Colombia 2009

Today we took a short bus ride to a small village right on the beach. No roads. Just sand. Most houses were made of scrap wood and whatever people could find - sheet metal, cardboard, fiberglass, etc. We weaved our way through the streets to the rear of the village and came to a school. The children were waiting for us in the street with a handmade American flag and banners. As we walked toward the children, they rushed us to give us hugs and thank us for visiting them. After we got a quick tour of the school, we received a very thoughtful welcome from the director of the school.

This morning Shivali, Charlie, and I were in charge of setting up a soccer game for the little children. They were so excited to get their nice uniforms and play with the new soccer balls. I was surprised at how talented they were for their age at controlling the ball. Unfortunately, we did not have a lot of space to work with and no goals, but they quickly constructed posts out of sticks and rocks. Everyone had a lot of fun playing and I wish we could have gone on longer, but it was very hot outside. My team, el equipo blanco, won in the end 2-1 over Charlie's purple team.

Today we visited a small village on the south side of the city called La María. As we did the fifteen minute drive through Cartagena, I gradually began to notice the huge change in surroundings. The wide, paved roads of the nicer area our hotel is in, turn into steep, bumpy dirt roads. With my traveling and service experience as well as J.R. and the leaders warnings, I knew that La María was going to be very different from the other areas of Cartagena we had seen so far so I was prepared.

Hola! Today we visited La Maria! It was so intriguing to see how happy and content that all the children were. When we arrived to the preschool they had the children holding signs welcoming AFC Miami students and then the kids sang songs to us. Something about from the Coast to Cartegna. After we enjoyed the performance we then went and took a tour of their community, each community is determined by separate streets. We walked toward the top of the hill and as we ascended the houses started to look more run down because during the rainy season houses become destroyed due to excess rain.

On Saturday evening, we had a wonderful dinner at a restaurant in the historic center of Cartagena where we met our community partners from the various agencies that we will be working with this week.
Some of the groups and foundations represented include:
Semillas de Esperanza: Marta Orolonez
Fundacion de Jesus: Ivan Sierra, Mary de Sierra, Nelson Dickson, Elias Francy
Fundacion Cartagena Global: Dr. Fabio Anaya, Katia Anaya, Magola Anaya
Beraka Tours: Elida Esqui, Carlos Delgadillo, Carlos Matio Delgadillo
Fundacion Emprender: Luis Manuel Carvajalino, Elvira Martinez de Carvajalino

Sunday morning was so busy! Cartegena was a strategic center for Spanish colonization of the new world and UNESCO honored the Historic Old Town as a premier site. The fortifications are immense and extremely well preserved. To protect the gold, silver and other riches that were being sent back to Spain, the Spaniards created walled fortresses to resist attack by land and sea.

We saw many of these historic sites, the gold museum, the Inquisition museum, the monastery that overlooks the city, and several famous statues including Simon Bolivar in Old Town.

Here is a picture of our group when we arrived at the Cartagena airport.
Megan K.

After we checked in at the Hotel Costa del Sol, we distributed cell phones, called parents to confirm our safe arrival, and then were warmly welcomed on the roof top pool patio by children from the Semillas de Esperanza Foundation. These children were "street kids" who are now able to be educated thanks to the work of the Foundation.

Such great musicians and dancers! Applause
Dr. M

Wow! It's been such a busy day today and yesterday.
Here's a quick recap of our travel to Cartagena:
We had to arrive at the airport around 4am (way early for many of us). We got there with just enough time for all of us to make it through security and board the plane.
We then flew to Atlanta, then to Miami, and finally arrived in Cartagena!
In the picture you can see some of the people who were at the airport to welcome us. The work that Ambassadors for Children does in Cartagena is really appreciated by the community.

Check back soon for more!
Megan K.

We just all arrived and are settling in. I plan to post pictures and more details tonight!

Look for many more posts from all of us :)

Megan K.