Its 7 til its 8 here in Columbia.

I thought 5am was an early until I met the Wayuu and 4am was like sleeping in for them. A very stubborn people (I would probably fit right in haha). The Wayuu wake up way before sunrise and go to bed way after the sun sets. The Wayuu live in the Guajira Desert. Where they have a rainy season and a dry season. I was definitely visiting during dry season, since i was standing in the middle of where a 30ft deep river flows during rainy season. Their diet consists mostly of goat (its a very greasy meat but very fatty as well.. I loved it! i had the great oppurtunity of playing with a goat that later nurished my flesh and bone.) Their main source of hydration is a drink called Chicha, made from corn... When i learned how they made it even I, Nate Norris, found it a bit hard to stomach. ( A few of the old ladies in Village gather around and chew the corn off the stalks and proceed to chew it up and then spit it out into a pot. The pot is then set aside so that it can ferment. And then finally served to me haha.)

Patience is definitely a virtue that is needed with the Wayuu. They are quick to tell you when and where to be but have no conscience for your desires or needs, when it comes to time. I have learned in Columbia that when someone tells you they will arrive at 7. That basically means somewhere between 7 and 8.

I have slept in a handmade hammock, eaten goat for breakfast, lunch and dinner, drank the sweet Chicha, caught a red tailed boa, played with the Wayuu children, and hung out with the elders of a Wayuu tribe. I am also still amazed by Bob a 72 year old man with so much life in him it makes me look like an old man. He still floors me with his stories. I think i have heard it all then he pulls another amazing story out of his box. All i think about is... that would be a good film. haha. Well i am back from the Guajira safe and sound. Time to stretch myself in Santa Marta. I think I have a day off tomorrow. Beach sounds good. :) God Bless

5am was our call time this morning. Due to the fact school in Columbia starts at 6am! (and i use to complain and play sick because i thought 8:10am was to early.) 3 cups of coffee later kids started to show up. They came by foot, bus, taxi, bike, and Moped and were all dressed in their school uniforms. Today we wanted to film a normal day at school. Yet how can things be normal when you have 2 gringo's running around with cameras and a 6'6" asian hanging around. Gym class started at 7am for the older kids while the younger kids went to English, History or a Comp. lab. After filming the school we headed out into Santa Marta. We hit up the beach, although i was dressed in jeans and a tee-shirt, the market, and random alley ways filled with people selling things legally and illegally. (Anybody need a copy of Shutter Island?) It was definitely an eye opening exploration of Santa Marta.

Robert... He goes by Bob. Is a 72 year old Gringo. Who came here in 1965 on a 2 month construction contract. Obviously he never left. Bob helped start the school here in Santa Marta and also helped start the first protestant church. His life is a movie.... From being held by Guerillas to seeing people being killed right in front of him. He has some of the best/horrifying stories i have ever heard. He has seen things no man should ever see. He is also a very humble man of God.

Sorry to get side-tracked about Bob. I have met far too many people today for me to be able to remember, I have tried food whose name i dont know, I drank tomato tree juice, walked on Coal stained beaches, and enjoyed a Birthday Party tonight, where they substituted candles for 1 giant fountain firework that filled the whole house with smoke. Another beautiful learning experience in Columbia. God Bless

HEAT!

HEAT! That was the first thing that hit me when i stepped off the plane. Followed shortly by thick moist air entering my lungs, feels like Indiana after a good rain in the middle of July. Exiting the plane i noticed to my left an old prop plane that must of been the plane from Raiders of the lost Ark. I was finally in Columbia after 3 different planes! Shortly after getting our bags and getting through customs we were informed that the van picking us up had broke down 2 different times on the way to get us. So.. we jumped in an old Toyota T100 pickup. It was definitely a cozy ride with 5 of us in there. Windows down on a 2 lane highway with our Driver driving like he was Jason Bourne, I noticed a very pungent smell. I was informed that we were following a truck full of cow hides.... interesting... Every stop light we came to there were kids trying to sell me things i have never scene and fruit i had never heard of... i was definitely not in Kansas anymore. We arrived into Santa Marta at 8pm where i was greeted by our hosts, 4 year old Kendall, and 2 year Parker. They were very quick to show me and around and tell what i could and couldnt do. Of course my fee for staying at their house, is giving them piggy back rides whenever they please:). All in all today has gone well. Things have definitely not gone exaclty according to plan but they have more then sufficed our needs. God Bless

Learning

I am still and always learning new things about this world that we live in. I am in awe of a certain group of people called the Wayuu in Northern Columbia. I will be visiting them and learning their ways in a week. Will probably be one the most interesting experience ever. I love complicated simplicity. Their ways are so old fashion yet they have more rituals then i can think of. I have been reading about them and I am coming to the conclusion that i probably will learn better by living with them. Should be an interesting time in my life. Honestly can't wait to bathe in the Rancheria River!

Recently

I have recently been dumbfounded by the amount of time i spend on myself. It seems everywhere i go and everything i do has some selfish motive to it. I know a lot of people that would benefit from me becoming less selfish. My mother would love it...if i would just sit down and teach her somethings about her phone.:( For some reason this request of hers always seems like a hassle. I have a friend up north who would just love it if i would take a weekend and spend it with him. (This kid is amazing but for some reason i always feel like there is something better to do?) I have numerous friends who would just like to spend an evening together. (yet I choose to hang out with acquaintances, who as far as i know, the nest time we hang might be the last.) A few things that need to change in my life. I guess i just need to learn what to hold on too.