Nick In The World

Part One -Colombia

1. ALIVE AND WELL IN MEDELLIN

Who said that when one door closes another will open up? Well I stepped through this door and found myself in Colombia. I arrived here about 10 days ago, and started out by staying with a Colombian family that I found on Craigslist. For $15 a night I got a bedroom with a shared bath and a wonderful cooked breakfast from the lady of the house. She spoke no English, so it was all up to me to communicate my wants and desires to her in my poor Spanish. It made for some very interesting conversations every morning. After 4 days in Bogota I decided to see other parts of the country.

I flew to Cartagena to see what that very old port city was like.I was not impressed, too many tourist, too many poor people, and way too hot. I'm used to heat from Florida, but this was something else. Even early in the morning it hit you as soon as you walked out the door. They did have a marvelous castle/fort which I spent half a day exploring. They gave you a small cassette to listen to which described the whole history of the place. I especially enjoyed the part where they talked about the great defeat of the British in the 1750's when they destroyed the whole army and saved all of South America from becoming an English speaking continent. They really played that one up big. I only spent 2 days in Cartagena and on the second day a rainstorm hit and I had to hide out in a small mall for about half an hour. When I came out I couldn't believe my eyes. The whole place was flooded to the point where the cars couldn't move down any of the streets. I can't imagine what happens in the rainy season. They must have to change the taxis into gondolas.

After that sojourn I flew to Medellin to see what it had to offer. It is a beautiful city in a valley with mountains all around, so you get a marvelous view of the clouds either above the mountains or just settling down to hide them. They call the city Eternal Spring, and now I know why. The temperature is the same everyday-50 degrees at night and 70 during the day. You never need a jacket at night like in Bogata,here the only thing that you think about is whether it will rain or not, and best of all you don’t need air conditioning or a heater. This is the most perfect weather I have experienced.

They have built numerous skyscrapers, more than are in Manhattan, up into the mountains and this is where all the rich people live. The views from there, especially at sunset, are stunning. Again I started out in a hostel for $15 a night, but this time it was full of young students, no breakfast, no hot water, and no towels. I lasted 3 days, and had to move on. I found another hostel that costs more money but it has great views and first-class people.

So now it's time to get serious and look for work. The fourth day I started out early with my list of school addresses, and phone numbers. Most of the time the taxis drivers can't find the address so they have to call to the place and get directions. The first school was Colombo Americano, the best school in the city and it pays the most. At my interview the director informs me that they don't need anyone and that my work visa ,that allows me to stay in Colombia for 2 years, is worthless because I can only work for the school that issued it. I leave the school in low spirits, and start wandering around the city and soon see a school that is called Colombian American That sounds interesting, so I go in.

Students are everywhere, but finally I find a secretary and she takes me to the director. I tell him that I am looking for work as an English teacher, and he looks at me in amazement. His face is all lit up with excitement, he grabs my hand and says welcome we've been expecting you. I then tell him that I have a work visa and I thought he would do a dance. He leaves the room to fetch a colleague and the two of them tell me how their university is just starting an English class, but they have no teachers. They said that they want someone who can teach in the new manner without all the techniques of grammar, they haven't found anyone, and would I take on the job? I said I would love to. It was this great moment when both our needs met in perfect harmony. So now I'm the head of the English Department at Cense University, of course I am the only person in that elevated department, but I love that. I won't have anyone telling me what to do or how to do it. I can teach anything I want, any way I want, and that is a wonderful feeling.

They are looking for a place for me to stay and yesterday they took me to this government office where I got my official paperwork that allows me to open a bank account and become a real citizen. I feel that they are really interested in helping me get established, and it is nice to have someone who I can call on for help. So all this to say that I found a job and will start teaching next week after their spring break.

Nick-In-Medellin

2. ART IN MEDELLIN

Hello, I’ve had a week off before I start school so I spent some time back in Bogota and the rest of the time continuing to explore Medellin. This fellow Botero,the artist,is ubiquitous in this country. His stuff is everywhere- sculptures, paintings, and drawings, they cover the countryside. He was born in Medellin from poor parents and he is definitely their favorite son. I actually like him - Rubenesque with a Spanish flavor. The pictures are of his statues in front of his museum.

