Halloween

Who would've thought that Halloween would be a big holiday in Colombia. It starts in September when restaurants and stores start decorating. The decorations go from a few pumpkins and silhouettes to way over the top with entrances, lights and costumed workers. About a week before Halloween, the parties start. The Colombians love their parties and these are no exception. Crowded, loud and going to the wee hours of the morning you can find numerous fiestas in apartments or in bars. There is Trick or Treating but it is mostly in the shopping malls. A great scheme by the malls to get people there and spending money. October 31st this year was on a Thursday, but that does not stop The parties here. The celebrations continued through the weekend until November 3rd. At school we didn't have classes on Friday, Nov. 1st. Everyone came in costumes. The administration, the faculty, the staff and the students. And some of the costumes were amazing. The thing that impressed me the most, was the groups that got together with themes. The morning was a carnival, followed by a soccer tournament followed by a water fight, with dismissal at noon. One thing we learned is that Colombians - or at least Bogotoans - take Halloween as serious party time. Here are a few pictures, mostly from school but a few from around town as well.

I don't know how many candles gave their lives
to form this decoration at a local restaurant.

This is the outside of the same restaurant

It looks like Karen and I are trying to be Goldilocks and the
one bear. That was not our intention, but I'll go with it.

Where's Waldo?

There were a couple more ghostbusters somewhere

batgirls?

A bunch of the juniors came as firemen

The SWAT team was there. 

The senior class dressed as construction workers
and armed with spray foam

The high school counselors

The soccer tournament

A Puente (holiday weekend) in Anapoima

a view along the way to Anapoima

Enjoying another puente (I must admit, we really do get quite a few holidays here in Bogota!) and trying to get caught up on things- one of which is this blog. More than ever, I admire and respect those who are faithful in their writing and posting. I am afraid we fall short, but... we do want to recommit to posting more often. Instead of feeling the need to write a 'real' blog each week, think we'll try to just settle for sharing snipets of our lives here.

love the flowers that can be found everywhere

Here we are- outside of the finca

We celebrated our first long weekend (puenta) in November by going on a retreat with our cell group family. These folks have become special friends and we are extremely grateful for them and the times that we share. We rented a finca (farmhouse) in a town called Anapoima which is only about 100 km away, but the travel time can range from about 2- 6 hours depending on the traffic. The finca was amazing and we are already thinking about a return visit some day!

J on one of the 5 or 6 sofas!

an amazing kitchen- fully equipped.
I think I could actually learn to like to cook with a kitchen like this...
although it did help to have friends to cook with and for!



the table is set and ready for another amazing meal

 



love the Asian art and decor

I have NO idea what kind of tree this was, but I admit to being
fascinated by it. Think the balls would make for a great game of bocci ball or croquet!

jump shot with the glow from the sunset

life is indeed good

Not sure what was more beautiful- the pool area or the view?!

While in Japan, I loved the cleansing stations outside of temples and shrines. Here in
Colombia, I am loving all the unique doors and doorways. Here's a great one, taken from
the hallway looking out into the pool area.

On the way back to Bogota, we stopped at a roadside stand

Renting a van in Colombia includes a driver! It was a good thing too, as
the drive was a bit intense- up & down narrow and curvy mountain roads

I had forgotten how much I missed sunsets!
The Heavens declare the majesty of the Lord!

the gang.. wild n' crazy

until next time.....

October Break in the Coffee Country

Our wonderful villa

Whoever invented the fall break was a genius! Typically, in the school calendar, the time between the start of school and Thanksgiving (or in Japan, until Christmas) is the longest stretch of the year. There may be a one or two three day weekends but somehow those get balanced off by other events, responsibilities or in-services. However, the fall break provides a week off right in the middle giving a much needed and much appreciated holiday, letting the students and faculty return revitalized and reinvigorated.

Another view with the signature tree - El Saman

The view from the porch where we ate our meals

For our holiday, we went to the coffee region of Colombia, slightly ironic since we don't like coffee. We didn't know what to expect but what we found was a villa where we were staying complete with help, cooking and cleaning for us. It was complete with beautiful views and hiking trails. We took day trips to a canopy tour (the canopy tour had seven separate zip lines over coffee, banana, mango and plantaine plantations), a coffee plantation (where we dressed as traditional workers, went out picked the beans, shelled them, roasted them, ground them, cooked them and finally drank the result - even though we don't like coffee), a rafting trip on bamboo rafts and to see famous trees - the Cocora. In between times we played games, read, sewed, napped, swam and relaxed. In all it was a fabulous week and we are ready to get back to school!

El Saman at night - they shine a green floodlight on it making it look a little spooky at night

Karen on the canopy tour.

The view from one of the stations on the canopy tour

The coffee plantation, dressed as traditional workers

Another sunset. We had these every night.

The city of Finlandia - on the way to the trees

The cocora trees - some growing as tall as 400 feet

Stairs leading up to an outlook of the Cocora trees

Building the bamboo raft

Our raft!