THE VISITOR
After what seems like jumping over numerous hurdles and hoops our close friend is due to arrive today. We have secured the visa in the nick of time and now we have hired some random Indian guy to pick him up at a port, where he will arrive by boat from Iran. The port is over 2 hours from our home and doesn't have an official customs. The driver will arrive with Raph's visa, search for him and hopefully get him in to this country and deliver him to our home. So, when we return home this afternoon we hope to find him. Fingers crossed. We never had any visitors in Colombia and from the state of things I am guessing that Raph may be our only visitor here...and a visit from a great friend is well in need.
Well Raph is here he will hopefully be putting on an art reception (which I have been trying to coordinate and coordinating things in the Arab world is challenging to say the least, but I manged against all odds to get him a visa and so I am sure things will fall into place.)
Here is the video that explains his journey and the show he will give:
OUTINGS
A few weekends ago we experienced our fist sand storm and first camel race, unfortunately on the same day. It was one of those cultural experiences that you were glad you saw but you wouldn't necessaraly do it again. The sand storm was so intense that we had to wrap up our whole face and still our eyes stung. I now truley understand the concept of the traditional arab head scarf and why Arabs have very long eye lashes (like camels.)
The race took place in the middle of nowhere and come to find out driving to the middle of no where can be challenging; especially when you bring your friends children and they are wondering "are we almost there" when in actuality we are totally lost. But we did arrive, we wrapped, we watched some camels run and we saw that camel races are made for local men who sit in lavish seats inside a tent that has been erected and carpeted in the middle of the desert.
Last weekend we headed to a new region to go camping and kite boarding. The area did not offer a whole lot but it was the ideal place to practice kite surfing. Empty wide beaches where the water was shallow for miles. Ideal yes, but it should still be noted that kite surfing is somewhat stressful and I have my doubts if I will ever fall in love with this sport. Basically because of the simple fact that doing things in high wind is stressful. Just imagine, trying to set up the kite and having to yell over the wind all at the same time trying to figure out what the hell we are doing and not get hurt.
Since caller id and cell phones were invented this is how it works (to the best of my knowledge) in the states:
After what seems like jumping over numerous hurdles and hoops our close friend is due to arrive today. We have secured the visa in the nick of time and now we have hired some random Indian guy to pick him up at a port, where he will arrive by boat from Iran. The port is over 2 hours from our home and doesn't have an official customs. The driver will arrive with Raph's visa, search for him and hopefully get him in to this country and deliver him to our home. So, when we return home this afternoon we hope to find him. Fingers crossed. We never had any visitors in Colombia and from the state of things I am guessing that Raph may be our only visitor here...and a visit from a great friend is well in need.
Well Raph is here he will hopefully be putting on an art reception (which I have been trying to coordinate and coordinating things in the Arab world is challenging to say the least, but I manged against all odds to get him a visa and so I am sure things will fall into place.)
Here is the video that explains his journey and the show he will give:
OUTINGS
A few weekends ago we experienced our fist sand storm and first camel race, unfortunately on the same day. It was one of those cultural experiences that you were glad you saw but you wouldn't necessaraly do it again. The sand storm was so intense that we had to wrap up our whole face and still our eyes stung. I now truley understand the concept of the traditional arab head scarf and why Arabs have very long eye lashes (like camels.)
The race took place in the middle of nowhere and come to find out driving to the middle of no where can be challenging; especially when you bring your friends children and they are wondering "are we almost there" when in actuality we are totally lost. But we did arrive, we wrapped, we watched some camels run and we saw that camel races are made for local men who sit in lavish seats inside a tent that has been erected and carpeted in the middle of the desert.
Last weekend we headed to a new region to go camping and kite boarding. The area did not offer a whole lot but it was the ideal place to practice kite surfing. Empty wide beaches where the water was shallow for miles. Ideal yes, but it should still be noted that kite surfing is somewhat stressful and I have my doubts if I will ever fall in love with this sport. Basically because of the simple fact that doing things in high wind is stressful. Just imagine, trying to set up the kite and having to yell over the wind all at the same time trying to figure out what the hell we are doing and not get hurt.
COMMENTARY
Remember this old post I wrote about phones in Colombia?
Since caller id and cell phones were invented this is how it works (to the best of my knowledge) in the states:
1 you call someone
2 if they don't answer you leave them a message
3 you wait for them to call back
You know that they know that you called because they have caller id. You know that they either....
1 are avoiding your call
2 can't answer it at the moment
3 or are going to call you back when they can and that they will listen to your message
If someone keeps calling you consistently you think:
1 wow this person is stalking me
2 shit something is wrong
3 it is your mother and she knows you are ignoring your call but she won't give up and doesn't have to follow the rules because she is your motherOkay so this is how it works in Colombia (very easy rules to follow)
1. You call someone and they don' t answer
2. you hang up an call again3. you hang up an call again
4.you hang up an call again
5. repeat steps 2-5 until they answer of shut off their phone.I am not kidding.
1 wow this person is stalking me
2 shit something is wrong
3 it is your mother and she knows you are ignoring your call but she won't give up and doesn't have to follow the rules because she is your motherOkay so this is how it works in Colombia (very easy rules to follow)
1. You call someone and they don' t answer
2. you hang up an call again3. you hang up an call again
4.you hang up an call again
5. repeat steps 2-5 until they answer of shut off their phone.I am not kidding.
Here you don't leave messages
It is not considered weird or stalker like to keep calling someone until the answer.
It takes a bit of getting use to....this is why we keep our phone on vibrate!
Well there is a whole new set of rules here in this country. First off it must be mentioned that there is one phone company that is government owned. And as surprising as it is that this city of 3 million does not have official street addresses, it is equally surprising that they do not have voice mail. There is no way to leave some a message. I know that most people in the states now text and hardly leave messages anways but if you had a business or a doctor call you they COULD leave you a message. Not the case here.
Well there is a whole new set of rules here in this country. First off it must be mentioned that there is one phone company that is government owned. And as surprising as it is that this city of 3 million does not have official street addresses, it is equally surprising that they do not have voice mail. There is no way to leave some a message. I know that most people in the states now text and hardly leave messages anways but if you had a business or a doctor call you they COULD leave you a message. Not the case here.
So this is how it works....
1. Someone calls and you miss the call
2. When you see the missed call you call back
3. You say, hi I had missed call from this number than usually you spend the next few minutes trying to find the connection. Like, do you know someone who works at this business? Well what is this busienss? Maybe it is for your husband. etc etc etc... Akward
On the other end:
1. You have people call you and say I had a missed call, who is this
2. Then you say, well who is THIS?
3. Then you try to find the connection and often it ends with no conclusion.
It is all very strange, especially when you are dealing with business or doctors.
MORE ABOUT PHONES...
They may not have voice mail but the are quick with texts. Just the other day when I was riding my bike to school I got a text saying that Aaron had just recieved a traffic violation...from a camera 200 DOLLARS!!!!!!!!! You can't get away with hiding anything from a spouse if you share a phone, not only do they text traffic fines, they text you when you purchases something, when you have withdrawn money or if you pass a border. THE MAN.
CHANGE
This is very lame, I know, but as we become more connected here the more I know that my blog could be accessed and read by people at school. And our school is intense. Filled with intense co-workers and especially intense parents of students. And, bottom line is I don't want these people to read about my life, thoughts and opinions. I just need to make it one year and three months.....but who's counting! But really, if I want to write what I want I need to make my blog private, which sucks in so many ways but the benefit is I can be more candid. But with that said, if you want to read the blog send me your email and I will put you on the list. Sorry. Send by Facebook or email theaaronandamanda@gmail.com
