Life in the Caribbean

I've been in Cartagena for three days. Like I said in my Couch Surfing in Colombia blog, I realized I was being a bit ridiculous by being afraid to couchsurf with guys so I have now officially remedied that.

Daniel and I became friends as fast as I have with everyone else I've stayed with so far. He's an architect that actually lives in Bogota but he's staying in Cartagena for a month and graciously invited me to stay with him for a few days. Besides having my own room with a high-power fan (necessary in this 88-degree weather) and private bathroom, the house's balconies are covered in flowers, the Caribbean Sea is literally right outside the window, and he's got the two most comfortable hammocks set up in the living room.

View from the hammock

The freaking PERUVIAN CEVICHE Daniel made for us yesterday!!
I'm literally in heaven right now.

We've walked the whole town multiple times in the last few days (Cartagena is as beautiful as they say and, unfortunately, my pictures don't do it any kind of justice). I've officially become obsessed with champeta (a musical genre from Cartagena) and I can't get enough of the rest of the music here either. My favorite genres and songs come pumping out of every plaza, store, restaurant, bar, car and cell phone I walk by...and I keep coming across new songs I love!!

EVERY house in Cartagena is this freaking beautiful.
I think I probably need to live here at some point.

Yesterday, we met up with a friend (and ex-student) of mine from Brazil who's here for a few days as well (I didn't even know she was coming!) and we checked out the pre-carnaval festivities together (Cartagena's Carnaval starts today, something else I didn't even realize when I bought my plane tickets to come here!). I was supposed to leave here this morning but Cartagena is just too amazing and I needed more time. Daniel invited me to stay for a few more days and there was no way in hell I was gonna turn that offer down!

The kids in the city had a pre-Carnaval parade a few days ago

We woke up this morning, had some fresh tropical fruit and coffee, took a long walk along the beach and then took a swim in the freaking Caribbean Sea. I don't know how this is my freaking life!! The water is clean and much calmer than the beach I lived by in Rio so it was super relaxing. Afterwards we laid in the hammocks to read/nap before we got onto more productive things (and by that, I mean I'm drinking delicious Colombian coffee for less than $2.00 in an air conditioned cafe and blogging, bahaha!).

I'm obsessed with these hammocks...the only problems it trying to force ourselves
to eventually get out of them once we've gotten in. We've had to start setting alarms!

I still can't believe this is my life. I am free of the burden of material junk, I'm meeting incredible people and getting to see every corner of this beautiful world. I can change my plans whenever I want, I can work when I want and don't have to when I don't want to. I'm learning how to think in different ways by looking at life through the different perspectives of other cultures and making new friends everywhere I go. I'm taking advantage of every opportunity that comes my way and am truly appreciative for every single one of them.

In light of all that, I am painfully aware, especially this week, of how easily this perfect life has fallen into my lap. I haven't experienced racial discrimination or a system that holds me down because of my nationality, skin color or religion. I grew up in the nation that arguably most oppresses others in order to stay on top, with the only color of skin that doesn't suffer from racism and in the religion that is in charge of my government. I have the opportunities I have because I was lucky enough to be born into such a situation and for no other reason.

I will continue to be grateful for every minute of this journey but I promise that I will not for one second ever think that I did anything to deserve this more than anyone else. There is no person on this earth that I don't wish could have these incredible opportunities as well and I will spend my life working toward making that equality a reality.

I am sad today for the U.S.'s situation but I still have hope. I have hope because of all the incredible people I've met along my journeys and because of the inspiring educators and academics that I am friends with that I know are spreading messages of love and tolerance. I have hope because I wake up every day to see the beauty in this world and because I know so many people working to make it even better.

Okay...back to enjoying the hell out of Cartagena!