Water Blog

I woke up at 6:30 in the morning and looked over at my alarm clock and thought to myself "I'm going to go back to bed until eight." As I put my head down on the pillow I realized that I had to be at Rocky Nook park at 7:15 for Walking Water. Walking Water is like a painful exhausting field trip that you get graded on. So I jumped out of bed and woke my mom up. My mom made me some Trader Joe's Shui Mai that i very happily gulped down, I love Shui Mai. We went out to the car and drove off to Rocky Nook Park. By the time we were at the mission exit it was already 7:11 so I was a little nervous about the timing and when we were going to get there, but i just sat back and waited. We arrived about a minute or two late but that didn't matter because people were still arriving. I filled up my three jugs, two of which were attached by a rope so that i could hang them over my shoulders, little did I know the ropes just made it that much more painful. While we were waiting for the rest of the 6th and 7th graders to fill up there jugs or bottles we played around on the playground making our feet hurt before the walk had already even started. Finally after about an hour the teachers called us in to do a Puja. After they dismissed us from the Puja we started the long (seemed long) painful (was lacteally very very painful) walk. We hadn't even gotten out of the park and me feet were already hurting, did I mention that I was going barefoot swell as many other people for extra credit. And finally we were off! The moment we started to walk my shoulder started to sting and ache because I had attached two gallons together with some string and forgot to get some padding but didn't think that it would matter vey much. It did! We were just walking out of the driveway thing at rocky nook park and I look around and thought to myself: this is going to be a very long walk. When we left Rocky Nook park We stepped onto a little stone ledge/bridge next to the road as cars whizzed by I felt like I could sort of feel the weird looks on my back, so I looked up and at the cars and found that hardly anybody was giving us dirty or weird looks they were mostly on there cell phones (Shame, there going to get a ticket) or focussed on driving. That made me feel less self conscious and so I felt like I could pay more attention to where I was walking and also for amusing myself by talking to friends. We arrived at the three way merge/stop of Mission and APS and we had to wait a minute or two so we all took advantage and put down our water. While we were all talking and moaning and complaining a convertible saab drove by us with four kids who probably went to Marymount in it. They gave us the first and only weird/dirty looks that I saw the whole time that we walked. When John told us that we could keep walking I picked up my water and slung it over my holder and held the other jug in my left hand. Once we had crossed the smooth nice most comfortable feeling, I mean the street we got on to a loose gravel/dirt path/sidewalk that hurt sooooooo much and I crippled down every time I took a step. That sidewalk went on four about 20 minutes probably. By the time we were on "regular" sidewalk we were almost at the mini park. We had to cross the smooth nice most comfortable feeling, I mean the street we were on the left side of the street on rocks, spiky leaves, glass, and dirt. Previously when we stopped before the crossing I had taken Jared's backpack filled with water because I wanted to make it more realistic and also because I thought it might pad my shoulder from the evil painful string that attached my two gallons. It did in the beginning but eventually made it just hurt even more so I started yelling out for Jared but because I was carrying most of his stuff he had jogged marly ahead of me. So the rest of the walk was pailful and once I got to the driveway I ran down and drank some of my water and ate an Otter Pop that Jennifer had given a few of us kids and then went marly on to math class

After falling on the floor a few times during the night, I fell asleep. I had a few odd dreams over the night but regret to say that I can not recall them. Anyways I woke up to an enchanting smell of eggs, coffee, and arepa. Arepas are a sort of breakfast burrito bade which some kind of ground dough. When I stood up out of bed and looked over towards the kitchen I saw the clock on the wall, it was 9AM and I think it was Tuesday. I was wondering where Gorge's wife and child were when it hit me, it isn't even spring break she must be at work and there son most have been taken to school. I slowly walked over to the kitchen when I saw a hot plate of eggs, coffee, and arepas with a sticky note on it. The sticky note read
"Daniel, este alimento es para usted. He tomado hijo Gorges a la escuela, y me voy atrabajar.
Atentamente,
Garganta del terror"

in english that means "Daniel, this food is for you. I have taken Georges son to school, and I am off to work.

Sincerely,

Gorge's Wife

That clarified where his wife was but I still didn't know where Gorge was. So I timidly raised my voice to just above a yell and asked to the whole house "¿GORGE?". I heard the ruffling of covers in the room where I last saw Gorge enter, probably his bedroom. I peeked in and there he was sitting up in bed reading a book he looked over to me and said "¿Si?" with a very chipper upbeat sound in his voice I told him about his wife and son and asked him if he had breakfast, he had and he already knew his wife and son had left. He said that they left at about 6AM and he woke up with them. Well I felt kind of bad that I had slept so late on their schedule so I offered to make him breakfast in an American way, he politely declined he said that he had only one thing on his agenda today, a man in Bogota had a fused electrical surge protector. We walked over to the kitchen and he read the paper as I ate my breakfast.

We hoped in the car at about 11 and road out to Bogota.

over the course of the day we went to an amazing little cafe stand and as he drove me to the airport the next day I felt we were so well acquainted that it wasn't awkward sitting in the car in silence. He took me to the gate of the airplane and I gave him a hug good-bye. It was an amazing trip I will tell my kids when I grow old.

