7 Things I Miss About Living In Neiva, Colombia

Happy Anniversary! 

Hello blog-o-sphere! Today marks two months and a week since I've been home. Also, around this time last year, I started my job as an English Language Teaching Assistant in Neiva. It was an amazing year, one that I would never forget. Sometimes, I miss my life there and I find myself reminiscing about it all. In commemoration of my anniversary, I made a list- the title explains what the list is about. So, here goes!

7) Chorizo and potatoes was my preferred night time snack whenever I had a particularly tough day at the university, or when I was out partying/ drinking and the unexpected hunger pangs hit me at 3 in the morning. There was this little shop/ mini restaurant, operating from someone's home, pretty close to where I lived that would sell them. I would go there almost every night, which probably explains my weight gain during the second half of my trip.  

6) Redd's was my alcoholic beverage of choice. It's not as bitter as other beers, and has this sweet, yet tangy taste to it that I enjoy. A lot of people seem to think that it's a drink for girls, but I could really care less. 

5) Cholupa! In a blog post around this time last year, I spoke about my love for cholupa. And throughout the year, it never died. Words can't express how much I miss drinking a tall glass of cholupa juice with ice cubes on a hot day. So refreshing! If I ever visit Neiva again, it's one of the first things I'll have.

4) La Abuela or The Grandmother was the bar of choice for drinking after a day at the University. The day didn't matter, neither did the company. I enjoyed going there because it was a chance to hang out with the students, and on occasion, teachers, in a non academic setting. We would talk about all manner of things, and drink. Good times!

3) Random outings were usually done on Saturdays when myself and the other assistant would venture into town and explore. We would go down side streets, go into corner shops, and discover great places to buy clothes, souvenirs, and food, among other things. Then, there were the times when my phone would ring, and next thing I know, I'm off to the desert or a finca (farm) in the middle of nowhere.

2) Being a foreigner. It's funny that I wrote this, since I always whined about the unnecessary attention, stares, questions, and sometimes, mockery that I got when people found out that I was a foreigner. I mean, the first time I went to the shop where I lived, I was bombarded with all these personal questions about my life and work in Neiva. It was eerie! But, I miss that now. Gosh, I sound like an attention whore!

1) Friends. Those people that made my stay in Neiva much better are the ones I miss the most. They made sure that I always had something to do or look forward to. We did it all! We went out dancing. They invited me to their houses for lunch. They included me in their asados (BBQs), pizza nights, movie nights, birthday celebrations, and other plans. We hung out in the cafeteria, talking and laughing. We drank on Fridays at La Abuela. They got me a cake when I was leaving. They hosted the most awesome farewell party ever! They even visited my house one hour before I left for the terminal with gifts in hand. There was so much more. And I miss them, a lot!

Oh, I made a collage:

good people... good times!

I'm done reminiscing, and now I'm sad. It's comforting to know that all good things come to an end and memories never leave us. Until the next post!

Necessary Evils: Going to the Barbershop

(source)

It’s only because I have to…

With my blog revamp in full swing, I’ve been thinking about possible, future blog series that I can develop. The idea about “necessary evils” had been swimming around in my head for some time, and given the fact that there is more than one, I figured that it would make an excellent blog series.

By definition, a “necessary evil” is something that you don’t like doing, but you have to, for whatever reason. Included in my list of necessary evils are travelling by maxi taxi, working, Facebook, and going to the barbershop. The latter is the subject of this post; basically, I’ll explain why I think I have to go the barbershop, although I don’t necessarily like it.

So, why is it necessary? The answer is quite simple actually: I like looking good from head to toe, and without a haircut, I feel like a vagrant. I blame my parents; they have always instilled in me the notion of "having pride in your appearance". You know, having clean fingernails, well ironed clothes, clean shoes, proper hygiene, and so forth. As it relates to my hair, as soon it starts “rolling up”, I begin to feel uncomfortable and ugly, and I need to have it cut. 

Sadly, I can’t do it myself. I’ve been told that I should, but I know that it will take a long time for me to master doing it, since I’m an uncoordinated mess. Until I master it, there will be a lot of mistakes up there. Overall, it’s going to defeat the whole purpose of getting a haircut, if I walk around looking like a browner version of this:

Long ago, my father used to cut mine and my brother’s hair, but life happened. I suppose that I could find another family member or friend of the family to take his place, but I don’t really trust anyone else. Basically, I need to go to the barbershop because I don’t want to look homeless, disappoint my parents, and there are no other options. So, the question remains: If I really need to go to the barbershop, why do I think of them as evil?  

