Amable

I willingly admit that at the beginning of my time in Colombia, I could not imagine how I could live in another country for more than a week. As my time here has stretched beyond a week, now I cannot fathom how I could exist if I were to return to my university in the States.

This past weekend, we spent time with a family who offered their home to us students as a place to stay, away from our provided lodging at the school. After introductions on a Wednesday, we arrived at their home on Friday evening, where we spent the first hour or so touring their home. From treetop balcony views, pools, outdoor workout spaces, beautiful mango trees, and a lovely yet slightly overweight black Labradoodle named Kalu, we knew we would be living large here.

The next morning when I woke up for breakfast, I found a very friendly woman named Gladys ready to prepare breakfast! Holy smokes, I have never had an in-home chef cook for me before! But still, amidst the boundless luxuries we had at our disposal, nothing can compare to the amount of hospitality we were shown. People we had only just met a few days before, and here we were sharing a meal with their whole family. Husband, wife, children, nieces, and cousins, and nothing felt uncomfortable about the family we had the privilege to be a part of.

That evening, the family took us for a drive up a well-known mountain for dinner with a view. With the original restaurant at capacity, we all drove further up the mountain to another restaurant where the wife, Martha, was already planning to attend a friend's birthday party. As I sat there, grateful to have a break from the humid heat and embracing the cool mountain air, I couldn't imagine how I could leave such a beautiful place.

We left that evening with our stomachs and hearts filled to the brim. The live band was singing the fastest upbeat music, complete with multiple slices of uniquely topped yet delicious pizza and Chocolate con queso. Yeah, Hot Chocolate WITH CHEESE. Don't make that face, because it's actually good! I will say though, it probably wasn't the best choice to have that much cheese in one night. But you can't blame me entirely, it's COLOMBIA, everything has cheese :) Anyway, at the conclusion of the meal, as I looked around at all the laughter-filled conversations around me, I asked the husband, Jorge, if he had already paid and how much we owed. But he said to me, "No, I took care of it. We told you, we are your family here, don't worry, I got it." If that was not the onion to induce my tears right then and there, I don't know what else I would have needed. Don't freak out, I didn't actually cry, but still, I was very grateful for this family, choosing to take us in the way they did. This is their third time hosting exchange cadets, and they enjoy the ability to do so. I am grateful to have been a victim of their kindness.

We spent the following Sunday enjoying the large house, each of us in different sections of the house. I sat out on one of the three balcony spaces to do some reading and couldn't help but just sit there looking out at the view for a long while. Just the sounds of Colombia, it's so different from the states, all dressed with different shades of green and high and low trees. Served as a delightful place to read.

I found myself slightly downcast to leave the house that day and return to the school, but I knew we would be coming back a lot more. After a weekend of playing Among Us and Minecraft with the kids, photoshoots with the black lab, Kalu, and funny family convos, I can't wait to see what other adventures we get to experience with them throughout our time here.