Destination: Imagination

After all our preparation, we were off to Manezales for the Destination Imagination Finals! There were going to be teams from all over Colombia and they would be competing for a chance to go to the globals in Knoxville, Tennessee (I know ~ big stakes!!!)

Manezales is coffee country and it's absolutely gorgeous!








Because Mr. Gilman (my principal) is the head DI man in Colombia, we stayed at a beautiful hotel just outside the city.





Our first night there, we were all invited to a DI party at a local club in town. It was fabulous with entertainers and music and food.












We all had a good time, although because we had left at 6 in the morning that day, the girls pooped out about halfway through!



Luckily, there was dancing and a show, so they livened back up!





But the real excitement was at the DI tournament itself. There was lots of tension in the air as we waited for our turn.





And then the challenge was on!!







The girls did a great job, and it was nice to relax and enjoy all the tournament offered, including face painting, shopping, and just playing!






Our last night was awesome. We enjoyed the music of a youth band and then awaited the announcement of the winners.




Our girls took second in the challenge (Yay), won a special prize for their teamwork (Yay!) and were the best hat makers in the house (Yay!!).



I am very proud of how these five remarkable young ladies pulled together to become a winning team!

ASSAA

CNG is hosting this year's American Schools of South America Association conference. For four (plus) days. What a job. Not only have the behind the scenes staff worked horrible hours to get everything gorgeous for the event (flowers, tents, special dishes, meals, umbrellas and walkers for the rainy afternoon.....) but the academic staff, too, got into the action. Some of the staff were actually presenters at the conference, and some of us (like the math people) are going to quasi present with Janis tomorrow.

On top of that, though, we all had to attend the evening functions for the visiting presenters and conference attendee. So, on Thursday night from 7-10 we all returned to school for the opening remarks by, well, lots of people! And tonight we headed back to campus for the Colombian Night.

I have to say that despite the fact that I (and all my friends) was beat and just wanted to put my jammies on and climb into bed (oh, did I mention that report cards are due Tuesday????), I dragged myself to school for this last evening event. And boy was I glad. Even though I missed the prefunking with some friends, I really enjoyed the show. There was classical guitar, traditional Colombian music by our high school music teacher and some of his friends, and then his students. There were even traditional dances performed by some of Aaron's 6th grade students! Boy, Colombianas can move!

It was a great way to end (sort of) the week.

Matt, you are well-loved.




So many things in this world don't make sense. And I am okay with most of them. I am having a really hard time, though, dealing with the death of a colleague and new friend.

Matt was a fourth grade teacher at CNG and a friend of some of my friends. I remember the first time I met him after school with them. He would hardly even look at me. Matt is very very quiet and very very reserved with strangers. But we went out a couple of times and the last time a group of us went to an 80s club here in town and drank and danced and laughed. And Matt was with us. It was such a good time! His wife, Nidia, danced with me, trying to improve my salsa! We all had such fun.

Matt is no longer with us. He died Sunday night. And his loss is felt deeply.

Today at school, there was a mass for the teachers and students alike. It was held in the high school gymnasium, but it was beautiful. Flowers adorned the walls and the stage. An alter at the front was surrounded by lit candles. The auditorium was packed. It was difficult but heart-warming all at the same time.

Then some of us went to the memorial mass downtown Bogota. Again, it was difficult. How can this be fair? How can this be okay?

I don't know.

A Coffee Vinca

Every grade level at CNG takes a Classroom Without Walls trip somewhere: Macchu Pichu, Paris, the Amazon..... And second graders go to a Vinca outside of Bogota where they grow coffee, small bananas, and flowers. It was a great trip and I was glad that I was able to travel with them.



On the way there we stopped for lunch. Some of us are just too cool!



The school hires a private company that organizes the trips and provides chaperones/guides. I was in a group of 13 kids with our principal and a guide.





And yes, we even saw Juan Valdez. Or at least the latest incarnation of him. Turns out that the real Juan Valdez, years ago, had the first commercial filmed on this Vinca. It is also the set for a popular soap opera called Coffee.



On this farm they also grow bananos, those are small bananas theat are delicious!




Most of these get exported to France.





And there are also fields of flowers. Many of which get exported to the US. So, if you see one of these in the supermarket, think of me :-)



Ever seen a baby palm? Us either!




Then is was time for lunch and a tour of the actual coffee plant. Again, it was very small and simple. It's a good life here.





The guides that accompanied us played cooperative games with the kids.




And I thought we weren't allowed to tape them together! Huh.

While the kids played, Mr. Gilman took me on a tour of the hacienda with the owner. It is a beautiful home with lots of bedrooms for lots of guests. Really a sign of the culture here.







Here are some shots out of the bus window ~ just a small view on the world here.