The Top 10,000 Things I'm Grateful for about Living in Popayán

Yesterday, as I was leaving my morning coffee joint before going to my last class in Popayán, the middle-aged cashier lady behind the counter told me I looked like "el Niño de Dios," aka the Child of God. It caught me off guard, so I just said thank you, chuckled a smile, and walked to class.

It's experiences like these that I've been grateful for while living in Colombia. They've been benign yet meaningful, fleeting yet fixed in my memory. Experiences like being called "Vecino" at the local corner store. Like having my name diminutized to "Jodysin" by a friend/coteacher. Like being called "Hermano" by a new friend. There are too many experiences to recount.

Leaving Popayán was bittersweet. I've met so many great people and shared so many great experiences, it makes me sad to think that I won't see them for a long time.

On the other hand, I have so much to look forward to this year. To start, tomorrow my dad and I embark on our ten-day journey through Colombia. We're squeezing in as much as we can, from paragliding to mountain biking to coffee tours. I'm even forcing him to endure the authentic Colombian bus ride experience. (Just imagine stuffing yourself in a shaking crate for six hours with various genres of Colombian music keeping you and the driver awake the entire time.) We're gonna have a great time.

After my dad and I part ways, I'll continue traveling north to the Caribbean coast, where I'll swim, snorkle, and snooze at some beautiful beaches. When I return to the States--to my namorada1 Kelly--we almost immediately go on two consecutive beach vacations. Also, in August, I have a wedding weekend in Colorado, bachelor party weekend on a boat, and Kelly's 30th birthday party in Pittsburgh. My new and challenging job at the federal courthouse begins on August 29th. Oh yeah, and Kelly and I have already committed to our first trip to Mexico.

And throughout my whole five-month trip I had Kelly, who supported me from the start even though it meant parting ways for five months. I feel extremely grateful.

With that, I'll spare you from the other 9,000+ things I'm grateful for and I leave you with a few of my favorite new pictures. Time for me to go explore.

Centro, Popayán

Tam at Canopy Las Ardillas, Cauca

Statue in Centro, Popayán

La Catedral, Popayán

Sleeping man near the Puente de Humiladeros, Popayán

Canopy Las Ardillas, Cauca

Cali

Cerro del Morro, Popayán

Finca el Maco, San Agustín

Parque Bolivar, Popayán

Some church in Cali

Canopy Las Ardillas, Cauca

Finca el Maco, San Agustín

Finca el Maco, San Agustín

La Paz, Popayán

Hiking in San Agustín

Canopy Las Ardillas, Cauca

Canopy Las Ardillas, Cauca

View of El Morro in Popayán

"Chopper" at Puente de Humiladeros, Popayán

1 Portuguese for girlfriend. I like the way it sounds.