It now seems like too long ago, but y it's only been a month and a half since we were in Colombia. So much has passed since then, and so many people seen, miles flown and things done, routines begun. The passage of time waits for no one, and so we felt it important that, today, our first weekday without school (in celebration of Malaysian Independence day), we make the time to go back and reminisce, re-create, re-examine, re-enjoy it all.
Colombia was a bit of a mad dash. Between the extended family and the friends of old there were, literally, hundreds of people who had to meet little Irini. Add to that the arrival of Kate (our great friend from our days of teaching in Colombia) for a week and it was a true adventure in human contact. The only 'down time' so to speak was our three days in beautiful Villa de Leyva with Kate and Natalia's immediate family. The village, as always, was friendly and welcoming. The only thing that seemed to 'stand out' from earlier visits was the cobble stones. Our stoller was left behind after one foray into the small streets and Irini was happy to be carried anywhere and everywhere.
In there somewhere, in a small tienda on the side of the road where we stopped for a drink just about in the middle of nowhere, it was announced to the world that Ingrid Betancourt and another 14 hostages were freed after years in captivity. It was a moment of national pride when a nation's people could give out a collective (though temporary) sigh of relief. Pride was evident everywhere, from the livingroom discussion as we watched the developments, to the statements made by those who were freed, to the flag waving cars honking their horns in the plaza of the otherwise sleepy village.
As the collective euphoria gradually turned into daily get-togethers with friends and relatives, so too our time in Bogota become a little more goal oriented. Our days turned into rituals of preparing food for hosting get-togethers or of buying little gifts for visiting ones. In there, of course, were the requisite warmth of friendship and laughter, sweet communication between Irini and her extended family. Perhaps the most rewarding experience was the visit with Irini's great-grandmother who immediately turned a wine red in her glow of love. We had never seen her like this, but her giddiness and childish appreciation for Irini's demeanor ("un angel") and personality was obvious from the first moment to the last. Over our three weeks there, Irini sat in countless laps, was passed on from one friend to another cousin and back again with nothing but a smile. She was content and so was everyone else. In there somewhere, she began to eat fruit, beginning with papaya and moving on to mango and 'granadilla'. The feeding ritual, normally conducted by Natalia's sister, was observed by the whole family - from little cousins TTmouz and Avihurik to grandmother Emilia - and generally included the necessary "ahh" and "ohh" as well as a variety of styles of smile and giggles.
We counted 19 social events in the last week alone and, between us, Irini fared the best. Laurence got sick somewhere in the middle of the visit. By the time we got on the plane to Greece (Kate had left a few days earlier) we were ready for a slower pace of life.
The flights were generally uneventful. Irini slept through the entire first flight from Bogota to Madrid (waking up only for a quick meal somewhere over the Atlantic). She also slept through the first portion of the second flight but, at about half way, she woke up and worked hard on getting blood pumping through her muscles. She tried to climb onto the seat in front of her dad, or wanted to reach the things in the magazine rack, she reached down to the floor while daddy held the rest of her body up. Laurence decided to walk her down the aisles and was very glad to see so many other passengers enjoying a few seconds with Irini. They smiled, talked to her, touched her little feet, and generally admired her sweetness.
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