to recreate us.

i fell in love again
all things go, all things go

drove to chicago
all things know, all things know

we sold our clothes to the state
i don't mind, i don't mind

i made a lot of mistakes
in my mind, in my mind



so, chicago was pretty beautiful.
then i had to go to ohio and run a cisv training - which was also great, in a different way.
in fact, it was great in exactly this way:



i've been back in bogota for a week, feeling abit like it was a daydream but heeey it was so excellent that the school gave me a week off! i have a feeling if i ever teach in canada it will be way more complicated to get time off.

we're winding things up in bogota - two special visits, then i'm off to dolomites/rome at the end of june, back to guatemala for the AIM and then to the beach to sing songs and play the guitar at juanca and ali's wedding.

i'll be back in canada on the 26th of august - for good! it's going to be weird. but i'm mentally preparing myself.

if you have a bike, or an apartment, that you want to give me for next year (in toronto), please inform.

and this is dorkface.


big smiles.
loverin

katester kicks it in the (other) big city.

love er a lot.
wish she were around more often.



juanca and katester.

teachie-do.

katester takes over the botanics.

shocked in the botanical gardens.


rebecca.

dork alert.

me and la campiña

that's where we got the meat on sticks.

i love parties like this.

meat on sticks.




with friends and a giraffe.

really happy with lunch.


great visit.

good energy.

funny pictures.

likely i'll write a book about it.

i'm not a pop star.

except last thursday.





we arrive so late, last minute ticket manipulation.

we run and dance to mala gente as they keep on telling us to go farther and farther up and sideways.

we possibly have the worst standing spots in the whole coliseo.

but there is room for some fantastic dance moves



and juan esteban puts on an unbelievable show.

and i never thought that i could love someone so much from so far away.

and annika and i dance and sing real hard.

and then andres calamaro glides on stage for a surprise encore with great purple pants. aND he sings a song with some of the most beautiful poetry about this wonderful country and how it's so full of hope despite all this violence.

los árboles estan llorando
son testigos de tantos años de violencia
el mar esta marrón, mezcla de sangre con la tierra

pero ahi vienen bajando de la montaña con la esperanza
las madres que den por sus hijos
y que sus libros para la escuela son su soñar
pero ahi vienen bajando de la montaña con la esperanza
hombres y niños mal heridos, buscando asilo
buscando un sitio, para soñar y amar

no merecemos el olvido, somos la voz del pueblo
dice un señor sentado, con sus dos ojos vendados
pero que aún tiene la esperanza en sus manos

son caminos de caminos.

something about this neighbourhood.

coctelcito party at my house, nov. 22.

ivan made pisco sour, apple martini, tequila something with salt and pepper and lime, strawberry and lulo caipirinha.

i made gembre gembre. and some delicious food.



cake i made for javi.

noo, that's the cake i made for javi!





friends from school.

three greats. in my kitchen.


erin, juanca, lars, ali.

woaah!

streetside roses.

update, minor.

BARACK! happy anniversary big 3-0 mum and dad. 120 parent teacher student conferences in the last 2 days. donut holes. hey pretty. recording songs!

tonight a good friend of mine is playing a concert a la pola - he plays in a funny bogotano rock band called vietato. they are playing with a great band from medellin - artefacto - check them out on myspace it's rocknroll colombia.

this weekend we're working again on saturday (who signed me up for this job) but the countdown is on - so close to the best holiday of the year, november break week and then snowtime canada 08/09!

it's been an intense start to the year. the social studies 8th teacher let us all know that we had taught a 3rd of the year as of tuesday - 60 teaching days have passed already. november, december, january and february are light - we go to golfo de morrosquillo for a week in feb - then we're back march april may and then JUNE it's all done. it seems not to be too far off.

plans for nov break include getting money back from avianca, possibly buying some nice jewelry and spending a day or two in the sunshine. it's possible i might get to manizales but the priority is doing bogota things in this city that i love while i have the time.

i have been thinking more and more about next years plans - it's all up in the air because i'd love to be here, in europe or maybe even argentina but most likely i will.. well.... i'll let you know.

the canal (cisv colombia national board meeting) was last weekend - man colombian cisvers are inspiring! they think out of the box almost all the time which i find so refreshing. the project with ocasa is (hopefully) rolling - we need to get on that for the IPP 09/10.

post script, the otesha tours are open for apps. thiSSSS would be just great.
www.otesha.ca

check out the learning exchange rising tide!

school today!

it was a beautiful sunny one.

the kids all are members of 4 houses, kind of like hopo, and today the midschoolers were having a sports afternoon with their families. it was cute. and finally sunny.

a parisienne dedication.

come hell or full circle
our arms filled with miracles
they hop skip
they walk round
like magic, play aces
stay with me
go places
once more for the ages

come one now
come all you
this story breaks free here
tears from the back pages
from somewhere
encina
deus ex machina
good morning christina

come hell or full circle
our path blocked
but showing
make records then set them
make copies
win races
stay with me
go places
once more for the ages

(newpornographers/goplaces)