How pretty we had left the office!

Heys!!! Ahh what to tell you!. . . jejeje. . . It is and it stands that my internship started formally but I haven't done much. . . it's still time to plan what I will do (I really love this latinamerican cultures! JAJAJAJA :S :S ) . . . anyway. . . this week I have been just AIESECer. . . this is scary, many times I feel more CEEDer than intern :P I don't know if that's good, but I like it, jejeje. . . I feel good to do something. . . and more to contribute to this LC because also I learn many new things (exept roll calls :S I'm still bad for that :P jejeje) I promise to learn at least one!!. . . jejeje. . . Anyway, yesterday I acompanied them to their meeting (here they call it "asamblea" assembly and to the EB or MD or Executive board or as you want to call it) was very good!!. . . we discuss (as the fly :D) the recruitment that starts this tuesday D and the treatment to the interns (uy, I was very participative, JAJAJAJAJA, oks let me live :D)

After we went a little bit to sit "where (a guy)" (don't worry that my manager in a comment will clarify it, jejeje) that is like a grocery store with tables where people buy and sit to eat, jeje) we were there a little bit and then to other place to eat pizas. . . now I dared to prove the one of chicken and was very good! : D: D (I know that they exist there also but I never had proven it: P) And all super good! … I just remained worried because of my manager Fayder (Yes manager, I say it in public! jejeje) he was feeling very bad and went alone to his home. . . really he didn't have a nice face and I was worried that he didn't reach home :( is when you say: why I don't have a car here!!! ) Ahhh, I hope pay attention (to his family and me) to go to the doctor because I don't want to be out of manager at the middle of my internship! :P jejejej don't die!!!

JAJAJAJAJA oks, today by other hand they invite me to a very nice Finance meeting!!. . . the diredctor Karla has everything very good planned! and the members seem to be motivated. . . isn't true guys?? . . . is just a matter tu executed and I know that you will do a very good job!! :D after we came to eat Chicharrones (like "carnitas" .. . (pig meat) in México) with Yuca. . . the Fríjoles (beans) stayed pending for other week (here the tonic syllable is in frÍ instead that in JO. . . it sounds extrange, jejeje. . . ok, ok.. .. then we took a great hour by "microbus" untill reach the university (it's really far) ea ea! we went to finish decoring the office in a plan of "Extreme Makeover!" (reloaded edition :P) To deccor the office was really good! and it looks great!!!. . . I gave them the suggestion of the logo that Daniela did in the office in Ciudad Juárez and here looks really good!. . . I wrap the now nick "damm box" of the material of the office and other to recycle paper. . . it looks really pretty eventhoug we finished happy with the varnish and the thiner of the door in combination with the lack of ventilation that was there :S :S . . . but it looks good :). . . we were there like four hours and went back home, jejeje. . . in our way we were talking of the colombian and mexican soap operas that you can see here, really funny!!. . . also, they knew that the Cu cú sang the frog, cu cú under the water of the elementary's book!!!!!!! Now I confirm one more time the pride that the Colombians have of their own country and nationality. . . they are really proud and support their writters and the national cinema, also some other things of their identity. . . Great!. . keep going!!. . and mexicans, let's learn about this! :D. . . And then, now really tired, is time to go to sleep to start a new week in this wonderful city. . . read you later!!

Ahhh. . . I really want to apply to the MC!!! . . . but I think life has to continue, isn't it? :( . . (so sad :( )

Glossary:

"Sapa/sapo" .- Gossiper

"Guayabo".- What you feel the next day that you go to a party)

-Commonly people say "Donde Paquito" "Where Paquito" to explain that they are going to the house of paquito. . . but also is used the other way. . . ´

***In this edition we will talk about two bad words so please be open mind (jejeje):

- The mexican word "pendejo" (sorry to everybody to say that word) here is not an insult as bad as in México, they explain me that is like bobo. . . can I say it Dad= :D jejeje don't worry . . but it is added to our cultural dictionary. ..

- The Mexican word "Chingar" (verb, noun, adjective and more) doesn't exist as that in Colombia!!. . . people don't say it!. . . that is more Mexican than the chile!. . jejej. . there are some that ask me what does it mean and me : Oh my god!. . . and they start laughing! jejeje

¿How do they see the Mexicans?