I'm in a new place now, this one is four stories tall, owned by an American guy named Jeff. He bought the building, and had it remodeled. The first floor is his restaurant, so there is always something to eat, the next two floors have five bedrooms each with a kitchen and two bathrooms. The fourth floor is his very big and spacious apartment. Finally there is a roof terrace with views of the whole city. I'm in one of the rooms surrounded by other young expats from all over the world. It's very interesting living and interacting with all these young people. Most of them are just starting out in life and they still don’t know what they will do for a job. So I am one of the only people with a real job. Therefore they tend to come to me for advice.

The view from the roof, where I am writing this right now, is amazing. The whole city is alive with lights that seem to climb up every one of the mountains that encircle this town. For $200 a month I think that I'll stay for a while. There is also a park across the street with a great pool and wonderful facilities for any sport that you could want to play. I am supposed to start teaching tomorrow, I have no idea what that will be like, so I'll just show up and do my best.

Nick-On-Roof

3. MY FIRST SPEECH EVER

Well it was a very interesting day. It started out by me going to school to grade papers, an intensely boring job. When I was finished the director came up to me and asked if I would like to come to the graduation ceremony tonight. It was being held at the major convention center in the middle of Medellin. I said sure why not, I have no real plans for tonight. That night as I'm taking a cab we get lost and can't find the place and finally I resort to calling one of the teachers so she can tell the cab driver, who is completely bewildered by my attempts at Spanish, where it is.

When I get there the place is huge with over 400 graduate students and all their numerous families. The hall is packed .I walk in and the director comes to greet me and says by the way we thought it would be a great idea if you would get up and give a small speech about our new English program, especially seeing how you are the whole program. Well there are moments in life where you just have to suck it up and do the job. Luckily I didn't have too much time to think about what I was getting into. So I'm now onstage waiting while 400 students walk up to the podium and receive their diplomas. I'm trying to think about what I will say, but it's hopeless to try and come up with a speech under those circumstances, so I figure I'll just wing it.

They call my name and I slowly approach the microphone and stand there for quite a while looking at the crowd of faces. Finally, slowly, and in a firm voice I say Hello real loud, and they all yell back Hello. At this moment the whole absurdity of this Carpenter standing before these people giving a speech telling them about the new English Department struck me as so funny that I just started to laugh, and the next thing I knew they were all laughing with me, suddenly I had the whole place in my hands, I could do no wrong. They had been listening to all these solemn speeches by the directors and the president, and all of a sudden this strange looking American is trying to talk to them in a language they can't understand, but somehow they’re really enjoying themselves.

When it was all over I stood outside the hall and everyone wanted to have a picture of me standing with their sons and daughters. I must have spent at least a half an hour posing with people. At that moment I think that I could have signed them all up for lessons. So we will see if this brings in any more students to the program. Meanwhile I'm trying desperately to learn enough Spanish to be able to carry on a decent conversation.

Nick-At-The-Podium

4. FIRST DAYS TEACHING

Well I finally got my first 2 classes of students. To say the least it has been interesting. My first night of teaching was with a class of 10 students who are all beginners, that is to say they know very little English. So I am going along with my lesson plan when the door opens and who comes in, but the owner of the school, his son, the president of the school, and the director. All of them thought it would be a great idea to sit in on the new American teacher's first night. So what could I do? There was no point in getting nervous, I decided to treat them like new students and gave them the handouts that we were working on and made them work in the class like everyone else. Before I knew it they were as involved in the process as the students, calling out answers and asking for help with their pronunciation. All in all a very fine night.

It gets even better because the next day I have another class of students. Their teacher quit because he can't handle the new system, so they ask me if I will take over his class. Now I hate to take over another teacher's class, the students have a certain loyalty to their first teacher, it can be very difficult, but I agree to do it. I walk into this class of thirty students who are really upset with the situation and finally manage to get them settled down so I can start teaching. This takes the first hour of class.

As I am starting the second hour the door opens and the director of the school