New Beginnings South of the Border

August 5, 2012...almost a year to the date when I found out I was receiving a scholarship from the Rotary Foundation to be a student ambassador for an entire year in any place of my choosing. I don't listen to my gut often, but for some reason I did when I was applying for this award. Colombia kept dancing on my brain waves and I had to heed the call. Fast forward a year later and here I am sitting in a hotel room in Medellin, Colombia with tropical vegetation and sunlight pouring through my window. In a way, I am kind of grateful that I had to wait a year and work some crumby part time jobs. Now, that patience has paid off and the savoring has begun. So, the point of this blog for the next 12 months or so will be to update, inform, and entertain my friends and family, along with anyone else interested in my South American year.

Traveling down here was a breeze. I somehow got two direct flights-Pittsburgh to Miami, Miami to Medellin-that were quick as lightning compared to the usual trips across the pond. Even better, one of the travel sights I booked on offered first class for the Miami to Medellin leg. It had to be an error on their side because it cost as much as an economy seat on every other airline! See, to all those haters out there that yell at me for waiting to the last minute, well, sometimes it pays off...BIG. I mean I am small to begin with, but the leg room is unbelievable and hot towels? I thought that was a myth. This could also pose a huge problem, I don't know if I can ever travel in anything but business class now.

Anywho, getting through Customs was a breeze; asked me what I was doing, where I'm staying, yadda yadda yadda then boom, stamp. Grabbed my luggage and walked out to the taxis where the nicest smallest little old man you've ever seen comes up with his big gray mustache and says "you need taxi?" I thought my bronze coat from a week at the beach before I left would help cover up some off my Americaness, but to no avail...the jig was up as soon as I stepped into the terminal, judging by all the glances.

So I got in the taxi and we sped off to Medellin. Piece of advice for all you travelers out there, research how far the airport is from your final destination. I usually am good about putting together itineraries, but occasionally I slip. The airport was a 30 minute drive from Medellin, so lets just say the Taxi driver and I got to know each other better because awkward silence can only last so long.

Me taking a siesta after arriving.

I pulled into the hotel, paid the cabbi  $80,000 Colombian Pesos. WOW. This difference in ratios between the US dollar and Peso will take some time to get used to. I am sick the whole time I am traveling mind you, so the first thing I do is Skype my gente and hit the sack with some nyquil. However, I just had some breakfast and am feeling 100 times better. Now I just need to take care of some simple things: Find an apartment, find my way to the University, Enroll in classses, start classes at 6pm. Yeah, I'd say I dont have a lot to worry about.