Day 4: Relaxing at El Cortijo

As promised, here are some pictures with Dave and Jonatan...actually, if we figure out how to post some video in the next couple days, we have some video of Jonatan with his Papa and a more detailed view of El Cortijo to share...you will have to give us a day or so on that one, though.

Jonatan loves to flip through books...all the while talking some Spanish and some his own made up language.

"Again, Papa! Again!"



Jonatan with the ball his foster parents sent with him...one of his favorite toys!


Dave was going to post this afternoon, but did not know how to work our blogger account and didn't want to wake me up as I was resting with Jonatan...soooo, dear friends, you will have to wait for a post this weekend from him...as the Derr men are fast asleep now.

Aren't they cute!


Today was a calm low-key day here at El Cortijo. Actually, it was welcomed as we were all pretty tired from yesterday's trip. Our day held a trip to a store similar to Walmart in the states, the mac machine, a dip in the pool, a visit from Lola the resident parrot, and a rather long nap in the afternoon! Really, our day was pretty uneventful, so I thought that I would share some facts or discoveries from our time down here so far.



I spent some time today reflecting on our time here so far, and figured I would share some thoughts for the benefit of family, friends, and fellow bloggers/adoptive families who are waiting to travel. I also thought that I could take some time to answer questions that many have asked through emails or comments...so, here we go:

The first has to do with language and communication...I found myself wondering how difficult it really would be if both Dave and I had no Spanish experience...there are many moments throughout our day that require a longer explanation than a two or three word statement in order for Jonatan to understand what is going...the thought occurred to me today to share how important it really is to learn as much Spanish as one can before traveling to Colombia...not only do the majority of persons here speak only Spanish, but your child(ren) will most likely only have heard Spanish. Knowing Spanish has also enabled us to connect with Jonatan in a way that I don't believe we would be able to if we did not...I believe it has reduced the amount of frustration and confusion for Jonatan in this transition...it has also helped us to understand fairly quickly what he is trying to communicate in most situations...

We have also been asked if we are teaching Jonatan Spanish or will we be teaching him English. The answer is both. Right now, though, our communication with him is mostly Spanish. This is what he has heard in the 19 months of his life so far...it is what is most familiar to him...I guess in our thinking, this is confortable for now...there are too many other things that have changed for him...since we are able to use Spanish with him, we would like to give him consistency in this area and gradually introduce English. So, for those of you who are wondering...he most likely will understand some English when we finally arrive home...although I am thinking that he will probably not know enough to understand everything that is being said to him. Have no fear, I am sure he will learn English soon enough; for now, Spanish is his sole language and will continue as his primary language in the immediate future.

Jonatan facts: we aren't quite sure if he is left or right handed or ambidextrous. He is pretty skilled with both his hands...and alternates quite frequently on his use of each...meal times are pretty entertaining as he will often use a fork in his left hand and a spoon in his right, and does equally well with both hands! Our little guy loves art and music...there are some amazing paintings here at El Cortijo...some of which Rosario's son has painted (he currently lives in Italy and attended a school of art here in Periera and in Italy...and is an artist by trade today)...so, Jonatan will often walk through the living area or down the halls and point to each of the pictures and say "(Ma or Pa), na, si"...we aren't quite sure what the 'na' is, but it is pretty cute. With music, he will put his fists in the air and bend his wrists back and forth to the beat while his right leg does this sort of rhythmic movement...also too cute!

Tonight, we were reading together "Me Gusta Cuando.." (I like it when)and had gotten to one part in the book where we read "Me gusta cuando bailas conmigo!" (I like it when you dance with me!)...well, sure enough, Jonatan put his little fists in the air, began to move his wrists to the beat of Spanish worship music we had on (thanks Charlene!), and then nod his little head back and forth to the rhythm as we were lying in bed...ok, need I mention he had a bottle in his mouth while he was doing this...way adorable!

In closing, Colombia is filled with differences like the states. Some of you have shared how surprised you were to see what Colombia looks like. We had posted, several months back, a video that sort of made fun of the assumptions that a lot of people have about Colombia...Colombia is nothing like the picture these assumptions lead to. While Colombia does have its fair share of problems, it is country rich in history, culture, and landscape. Both Bogota and Periera bear evidence of the fact that both rich and poor exist. As in the states in larger cities, there are sections of city where things are fairly run down and depressed to areas that are clearly prosperous and wealthy. You will find everything from snow and mountain top to sand and sea within Colombia.

I think the other detail about Colombia that I have enjoyed learning more about is the people. Colombian people are very diverse. There is a rich cultural and ethnic history here...one which finds its roots in not just the earliest indigenous people, but also in a primary African and Spanish history. There is far too little space here to go into that lengthy history...but if you have any time to study or ready about it...it is a pretty sad and amazing history.

A few more fun pictures:

The resident El Cortijo, tortuga (turtle):


Papa y Jonatan enjoying las flores!


More pictures from Parque de Café!