Uy! Sensible point ah??. . . everybody is asking that question. . . well I won't tell you everything because they don't make a lot of comments until they will start laughing about me! (jejeje :P) they are very influenciated of what they see in the mexican television that they can see here (Televisa "canal de las estrellas" and Tv Azteca "Azteca 13") and their 800,000 soap operas! what a scare!!. . . but is what is shown of our culture :P so they ask me: ¿¿Are you from México?? "Orale güey" "chido" and me: what a horrible!!! JAJAJAJAJA. . . so you know now that the tequila, mariachi, sombrero and chihuahua dogs aren't the only thing that is known of our country outside. .. .

JAJAJAJAJAJA

Posted on Sunday February 4th, 2007

Transform your passion into action!!

Hey! . . . what you promise is a debt, yesterday I went to be presented to Fundelatina :). . . at the end!. . . I met the organization's president and his wife, also member of it, they are great people!! I will do what I like, I think I'll be happy!. . . they are people that are worried by their around in all ways and that not only complain about that the situation is bad and that (that is what I hate about the news) but they create projects to realize them and suffer and everything but do it!!. . . is not great??? This give us an example of what we have to do, as an AIESEC slogan that appear some time ago: "Transform passion into action" . . . very few people do it and with real plans, less to just assist. . .

The only problem: There are many things and we just have 3 months to change the world, jejeje. . . . today we'll do the cronogram to arrane everything.. . .

In our talk there came many of the things that the city has and the country, really Cartagena is similar to Ciudad Juárez, well, similar problem by different reasons: Here there is a lot of immigration from other towns because the "job opportunities" eventhoug the unemployment rate is very high, correct me manager byt they told me that it's around 15% super high! this have geen generated a lot of informality that at the same time brings social problems, but also they recive "desplazados" people that run away from their own towns because of the "guerrilla" (the like "war" that is in the country) and this really affects is present in all the parts. . . wait a minute!. . . I'm not refering that the soldiers walk on the streets and there are bombs and we are in a war. . . that that doesn't come to your mind, ok??. . . that's why we are in AIESEC, to break paradigms. . . I refer to. . . it's very complex!!. . . more or less I will give my impressions. . . and it's important to highlight that are the impressions of somebody that have just a week here, ok??. . . It results that a problem brings other more and this is a network hard to stop: The "guerrilla" has very controlled the narcotrafic, this generates corruption in the government; the government, even it's a good president by the comments that I've heard :), is like in all the places support what it's convenient and they don't pay attention if you are not famous, is it familiar??. . . ok, all of this problems at the time bring social problems like migration, frustration, unemployment, marginalization and the worse of all: the hopelessness of the inhabitants about find something better. . . the paramilitary heads or AUC (Autodefenzas Unidas de Colombia --- United Self-defense of Colombia) are very good investors, obvious have enough money but another ethical dilemma comes here: you would accept to finance a program of social and economic benefit with money originated of the drug trafficking although it is almost the only way to do it? difficult decision, ah? Well, that's why I am here: D: D to look for the way to contribute to this city supporting autosustainable programs. :)

My schedule and place of work are funny: From Monday through Friday, from 2 to 6 p.m. I will work in the office and by the mornings I will advance it at home to not be slow. :)

See ya later!!

Posted on Jan 31st 2007

A Corroncha in Cartagena!

Mar- I -Sol!. .auch!!! Costeñita I am! (8)
Heys!

I'm again here!, what to say? Many things!. . . Yesterday I move to my new home at María Elisa or Malisa's home depending the accent that you use, jejeje. ----

---- Olwich, here I post to you a pic of my window as you ask :), it's a small part of the Bay that encloses the city.

In the afternoon we went to an AIESEC meeting that joined with plenary. . . Boring!!!. . . jejeje, no, not too much, it was very interesting because I saw another way to do things in AIESEC and it makes me to remember things that you feel when you get in or get out of this amazing organization. . . also I met a lot of the members that are in the LC. . they are nice :). . .

Finishing we went to eat out pizza on the street, there were funny flavors and hawaiiana so I decided that one, when you are hungry it's better to prevent than to be sorry, jejeje. . . and after to the rumba, fiesta!!! (jejeje, I like the word rumba :P) we went to "La Cervecaría" that is like a club with a garden very relax, here the most famous beer is called Águila and it's as cheap as in Juárez, they serve to you in bottles or in the "Jirafas" (Giraffes) a big containers where you can get many glasses (on the right of the pic). . . Ah! also, they had their cultural shock with me since I'm the only one that doesn't drink, jejejeje. . . sorry :$. . . and by this way let me say tank you Diego for the classes of different styles of music and dance that you gave me, I promise that one day I will do something, jejeje ;) . . .

