday 


If you have not realized, I have been blogging backwards. Everyday is insane with new sights and experiences, and I just cant get the words down fast enough with my experiences! Alright - Focus, discipline and blog! Really determined this time; to forget any of this would be such a pity!

Wednesday. I woke up, looked outside my window on the right, and gasped -

Hills and greens outside my window? No way!

The first day I went to Universidad EAFIT. Took a taxi there as the roads of Medellín was still pretty much a treacherous maze to me. It was an absolutely modern campus university. Oddly enough, it reminded me of the university back home in Singapore!

Inside EAFIT 

EAFIT's canteen

My first glimpse into the Colombian community, and I was honestly slightly taken aback. I was ignorant about Colombia, but still what I have seen so far was definitely of well to do families and students. I asked around, and it seemed like students who make it to university belonged to the middle and upper-class. (Just to demonstrate this, alot of them have Ray-Bans!) I suppose I have a lot more to see and learn!

The first week of the project was devoted to an Induction Week for the trainees and I am impressed by the level of detail and preparation that went behind the 'lessons' they conducted for us. AIESEC EAFIT is doing really well! A slight cinch: Everything was conducted in -goodness- Spanish. To say I struggled to understand would be a gross overstatement. All that rapid Spanish might as well have fallen on deaf ears. Fortunately there was this Brazilian trainee who helped translate. (Thanks Joáo!) It was hilarious seeing him juggling two dictionaries: one Portugese (Brazil's native tongue) - Spanish and one Portugese - English.

The other interns, one Mexican and two Peruvian girls were really sweet and tried their best to help me with my Spanish. Where ever we went they would point at random things and say it to me in Spanish. Of course I mimic-ed them but ah, it is difficult to remember. Three words stuck - Mamasita (beautiful lady), Papasito (beautiful man lol) and MAMAL (tired).

Between having lessons conducted in Spanish and having all your colleagues speak in Spanish only - Yes, time to really learn some Spanish.

I am a trainee under the project 'Huellas En Accion'. A collaboration between AIESEC and EAFIT Social - the department arm under Universidad EAFIT managing many community projects. There are 10 trainees in all, each assigned to a particular corporation in a village. Trainees spent the first week and last week in the city of Medellín. The four weeks in the middle was spent staying and studying the assigned corporation, and them coming up with an implementation plan to improve the organization! Consultancy - how cool!? 

Due to my inability to speak Spanish, I would be working in the main office of EAFIT Social, under the direction Mario Vargas, whom I am staying with now! Initially I was rather disappointed at not being able to live and study local communities like everybody else, but I realize we can travel to visit one another on the weekends! Also I would be travelling with Mario to a village this Sunday, it would be so amazing! Crazy excited. :D

Mafe and Ana, and a neat little car

Mafe and Ana picked me up at the University, and we went to a cafe at night and I met some of their friends! All the guys had long hair. Do all Colombian guys have long hair!? I alternated between observing interesting Colombian interaction (in Spanish) and being amused/amusing them with conversations in English. Interesting variations in English skills among Colombians! Those that speak well had lessons outside of school from a young age. Yet another display of affluence/education.

We went in a truck!

Cool cafe

One day in Colombia, and I'm ready for loads more! 

Medellín - Home for the next six weeks

Finally in Medellín! I am unable to quell the butterflies in my tummy, but most of the fear has turned into awesome anticipation!

All absurd worry about being stuck in Medellín's airport melted away when I was greeted by 4 very sunny and enthusiastic AIESEC-ers! Geff, David, Laura and Jose :) With that warm welcome, we piled into a car and drove to the city. José María Córdova International Airport is about 30 minutes away from the main city of Medellín. 

View of Medellín from the inside of  the car

I am staying with Marío Vargas, the director of EAFIT Social (more about that later)! He has a neat and modern apartment, and i have a sweet little room. I heard from Isabel (my most energetic and slightly mad buddy from AIESEC EAFIT) that Mario bought pillows and blankets from me prior to my arrival - how lucky I am to be in such generous and kind hands!

The enchanting view of the night from my window

Mario himself was away in Begota due to work, so I only saw Mafe and Ana (his daughter and cousin) initially. They're close as sisters and they really went all out to make me feel at home. Thank goodness they speak English! I am already beginning to adore the pair. 

Having survived the flights, transits, and met the AIESEC-ers and my new 'family' and home, I feel insanely relieved. All that worry and fear prior to my trip, from going to a new and unfamiliar place - all gone! Before my Dad flips and starts ranting about my ignorance and lack of street smarts, I promise I will be alert when I am travelling and such! But still, I cant help feeling safe and assured  :)

Ah, Colombia!

30 hour flight left me grotty and exhausted, so I'm gonna knock out after taking a shower!

(26 June, Tuesday) 

30 hour Journey by Air: London - Madrid - Miami - Medellin!

26June 9am (GMT+2, Madrid)


Kicking this blog back into action with my last adventure of the year before I return to sweet ol' Singapore! A true 'first' for me - flying and being in an unfamiliar place all by myself. Still giving me butterflies as I think about it. 

All aloneMadrid's shiny terminal through the night (12 hours transit!), reading The Hunger Games 

Check out this amazing 30 hour flight itinerary -

I suppose I'm almost halfway through!? 

Am writing this offline now at Madrid, just checked in my luggage and sitting at MacDonalds, 'chilling'. Awfully tired, having spent an entire night sitting in the empty airport and having just dealt with an unexpected crisis - having to make a US visa at the last minute because I was transiting in Miami. What easy cash! I'm surprised US is still in crisis with all these sneaky money sapping procedures Obama puts us through.

Feeling slightly more alert with iced coffee from Macs! Adiøs till later!


27 June, Tuesday night (GMT -5, Medellin)

Arrived safe and sound in Medellin, thank goodness! I feel oddly proud of myself.

Met this cute excited 11 year old girl Iciar (pronounced E-thi-ar) from Madrid who was travelling to Denver all by herself. Puts me and my fears right to shame really. She gives a yelp of excitement every time the plane jerks!

Iciar Benavente

What a pity only to transit at Miami! Upon landing, I saw Miami glowing under the brilliant sun rays. Everyone whipped out their sunglasses and donned flowing skirts and straw hats - I felt very out of place in my leather jacket and boots.

Miami - from the plane window

Next, a short 3 hour transit before my next flight to my final destination COLOMBIA!