Colombia Q&A

After deciding to visit Colombia I had a lot of questions and thoughts running through my head- it didn't help that many people constantly said, YOU'RE GOING TO COLOMBIA!? WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO DO THAT? Before arriving and even before I knew I was going to be coming I had read several books about Colombia, about the history of the country, and the current situation. Quite a few people back in the states have only heard negative stuff about Colombia and therefore automatically assumed I was coming to an undeveloped jungle with an ongoing war.

Even though I felt I had a pretty good grasp of what to expect here from the books I had read, stories from AHOP, and reading up on recent news I was still unsure of little things, like

How much under development will there be?
- There is underdevelopment but there is segregation between developed/underdeveloped areas. People without steady jobs or income seem to have found many, many ways to make pesos without begging. Many people sell produce and odds and ends at street corners in the city to make ends meet. People are very creative in trying to make a few coins. I have only seen a few people begging for money.

Will there be a lot of hassling?
- No

Can we drive anywhere without feeling safe?
-again, there is segregation between developed and undeveloped area. It's pretty obvious if you've driven or walked into an area where things seem a little sketchy.

How secure are attractions and stores?
- Everything is well looked over by security personnel- neighborhoods, parking lots, attractions.

Do people speak conversational English?
- the main language here is Spanish. some people know a few phrases of english and a few people are conservational. AHOP has served as my translator the entire trip.

Would my family/friends enjoy a trip to Colombia?
-Colombia is full of many many great things to do from- historic cities, adventure travel, world class beaches, good food and much more. The people are friendly, welcoming, and know how to serve tourists. AND the price is right! The big downfall is the lack of English spoken in the country. A good option may be to hire an English speaking tour guide during a trip to the country.

Have any other questions? Leave me a comment and I'll try to answer it.

Colombia Part 1

I've been in Colombia for a little over a week now and can't even begin to tell all the wonderful stories and memories I have already accumulated over the short time. So in short....

Last Saturday I attended my first bull fight in Cali. Colombia was settled by the Spanish after all, hence leaving the country steep in Spanish Tradition.




Sunday I traveled with AHPO and his parents to a country house in the mountains outside of Cali, We enjoyed a day of horseback riding, traditional Colombian food, and relaxation in cooler temps away from the hot 90 degree weather in the city.





On Tuesday Alvaro and I left for the coastal city of Cartagena in the Northeast corner of the county. Cartagena is famous for it's old Spanish Castle and walled city left behind by the Spaniards in the 1500 and 1600's. The city had a very European feel inside the old walls- cobblestone, narrow streets, many flowers, balconies, cafes, and tiny shops. Beyond the walls of the city Cartagena has some of the finest beaches in the country. We took a short boat trip to the Rosary Isles- 50 miles off the coast- and enjoyed a traditional lunch of coconut rice, plantains, and fish fried in their entirety. The isle has no facilities, running water, buildings, etc..



During my short time here I have felt so welcomed by everyone here in Colombia, especially AHOP's family.

Internship in Summary

Tomorrow is the final day of my 14 week internship at Kilauea Military Camp and Resort. Where did the time go? Between work, weekend excursions, a little job hunting, and completing internship reports and a major portfolio for IU I have been very busy over the last 3 months.

I spent the majority of my internship working with the Group Reservations and Marketing Department. I loved the people I worked with, learned a lot about different cultures (I worked with a Filipino lady, Japanese lady, and Hawaiian lady), and grew a lot in my professional development.

I will be sad to say goodbye to everyone at KMC but I am ready to move on to the next thing in my life, hopefully a job involving some sort of travel consulting or event coordination.

a little fire action @ the luau

The Paradise Cove Luau put on a great show complete with hula, Tahitian dancers, and an awesome Samoan fire spinner. The quality of the video isn't too great but you can still see his fire poles spinning around.

Thanksgiving in Oahu

Elizabeth and I spent our Thanksgiving holiday "off island" in Oahu. We spent three days exploring Waikiki and Honolulu. Oahu is very different from the Big Island. We had an absolutely wonderful time.

We toured the memorial at Pearl Harbor.


We watched the paddlers, surfers, swimmers, and tourists at Waikiki.


We went to the Paradise Cove Luau.



And we scaled Diamond Head!

disturbing the Honu....oops!

We ran into this turtle while walking around the blue lagoon at Kiholo Bay. We stayed a good distance away from him but he still SLOWLY slid away from us once he saw us.

"The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more."- JS

AHOP received wonderful news last week. He has been extended an offer to become a first year analyst with a major bank in NYC. Words can't even begin to express how excited he is to have this opportunity.