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Every time I enter a barbershop, I’m reminded of all my insecurities from secondary school. In short, I was called names and judged for not being most students’ idea of how a “man” is supposed to act or talk. It took me a long time to accept myself as I am, but whenever I visit the barbershop it all comes rushing back in a swirl of dead hair. I feel like everyone scrutinizes me about everything from my brightly coloured T-shirts to my high voice to my use of Chap Stick to my colourful hand-bands. I view the barbershop as this overtly masculine place, where men go to be men, and anything against the norm is simply not accepted. I try my best to dissimulate; I keep my head down, and keep conversation to a minimum. It’s possible that I could be imagining it all, and taking myself too seriously. Sigh!

Then, there are the annoyingly infuriating topics of conversation that most barbers and patrons alike seem to engage in, especially those that border on male chauvinism, homophobia, and the like. One barber was talking about how upset he was that his wife had decided to find a job because she would eventually begin to neglect her duties as his wife. *rolls eyes* I can recall other occasions like that one, which incensed me, but I’m always too afraid to speak up (see the aforementioned paragraph). Double sigh!

Finally, there are some barbers who perturb me to the core of my being. They’re usually the ones who enjoy talking, which I have no problem with, but when they stop cutting my hair to pose with the machine in their hand and wave emphatically while telling their story, I become livid. Then, there are times when the barber insists on engaging in small talk, that is, ask me a lot of questions to mind my business. I don't need you to talk to me; hurry and do your job, and quit with the mindless conversation. Honestly, sometimes, I feel like screaming, “HELLO! I have somewhere to be!” Triple sigh!

That’s all folks! Keep on the lookout for other posts in the series.

Until the next one!

All You Can Eat At The Hilton

Happy Birthday to not me!

Two weeks ago, my great grandmother celebrated her 90^th Birthday. Born in 1923, Ivy gave birth to nine children, and has since acquired a great number of grandchildren, even more great grandchildren, and in some instances, great-great grandchildren. I count myself lucky to be among her great grandchildren (my grandmother is her daughter), and a part of her legacy. Ivy had never been to the Hilton, so my aunt saw it fitting to organize a celebratory dinner at the popular hotel. My father, mother, cousin and I tagged along to represent this side of the family. Overall, I was very excited!

Ivy- The Birthday Girl!

It was Friday, July 19^th, 2013, the time was 7:15 PM, my dad was parking the car, my mother and cousin were chatting, and I was obsessively dusting the non-existent lint from my black pants. Having satisfied my compulsion, I took in the Hilton for the first time. Honestly, I was not that impressed as it looked so normal. I secretly hoped that it would improve once I got inside, and it did partly due to the two water fountains, the gorgeous, floor length mirror in the men’s bathroom, and the pleasantness of the restaurant staff. I remember being impressed by the fact that they were playing calypso and soca music. For some reason, I was expecting some Mozart or Beethoven. 

We were led to our seats and given instructions as to how everything worked. There were three stations:-appetizers, dinner and desserts- and you were expected to get up, go to each station, and take what you wanted. There were no limits as to the number of times you could visit each station. My partner in crime was my 13-year old cousin, Faith. Her role was simple: she would support me in the night’s eating endeavour by accompanying me to the stations and vice versa. Let’s just say that she rose to the occasion.

Faith and I! Ain't she a cutie?

Our first round of appetizers featured gourmet doubles which I had never had before. I believe what made them gourmet was the addition of meat and/ or shrimp to the usual channa. I had mine with curried chicken, tamarind sauce, and pineapple chutney. My taste buds REJOICED with the first bite, and I went on to attack the rest of it with my knife and fork. After finishing our doubles, my cousin and I returned to the appetizers station. We went on to have BBQ wings and ribs (Plate No. 2), and an assortment of salads, fish, croutons and cheeses (Plate No. 3). Both were good, although I did come to the conclusion that I am a fan of neither salmon nor zucchini. Also, my love for lettuce with salad dressing remains, and it’s easier to eat ribs with my fingers.

With our three plates of appetizers behind us, we diverted our attention to the main course which featured grilled meat and fish. Patrons were afforded the opportunity to “choose their poison” from bowls, labeled LAMB, CHICKEN BREASTS, FISH and SHRIMP. I opted for lamb and chicken breasts. Within fifteen minutes, my meat was grilled, and my plate was filled with rice, carrot sticks, lettuce and croutons. Everything tasted great except for the lamb, which was hard to chew. Sigh! Dessert was yet to come, but I realized with a shudder that my belly was almost full. 

