Day 4 in Colombia (1/28/2022)
Today was a very special day! The weather was beautiful and warm enough for us to finally make the trip to the pool. I was super excited for this day because it would be Alekos' first swim. We even bought him a cute little swimming trunk to match his daddy. We were so lucky that the pool was practically empty when we went, so we set up our vlogging camera and recorded his first swimming experience. I held him carefully, keeping his head above the water level, and I was so happy seeing his tiny feet kicking behind him like a mini Michael Phelps.
We swam in circles for about 40 minutes and then we got out to snack on some empanadas and a drink called "Champús" which sounds like shampoo and that made me laugh. I looked it up because I wanted to know what was in it: "This is a traditional cold drink from the department of El Valle del Cauca, located in the pacific region of Colombia. Champús is a very refreshing drink served with a lot of ice, made with dried corn, pineapple, panela, mashed lulo, cinnamon, cloves, and orange tree leaves." Definition courtesy of "My Colombian Recipes"
(https://www.mycolombianrecipes.com/champus-lulo-pinneaple-and-corn-drink/). By the time we finished our meal, the baby had fallen asleep, so we set him up in his car seat in the shade where we could see him along the poolside and enjoy the rest of our day.
Day 5 (1/29)
Today was nice and simple. We went to visit some family friends that I knew from NYC. We talked about politics, lifestyle changes, and life in general. It was a great opportunity for reflection, and Ros and I felt proud of how far we have come by the end of the conversation. So much has happened in the last three years, and although there were a lot of moments that were challenging, I don't regret any of them.
My father held Alekos for a great portion of this visit, and I happily spent it watching them bond and taking precious pictures. I might have been the last baby my father truly held like this, so he was a bit nervous but happily cautious when embracing my little wiggle creature.
After such a philosophical encounter, we spend the evening at a neighbor's house, watching a soccer game on a huge 85" TV. Colombia was playing an eliminations game against Peru to remain in the FIFA world cup, but sadly, our lucky yellow jerseys just weren't enough. Their view though was the best show that evening. From their living room, you had an amazing 180-degree view of Cali and the mountains that surround it. A multi-million dollar view to say the least. Ros and I set up the camera on a time-lapse to capture the sun setting over the city and sat back while it captured the rolling movements of the clouds and the shadows cast by the mountains over the valley city. Make sure you check out the view in our youtube video for this trip!
As the sun sets over the city, we moved downstairs where we discovered that the neighbors had a beautiful billiards table, which really excited Ros. We haven't played pool in so long, and we were a little rusty, but eager to warm up. Our new friends taught us how to play by their rules, and we taught them how to play by ours. We laughed sharing stories and jokes, and the competitive atmosphere was extremely enjoyable. Everyone really made us feel welcomed and wanted, which made ending the night hard, but up the mountain we tracked. Even though it was super dark outside, we had a pack of dogs to watch over us all the way to the door. Can't wait to see what we do tomorrow!
Day 6 (1/30)
Today we had another Asado as one big hoorah before bringing our trip towards its conclusion. We old had a few days left, so you know food is a major highlight and goal on this trip. This time we welcomed a lot more people and I was surprised by how many knew my name and Alekos. Apparently, my father has been sharing our journey as new parents to all of his friends and community, including photos and updates of the growing baby. This had led everyone there to become excited about our visit, as they could finally meet us in the flesh, and welcome us to their homeland.
We all dressed up a little nicer, as this would be our last big meal with the company, but little did I know, I would be grateful for the extra effort I put in. Ros had been acting nervous all day and I wasn't sure as to why, but when the party was in full swing, I found myself walking into a surprising encounter. I had gone into the house to freshen up, and when I returned to the ramada, where the asado was being held, my father turned off the music and when I turned around, Ros got on one knee and asked me the question all women dream of, "¿Te casarías conmigo?". I never expected him to propose to me in Spanish, and to be honest, I loved it. Of course, I said "Yes!" and my father started playing one of my favorite songs as Ros slipped the ring onto my finger.
Everyone present started to cheer and celebrate the moment. I laughed when I heard one person say they have only ever seen that on tv, and they begged him to repeat it, so they could watch since everyone was caught off guard, not just me! We put on a show and the whole audience cheered as we embraced. My father played our song in the background and we danced and continued to enjoy the rest of the asado. My heart was pounding, and I felt like I was floating on cloud nine. Ros had recently teased that we wouldn't get married for a while longer, since I really wanted to focus on finishing my studies, and we had plans of investing in a home, so when he did this, although I had my suspicions, I was truly caught off guard. I can't wait to see how this awesome trip ends, and how the next chapter in our lives begins.
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