What a year it has been since I arrived in Colombia on February 1st, 2008. I have made so many memories during my time accompanying the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó: trenching through mud with Peace Community members in the beautiful Urabá countryside; last year's commemoration of the horrendous 2005 Mulatos massacre of eight people, including Peace Community leader Luís Eduardo Guerra and his wife and children; wonderful moments of playing and joking with the cute kids; hours with my teammates in our office analyzing threats against the community; and long nights of dancing Colombian-style to vallenato, merengue and salsa. As my departure date nears, while I am looking forward to returning to the US, I cannot help but reflect upon all the things I will miss in Colombia…
What I look forward to back in the USA
First of all, I'd like to point out a few things I have missed this past year.
Obviously, most of all: Family and friends…
Additionally, I cannot wait to once again taste Indian and Thai food, almond milk, sweet potatoes, and grapefruit mmm. It goes without mention that I have so missed gourmet beer: Anderson Valley, Chimey, Guinness… Also, although I have learned to enjoy washing clothes by hand, it will be nice to have a washing machine again! I am also looking forward to sitting on and rolling around on carpet, which I love (the floors here are either wood or concrete…). And I can't wait for the next NFL season, and to be able to listen to whatever music I wish, when I want… Additionally, I am excited to see what sort of positive change we as citizens of the US can make during the Obama administration.
What I'll miss of La Unión
The fresh air and water of the Colombian countryside located in one of the greenest areas in the country
The warm climate: even on a 'chilly' night we walk around in sandalsThe delicious organic food people share with us: beans, eggs, yucca (cassava), corn on the cob, avocados, plantains, and meat: locally-raised chicken, duck and beef, as well as my favorite, tatabra (wild boar hunted in the mountains)
The fresh fruit: papaya, bananas, mangos, passion fruit, oranges, guava, and fruits unknown elsewhere such as guanábana and borojó
How incredible my body feels. In addition to the fresh air and rich food, due to the extensive exercise, I have almost never felt better.
On top of the treks to other Community villages, having to walk and hour and a half through the mountains from town to the house gets one into good shape…
Community dances: I don't think I'll find many people in California who can dance the crazy vallenato…!
As far as the work goes, it is going to be difficult to leave behind the intense lifestyle of accompaniment. I have loved how life and work are completely intertwined, with no set schedule. One minute, I might find myself playing with the children; the next moment, I am making phone calls to various entities to assess the security in the area following a combat. Another day I would find myself in Apartadó discussing conditions for displaced people in Urabá with representatives of the UN, Organization of American States and the International Red Cross. The next day, I might be climbing through the mud of the rain forest with Peace Community leaders on their way to the Community settlement in La Esperanza, to evaluate the state of the farmers there following paramilitary threats.
And of course, what I will miss the most: the people of the Peace Community. I'm not sure how I will cope with not being able to go play with the cute kids: throwing them in the air, kissing their foreheads, playing tag, tickling them and hearing them laugh…
Here in La Unión, I can walk into any home, chat for a while with folks, share some rice and beans, have an intense conversation about the conflict or relationships, and then share laughs and jokes about whatever… As accompaniers we are not part of the Peace Community, but simply living here, one truly feels community… This has been my home, one I know I cannot replicate elsewhere.
It has been an honor to accompany this community and witness its determination to construct a future of dignity, justice and peace in Colombia.
Despite being so excited to return to the United States for numerous reasons, what hits me the most is knowing that I will long for many more things about the Peace Community than I have missed since being here. Before having even left, I am already longing to return…
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