End of my Blog

So, I'm back home.

I had this great,funny, crazy blog on Tuesday about my trip home but it messed up when it published and I don't feel like re-writing it. (I'm back in America, my lazy self has kicked back in)

I will give you a short version of my trip home on Tuesday:

- day started at 4:30
- said goodbye to a great friend in the house
- taxi rides alone are scary (and expensive)
- colombian airport is easy to navigate
- first class to Miami
- I suck at answering questions at customs
- forgot my name
- didn't get my coffee bags checked for cocaine 
- flight to dallas was full :(
- ran to a different flight
- missed it
- crying in the bathroom is pathetic
- ran to yet ANOTHER flight
- 30 minute flight to Tampa
- Chillis for lunch
- looked like a crazy, happy, fatty and I didn't care
- plan to Dallas
- teared up when the plan landed
- Home and happy

:D



It feels weird to be home. Sometimes I feel like I was never gone and then sometimes I feel like I was gone for years.
I did everything I wanted to do: I drank dr pepper, I ate taco bell, I drove around, I slept until 11, I watched TV until my eyes fell out of my head.

I have enjoyed catching up with everyone and answering all the same questions about my trip. My favorite question was "If you could do it all over again, would you?"
It only took me about 2 seconds to answer, "YES!"

I did not have a picture perfect trip; there were defiantly moments/events that I wish didn't happen. But, they did and I learned from them.
I did miss my family and friends but if I had to jump in a time machine and do it again, I would.

I loved it. I enjoyed meeting new people, learning about a different culture, and living a different life style.
This trip made me more aware of what is around me. The world is a big place and we have a lot to learn from it. I feel like the little social worker in me needed this trip, and now I will be a better social worker because of it.


What I already miss:
I already miss the Colombian weather, it's too hot here. No one is walking around or in a taxi, everyone has their own car and using it to just go down the street.
I miss my volunteer friends. All unique, sometimes weird and silly, but great people with big hearts.
I miss the kiddos, homeless project, and the nice nuns that always blessed me.
I actually miss walking, seeing the beautiful mountains, and eating at my favorite cafe.


I wont be making any more 2 month trips but I would love to do a week or two in a different country. There is more to learn, more to been seen, and more people to help.

Can't wait to see where I go next :) 

I loved blogging. It was a nice way to rant, share my experiences, and let people get to know me a little better. I'm thinking about starting another blog, maybe to share my grad school experience, love for the holidays, one friend adventures, me and maggie time... who knows! 

ADIOS AMIGOS! 

Last day of volunteering

So my last weekend in Bogota was perfect! Good food, great company, too much laughing. Perfect way to end my 8 weeks.


Today was my last day of volunteering and I decided to spend it at the homeless project. We fed about 140 people today. Many thank yous, many blessings, and smiles.

I really enjoyed volunteering there during my 8 weeks in  Bogota. I learned a lot:
-I saw what it truly meant to be hungry.
- How lucky I am to receive 3 meals a day (plus snacks)
- Homeless people might be a tad dirty, hungry, and sometimes intimidating... but I came into contact with some of the nicest people that just took a wrong turn somewhere in their life. A few people came up to us and shared their stories, told us what they were doing to make things better again. it was beautiful.
- Do NOT waste food!
- everyone loves the yummy yummy juice in Bogota
- walking into a room wtih 100 hungry people sure does make you tough.
- A handshake and smile can go a long way


After I get settled in at home, find a job, and fill up on American food, I would love to check out soup kitchens in my area. I would love to spend a few days a month doing that.

I'm glad I got over my fear of that scary neighborhood and checked out the homeless project. I don't think my journey to Bogota would have been complete if I would have overlooked it.



Final thoughts: 
I am thinking about checking out restaurants to work at back at home. When they ask me if I have any experience, my answer will be simple," If i can feed 100+ people, that haven't eaten in 24 hours,  I can feed anyone." :)


My flight to Dallas is tomorrow at 8 AM, so i'll be getting up at about 4:30!

Hopefully I can grab the first flight to Dallas and I'll be home by 5:00, a perfect time to make my way to BABES CHICKEN HOUSE for dinner!!!!!!!! Cross your fingers and toes everyone!

