Regeneration

I'm on my third day in Bogotá (it's a sandwich of two work days, today, two work days).

Yesterday I got to immerse in an amazing holistic exhibit about the Magdalena River watershed at the national library.

The stairs leading up to the Magdalena River watershed exhibit at the national library in Bogotá were beautiful and inviting.

feeling petulant, infused, nervous, loved, valued, cautious, relaxed, hopeful

So, I conveniently forgot the altitude and its toll - I'm exhausted due to that, being on constant alert in such a teeming urban zone, trying to flow in Spanish (not just translate word/concept by word/concept), not having enough time in between trips, missing home (and everyone that means to me)...

I forgot the energy here, especially with my collaborators. Everyone is brilliant, motivated, proactive, and sincere. I am so fortunate to learn with them. It's nerve-wracking to want to please everyone, strategically, for my career, for my soul, and for the good of the people I care about. I got to meet Héctor, my co-author's pet chicken. They also have a parrot, several carnivorous plants, and a loving, supportive family.

​This experience (ongoing) has demonstrated to me how much I value working in interdisciplinary spaces. I still don't know my niche, but I am getting more comfortable. I just need more time to work. I am wary of the schemes related to everyone's differing agendas. And I am trying to be transparent about my boundaries and expectations, and willing to negotiate beyond them. 

don't forget the boundary of saying no to taking on more stuff

After my ~$3.50 USD haircut (woo hoo! Carlos from Honda, Tolima gave me the most feminine cut I've had in two years, and kept waxing poetic about how beautiful his historical town is -- apparently it has a suspension bridge made by the same engineers who did the Golden Gate bridge) I feel better. There was a 24 hour water rationing in the neighborhood I'm staying in. My local contact has opinions about the policy being drastic. I am curious to learn more.

Overall, I'm hoping for reconnection, solid points for action, and a feeling of confidence and security from being honest and true to myself and my values.

A remark from the exhibit:

“What consequences in the watershed come from activities like mining, livestock, and agroindustrial cultivation?

Could a river die?

A river is considered dead when it has lost oxygen, animal and plant life.”