I require help when I come. I need someone to help me with hotel reservations. I like to have a prearranged cab waiting for me at the airport when I arrive - so someone has to do that for me too. I am frequently discombobulated about where I am when I am here. I don't know the streets, or how they relate to each other much less to how they relate to where I am.
However, not all is bleak. There may be hope for me. I am actually starting to recognize places and things along my common routes - I know when we are close to Uniminuto (and no it isn't just because of the huge sign that says Uniminuto)…it is because I recognize the home supply and construction store, it is because I recognize the local Carrefour (love that store). Neighborhood names are starting to mean something to me. I love that now, I have a clue which TransMillenio bus to take to Ciudad Bolivar and I love that I know which bus to get on when I transfer to a second bus to take me to Sierra Morena. I have struggled so much over the last 2.5 years when I come here because I am so spatially confused. I finally got a map on a visit to USAID last year - but it was, honestly a shitty map. It was like the one they hand out at the Marriott (where I have never stayed) - you know the one, it has a big red star on it where "you are" and everything else is totally irrelevant. Today, after my visit to Yo Mujer with Amira, Amira gave me a proper map!!!!! I am so excited. I know, I'm easily pleased but can you say excited? I totally get where I have been, where I want to go, and where all my important places and neighborhoods are. But then again, my perspective is totally limited because normally when I am in Bogota, I am working 16-18 hour days. We are either at Uniminuto, in Ciudad Bolivar at Yo Mujer or going to a meeting somewhere. Normal day: up at 6, working until 6 or 7, dinner around 8 and then falling in bed by 11 or so.
We arrived Thursday night, got our cab to my new favorite place to stay - Viaggio Parque 54, Cra #4, 54-24. Don't ask me how the streets are numbered…We have a room on the 3rd floor with two beds. Everyday there is a great breakfast - fruit, cheese, ham, rolls, juice, coffee, hot milk, chocolate - and you can get scrambled eggs (with or without ham, tomatoes, onions) and a sandwich - ham, cheese and, if you want, a slice of tomato. Yesterday I had eggs, this morning I had a sandwich. The neighborhood here is safe, I think. I probably wouldn't know if it wasn't. Around the corner and down a huge hill, there is a Juan Valdez (which doesn't open before 10) and further down the hill is Exito. Exito is the Colombian version of WalMart. If Exito doesn't have it, you probably don't need it. Two doors down on the left is a little mercado - they have diet coke, some food items, probably some liquor and, Bogota potato chips - which are potato chips with plantain chips and chicharrones. I always bring snacks - I have been here and been absolutely starving. One trip, we worked so hard all day that when I got back to my room about 7:30 I took a shower and went to bed! Didn't eat. Couldn't have cared less.
This trip was easier for me. We were up early yesterday for a meeting at our hotel - American Women's club - but she came to our hotel. Meetings at Uniminuto and presentations from CED, Fundacion Eudes, Vencedoras de Batallas and, MTF! Lunch with the ladies from Vencedoras and Padre Renee. Skype tech meeting. Small reception honoring Mango Tree Foundation in Uniminuto Director's office (surprise, surprise, surprise). Back to our hotel. Walk down the hill to buy coffee to take home for Mark. Quick clean up for dinner in La Macarena with our new friend Robin and our good friend Paula. We had Serbian food. Best was the Serbian Raki…so good…oh yeah!
This morning up not so early, leisurely breakfast, TransMillennio out to Yo Mujer - Lynn is working with Paula and Rigo on a paper. Home and typing this by 3! First time ever I have had downtime! Amazing!
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