One month in

Bogotá is growing on me! At least I hope...Well it actually doesn't matter because I'll be here until May anyway.

No, but I am starting to feel a bit of familiarity. I'm building my schedule, I've started to walk more around my neighborhood, I take those busetas or collectivos, for those of you who are from Brooklyn or Accra, these are similar to the dollar van or tro tros, respectively...

A word about the Busetas:

I love them! The cost about 80 cents to ride and you can stop the bus anywhere you need! However, there are some downsides. You can stop the bus anywhere you need! I have not been on one where someone has gotten off on the highway, but what they have done on the highway is left the doors wide open. You have to keep a hold on your belongings because anything, and maybe your body, could just fall out. 

So Imagine this scenario, there are no bus stops, you just flag down one of the busetas and the bus driver picks you up. Thats convenient right?! I remember the Howard University shuttle refusing to pick up anyone who wasn't at a stop. The Bogotanos do it all the time.


I also figured out the transmilenio (Bogotás above ground subway)! Maybe its not a big deal to people from big cities...but I think you should see this map. 

Other than my advancements with the transmilenio and busetas, I actually took a bus out side the city to go to the Hot Springs. The ride there was scenic, long and comfortable, about an hour. We caught the bus at the AutoPisto Norte and it dropped us off at a random location in the forest. Luckily the hot springs resort was just a 10 min walk away.

When it was time to come back, however, it was an entirely different situation. We stood randomly on the road, with nothing but greenery for miles, hoping for a bus to catch us. Several came by, but were full, or not accepting standing riders. Finally we got on one and got to stand for about 20 minutes, before word got out that there was a police check point about a mile away! Oh no! All the people standing had to get off the bus...

And do what?

Walk on the highway to meet the bus after the checkpoint. We walked about 1/4 of a mile. And then the bus found us again, and we stood for the rest of the time back to bogotá.

I wish I had taken pictures of our faces running across a highway and standing in the middle of no where waiting for a bus. This was literally the craziest thing I have done in Bogotá yet (and the most tiring). I don't really need to beat my record. :p

Into the frying pan!

I finally moved into a permanent apartment! Yay! I have a maid, my own bathroom and cable- yes I was a bit shocked, especially because its not that expensive. I can even walk to class, which is a blessing considering the traffic is horrendous.

I've also started classes- which has been interesting. I'm actually not sure if I am physically signed up for these courses, because the registration for foreign students is really complicated. However, I am taking a course with a visiting Professor from Brazil, which I truly LOVE! The class in on Social movements and race in Brazil. Since I am in the class, we attempt to center the discussion on the development of race in Brazil, Colombia, and the US (coincidentally the three countries with the largest populations of afro-descendents). Its really cool, and gives me an opportunity to see the development of racism in new perspectives. 

The other two classes are almost the same thing, but not really. Under the guidance of my Research Director I am doing a sort of internship with a University Working Group that is centered on Race, Identity, Social Inclusion, and Inequality. I work on my research and participate in all of the events and projects of the Working group. The other class is a Research Methods class, of which my Research Director leads. 

Why am I undertaking so much work? Well, if you're not in a PhD program during your Fulbright, you are required to take at least 3 classes...I think they should amend the rule a little. Especially because you have to do it all as soon as you get here, in the case of Colombia, because we leave before the next semester ends. C'est la vie. 

In other news, I've joined a women's group that meets on Saturdays to share experiences on what it means to be Black and Female. Currently we are exploring the issue of stereotypes, and me being the gringo, I have to bring information about stereotypes from the US. 

My time in Colombia has been filled with several lessons (yes it has, I know I've only been here for 3 weeks), especially the lesson in patience. But my spirit has sincerely been enriched through my contacts with other Afro-Colombians and the Professor from Brazil. I  am working on developing a more interesting essay about this, but there is something really grasping about the connectivity and relationships between groups of afro-descendents in the Americas. Although I was not a history major, every time I listen to perspectives from Blacks here, my mind jumps to my experiences and my Afro-American History class in High School (taught by an American-Polish person- it was great!). What were the processes of integration in Colombia? In the US? What did it mean to be an ex-slave in Colombia vs. the US? What is the notion of pride in the Afro-Latino community?

Yes I know its totally random, but these things are swimming around my mind...I will find a better way to express myself. 

Today I was mistaken for an Afro-Colombian from Chocó! I was so happy.