(one more blog tomorrow while i sit during my layover)


ADIOS AMIGOS 

Last day at Hogar

(One of my favorite pictures taken at Hogar) 

As said in many many blog posts, I love Hogar! It was defiantly my favorite place to be during my 8 week volunteer experience. 

The orphanage is beautiful in many ways from the view, the staff, and the children. 

I have really enjoyed working with my fellow volunteers, playing with the kids, painting, and teaching English. 

I knew I would fall in love with the children, but I didn't expect to be so sad when I left. 

There were many kids that I developed a relationship with simply because I gave them a hug everyday. Or perhaps had a five minute conversation about how their day was going. It was so simple to make a child happy and make them feel loved. I am going to miss them :) 

The majority of my time was spent teaching English to children who were getting adopted. Carlene, Lupe, and I really formed a special friendship/bond with these kids because we saw them almost everyday. 

One of the most special days I had in Bogota was when we were able to take the kids out for a day of fun. It was great to do that for them and everyone had a great time!









Being at Hogar helped us not be so serious. We were able to, not only spend time with the kids, but be kids ourselves. Our inner child defiantly came out more than once.

Saying goodbye to my little friends was hard.
I know their background is not the best and the life they have had is very far from the childhood that I had.
When you go into an orphanage, the children want/need so much attention! You make them feel special one time and they are your best friend forever. I can only hope that the new volunteers coming in will take care of our special friends. They need to make friendships with these kids, because they deserve it :)

 I learned a lot from volunteering at the orphanage.
It opened my eyes to a different world and a different way of life.

Adios Hogar! I am surely going to miss you :) 

Painting project!

Painting project at Hogar! 

We have been working hard painting this shed that will hold the children's play equipment! 

#1 paint white

#2 draw the ninos

#3 paint the ninos

 We only had about 5 colors to work. So, I had to pretend that I worked at Home Depot and mixed all the colors to get MORE colors :)

I think I could go home and get a job in the paint mixing department!

Just because we are painting doesn't mean we can't have fun :) 

So much fun painting with my fellow volunteers. 

This little casa/shed will be up for a long time and now it really stands out for the kids! 

Hand prints (minus 1) of the beautiful volunteers that helped draw and paint! 

FINISHED!

yaya! finally done! :) 

SOUP

AJICACO Soup is the best thing in Colombia.

Never had it? Well you haven't lived.

The end.

Close to my heart

This post is a little different than the rest. It is not about Bogota, but instead about something that is very important to me. 

As I have mentioned before, my best friend lost her mother in April due to leukemia. I don't know what it is like to lose a mom but I know what it is like to lose a close family member because of cancer. 
There isn't much we can do when someone we love passes. Everyday is a struggle and everyday is different. You find strength you didn't know had, and find comfort from the strangest places. 

What comforts me is to give back. 


Obviously, based on my blog, I love helping people in any way I can. I have heard from numerous people that they wish they could do what I am doing. They are jealous that I am giving back and wish they could do that as well. 
It doesn't take much to help someone. It really doesn't.

Well, instead of telling everyone to go on a trip and volunteer, I'm going to offer another solution to help someone. 

Walk for a cause :) 
http://www.lightthenight.org/

LIGHT THE NIGHT - The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Light the Night Walk funds lifesaving research and support for people battling cancer.

I have joined my best friends team, and we will walk in honor of her mom. I hope to help raise money under my name so that I can get a balloon and release it for Kim Dowlen. 


Here is a list of things you can do to help out! (stolen from my friends blog post - http://allgoodthingsblog.blogspot.com/ )


1. Register to walk as part of our team! It is free to walk, but only those who raise $100 or more receive the t-shirt, balloon, and wrist band.

2. If you want to raise money, send out our team page and raise some! All you need is ten people to give just ten dollars to get $100 dollars! Once you raise $100 under your name, ask people to donate to another  name so we can all carry that bright gold balloon for my mom.

3. If you can't walk, donate! Even just $5 dollars toward a bigger goal can help make a difference for someone somewhere.

4. If you can't walk, or donate, just send us good thoughts as we walk, and think about those dealing with something so huge and scary.



I am very excited to walk with my friend and honor her mom. Also, to think about others  who might be going through this and how we are helping them! 

My Fundraising page: http://pages.lightthenight.org/ntx/DallasL12/ETrevino

ADIOS AMIGOS! 

