I think the tone for this adventure has been set from the outset; full of contrasts.
Thanks to the helpful 5 hour time difference, I got a full 9 hours sleep for which my body was grateful after 23 hours in transit. However, I woke up with a cold...
My lovely landlady Luz met me to show me where the language school was, but we spent ten minutes trying to understand each other, it's hard to explain that repeating the same word doesn't suddenly teach me it ... I soon learned she was also suggesting we got something to eat while we were out. We had an interesting time in a tiny cafe where strangers talked comfortably and I had a tasty omelette and sweet roll. I knew I would be so at home here if only I understood a flipping word. I can pick up a lot of nouns and seem to make myself understood, but the words I recognise and can't remember the meaning of and being left clueless is so frustrating. I think they all think I'm bonkers to come over here alone with so little language.
I had a nice wander down into the city; I'm minutes from the school and from the centre and quickly joined a crowd of tourists and street sellers with police and security folk a plenty. I feel like I've got my bearings and it's a city of such character, even with the graffitti. My favourite discovery today is that it's much warmer than I anticipated - much like a British summer! Despite so many people walking around in coats and winter boots it's enough for my Irish blood. Walking up the incredibly steep hill back to the hostel was painful in the heat ... so a shopping trip is inevitable. However my room, which is lovely, is also built for tropical weather not this 'winter' so I'm sitting here in two jumpers with my tissues and vicks.
Unfortunately I can't get the internet to work in the hostel which is leaving me feeling a bit cut off, as well as staying in touch with people I'd like to look up what the events that seem to be planned for this week in the city are and maybe some reviews of restaurants etc, we'll sort that tomorrow hopefully.
I'm looking forward to getting tomorrow, first day of school, over with. I'm the only one at the hostel this week, and I have a feeling the school is very quiet so I may be going solo for a few days at least, but I really am ok with that space. I'm tired and in need of time to read and write and walk, and I stand more chance of getting to grips with the language if there's no one to talk English with! Knowing I'm not 100% means that concentrating for 4 hours when there aren't other students to hide behind will be tricky, equally I will go at a much faster pace so I just need to get started. Then there are two days off for New Year and I am looking forward to exploring more and experiencing the fiesta!
So in summary, I'm feeling rough but that's ok cos I can go to bed early knowing I have plenty of time to explore. I'm confident that on New Year I can happily join in the party in the main square. And I'm sure I'll fall in love with Bogota soon enough!
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