When I saw the staff on their way to our table with a slice of cheesecake, topped with a strawberry and a candle, I grinned because I would have time to digest before I started on dessert. We all sang “Happy Birthday” for my great-granny, and everyone in the dining room turned their attention to our table. Two cougars even sauntered over to the table to wish her Happy 90^th. Then, we went around the table congratulating her, retelling funny anecdotes, or singing her favourite calypso. It was all very nice and I was struck by how significant a milestone it was to be able to reach the age of 90. I hoped that I would live to see even half of that. Long live, Ivy!

Dessert was a subdued affair, since the time I had taken to digest did nothing for me. My stomach was almost full, and I didn’t want to undo all the good that the exercise I had started earlier that week had given me (I lost one pound). Thus, I skipped the colourful cupcakes, the slices of ice cream cake, the slices of cheesecake, and the like. Instead, I had some fruit salad, a paw- paw ball, and ONE, LITTLE square of double fudge, chocolate cake. I was happy that my partner in crime had retired for the night because I would have been compelled to follow her to the table again and again and again. With my belly fit to burst, I was grateful that it was time to leave.

After a brief photo session in the foyer, a leisurely stroll to the car park, a drive to the Boardwalk, close to Pier 1, Chaguaramas, and what seemed like a thousand mile journey to Sangre Grande, I was finally home. “Oh, what a night!” I thought as I drifted off to sleep.

Until the next post!

Harry Potter Quotes and I

Wingardium Leviosa! 

To say that I am a fan of the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling would be an understatement- I think the word, “obsessed” would be more appropriate. I’ve read all the books and seen the movies on more than one occasion. I search the Internet for interesting articles about the series, its characters, and the author. I listen to cast interviews, and watch behind the scene footage on YouTube. I’ve even joined the Pottermore website where I play games, and unlock the secrets of the Harry Potter universe. I suppose the only thing I haven’t done to satiate my Harry Potter obsession is buy merchandise and memorabilia online, since I’m not at a point in my life to financially give in to my every whim and fancy.

I recently started reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the fourth book in the series for you Muggles, for the umpteenth time when the idea for this blog post came to me. I started to compile a list of some quotes from Harry Potter that have impacted my life which I intend to share with my readers in the following post. I hope you enjoy!

“Constant vigilance!”- Alastor ‘Mad Eye’ Moody, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

The meaning of this quote in the Harry Potter universe is obvious. Voldemort and his followers want to kill us, so we need to be vigilant and careful. In my magic free existence, this quote reminds me to be aware of my surroundings, and the people I surround myself with. 

“Really, Hagrid, if you are holding out for universal popularity, I’m afraid that you’ll be in this cabin for a very long time.” – Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

It’s quite simple actually: everyone is not going to like or accept me for who I am and what I stand for. We are all different, born with our own personalities and quirks, and there are some people that will never understand. So, should I change myself to fit the mould? Hell to the no! I’ll do Garvin ‘til the end, and not hide in my proverbial cabin! 

 “Differences in habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.” – Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

As a language student, and budding world traveler this quote holds true. I try to approach new cultures, experiences, and differences in opinions with openness. I am willing to listen, try something new, or see the world from someone else’s point of view. In doing so, I’ve realized that, most times, we all want the same thing at the end of the day, like to live our dreams, have the life we want, experience love etc.

“It’s the unknown we fear when we look upon death and darkness, nothing more.” – Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

When I first read this quote, it was an “Aha!” moment for me. It helped me to overcome my fear of the dark as I found that if I memorized where everything was, and always left things in their place, that I can walk into a dark room or my apartment at night with no fear. Uncle Alby had a point! However, I’m still working on the whole death thing!

“We must try not to sink beneath our anguish, Harry, but battle on!” – Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

A nice reminder from Dumbledore that life has its ups and downs. I’ve fell down at times, and will fall down again in the future. What matters is that I learn something from the bad times, get up, dust myself off, and keep going, lest life passes me by. P.S. It’s not as easy as I’m making it seem.

“You said to us once before that there was time to turn back if we wanted to. We’ve had time, haven’t we?” – Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

Two words: True Friendship! I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing this kind of friendship, and I thank God.

“Not my daughter, BITCH!”- Molly Weasley, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

No power like a MOTHER’S LOVE! That is all!

And much like a mother's love, my love for Harry Potter will never end!

Until the next post! CHAO! 

The Double Decker Bus

“Never See Come See- Someone who has recently been exposed to anything new, and who overdoes it to ridiculous proportions”- Côté ci Côté la

The Coomotor Bus Company has recently added a new bus to its fleet: the Navette XL, a double decker bus that seats about 50 persons. Last week, I had the chance to travel from Bogotá to Neiva in the new bus, which was exciting. My excitement, however, had nothing on that of my fellow passengers and non-passengers alike. Theirs was one of dawning wonder and truly gave new meaning to the phrase: never see, come see.