Jewish for a day

So, I am super behind on my blogging.... ops.


Last Wednesday, September 26th, I decided to join my new volunteer friend (Sara) in celebrating Yom Kippur. (Yom Kippur also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year for the Jewish people.) 

The first thing I learned about this day was no eating. -_-
Erika loves food. Erika loves pizza, snacks, crackers, Mexican food, sour patch kids, juice, pasta, and more pizza. So no food for a whole 24 hours.... so bad.  I wasn't sure I could do it. 

BUT, my fellow volunteer Lupe explained it in a great way that finally convinced me. Of course, do not eat because of the Jewish holiday, but also to have an experience of being hungry. Do not eat for 24 hours and see how hungry you actually get. Get a small taste of what it's like to be one of the people we feed everyday at the homeless project. Interesting thought, so I decided to go for it!

The other reason I decided to participate in this holiday is because I wanted to join Sara in thinking of people who have passed away. Every year she buys flowers, goes near a body of water, and releases the flowers as a remembrance to those she has lost. She also says prayers and thinks about other people who might need a little extra attention.
I am not big into praying or going to church, but taking time to think about those we have lost is a really nice idea. I think its nice to take a step back from our "busy" lives and be grateful that they were with us but also mourn that they are no longer here.



My day: 
So since I was having a day of rest, I decided to .... REST!  It was really nice to be a bum. But then the hunger set in. I'm glad I had Sara, and other volunteers that participated in the day, to complain to. We all thought about what foods we would push someone down the stairs for.

Before I knew it, it was time to buy flowers and have our moment of silence, and remembrance of loved ones.

At 22 years old, I haven't had to experience many deaths...thank goodness. But I have experienced loss, been to a few funerals, and seen hearts break right before my eyes.

My first real loss was four years ago when I lost my Nana. An unexpected death, that came way too soon in life. She was my grandmother, my friend, my biggest supporter, and fan. I could really do no wrong in her eyes. Everyone needs someone like that in life. Someone who will love you no matter what. Someone who thinks you are perfect in every way. She helped me through hard times, made me laugh when needed, and always made me feel important. Loosing her was hard, and I think about her everyday.

My second flower represents another important person that was taken way too soon.
My best friend lost her mother in April; again, sudden and unexpected. My Nana was like a second mother to me, but she wasn't my mother. I cannot even wrap my head around loosing your mom. The person who gave you life, raises you, corrects you when you need it, loves you at all times, shoulder to cry on, and a role model to live by.
I will never forget the phone call from my friend telling me about her mom. I will never forget getting dressed so quickly that I think I put my pants on backwards. I will never forget driving 75 mph down the street to get to her as fast as I could.
Everyday I think about my best friend. I think about what I can say to make her laugh, or what we can do to give her brain a break for a minute.
She is not only my best friend, but a sister to me. So for this, and many other reasons, I felt it was important to recognize her mother. Think of her and her family.

It was really beautiful. 
We found a beautiful stream to sit around and throw the flowers. It was near a busy street and I never once heard honking. (which is a shock because people here LOVE their horns!)
Even though I only had two flowers to throw, I thought about a few other people I have lost in my life. My great grandmother, friends throughout high school, and even pets.
It was sad, and an emotional moment. But, I'm glad I did it. I'm glad I took the time to think about these people. I am sad that they are gone, but lucky that I had them in my life.


The rest of the day was spent resting, taking a small nap, thinking about food, and watching the clock. Finally, at 6:15 we headed out for PIZZA!
If your going to break the fast, might as well do it BIG.























We had a great time eating pizza, laughing about how hungry we were, and reflected on the day we had.

In the end, I'm glad I joined in this Jewish holiday. I'm not a religious person, so it was neat to get a different perspective, from a different religion than what I am used to being around.

To me, this day was more than not eating and throwing some flowers in the water. I now know that I could never be homeless because I love food. I know that I am very lucky to eat everyday. I am thankful that I can choose to not eat, and not have that be my only option.
I am thankful for my life, and everyone else in my life who is still around.
Many many things to be thankful for :)


The days are getting fewer and fewer here in Bogota! Soon I'll be packing up and getting ready to go home!
So glad I could have a day like this, and have yet ANOTHER great, interesting experience in Bogota :)


ADIOS AMIGOS!