Pics and updates

Buenas Noches todos! I finally have internet after we spent two hours on the phone yesterday with spanish speaking internet service guy. So, here is a quick update of a few experiences I have had here...these are the good ones. I can share the others later when I am back in the USA and my parents won't have to worry about me anymore.

Here are some pictures of my first week in Bogota....they are few because I am still a bit nervous about taking my camera out in public or on the street drawing attention to the fact that I am a foreigner. Plus it is important that I watch my surroundings and hold tight to my stuff since we are in a big city.

There are a few pictures of the school where I am teaching. These are a few of the new school building. The old building is really cool too so I will get some pics of that soon. You will also see my wonderful view of the mountains, "la cordillera de los Andes", from the school. Remember, Bogota is at 8,660 ft in altitude so it isn't hot here as many would expect from a country close to the equator. The homes here have neither heat nor AC so we depend on the windows and sunlight. It's perfect!

Other pictures are of my first weekend here...the beautiful mountains and lake picture is close to where we had lunch after church on Sunday with the Principal of my school and her husband, as well as a well known singing group in the Christian Latin American community in the US and Latin America who was here to perform at some concerts. The singer, Ingrid Rosario, is Colombian but grew up in the US and attended Liberty University (however, she graduated in '98 so you Liberty people probably haven't heard of her). It was neat spending the day with them and getting to know them because they have an incredible passion for ministering to people through their music. Also, you will see the view on our small hike up the mountains right outside of Bogota. The cross was on the mountain where will were standing. You may notice how close the clouds are...I am soo amazed every time I look at the sky.

Other pictures are of the city while we have been on walks.

This weekend we are going on a few day trips so I should get some beautiful pictures of the city view from las montanas. Friday some of the group is going to take a chair lift type thing up to Monserrate where we will have dinner. Saturday we are taking a day hiking trip to Guatavita where we will see a laguna and maybe some other pieces of nature that Colombia has to offer. So be expecting more pictures.

Lastly, today at school during our staff meeting it was brought up that a family who has been part of the school for many years is struggling financially and cannot afford to send their four kids to the school anymore. The father's family business was shut down a few years ago because of bigger industries taking over and cannot find consistent job that can support his family. The mother has been working various jobs to make do but they are quickly going in debt. The school has tried to help them as much as possible the past few years but there isn't much more they can do. The children have a huge positive influence on their peers and are very well rounded. Many of us teachers have considered offering our stipend to them to help with the tuition but we are already on a tight budget and they want us to leave that as a last option. For the four kids to attend the school, it will cost the family 1,000 US dollars per month. This is important to me because the mother was very welcoming to me during my first few days here and was willing to give everything she had without letting their financial situation keep her from welcoming us to her country. If you, or anyone you know, are looking for a place to donate, the family would be very grateful and surprised, so please email me!

Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers. Miss you all!

-Casey

I am still alive!

So I have had a great first week in Bogota although it started out a bit tough. I am getting used to the culture and the people and am already feeling a sense of family here at the school. Unfortunately I still do not have internet at my apartment but hopefully that will get worked out soon. Some of the teachers from last year said it took a month or more before their internet was working properly. We have a very busy week here at school now that it has officially started for staff and we have meetings all day. When I do finally get internet I will try to update my blog and send an email update of the exciting things that I am experiencing here and hopefully some pictures.... So this is just to say hang on and I will get to it muy pronto. Also, if you want me to add you to my email list...email me at kcmac82@gmail.com or leave your email on here in the comment part.
Hasta pronto!

I have arrived!

7/23/2007
Many of you may have gotten this in email but I havent had time to write two seperate updates and I would have repeated myself anyway...

I am in Bogota, Colombia!!! Yesterday I flew from Raleigh to Atlanta to Aruba to Bogota. I arrived at 8pm and it was raining and dark so I wasnt able to see the beautiful mountains. One of the parents who has a child at the school picked me up at the airport and it was very easy to find him. I met a few Bogotanos while travelling from aruba to Bogota and they were very nice and helpful as if they were old family friends. Everyone else that I have met here is really nice as well. I stayed with a family last night with two adorable kids- Tatiana, 5, and Esteban, 3. It was a very warm welcoming. It was kind of cold last night and this morning I was told that no apartments in Bogota have heat. Christina, the mother, took me around the city this afternoon a bit to show me a nice park and restaraunts. I went to the school today to meet everyone that has arrived so far and was able to see my classroom\office which is the size of a bathroom or large closet. It is a good size though because I will pull only 3-5 students at a time to teach them english and other times I will be helping within the regular classrooms to assist the teacher with students who have lower english levels. A lady who works at the school took my roommate and I to see two apartments that we can choose from. They are three bedrooms with one or two baths. Pretty nice, but small. They are both in gated communities with guards 24 hrs a day. There will be four of us staying in an apartment together so that will help when we need to go explore the city and go grocery shopping. We should be able to move in by this weekend. The school is still trying to collect furniture for us. I believe we have a few beds so far. I will be staying with some other teachers this week until my apartment is ready because they live closer to the school and will be travelling there everyday so Christina will not have to drive me 45 minutes each day like she did this morning. It is a bit difficult to get around the city because there is one main road (autopista) and the rest are small roads between neighborhoods. Also, Christina and many who live here, have driving restrictions that do not allow them to drive between 6-8am and 4-6pm, I guess to prevent traffic problems. The city is kind of dirty from what I have seen of it but hopefully I will find some cool places to hang out, eat, read, and have coffee of course, once I get comfortable with my surroundings! There is a large mall with movie theater a few blocks from where my apartment will be so that is exciting. Right now I am sitting at the computer drinking coffee and playing peek a boo with little Esteban who has become attached to me and wants to sit or lay in my lap everywhere I go. Thanks to everyone for your prayers and support and I will keep you updated on what is going on. I´m sure I will have more eventful things to tell everyone this week if internet is made available. That´s all for now! Miss you all! I will try to send pictures when I am able to use my personal computer or the school computer.