And Just Like That, It Is Time to Move On

Kind of

Contemplating Life photo by author

Last night, I prayed for a solution. There is no solution as of yet, but the winds have changed. The direction of my life is shifting. I again have to find a new place to live.

My little garden is finally producing, and I have many green tomato plants with fruit. I hope they will be ripe in two weeks. My herbs are thriving, and the avocados are overflowing.

However, I am unsure what is going on this year, as everything is going wrong lately. I feel as if I am turned upside down and being shaken to see what comes out.

It’s a new day. Three days ago, I began this article.

I was frustrated and angry and had no idea what to do, so I never finished it. I felt lost, spiraling, and lost yet again.

Let me give you some context.

I have to move. I mentioned that above and was so angry that I could not formulate much more to say.

The school has closed, and I was angry when I found out. Instantly, I wanted to run, flee, disappear, or do anything else. That is what I do when I am mad or frustrated.

The school has been doing poorly for the past few months, and the owners have struggled to pay the bills.

Tourism appears to be down in Colombia, and the last students we mentioned had yet to see any other tourists in three weeks or so. Plus, Medellín is yet again in the news for deaths, robberies, and druggings.

This perpetuates the stereotype of Colombia as a dangerous country.

Moreover, whereas Medellín seemed to turn for the good last year, the tune may have shifted now.

I am not a fan of Medellín, but I can tell you I have never felt unsafe there or had any issues. But when this kind of publicity begins to make headlines in other countries, many will skip Medellin and other cities in the area.

However, most of our students and traffic came from Medellín and students who heard of the school from others, usually those who went to the city.

So, the end of a chapter.

Preparing for the Festival de la Cometa (Kite Festival)

Before I arrived at the school, it was doing well, so naturally, I instantly thought I was bringing bad luck. I thought maybe I should leave anyway, but my friends told me to stay.

Except now we all have to leave. I firmly believe that when the universe wants you to make a move, she will move heaven and earth to make it happen, which she did.

When the school closed, one of the instructors immediately got three new online students. That was odd since even his online business had slowed and suddenly picked up.

I said you think it’s a sign, and he doesn’t usually believe in my ¨woo¨ he said yes.

Also, I made a big decision, which will be the subject of a future post once it is all settled.

He is happy we are moving to a house with a river! He loves the mud.

When I was spiraling, I was thinking about traveling around Colombia and seeing little pueblos again, becoming nomadic, and trying to wrap my head around full-time travel once again.

I had to be honest with myself; that was the one thing I did not want to do. I could start looking for land and farm shopping, but it did not feel right. The thought of moving around appalled me, and I didn’t sleep for a few days.

Then we all decided to stay in the town, and something amazing happened. I can not talk about it yet, but hopefully, in a few weeks, I will have more information.

Long story short (well, not really), those of us who live at the school are staying in Jericó. The town is beautiful, safe, and has fantastic coffee shops.

We are going to figure it out together.

Their decision to close was best for them, and I was getting involved in something that was not my business. Once I stepped back, my doors too opened, which I will discuss in a few weeks!

I went for a walk and ran into my neighbor and told him I would be leaving, and I told him next week I would stop by to visit before I left. Even though I only go to the other side of town, I will no longer see him on my nightly walks.

I also ran into my other neighbor, who asked about my tomatoes and gave me some avocados. You can not refuse neighbors’ gifts even if I already have one million avocados!

I will miss this area, but to fulfill my dreams, I must leave, if it is only across town.

XOXO

S