My Visitors

I have been so lucky to have so many visitors while down here! I am honored to be able to share with people the beauty, diversity, and culture of Colombia. It is a country that many people in the United States misunderstand and prejudge unfairly. While drugs, guerillas, and Plan Colombia are a reality, it is not a visible part of everyday life. People shop in both street markets and Target-like grocery stores, ride donkeys or drive private cars, eat traditional rice and beans and fish or MacDonalds... it is obvious that globalization has effected Colombia, but it still has a strong and independent culture, and even within the country there is tremendous variation in food, language, and traditions.

So, thank you to...

my family

Gaby and Bert (not shown)

Erin and her parents (not shown either... sorry!)

Megan

Lindsey

...and Emily Scatterday (for some reason I have 0 pictures of our time together here)

for taking the time to enjoy and learn about a new far off place. I hope you have all been able to bring good experiences and attitudes back to the USA to share with everyone there what an amazing place Colombia is and how welcoming and warm the people are.

If there is anything you are interested in learning about Colombia, please feel free to ask and I can go into anything in more detail (as far as my knowledge and my experiences, I don't claim to be an expert.) And ask those pictured above for their stories as well! I am sure they would love to tell their stories!

Peace,

Lani

Pickard Family Vacation

Much time has past since my last update and, as always, many things have happened. I have kept myself very busy over my break between semesters (which has ended up lasting from mid-November until just this week). I spent time in the USA, my family came to visit Cartagena and Bucaramanga, I took a trip to Mexico, I went to Barranquilla for Carnaval, and I had the honor of showing the McCarthy family around this lovely city that I have made my home over the past seven months. Hopefully in the next few days I can find time to publish a few updates about these adventures!

Having my family visit was amazing! It was so great to share my life here with them. I’d like to share our trip with you through pictures:

First we went to Bucaramanga:

Family pic in Chicamocha

Ziplining!

A monument in Chicamocha remembering the deliverance of a letter that led to the independence of the state, El Monumento a La Santandereanidad

The kid with the coolest pants in Colombia.

The two best butts in the Pickard Family

The faces of the owners of the best butts

Back in Cartagena:

We went to El Volcan de Tutumo, a volcano that spews mud instead of lava, where my dad saved a baby.

And we got very muddy.

I also had the chance to meet Obama on his trip through Colombia...

My favorite beach, Playa Blanca. It's on an island and you have to get there by boat.

Of course, since it is a coastal city, there is lots of fish for eating!

This is where we entered the new decade, sitting on the old colonial walls around the historic center of Cartagena. 2010!

Kenz and I in a shoe in front of the fort, San Flipe's Castle. It has some cool tunnels in it (the fort, not the shoes). A taxi driver told me the story of the shoes, but it didn't make sense and I think he was making it up.

Kenzie and Mom resting in front of an amzing view of the city from the highest point, La Popa.

Dinner at my friend Wilson's house!

Thanks for visiting me Dad, Ma, Juj, and Mac! I had such a good time and I loved sharing my life here with you!

P.S. I just learned that I can put videos on here, so here is one of what it was like on New Year's in Colombia: