Observations

Tracey, Ruben, and I are going on day #17 on our journey. We have been here long enough to make some observations and learn some interesting points about living here in Colombia.

1. It is a lot hotter and humid then nice cool, dry Montana. Monteria is about 90-95 degrees with 85% humidity. I take a walk in the park for an hour, and come back to the motel completely drenched.

2. It is a lot safer here, then is stereotyped at home. There are young police on every corner of every block, and that is no exageration here. I asked my interpreter, who told me that in Colombia, once the boys graduate 11th grade (high school), it is mandatory to give 2 years to their country and get trained to be in the policia. For those that's parents can afford it, they can buy their service off. This is based upon the parents income. Needless to say, there are a lot of young police everywhere.

3. The nurses here still wear the old fashioned nurses caps, and there are very few men in the field. I think it is safe to say, that this is no place for a male nurse, so I am safe to come back home for work. Plus, I don't think I would look good with those wings attached to my head.

4. A trip to the local grocery store "Olympica" is very educational. I don't know how people don't get more intestinal problems. The meat is not wrapped and just sits with refrigeration. No way of telling what the expiration dates are.

5. When it rains here, you need a life boat. We got stuck tonight in a very impressive storm. It rained so hard that the cars outside kept having their car alarms go off. That's pretty intense rain. we were in the restaraunt 3 blocks from home. We ran home and were completely drenched.

6. The people here are in general very nice and affectionate. It is very common to get

some form of affection for a good deed. ie. hugs, kiss's.

7. Politics are the same no matter where you live. The local elections are later this month, and the same political schemes and advertisement go on here just like at home. the current goverment are spending lots of money on local public works to show that they have done something, and their pictures are posted everywhere.

8. Traffic, what can I say. It's insane. Most streets have no traffic lights, and the ones that do have stop signs, no one stops at. Vehicles have the right of way, and pedestrians get out of the way.

9. Food; it is different then I expected. For some reason Tracey and I had it in our minds that there would be mexican food every where. There is very few mexican tacos and burritos anywhere. The fruit and fresh juices are awesome. it's like they squeeze fruit daily and the pineapple and other fruits are ripe. Fish on the coast and near rivers is fresh, but doesn't look appetizing on your plate with head and tail attached.

10. The park, "en parque", the park here is the longest linear park in S. America. And it is home to many different types of lizards, iquanas, monkey's and sloths. I still haven't seen the sloths, but my friends from boston showed me a picture of one. Nothing too impressive.

Well, that gives you a little flavor of happenings here in Monteria.

The picture of the hat is very traditional here. It is made from some type of plant that they let dry and then weave. This one I bought, and it actually is pretty comfortable. I might have to by the poncho to go with it and then I have my halloween costume for home. Watch out Clint Eastwood, there's a new kid in town.