Sidewalks

The sidewalks in most Latin American cities that I’ve visited are different from those that I would find at home. Cali is no exception. Sidewalks are often uneven, with unmatched slabs of concreted. The unaware pedestrian must pay attention, or they might find themselves falling down hole or crashing into a piece of metal protruding from the ground. While in some ways these sidewalks might be a hazard, they are also more exciting. Going for a run on them is in some ways like navigating through an obstacle course.

I think in some ways these sidewalks demonstrate the difference between the US and Latin America. Where in the US sidewalks are almost always flat and uniform, the sidewalks in Latin America are unique. The US sidewalks are carefully planned out and built according to code, while those in Cali seem to be thrown together and made to work with what was available. While they may seem unorganized, they are full of character.

Cali, as many Latin American cities, has grown immensely over the last 50 years. This growth has outstripped the authorities’ ability to regulate it. Many Colombians from other regions of the country came to Cali to escape armed conflict and economic struggle, in order to build a better life. While the city in some ways seems hectic, once you scratch beneath the surface you find a city full of life with citizen its inhabitants eager to show off what their city has to offer. Walking around Cali, one thing you notice is the city’s diversity. Different groups all contribute their own backgrounds to the cultural melting pot that is Cali. Also, the city is full of music and dance. Caleños (those from Cali) claim their city to be the world capital of salsa. Many salsa clubs are found throughout the city. I was able to go to one last week for a live concert. I was impressed but also a little intimidated by the dancing prowess of some of the people there. I built up the courage and got out on the floor for a few songs but it’s obvious that I’m no where close to the dancing ability of the caleños.

Through the gang project that I have been interning with, it is obvious that much like the sidewalks, they also take a multifaceted approach to interrupting to the cycle of gang violence. Interventions such as theater, dance, sports, and art among other things are used as intervention tools. When meeting with the groups, some where eager to show off the projects that they had been working on. It was definitely nice to see the flexibility that is awarded to interventionists as they try to connect with the youth.

While I have been spending most of my time in Cali, I was able to sneak away for a weekend to a town called Salento. This town is located in the coffee-growing region of Colombia. It is beautifully situated in the Andes mountains. We only spent two days in Salento but were able to go horse back riding to a nearby waterfall. The next day, we hiked for six hours through the rainforest in the nearby Valle de Corcora, which included crossing many precarious Indiana Jones-esc bridges. We ended the hike by walking through the surreal forest of wax palm trees, which apparently are the national tree of Colombia. They were the tallest palm trees I had ever seen and grow at a high altitude that is not common for palms. As my friend pointed out, they appeared to be something out of a Dr. Seus book. We concluded our trip with some delicious coffee from the region.

Now, I am heading back to California for 10 days for my brother, Eric’s, wedding ceremony. Afterwards, I will be back in Colombia for a month! A short amount of time to get the research done which I intend to! Stay tuned for more!!!

Oiga, Mire, Vea (Cali, Colombia)

As promised, I ended my last blog post about the time I spent as a Language and Cultural Assistant with the premonition that there were still some adventures left to come. I’m happy to announce that this premonition has seemed to come true.

A lot has changed since I last wrote on this blog. First off, I am not longer in La Mancha and now call San Diego, California home, where I’m working on a dual master’s degree Public Health and Latin American Studies. I am also no longer a man…I’m now THE MAN! Ok, well perhaps not.

Even though I am no longer living in the wind-swept plains of La Mancha, I have maintained that sense of curiosity and adventure that was nurtured by my experience in Spain. This drive has continued to influence my decisions ever since. Since coming back from Spain, I spent a couple year working with gang and foster youth in San José. I have snuck back to Spain for a couple short visits, spent a week in Cali, Colombia, and was lucky to have the opportunity to spend four weeks in Oaxaca last summer, and another week in Managua, Nicaragua.

Now that you’ve been caught up, that brings us to the present. I am now, as of this past Monday spending two months in Colombia. I was fortunate to be provided the Mundt Scholarship, which funds international experiences related to peace and security. Through this scholarship, I am now spending two months with the public health organization, CiSalva, in Cali, Colombia as a research intern, where I will be supporting a study that aims to intervene with gang-involved youth in the city and divert them from this lifestyle. With my time here, I hope to get hands on experience in international public health work, while at the same time develop a potential thesis project.

In Cali for the 1st time, March 2017

So once again, I have packed my bags, said my goodbyes, and headed a new place with a new set of challenges. I have only been here a few days and am at the point where I begin to wonder why I keep uprooting myself and throwing myself into these new, unique, and at times challenging situations. This also happened in Chile, as it did in Spain and Oaxaca. And while they had their challenges, each proved to be an experience that led to personal growth in many ways.

Only after two days, I have had the chance meet with some of the youth that are participated in the study, and even go to one of the communities for a meeting. Having these experiences has helped me remember that this is where I belong and that I am working through challenges that I am passionate about addressing. Although my role here is still unclear, I know that I will be doing work that I can be excited about.

This short post is hopefully the first of many that documents the challenges and triumph of this current experience in Colomiba. The Man in La Mancha (though no longer in the land of Don Quixote) is at it again. Another experience, another adventure and another opportunity to grow!