After any party we need the tacos or the burgers, ah?? it's similar, but obviously there aren't tacos and we went where they sell us a burguer and a "perros" (official traduction of hot dogs :P) but with rare dressings like garlic :S. . . ahhhhh, and I just remember they say Parquear and parqueadero as us in Juárez (the bad traducction of parking) we are not the only ones!!! jejejeje. . .


Anyway, today we went all the family and me to eat to a Santander's restaurant, other of the departments of Colombia where I taste the Yuca, very good :), it tastes like potatoes and at the end the famous "ají" (the most common "chile" here) that it's a little bit hot but tastes a little bit extrange, like acid and different to our mexican food but you know that I'm bad for names :$ the ting is that I had a good day in that. . . :) . . After that they took me to get a fast ride trough the cultural tourist zone of the city in the downtown and they left me at the "castle" where my manager took me to take a walk the rest of the day.

Manager Fayder and Intern Marisol on the foot of the "Castle"

In fact the "Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas" (Saint Felipe of Barajas Castle) is not a castle like that, and there there is any San Felipe de Barajas?? . . . its a Fort that worked to protect the city of the attacks and most of it is walled with cannons to protect it.

It's beautiful!!, it makes you feel like in the Caribean Pirats, jejeje and as Fayder said it's excellent design to capture the enemy, we entered by a series of tunnels that have like entrances to hide and to attack the enemy, ñaca, ñaca.

Pictures?, a lot to be me, jeje. . . Getting out of the Fort and its "very" nice art like "bones" of different materials jejeje. . we went to the "Festival del frito" ("Fried's Festival")! ea ea!!. . . at the end I taste the famous "Arepas e Huevo" as my manager pronounces :P :P there are like a "gordita" stuffed of egg and meat, very good just misses chile. . . me saying that???. . . don't ask :P. Also we drunk soda of malta "Bebida de campeones" ("Drink of champions") what is made of?? . . . of malta :P I accept answers jeje.

Fritos ---

---- Arepa e huevo

And to close with touch of gold a guided walking visit to the tourist downtown!!!! ea ea!!. . . we started walking a long time till arrive there we went up at one of the walls untill we arrived to se the sea (off course we didn't see anything because it was dark already, jeje) no problem, I will have time to go later :) and we walk for some plazas, rom the nicest area to the most cultural with all the history, imagine that they also have a Malinche in their story!!!. . . It results that during the conquest by the spanish they took a native called Catalina and took her to Spain where educated her in their own way and when she came back she served as interpreter to help to conquest the area (On the picture the Catalina Indian and Mary version 2.0, jeje).

Since it was a zone with many slaves, there are areas where they enclose them and in other of the plazas they practiced the inquisition. . . it's an all stoyr that I will giving you personally with more detail. . . At the end we just came back in "buseta" (a kind of bus) to home and we couldn't get down in a place because we were "too white". This is very extrange for me but I like it, jejeje. ..

Scene of the Downtown, at the buttom you can distinguish the Cathedral.

By now I can say that in general it's a zone with many contrasts, between races, life styles, economic situation, etc. but you learn a lot and it's great!!!. . . I like the city a lot!! :). . . just not the way of treat to the donkeys, pooor donkeys :( . . . on tuesday they will introduce me to the company and I will talk more about my internship, by now I'm just a "Corroncha" in Cartagena :)

See you!!

Geographic note: In Colombia they divide the country by departments instead of states, Cartagena is in the department of Bolívar.

Cultural shock: I forgot to say before that there is NOT hot water to take a shower!!!!!!!!!!!!! yes, to me??????? I will come back with a very firm skin, jejeje. . . belive me, my showers doesn't take 40 minutes, jejeje. . . that was a cultural shock but it's true what they say: If always the weather is hot they don't need it (unless you are a "Corroncha" like me, JAJAJAJAJA)

Glossary:

Yuca.- A tubercle that tastes like potatoe but is longer.
Pupi.- Is not only the nickname of my dog, also is something like fancy, or of the high, jejeje. Ah, with the pinky rise :P
Ají.- Is a kind of chile or "picante" as they tell it here.
Corroncha.- Between the different meanings is "tourist" those ones that goes with the camera to every place (as you Nancy, jeje) and take pictures even they don't know even where do they are with their excursion cloths, you know what I'm talking about; jejeje.

