Return

I'm back in the US.

I already submit my final report to the Colombo on the different places I was working. Here's the list, without the report's details:

Manizales

• University of Caldas: A week-long series of workshops with undergraduate theatre students.

• ‘Punto de Partido’ at Teatro Los Fundadores: Two weeks of workshops with teachers, students, and members of the theatre group Punto de Partido in a studio space in the basement of Teatro Fundadores.

• Fundacion Contacto: A series with workshops with ‘Titiri Clown,’ volunteer clowns who visit hospitals.
  

• La Casa de Cultura, Neira: A week-long series of workshops with students interested in theatre and active with the theatre group there.

• Grupo de Teatro Colegio Alfonso Hoyos: A full day workshop with the school’s theatre group.

• Wilson Mejia: I taught two workshops with classes normally taught by Wilson Mejia, one with 6-8 year olds, another with 13-16 year olds.

Medellin

• Institución Educativa María de los Ángeles Cano Márquez: A two month process of weekly workshops, with over forty high school students focusing on conflicts in the community of Granizal, followed by a performance for the Colombo Americano’s youth festival ‘Arte e Escuela.’

• Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola: A two month process of weekly workshops with twenty-five high school students focusing on their school community and identity formation, followed by a performance for the Colombo Americano’s youth festival ‘Arte e Escuela.’

• Circo Momo (Jovenes): One class weekly with students, for this organization that teaches circus skills, drumming, art, etc., to children, many who come from backgrounds of conflict.

• Circo Momo (Docentes): One class weekly with teachers who work at Circo Momo and other organizations that work with children.

• University of Antioquia: Two four hour workshops with undergraduate students in the class ‘El Cuerpo Habla’ taught by Angela Chaverra. The University was closed down during the time I was teaching, so we had class in a room in the Museo de Arte Moderno.

• Nuestra Gente: Two workshops with the teachers/actors of the theatre group Nuestra Gente.

• Arte e Infancia: Two workshops with a program of the Colombo Americano for children 7-13.

• Colombo Americano Integrated Skills Class: One class with advanced level English students, mostly high school students.

• Centro Diagnostico: Two workshops at a transition center for children coming off the street.

• Mujeres Que Creen: A full day retreat at a finca in San Vincente for thirty women discussing women’s rights and ecology.

A list of where I've worked does not begin to summarize my experience.

I have many people to thank, but my most important thank you goes out to Juan Alberto Gaviria, for giving me this opportunity, and all of his support throughout.

My last night I went to a show from Matacandelas called 'O marinheiro,' by Fernanda Pessoa. Three white masks hover in darkness over a corpse, howling lamentations, accompanied by occasional flashes of light onto the background and a frightening soundtrack. Reminiscent of Beckett's 'Not I,' it was quite static, with no movement other than the faces distorting. Then I went over to Taller 7, head out to Carlos E. Estrepo, and had my last night of Salsa in Medellin. I may have learned to speak Spanish, but I definitely still haven't learned how to dance salsa like Colombians do. I had planned to head up to Castilla and to another party in Poblado as well, but a car was picking me up at 5AM to go to the airport, and I was already collapsing, so I called it a night a little after 2.

The airport in Medellin has 11 gates. My ticket said gate 12. I waited and watched a line form, clearly with some other confused Americans, around gate 11. I arrived at my assigned seat, and an old Colombian man's eyes met mine, with a look of begging and guilt, as he sat in my window seat. Of course I said nothing and took the aisle. In the middle was a Louisianian-Colombian in the country for his mother's funeral, who recounted his family history over the course of the flight.

Transferring flights in the Miami airport with CNN blaring, surrounded by white people, sipping 15% cranberry juice and biting into a flavorless apple, that cost together as much as two full meals would in Colombia, it occurred to me what organization gains and loses. I wanted to note down the melody of a flight attendant's vocal pattern over the loudspeaker.

There's something I genuinely love about leaving. Goodbye means the time has come. Goodbye means you're ready for it. I threw away the boots I bought just for this trip, the only shoes I had my whole time there. I put on corduroy after three months in the same three pairs of jeans. I washed my hair with my sister's shampoo. I went out for a fancy steak with my parents.

I could write about how these three months feel like a dream now. I could write about how dramatically these three months have changed me. I could write about all the people, all the places, all the ups and downs I encountered in Colombia. Nothing I could write would really do the trick.

I have a few regrets, but they crumble in the wind.

I don't believe life has a purpose. But I believe there are potentialities that can be fulfilled. Ways to break past the little fragments and touch the whole. I can't help but feel closer to that mission.

I'll return to New York, to a life familiar yet also unknown. If you've read this blog a little bit while I was down in Colombia, I want you to know I appreciate it. It's been a great way to me to communicate without writing a bunch of separate e-mails, and for me to reflect on my experience while having it. I look forward to seeing everyone again. Maybe I'll start another blog for my next adventure.

Yo no se manana, yo no se manana. Quien va a estar aqui.

Un abrazo, ciao!