My Coffee Baseline

I never drank coffee in college.  I prided myself on the fact that through four years of undergrad and one year in a master's program, I drank coffee fewer than the number of fingers on my hands.  I refused to become addicted to the ever-enticing caffeine.  And, when I did need that caffeine boost, I small coffee was all I needed for a few extra hours of alertness.

That was before I lived in Colombia.  To not drink coffee in Colombia is practically social suicide.  Professional events and social encounters revolve around the liquid which, in place with being associated with all-nighters and your morning wake-up, is connected to simply enjoying life, sip by sip.

The ever-enticing cafe latte.

So, while I still never almost never drink coffee for some extra pep in the morning, I supposedly drink it often enough to have increased my baseline level for caffeine effectiveness.  Today, before an afternoon outing, I decided I needed a pick-me-up to be somewhat social and pleasant.  However, this espresso-shot cafe latte did nothing for me.  In fact, immediately after its consumption, I found that I had fallen asleep for an unplanned 2 hour nap.

My 24-year attempt at avoiding the coffee bean has officially come to an end.  But among my experiences in Colombian of learning to sit back and relax while sipping up some caffeine, I'm not too disappointed with myself.

Colombian News

"We don't want S.O.P.A.!"
A pun on words:
Sopa translated from Spanish to English means soup.

As little as I keep up with the current events of my native country, it was of no surprise that I learned first about the SOPA and PIPA bills from my Colombian counterparts.  I was taken aback by the strong reactions and protests of my Colombian friends and quickly made a move to learn more the U.S. bill that would have an international impact.

I wanted to mention one such blog that I follow here to keep me up on Colombian News.  Mike Ceasar, founder of Bogota Bike Tours created his initial blog, Mike's Bogotá Bike Blog, to focus specifically on the political and social issues surrounding bicycling in Bogota.  A year later he began Mike's Bogota Blog in 2010 which serves as a more general commentary on various Colombian issues.  I use his blog as my main only source to keep on Bogotano/Colombian news.  And, it was in fact for Mr. Mike's lack of a commentary on the recent SOPA and PIPA bills that I did not learn about the bills on my own.

I'm waiting for Mike's post on these bills.  Until then, enjoy his other posts!

P.S.  I plan on going on one of Mike's tours in the coming months.  I will be sure to report back -- if I survive the streets of Bogotá ;)

Es Un Milagro

When I typed in the letter f into my browser and saw that my own blog URL did not automatically come up as a suggested site, I knew it had been a long time since I logged into Foreign Encounters.  After a long holiday vacation stateside where I found, to my surprise, requests from friends and family to continue the blogging I have resolved to begin anew.  I hope that old and new readers alike enjoy what my blogging year holds.

"Es un milagro" (translation: it's been a long time) to be back in the blogging world.

Fake Chipotle

There are no shortage of shopping malls here in Bogota.  Like any good shopping mall has in the U.S., food courts grace the top floor of the malls here in Bogota as well.

I took my try at a food court the other weekend along with a friend who had heard of "Sipote."  Does the name sound familiar?  Perhaps the name rings close to the beloved Chipotle of the U.S.?

Not only are these two food chains' names similar but the whole concept is, too.  On the picture of the menu above you can see Chipotle's equivalent step-by-step ordering process on Sipote's menu save the translation into Spanish.  It's all the same down to the extra charge for guacamole.  C'mon Colombia - avocados are a whole lot cheaper here.

After chowing down, though the taste of my burrito wasn't quite as delicious as Chipotle's, I thought there absolutely had to be some affiliation between Chipotle and Sipote.  No way would Chipotle owner Steve Ells allow for Sipote to exist without his legal consent.

Steve enjoying his poser burrito bowl.

Upon numerous Google searches later, I found no such connection.  One restaurant review blog I ran across was even so bold as to write that the owners of the restaurant group who started Sipote "nos sporendan con su nuevo concepto SIPOTE" (surprise us with their new concept of Sipote).  Feel free to prove me wrong (which is quite possible because at this point my google search stamina wore out), but I am pretty sure that Steve Ells' 1993 launch of Chipotle precursors the opening of Sipote's four stores in Bogota.

So Mr. Ells, in true American style, I think you should sue Sipotle, take over, and improve the wanna-be taste of Sipote's burritos.

Valentine's Day in September

Today in Colombia is Valentine's Day or, in Spanish, Día del Amor y la Amistad. I highly prefer the latter title as it's literally translated into "Day of Love AND Friendship."  It's a much more inclusive name and not-so-depressing for the singletons.

