Grilling at the Casa

I am getting settled in at my new house in Bogota. Two and a half weeks at the house and it is starting to feel more like a home. What is refreshing about Latin American cities (and to generalize large cities with a lot of foot traffic) is making a niche in your own barrio. Across the street is the small tienda I stop by nearly every day either for yogurt, a couple apples, some butter or perhaps eggs. The same man and boys are always working. They come from a town outside of Bogota called Boyaca and therefore speak in a different accent and talk VERY fast. However they are quickly becoming familiar faces. The man behind the counter always greets people as neighbor or cousin or today I was even called little princess.  The bakery two blocks away is always teeming with people and the enticing smell of fresh bread. Every time I stop in, I point at something new and ask what it is. Croissants filled with bocadillo (a sweet paste made from guayaba fruit) or corazon pastries which are perfectly crisp and sweet to dip in coffee are two of my favorites.

My house is referred to as "Casa de Pulgas" which translates into Flea House. But before you hop on a plane down here to rescue me from bed bugs, I will admit I have not seen one flea yet. I can't exactly tell you the origin of the name, but can say the house has been an international one for quite some time. The current housemates include Sami - a Colombian boy who is studying French at the National University, Bertille - a French girl who is doing a university exchange here to study Political Science, Yurri - a Colombian girl who studies Human Rights and Peggy - a misnomer for a black male cat who can open doors, climb out windows, play fetch and has many other dog like qualities. We share many evenings drinking tea or hot chocolate and swapping stories and cultural phrases. I have learned the phrase "It's on the tip of my tongue" can be directly translated in Spanish and French to be used in the exact same situations. I also learned a nursery rhyme where an elephant balances on a spider thread and calls over more friends to join him (it does end eventually with the thread breaking). My personal favorite is a phrase "Se me fue la paloma" which is used when one can not think of the word or phrase he is looking for. It directly translates as "The dove has left me". I wish we had something so beautiful in English. I will say however I saw my housemate laugh hardest when I told him the sound a rooster makes in English "Cooockadoooodledooo". You didn't know chickens spoke Spanish? Well hear they say Kikirki or Kokoriko. The smart ones sing all three.

The roommates and I spend many evenings cooking. Friends of Sami are always in and out of the house and are quickly becoming friends of all of the housemates. Last weekend we had an
"asado" or barbecue on the porch. Bertille was in charge of Patacones. You start by chopping a plantain into pieces.

Next you fry them in oil until there are a nice golden color.

Then you flatten them into flat cakes and of course fry them again. They are delicious although no so nutritious. We also enjoyed grilled corn, onion, tomatoes, ribs and chicken legs. It was a great feast that lasted for hours. The evening was topped off with grilled bananas sliced down the middle with melted chocolate inside. It was a creation I had never heard of before, but I trust the French when it comes to food and Bertille has not let me down once.

A New Place to Call Home

In less than two weeks I will call home Bogota, Colombia. I leave Tulsa with reservation, but can not pass on this wonderful opportunity to return to South America. I have not stepped foot south of the equator in four years. In that time my life has been filled with gardens and travel, love and growth, laughter and knowledge. Many people ask what I look forward to most. However, I can not help but reflect on what I will miss.

Wyatt ladies at the Farmhouse

The Three Things I will miss about Tulsa:

1. Friends, family and the familiarity of both. To be surrounded by loved ones refreshes a person’s being. Masks are removed. A person has the freedom to truly express who she is, oftentimes with the liberty of doing so without words. The attraction of starting anew can be powerful, however the depth of experiences that one must undergo to truly know a person are irreplaceable. Genuine friendship is a blessing. It provides balance, stability and love to one’s life.

2. Community fosters accountability and lends a sense of belonging. I walk into a bar hand in hand with my love. I smile at the familiar bartender. Across the room is an old friend from college and we catch up on the years that have passed. I look back and my partner has spotted a coworker. I can’t get very far in Tulsa without bumping into a familiar face. The strings that attach me to others have formed a thick web. I haven’t felt tied to as diverse of a community since college. In moments when I feel adrift, it does not take long for one string to be pulled to bring me comfortably back to my thick web of support.

3. Natural beauty nourishes my soul. Tulsa is a beautiful city. No it is not in the Rockies nor does it have an ocean view. Nonetheless the soft rolling hills dotted with sprawling oaks, cottonwoods and redbuds are picturesque. The Arkansas River dissects the city in half providing a sanctuary for wildlife. While the city provides a home to nearly a half million people, one can reach the countryside in a ten minute drive or less. Of course the hustle and bustle of cities can sweep one away with its endless options, but I have come to know that I prefer the slow drift of small towns where nature is only a stones throw away.

The Three Things I look forward to most about Colombia:

1. Speaking Spanish. There can be many frustrations when speaking a second language. There are times when self-expression and storytelling can be reduced to the language of a toddler. Oftentimes one’s identity can feel tied to her native tongue. Even the simplest of tasks can become a monumentous occasion. However language is the key to understanding. Communication in a foreign tongue empowers. One can feel her own language enriched as her mind reaches into its depths to bring forth words never spoken aloud before. The challenges of foreign language are great, as are the rewards.

2. The enchantment of a foreign place. All my life I have been a front row, hand raised type of student. I can truly say that I love learning. Being in an unfamiliar city in a strange country is the most invigorating classroom imaginable. Every corner lends a new perspective. Every person provides a fresh story. Every piece of food exudes unique flavors and textures. I walk through this new place with my senses alive and fully engaged. My head is up and my eyes are open as I take in everything the place can teach me.

3. The unknown and endless possibilities. When I was a young girl I thought I would grow up to work with dolphins or maybe to be a premiere horse trainer. I was never told I had limits or boundaries. My future possibilities were endless. Stepping into a new city, I am filled with the same sentiment. I could be and do anything. I can dance salsa every night until my feet grow tired. I can write articles about new food and restaurants in town where I meet famous chefs. I can photograph street art and interview their artists. I can travel to a coffee farm and pick my own beans. I begin anew in a vast capital offering no limitations except my own imagination.