At the end in Colombia!!!!

Ready for the party to start!!!



As it was predicted I woke up at 3:00 AM from Mexico city, the taxi arrives late but on time to the airport due to the little traffic that was at that time, obvious all the way to Panamá I slept. . As hired for that!!!. . . so I loose all the best landscapes!!! (I'm sorry, after seen one hour of sea and sea there is no more fun) the bad thing is that we arrived so fast!!! and during the 4 hours of scale I stay walking in the airport. . . so boring!!! . . but cool :) (on the pic the airport of Panamá City)



Then, in the plane to Cartagena I met a Gringo Sir owner of a ship, extremely amiable! . . we were talking all the way (not normal at myself, jeje). When we arrived: CLOTHS OFF!!!!, no more jacket, jeje. . . I started to feel the heat so humid :S :S. . . but not as bad as I thought since happily this is the last month of winter -_- . . . (NO COMMENTS) . . the airport is different, if somebody is going to pick you up they have to wait outside, ok. . There were two members of the LC including my very estimated manager with a motivating sign that said "Marisols Arreolas" (long story, jeje) . . and me: Uhu, at the end a face that I know!!, Do you can say that is known if it's by messenger? anyway, this is the case.



After that my second cultural shock arrived, I REMEMBERED UVA TOURS, NOOOOO!!! because we went by taxi but it's not common to use the security belt and they drive in Mexico City's style!!. . . jejeje. . . it's fun!! :). . . it's very similar than some parts of México but after that the next cultural shock arrives, as Fayder says they started this like 5 years ago and completely 2 years ago the service of Mototaxis, jeje. . . its nice, but they recommend me not to use them because they are dangerous. . . it looks like a parade on the street, jejeje. . . . And I stayed to sleep at my manager's home. . . his family is so nice!!!! . . it's the good thing of the latinamerican cultures :) . . . today they gave me rice with coco and jugo de tomate de árbol (tomatoe of tree juice??) . . . very tasty!!!





Glossary:



Bacano-Chevere-Abuelo: Chido, genial.

Vaina: cosa.

Tomate de árbol (tomatoe of tree): it's a orange fruit very tasty :)

- Instead of find an "alto" (stop) at the street you will find a "pare"

- Instead of say "bajan" in the bus to get down you say "parada"


- There are three meals a day but there are diferent!!: "desayuno" 7AM (sun arrives very early) "almuezo": Between 12 and 2 PM and "Cena" between 6 or 7 PM. . . the "desayuno" and the "cena" are light so I will come back with a body!!!! ea ea!! Aha. . . JAJAJAJAJA. :P

Do you see how nice is the Spanish??? :D :D



See yaa!!!

Uhu!!. . . I got the Visa!!

Uhu!!. . . Thanks to God everything is runing very good :). . . today tuesdey they gave me at the end the visa (blurred version to avoid wrong uses :P) and I used the way to give a round walking. . . yes, walking though Mexico City.. . . Everything started with my obsession to go to "Los Pinos" the house of our President Felipe Calderón and looking for the nearest subway station I got lost. . . I'm sorry, I'm sorry!. . . jejeje, without problem I walked in circles on my own axis at the same time that I was bitting my nails without stopping. . . ok, ok. . no . . I just arrived to the "Zona Rosa" (Pink zone) and I found at the end the Angel (The statue on the previous pic, very famous in México, it's where everybody goes to celebrate like on the soccer games, jeje), and I told to myself: -"I would better go directly to the consulate and I forget to do "tourisim". . . but, at that time I saw a sign that said: Ripley Museum and the Wax Museum over there (and an arrow). . . soooooo my mind started to think a plan . . "What if I use this free hour and I go?. . . and yea!!. . . I started walking. . . walking. . . walking . . . and walking without find anything! :@ . . . and what's the say?. . ."You arrive to Rome by asking". . . and what better than a sexy man with french accent, dressed with a paramedic uniform and sweeping to ask him about something in México City!!!! . . . ahhhh. . I walk AGAIN. . and more. . . more. . . more . . until I got frustrated. . . you know? . . You cannot see the Polestar in the day!!!