It was a little after three on a chilly Wednesday afternoon in Bogotá, and I was seated in the VIP Waiting Room, updating my mother as to my whereabouts. I had been on the phone for all of 10-minutes when it happened. There was a delighted scream from the little girl behind me, and the animated gestures of an employee as he pointed to something outside. As I rubbed my ears, I instinctively turned to look through the glass. There it was: the Navette XL.

The latest addition was blue, gigantic, and had a number of words and insignia superimposed on its side. I noted that the driver was seated on the lower floor, and the entrance was situated in the middle of the bus. The bus hostess was a cheery, almost plump woman, who exited the bus looking very pleased with herself. Apparently, she had just been named, “Miss Double Decker” at the company’s annual beauty pageant.

The reactions from those seated in the waiting area were varied and ridiculous. One girl was standing on her seat, jumping up and down, trying in vain to catch a glimpse. One man almost walked into the glass door as he stared avidly at the great, blue marvel. The supervisor abandoned his afternoon snack long enough to look around at the reactions. As he did, he smiled to himself and nodded his head, probably thinking, “That’s exactly what we expected!”

I was snapped out of my reverie by the hostess’ announcement that it was time to board. People hastily grabbed their bags or puppy carriers, hugged family members, and rushed to get on the bus. I suppose the notion of forming a line was lost on them. On entering the bus, I noticed that the lower level was much smaller than the upper one. Persons who were not seated on the upper level, came up anyway to see what it looked like, and commented on the grandeur, loudly.

The scene outside was straight out of the movie, Titanic. The onlookers had assembled with their cameras, iPads or Smartphones, taking photos of the bus. One family decided to have a photo shoot and executed a number of poses, while the photographer- an employee at the terminal- snapped away. A woman seated in another bus that was easily dwarfed by the other, peered out of her window and looked upwards, mouth agape at the sheer size of the Navette XL.

Meanwhile, a new wave of astonishment and dumb questions had broken out inside. The perpetrators were three middle aged women, named Doña Maria, Doña Astrid, and Doña Julia. Doña Maria was the only one travelling that day, but the other two women came up to ensure that she was seated. Doña Astrid was completely taken aback by the size of the bus. She came upstairs, her head moving in dizzying circles as she took in, and gave her opinion about everything, from the seating arrangements to the large windows to the location of the fire extinguisher and emergency exits. She proceeded to measure the bus, walking up and down and touching things as if she were a surveyor of all things double deckered.

Doña Julia, who was helping Doña Maria get settled, started asking questions like, “Did they put two buses together to make this one?” , “I wonder what would happen if the top half fell off?” , “I wonder if Coomotor would create a triple decker bus next?” and “Where could I get a ticket to travel on this bus?” Suddenly, the bus lurched forward as the driver started the engine, and Doñas Astrid and Julia realized that they were not supposed to be on board. They hastily wished Doña Maria a feliz viaje, and with one, last glance, vanished.

Pretty soon, the bus was on its way out of the terminal, while its fervent admirers looked on, waved, or took more photos. Doña Astrid could be seen making the sign of the cross then, blowing a kiss to her friend. As the bus headed southward out of Bogotá, its admirers increased. Passersby on motorcycles, in cars and other small buses, could not hide their shock.

All of a sudden, their excitement became exhausting. I pulled the curtain across the window, settled in and dozed off to sleep. It came as no surprise that I had a dream about The Titanic.

Until the next post.

HELLO 2013!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I think I was drunk on either happiness or the four glasses of rum and coke that I had. Being the walking contradiction that I am; I was in a drunken stupor, but fully aware of my surroundings. I was in the south of Bogotá, enjoying the company of those lovely people who I have come to regard as my Colombian family. We had just welcomed the New Year; we hugged, we wished each other all the best, and we ate 12 grapes each while simultaneously making wishes. I had already spoken to my family back home an hour earlier, and was happy to know that they were fine and did not break away from our New Year tradition, although I was not there. As my New Year high started to wear off and I zoned out of the conversation that the others were having, I started to think about the year that was.

2012: the year that the Mayans predicted the end of the world, and Obama was re-elected the President of the United States. It was the year that I successfully completed my First Degree and graduated from the University of the West Indies, was given another opportunity to live and work in Colombia, came to understand and truly accept myself for who I am, and learned the true meaning of family and friendship. Most importantly, it was the year that I fell in love with Rihanna and her music, again. 

