I just wrapped up an episode of Narcos. So dramatic! Between Narcos and Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, I've glimpsed the beauty of Colombia. Colombia always reminds me of this Colombian girl from high school who was singularly the most beautiful person I've ever met. Drop dead gorgeous with a thick accent that added to her exoticness. This in a small-town high school in the South--my whole class was so intrigued. Miss Colombia and I shared an Anatomy class and she absolutely refused to touch or dissect any of the specimens. lol. She was always the note taker, and we got to chat a few times. She always talked about how beautiful her country was, though it had its issues.
That was over 10 years ago, and things have since steadily improved for Colombia. I have another friend who recently moved back to Caracas, Venezuela, her home, after finishing grad school in the US. She's invited me for a visit and I'm thinking I'll do a joint Venezuela-Colombia trip next summer.
Also, I'm learning Spanish! I decided I want to pick up a foreign language as part of my research interests. Spanish will allow me to better reach out to international populations in Latin America and the Caribbean--of special import with my interests in literacy and communication. I'm taking formal classes and am part of a more informal language group that meets a couple of times a month for cultural events and to discuss cultural differences across Latin American/Central American countries. #exciting
I'm hoping I can master Spanish enough to move on to Portuguese in the next year or so. Then maybe re-visit Swahili and move on to Arabic? It sounds like a stretch, but I was fluent in Spanish in college and I don't think it'll take long for me to find my flow again. Swahili, Arabic, and Portuguese for the obvious reason--I would love to work in and with Africa! I already know a little Swahili too--again though, I need to practice. I'm dreaming big dreams because I think I'll spend a lot of time indoors this Winter and I want to be productive.
Notice I'm using my blog to think out loud :) You'll probably see that a lot lately as I try to figure out life.
Hugs. Kisses.
Bethany
That was over 10 years ago, and things have since steadily improved for Colombia. I have another friend who recently moved back to Caracas, Venezuela, her home, after finishing grad school in the US. She's invited me for a visit and I'm thinking I'll do a joint Venezuela-Colombia trip next summer.
Also, I'm learning Spanish! I decided I want to pick up a foreign language as part of my research interests. Spanish will allow me to better reach out to international populations in Latin America and the Caribbean--of special import with my interests in literacy and communication. I'm taking formal classes and am part of a more informal language group that meets a couple of times a month for cultural events and to discuss cultural differences across Latin American/Central American countries. #exciting
I'm hoping I can master Spanish enough to move on to Portuguese in the next year or so. Then maybe re-visit Swahili and move on to Arabic? It sounds like a stretch, but I was fluent in Spanish in college and I don't think it'll take long for me to find my flow again. Swahili, Arabic, and Portuguese for the obvious reason--I would love to work in and with Africa! I already know a little Swahili too--again though, I need to practice. I'm dreaming big dreams because I think I'll spend a lot of time indoors this Winter and I want to be productive.
Notice I'm using my blog to think out loud :) You'll probably see that a lot lately as I try to figure out life.
Hugs. Kisses.
Bethany
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