At the end, my olfactory sense made me realize that I was too far!!!. . . so I decided to come back walking, at the end it were just 20 minutes more!!!! . . grrr. . . And I walk. . . and walk, jejeje. . . ok, ok. . and I arrived on time!!!. . . they gave me the visa!!!! ea ea!! . . . without any problem!!! :D :D

After there I was going with Daniel, a friend from México City. . . but, Oh my God!. . . I found on my way the SRE (External Relations Secretary, the part of the government where they treat all the things with other countries) . . ea ea!! . . I was looking for it too!! . . the building is great and hudge, I want to work there!!!!!! :'(. . . then to a $3 pesos (30 US cents) store and direct with my friend. . . we went to eat to a very quiet and relax place with interior patio . . . I like DF a lot!! :D . . but it still is amazing. . I ate an "enchiladas potosinas" . . imagine: enchiladas (a corn tortilla whith red while wrapped) stuffed with potatoes and carrots instead of cheese!!! . . ok, ok. . we are learning new things. . they were very good!!. . . ready for another cultural shock??? jejeje. . . now I'm ready to go to another country! :D. . my plane leaves at 6AM from México City and I have to be there at 4. . so a taxi will pick me up at 3:30. . . what I deduce that I will wake up at 3AM from México City and 2 of Ciudad Juárez??????????? that's rude!!!!!!!. . ok. . I show you my bluging bear eyes later :D

Pls ask to God that everything comes out very well!!! :)

PD. Today I learned a new word: brunch, mixture of breakfast and lunch "for those that awake late" . . . why?? . . . because it's what I will recive in the second plane. . . :D I thought they where peanuts!!!!! JAJAJAJAJA


See you!!

Posted on Jan 23rd 2007

Today Mexico City. . . Wednesday: Colombia!!!

Uhu!!! . . . Early today I woke up, I took the last shower in a cold place. . . and then to say goodbye to Justo and Tery before the departure. . . (I love you guys!!). . . We arrived to the airport. . on time!!. . . well, for me because I'm sorry Olwich I think you didn't arrive on time to your class :). . . it was 6:30AM, still dark. . . and the "Xnimobil" arrived (If the Pope has one, why Xani cannot, ah?? ). . . There were Miss Horta and miss Xani. . . . -It's so nice to narrate this, JAJAJAJA. . .

Ok, Ok, to the point. . . When I was almost leaving the big mass of AIESECers arrived to say goodbye to the airport. . . ok, ok. . just my manager Oscar and the allways koala Keila in the heeart. . . Thanks Manager :). . . the band was playing "the golondrinas" and the pictures and the hugs were there. . . and then the customs, the inspections and I get into the plane with a mini sandwich for the left eyetooth of breakfast, jejeje. . . After two hours and a half of trip I arrived to this enormous and great city: Distrito Federal or México City for you. . .

From the airport to the National Office of AIESEC México, A.C. where I have been treated very good :). . . I'm even thinking on apply to the MC "National Committee". . . jeje. . . Then to the Colombian consulate where they gave me Colombian Cofee for first time. . . Wow! that is really service!! . .. tomorrow they will give me the visa (I hope). . . and then to enjoy the city a little bit and to be ready for the adventure!!! ea ea!!!

Thanks AIESEC México!!. . . these opportunities are worth gold!! :)

Publicated on Jan 22nd, 2007

Goodbye

Oh yes, to all deads the unction arrives to them. . . and to this, arrived (sorry for the bad translation but it's a say, jeje) . . . . this saturday january 2oth the AIESECers in the LC Ciudad Juárez organizated an emotive goodbye for the Miss Quinceañera. . . ok, ok. . . By this way I want to say thanks to all the ones that assist to the goodbye party, even it was very cold :) . . Thank you. . . I enjoyed a lot . . . I will see you at the end of May back in "Juaritos". . . of course, if they don't deny my visa tomorrow that I will go to pick it up. . . in that case I see you on wednesday, jejeje. . . As you get congealed I will be as any worm enjoing the sun. . . uhu!!!

pics: http://aiesec.org.mx/boards/album_cat.php?cat_id=8

Posted on Jan 22th 2007