Last Few Days of Volunteering: Ending on a high note

After four weeks, my time volunteering is over. The last few days of volunteering have definitely not been boring! The kids don’t even know it’s my last week, but they still made my life interesting and fun.

Things that happened this week:

  • A little girl threw up all over herself and the little boy sitting next to her – fortunately they were outside. They do have a shower here to wash them when these things happen! I didn’t know! The little boy was sitting there with puke on him for a few minutes when I finally took him and washed it off his legs. No one noticed lol. The little girl was still seated for lunch. She didn’t eat.
  • A little boy peed himself and continued to sit in it looking at himself until someone noticed and took him to the shower. He did the same thing the next day only he was standing outside. Just stood looking at the wet ground until someone took him away. He did it again today. Is this a hat trick?
  • A little girl tried to bite me.
  • Massive food fights in the cafeteria (I cheated though because that happens every day)
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End of The Home Stay

Brian is here. My days in Campestre are over. I am now living the life of a tourist with Brian in the walled city of Cartagena. For me, it’s the end of the home stay in Cartagena.

Brian’s welcome to Cartagena

After Brian’s arrival (late), I welcomed him, got him settled in to the airbnb, and we walked around the old town a bit. But soon it was time to meet the family! We grabbed a taxi so he could meet the important people in my Cartagena experience. I took him back to the barrio!

a visit to campestre

Marcela greeted us followed by Libary soon after. We got some photos of the whole gang before we separated for good.

People
Me and Marcela out front of her house
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Last Day in Campestre

Today is my last day at Marcela’s house. Three weeks plus three days have flown by, that’s a fact. Now it’s my last day in Campestre, Cartagena.

Reflections of Living with a Host Family

It was an adjustment for me, absolutely, as I’ve mentioned in previous posts. I had to lose some privacy and control over my surroundings. While I met and shared dinners with Marcela’s husband and adult son, and they were nice and welcoming, I didn’t get to know them very well. This was probably my weak Spanish skills and general shyness about those skills. It also was tiring to try to speak Spanish all the time, with no breaks!

I am still glad I tried, and immersed myself with the family rather than stay on my own or with other tourists. It’s crazy to think how much I’ve learned and done since I first stepped foot in Cartagena.

Home in Campestre
House in Campestre

What’s Next?

Brian is on his way to Cartagena as I write this and I will be moving out of my barrio home to the touristy side of the city with him.

Last Day in Campestre Celebration

We are having a little “meet and greet” at Marcela’s this evening so Marcela and her family and Libary will meet mi esposo (Brian). I will post photos for sure!