10 days is 10 years

It has been a while. Please accept our apologies. Liz and I have been very busy. I am coordinating the University of Alabama Master's course. I basically set the class up and take care of the professor. I am also taking the class, which goes from 3:30pm to 7:30pm every day after school. So my week has been long with teaching, learning, and being a gofer man. Liz has been busy as well with school training and pull-out days to enhance the math department. We see each other for about 30 minutes in the morning and an hour in the evening. We are doing well. Busy but well. We have thoroughly enjoyed the gifts, ecards, and phone calls that all you have sent our way the past few weeks. Things should settle down after this weekend. But, with the life of a teacher, things really never settle down. On another note, I have had some fun opportunities to meet ex-pats from the British Isles. We have had some interesting conversations about the political systems in the States and England, boarding schools, and traveling the world. You learn new things everyday. We hope you enjoy your day and meet someone new.

fa*nat*ic

Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language defines fanatic as "a person with an extreme and uncritical enthusiasm or zeal as in religion, politics, or sports."

Today was my birthday. I turned 28. My wife wanted to do something special for my birthday other than the typical breakfast in bed or presents of books or toys. She decided on taking me to my first ever professional soccer game in Latin America. I am guessing here, but I believe 90% of the world loves the game of 'futbol.' North Americans have their own brand of corporate sponsored, ad-selling 'futbol.' While the rest of the world enjoys seeing adults play a game that only allows one to use their feet.

I am a fan of sports. I enjoy watching, coaching, and playing. I am even on a soccer team here in Bogota. I am a fan. I am in two fantasy football leagues and two weekly pick'em leagues. I follow my favorite teams and scorn the hated rivals. But my eyes were opened today when I attended a Millionarios-Quindio soccer game. I hesitated at the chance to go. Last year I was invited to a similar game by some of my students. I had a prior arrangement and couldn't make it. I later found out that a man was beat to death because he was the wrong fan sitting in the wrong section, and apparently he said the wrong thing.

Liz is happy that she surprised me with the tickets. And off we go to the game with the knowledge that we are going to be surrounded by fanatics. We made sure to wear neutral colors to the game. It was a wonderful time. The game began without a single incident. It could have been the riot police posted in the stands and on the field that prevented the crowd from becoming rowdy. However, during the half time show, a fight breaks out and then comes the fun. Liz and I are sitting in box seats so we have a great view of the field and the fight in the cheap seats. Apparently, someone took offense to the score and the taunts. Not only were the police breaking things up, but the entire stadium starts chanting, whistling and booing. It seemed to be part of the entertainment. Wow, what a game.

Millionarios won 1-0 and the crowd seemed happy. I sat amazed at the love/hate relationship that is evident in the 'fans' of soccer. What a present. I thought I was an over-zealous fan of sports. Just remember that there are crazier fans in the world next time you get crazy over a Dallas win or a Green Bay loss.

It turned out to be a great birthday, a once in a lifetime treat. And I do mean once in a lifetime. I don't think I am going back to see a professional 'futbol' game here again. I think I will be safer at home watching it on the television.

I Have Gas Problems

Friday is supposed to be a fun day, a relaxed day, and a day to start the weekend. I know not of anyone who dreads a Friday. Today is Friday. I am excited for the weekend and ready to relax. I have my students researching atomic theory issues for presentations next week. This is fun for me and a good way to start the weekend. So how is my Friday so far?

First, Liz and I woke up late, at 6:12am, and we got to school at 6:35am, a mere 30 minutes before school starts. I like to get to school at least an hour before my first class. My friend Cat calls it “ramping up" time. So now I am rushed, but I still have a smile, and I know I will have a great day. It’s Friday! I noticed my department chair and his daughter standing outside of my door as I walked up to my classroom. My door was wide open as were my windows, and the venting fans were on at full blast. Come to find out, one of Alex’s students was working on a project yesterday at the end of school involving the distillation of an alcohol based liquid called “chicha.” Apparently, this “AP” student turned off the flame but failed to close the gas valve. So this flammable gas leaked into my classroom and 80% of the entire high school throughout Thursday night.

School is supposed to start in ten minutes but the high school has too much gas in it to have class. All of the classes had to be evacuated to the flag patio outside. The maintenance men are fanning the gas out of the school but this takes thirty minutes. Word spreads and I become the hero of the students and the bane of the teachers. Not my fault, but why take the time to explain. Classes resume for the high school after thirty minutes but my class is still outside. There is still too much gas in my room. So what can I do? I send groups of my students throughout the school to the five different computer labs across the four schools of CNG so they can do some research. I am stuck in my room trying to clean out the remaining gas. Amazingly, they went to the computer labs and researched their topics. So far, so good and one class down two to go. Friday is still looking good.

