BOGOTA, take 6

While we spent much of the time at home with the family, which was cozy and safe and so nice, we also ventured out into the city a bit. We experienced the complications of getting around a city of 8 million people, and there's no way we could have done it without speaking Spanish. Even in the middle of the day on a weekday, the streets and buses were packed with people. I kept telling Jen how I couldn't imagine their lives when they were living in the midst of this! Only part of a day in it was overwhelming to me.

One thing we that was clear, and that we've noticed in other parts of Latin America, was that there is a level of respect for pregnant women, children, and the elderly that we don't see to the same degree here. There are designated seats on all the buses for those listed above. Even if the bus was packed (which it mostly was), everyone shifted and adjusted to make room for us to get to the blue seats. Whenever there was a line (especially in the airports), there was a separate line for these people. So, even when there was a long, long wait for the majority of people, everyone shooed us up to the front of the line respectfully. In contrast, when we came back into the US, we stood in line for customs for about a 1/2 hour with a screaming 1 year old and 2 squirmy kids. It was miserable, and the only thing the people knew to do was stare. Not helpful. We were told that having children with you even keeps you safer in the city, because no one with bother you, out of respect.

Anyway, our lovely hosts took us downtown, to some wonderful restaurants, to a children's museum, the botanical gardens, the parke del chico, to the home of their friends, and my sister and I even got some time on our own in the artisan market.

One thing that I appreciated about visiting an MCC family is the inspiration for simplicity. After spending 10 days in their lives, I wonder who really needs more than 2 knives in their kitchen? who really needs a clothes dryer for that matter? or a car?