Tag: Home

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!

Colombian TV

So my host family does not seem interested in the Olympics, unless the soccer is on. I have seen them watch a really bad Adam Sandler movie (is saying “really bad” in front of “Adam Sandler movie” redundant? you decide), and two different Colombian shows so far. This is another reason, besides the heat, that I do not hang out much in the living room. This is what I have learned from watching my host family watch Colombian TV.

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Where I Am Living in Cartagena

So I have mentioned that for almost four weeks I am staying with a Colombian family in Cartagena. They live in an apartment in a middle class barrio called Campestre. I stayed with them for two nights in their old place, but they have since moved to a bigger and better place a few blocks away. This post is about where I am living in Cartagena Colombia.

Overview of where I am living in Cartagena

This is by no means the lap of luxury. Part of my plan in coming here to volunteer was immersion, and living with a family was better for that than living with other foreigners or by myself. This is a simple home with enough amenities but not everything we are accustomed to having. I realize everyday here how spoiled we are at home and how little we actually do need to get by. I am not saying I am thriving in this environment because I’m having some internal struggles being a spoiled brat. But it’s going OK so far, and the people are so great it helps a lot! Still, there have been a few times I’ve dreamed of checking in to a hotel for a night – with AC of course, including a search I did on hotwire a few hours ago!

I took some photos of the common areas and my room so you can see where I am living in Cartagena.

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