Coincidentally, yesterday I administered a spelling test from an american-published resource that had a fill-in-the blank question that looked like this:

Keesha ___________ valentines in the month of ______________  .

This sentenced was followed by another fill-in-the blank question that looked like this:

His birthday is in __________________  .

This week's words followed the short 'e' pattern and included the words sent, February, and September.  Quick 3rd-grade quiz for you:  Using the words sent, February, and September, fill in the blanks in the sentences above not using a word more than once.  As an love-sick or love-lacking American would do, you would probably fill in the blanks as such:

Keesah     sent        valentines in the months of      February        .

His birthday is in     September      .

Did you pass?

Upon checking my students' tests, I was quickly appalled by how many students were mixing up the months of February and September.  I circled their wrong answers with green pen and marked '-1' with some satisfaction...

...that is until the fourth test when I realized how culturally IGNORANT I was being.  My realization hit me like a ton of bricks: VALENTINE'S DAY IS IN SEPTEMBER IN COLOMBIA!  DUH!  I had to return to the three tests I had graded prior and humbly write 'OK' in place of my '-1' like this:

What a coincidence that the spelling words February and September fell in the same test.  Happy Día del Amor y la Amistad from Colombia!

Eating Aloe

My senior year of college I developed a pretty severe case of acute bronchitis (I know that's an oxymoron) that resulted in bruised ribs, being benched from the Ultimate Frisbee team for several weeks, and a sleepless roommate who had to listen to my coughing night after night (you're the best Heather!).  Though I long since healed from that specific happenstance of bronchitis, I have had occasional sightings of less-severe cases of bronchitis.  Every time I develop a cough, it resembles the phlegmy cough that characterizes bronchitis.

Unfortunately, this past week I have developed the phlegmy cough once again.  While many chalk up my cough to my being exposed to the germs of generally grossness of elementary school kids as a first year teacher, others blame my cough on the pollution of Bogota.  Each explanation seems perfectly reasonable to me.  FIrst year teachers DISEASE.  And while Bogota, among offering many cultural and entertainment attraction, also offers you very polluted air.

Questionable though the cause of my cough, the remedy does not seem to puzzle anyone here.  My co-workers suggested at least three natural remedies, and yesterday, I was summoned enough courage to try one:

The Aloe Leaf

I bought the aloe leaf at the local supermarket.  No one batted an eye at my 1.5 ft. long "sabina" leaf except for the one American visitor on a business trip happening to buy hair ties.  From behind me in line she asked "Now, what are you going to do with that?"  To which I replied with feigned confidence "Eat it."  She wished me good luck and I was on my way.

Having no idea how to eat this leaf, I went of course immediately to the trusty internet.  Up popped this page in my search results.  Thank-you Ruth Marlene Friesen from Saskatchewan, Canada for your terrific photographic instructions.  I always knew I liked Canadians (that's for you, Lowes).

Now, through photos of my own, I would like to share with you my aloe-eating experience.

Yesterday, I first cut the aloe leaf into a nice portion (as on the right).  Then, slit the aloe sideways to open the center where I found the ooey-gooey goodness (grossness).

I then proceeded to scrape a spoonful of the aloe and shove it in my mouth like a champ.  This was no small endeavor, as the consistency reminded me of my old dog Cody's slobber right after taking a huge drink from his water bowl.

Today I tried something different (after researching the healing powers of avocado) and made a honey, aloe, avocado, milk smoothie.  This consistency of the smoothie made the aloe go down much, much easier.

Did it work?  The cough is still here, but less (placebo effect?).  The phlegm is still here (borderline TMI?).  But I still have faith that after a few more smoothies, the aloe and avocado will kick in.  I'll keep you posted.

Meanwhile, I had no idea of the plethora of natural remedies out there for absolutely everything.  Watch out, I might come back as an herbal healer ;)

Ode to the U.S.A.

Today, I miss America.

There is an ease about living in your native country: the culture, the language, and the simple routines are all so automatic.

On the flip slide, there is an ease in the form of excitement about living in a new country: the culture, the language, and the simple routines this time are all so novel, interesting, and thought-provoking.  I'd say over 90% of the time I appreciate the newness.  I love how Colombia forces me to reevaluate what I value and take for granted.  I love being introduced to new cuisine.  I love how the Spanish keeps my mind constantly turning and awake because only with full attention do I understand and speak Spanish.

But sometimes, that less than 10% of the time, I miss the familiarity of home, of friends and family, and the cheap(er) price and variety of ice cream.