My visit With Gorge Armando Hernandez-Day 2_First Impression

So I woke up at 6:00AM local time because I really want to meet Gorge. I had to call for a taxi and it was waiting outside, probably even before I woke up. The cabby or "taxista" was not the nicest man but he was a  good driver and on our way to Gorge's house we saw a couple of really historic, cool looking churches. Finally after a six hour drive I arrived at Gorge's house, it seemed to have taken forever (Which it kind of did). Probably because I was nervous about meeting him and it took six hours. He lived in what looked to be an average sized house with a garden and lawn in his front yard. He was standing in his driveway with his wife and child. I exited the cab with a very large grin on my face and Gorge and his family sent 3 bright smiles right back at me. I walked up to them and gave them a very chipper and upbeat "Hola!", and again they each gave it right back. Gorge said "Por favor sue venga.", and I replied "¡Gracias!". Inside there house they had three rooms that include there son's room, his and his wife's, and a rather spacious living room. Because it was noon local time Gorge offered to take me out to lunch/dinner with his family which I gladly accepted because I hadn't eaten all day! We hopped into his pick up and went to a restaurant called Andres Carne de Res, and to express to you how good that was and how fun it was going there here is a review from http://worldtop7.com/best-restaurants/colombia/bogota.aspx


If you haven't been to Andres you haven't been to Bogotá; "ANDRES CARNE DE RES" is out of town in Chia, about 30 minutes drive; started in 1994 as a place to hang out with your family on a Sunday afternoon; it's a bar, a restaurant and a party place in one; the decor is amazing and authentique with Colombian ornaments, old photographs, mattresses, bells and candles; Andres specializes in Colombian food with a focus on grilled meat: great "t-bone steaks served with tortillas and filled tomatoes"; amazing vibe and open until late; make sure to have someone who's driving you home! In any case, drivers-to-rent wait outside.


and just incase if you ever find yourself in Bogota or Chia, Colombia here is the restaurant info:

Address: Calle 3 NO.11A - 56, Variante de la Luna, Chia, (Autopista Norte Bogogta), Chia, Colombia
Area: Chia
Web: http://www.andrescarnederes.com
Phone: +57 1 863 7880
Email: acr@andrescarnederes.comPrices: Mains: US$ 7.- to US$ 32.-                                                                                                             Because we had to drive back to Bogota and beyond we stopped at a Starbucks for a snack and then when we got to Andre Carne De Res it was about six and we had a huge dinner. We started to head home at 8/9 and his son was fast asleep. During the car ride I fell asleep and when we arrived back at his house Gorge gently woke me up and offered for me to stay at his house I felt very bad staying at his house, especially considering that he took me to dinner. I payed with some of the money my parents had given me to spend. He walked with back into there house and let me sleep on there couch after giving me a blanket. The moment my head touched that pillow I was out like a light.

My Visit With Gorge Armando Hernandez-Traveling

7:46AM
Well it is 7:46 in the morning and my taxi was on time but I didn't have a bowl of cereal or anything because I over slept, so I ran out the door to my taxi because I woke up at 7:28. He was a very slow driver so we got to the airport very slowly. Whatever, I'm still early for my flight so I'm just updating you. The airport is very empty, I wonder why, it's 7:45 in the morning on a monday it should be really crowded. I'm not complaining but its just weird.
8:50AM
Again I'm sitting in LAX waiting for my next flight which is to Mexico City. I actually quite bored because the airport is jam packed in fact i think this is the most busy I have every seen it.

10:38PM

I apologize for not blogging during the day but my phone ran out of battery. I am now in my hotel room in bogota so I have my phone plugged in and it only has 2% battery charged. I had a very normal nothing weird travel day, and I am join to go to bed now.

My Visit With Gorge Armando Hernandez-10 Phrases

In Colombia they speak spanish so I would like to know ten phrases to help me get along.

1)Where is the bathroom?=¿Dónde está el baño?

2)I am 12 years old.=Tengo doce años de edad.

3)What is his/her name?=lo que es suyo/su nombre

4)For how long?=¿Por cuánto tiempo?

5)How old are you?=¿Qué edad tienes?

6)That is so cool!=¡Eso es genial!

7)HELP!?=¡¿AYUDA!?

8)Where is a good place for dinner?=¿Que es un buen lugar para la cent?

9)What does your family usually have for breakfast?=¿Qué hace su familia por lo general para el desayuno?

10)Do you play any sports?=¿Usted juega algún deporte?

I will learn many more phrases but those are just a few phrases I though I would share.

My Visit With Gorge Armando Hernandez-$$$$$$$$

Because I am going to a new country I have to exchange my money for Colombian Pesos.
1 CP(Colombian Peso) is equal to 0.0006 of a US Dollar
8841.9988 CP is worth 5 US Dollars
and so on an so forth. So if you wanted to find out how much US Dollars to CP just multiply by 0.0006.
As you can tell by this the dollar is much stronger than a CP or Peso.

My visit With Gorge Armando Hernandez

I am very Excited because I get to visit a man who I have recently funded in a program called Kiva(for more in formation click on the link)
My Itinerary for my travel date is as follows:
Wak up at 7 in the morning grab a quick breakfast(cereal pop tart or bar)
Hopefully the taxi will be on time, if so I will hop in the cab by 7:30. I should then arrive at Santa Barbara Airport in five minutes. My flight leaves at 8:00 so I will have some time to kill. In that time I will probably turn on my phone a create a bother post. My flight goes to LA and I should drive there at around 8:45 with fifteen minutes to spare so I can get to my next flight at 9. My flight form LAX will take me to Mexico City Airport at noonish. When I arrive in Mexico City Airport I have 2 hours to kill again, so I will most likely make a bother post again. Then my Flight at 2:30 to Bogota Airport will depart and i should arrive in Colombia at about 6:30pm to my body, but about 8:30 local time. I will then check into my hotel for the night and drive out to Gorge's village the next morning