The gas is gone from the room by the time my second class starts. Yeah, but now the internet goes down. It seems more like a Monday than a Friday. So now what do I do? My computers in the lab can be used but no internet to research. So now I send my class to the library to try to find material for their presentations. All that is available in book form are some textbooks, periodicals, and encyclopedias circa 1970. I now have a permanent smile and headache both from the gas I was inhaling all morning, my students are making “high on drugs” jokes, my colleagues are giving me the “evil” eye, and the librarian is “ssshhhing” me as I am trying to help my students navigate through ancient texts for modern technology. But, it is Friday. And Fridays are always fun. Right?

So now I am in my third and final class for the day. They are in my room using the internet, when it is running, and searching the ancient text when it is down. For them, the weekend has begun, while I am still counting the minutes to lunch. I have no class after lunch. So that is a plus. I think I will call it a day, breathe some fresh air, and go home to rearrange my lessons for next week. It is Friday. It is the weekend. Enjoy your Friday with or without gas.

Dry Eyes in the Pouring Rain

Thank you. We say thank you to all of our friends and family. Liz and I wanted to announce our pregnancy, but instead we are announcing that we have miscarried our baby. It has been a rough couple of weeks, but your love, words, thoughts, and prayers have comforted us. So we say thank you. Liz and I look forward to the future and are blessed by our past. We have our hope in Christ and know that all is for a purpose.

Nuestros Amigos

Last night, my wife and I, returned from a friends' house. We had originally planned to eat dinner and learn some dance steps (because every get-together in Colombia needs to include dancing:). As it turned out, we had some sushi and talked into the early morning. We laughed together and enjoyed time with our friends.

I think it was the wasabi, or it could have been nostalgia, but I couldn't help but think about the many wonderful meals Liz and I have shared with friends in the past. I thought about Todd and Cat and how we had countless nights of close fellowship. I thought of Taylor, Andrew, Bud, Brandon, and the rest of the Gaston boys with whom I shared many meals. They are now growing into Godly men. I thought of Vic and Candy and how they showed, by their actions, how a marriage should be founded and continue to grow.

I remembered my college buddies who stood by Liz and I through dating, engagement, and marriage. I thought of Jay and Darci and how they always have a meal with us when we visit after months apart. I thought of Jay and Jamie who have returned to live in Lynchburg with their almost four year-old son. I thought of Bryan Nixon who is now in Seattle having deep conversations. I thought of Amy, Liz's close friend from college, who is now a doctor saving people's lives. I thought of Trent and Jenna, now with a new baby, and how we fought over who paid the meal bill until we finally decided to split every meal. My thoughts spill into every lunch and dinner conversation we have had at one time or another with each and every one of you. These times have blessed our lives immensely!

Liz and I have had the wonderful opportunity to have incredible friends, and to be enriched by each of their lives. We have found that in true friendship comes love. This love can carry a broken man through hard times and celebrate with him through the good times. True friends are priceless and should never be treated as a passing fad. So, this is our way of saying in the deepest, most meaningful way...

THANK YOU!

Blessings to you, our TRUE friends.

Alan & Liz

The Weekend

Today is Friday. My students are finishing a three day lab. My wife's students are playing math games. But everyone is ready for the weekend. The energy of today is the same here as it is in the States. Some will travel to their fincas, while others will go the movies, and still others will stay at home sleep, stay up late and sleep in tomorrow morning. So what do Liz and I do on the weekend? That's a great question.

On the weekends, we sometimes take in a movie, which is subtitled, or go to a friend's house for cards and pizza. Every so often, we will get a big group of friends and go out to dinner at a new restaurant or an "oldie but goody" place that everyone enjoys.

Dinners here are usually eaten around 8:00 or 9:00pm, and dancing follows for many Colombians. Saturdays are very active days. Liz and I will go to a park or for a walk if it is good weather, and stay inside if it is raining. There are many festivals throughout the year and on almost every weekend. Liz loves to shop at the fairs and I will play "futbol" if my team is in a tournament.

On Sundays, Liz and I get up, have breakfast, and then go to church. Going to church is a process. It used to be easy with just one cab, but our church has temporarily moved until they find a new building. So, Liz and I hike about 20 minutes to the Transmilenio, or light rail, take the train north to the last stop, get off and then catch a flota, or bus. The train ride is about 20 minutes, and the bus ride is about 20 minutes. We then get off the flota next to the last stop and walk about five minutes down an unpaved road to church. We reverse the process to get home.

Sunday afternoons are for naps, reading, and calling home. Sunday evenings come too quickly and then it is back to school for another eventful week. This is a typical weekend for Liz and I. Some weekends are called puentes, or holidays, on which, Liz and I usually travel throughout Colombia with friends.

So how was your weekend?

Much Love,

Al & Liz