So, what does 2013 hold for me? It may be a bit premature, but I will dub this year: the Year of Garvin because I hope to become a better version of myself, become more marketable, live up to my full potential, experience new things, and start my post graduate studies. Under these broad topics, I've started to create my list of resolutions, which I intend to stick to for the first time in 23 years. Below, I share a few that I've come up with, thus far. 

I want to lead a healthier lifestyle. I have been saying this forever, but it truly hit me recently just how unfit I am. I mean, climbing two flights of stairs leaves me gasping for breath, two minutes of table tennis gives me quasi- cardiac arrest, my belly hangs over my pants when I button it, and my legs rub together. Sometimes, I eat bread, juice, and chocolates all day. Plus, my idea of being active is washing wares! Basically, something needs to be done. I have been thinking about ways that I can become more active; I can join a gym, take a dance class, practice some form of organized sport, or start jogging on mornings. Also, I should change my diet. 

I need to become more spiritual. I feel like the journey of self discovery and acceptance I undertook in 2012 sort of took me away from God. I've come to accept that I'm not religious, but that doesn't mean that I don't believe in God. Thus, the fact that I don't pray often is troubling to me, since I feel ungrateful. I mean, God has been so good to me, and the people I care about. I should give thanks, build this relationship, and re-connect with the Father. 

I need to become more disciplined. For years, my teachers and closest friends have been telling me the same thing. However, I think it was my thesis adviser who really put things into perspective for me, and helped me to commit myself to realizing this goal. She told me that the only thing I was lacking is self-discipline and that I would need to develop this skill if I am to ever reach my full potential. Yikes! I started taking baby steps in 2012 by timing myself doing mundane tasks, like taking a shower or the amount of time I spent on Facebook. I have been getting better, and I feel the change. I suppose my challenge where self discipline is concerned for 2013 is to apply it to the studies I hope to undertake. 

I don't want to bore you with more details of my Year of Garvin plan so, I will end this blog post after a few words. These words are: Happy 2013 to all my readers! I hope that all your dreams come true.

CHAO!

Night Time Musings of A Garvin: Growing Apart

As we go on, we remember

All the times we had together

And as our lives change, come whatever

We will still be friends forever

- Vitamin  C

I haven’t spoken to my best friend in a week. Yes, a week is only seven days, but when you're that close to someone and are accustomed to speaking to them every day, a week can seem like a century. Although I know that he's busy, I can’t help but feel abandoned. I have so much to tell him and he has no time to hear about any of it. The fact that we're in the same country only makes matters worse. I have begun to ask myself: "Is this it? Have we reached that moment when we begin to grow apart? Is life taking us in different directions?" Right now, all signs point to yes.

I should have expected it, after all this has happened to me before. It begins after every graduation ceremony: the photos are taken, farewells are said, and promises of “I’ll keep in touch” are made. At the beginning, it's easy to stay in touch. Then, it gets harder. Life happens; you make new acquaintances, fall in love, and grow.

Maybe, we have reached that moment in our lives? I mean, we have just graduated from UWI, photos were taken, and promises were made. The calls were frequent at the beginning, but now, they are few and far between; verging on non-existent. I want to be angry, but I suppose that I understand. He has his life, his own priorities, his own world view, his own personality, his own plans, and so do I. Growing apart must be inevitable, so why not accept it?

Maybe, it’s a sign of more to come? Pretty soon, we will both be embarking on post graduate studies, perhaps in different parts of the world, and/or in different disciplines. Or worse yet, we fall in love, and only have time, energy, and credit on our phones for that special person. So yeah, this all makes sense. It is most definitely a dress rehearsal for the most emotional role of my life: Losing My Best Friend.

I end up on Facebook, choosing to quiet my thoughts by scrolling through my News Feed. I come across a photo from an acquaintance, and like a sign from God, everything seems better. You see, the acquaintance and the other three people in her photo have been friends for 14 years. They were a few years ahead of me at Secondary School. Once they graduated, some went on to University while others got married, had children or travelled. Yet, they managed to remain the best of friends.

It was an example that good friends never truly grow apart. I can think of other lifelong friends I have had the pleasure of knowing, like my Daddy and Uncle Bobby, or my Granny and Miss Judy. Why not follow their example? If this friendship is so important, I should make every effort to keep in touch. I have to accept that life is unpredictable; you live and grow every day, but good friends are also part of that journey. We can either grow apart or adapt to the changes that life brings. I choose the latter, that is, to share all of life's moments with, not only him, but all of my closest friends, as long as they will have me. A weird sense of inner peace has come over me, and I resolve to call him tomorrow, send emails to my other friends or post on Facebook walls. Wow, Vitamin C had a point!