Making a Friend in Colombia

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Written by Bessie on Friday, October 17, 2008 in Colombia
Feelin' normal

Ever wondered what happened to your foreign exchange student 35 years later?  Well, let us know, and we'll gladly show up at their house.

Over 35 years ago, a non-English speaking Colombian high schooler, named Lilly, went to Kansas and lived with the family of our friend Mike Zanders.  After offering us Lilly's email address, we now have a Colombian friend.

B, K, and Lilly in Barranquilla, Colombia

We spent the day with Lilly who graciously drove us down nearly every street in her city, took us anywhere we wanted to go, and even sent us "home" with a bag of juicy mangoes.  We met her husband and sons over home-cooked fresh fish, talking about their town's famous Mardi Gras and, of course, talking about baseball.  (Cubs fans are everywhere!!)

Rio Magdalena, Colombiatrain station in Puerto Colombia, ColombiaKyle & Lilly Puerto Colombia, Colombia
She drove us to the "Mississippi River" of Colombia, Rio Magdalena, and to the town & dock of Puerto Colombia.

"ant covered" building in Barranquilla, Colombia 12
Building is covered in an "ant" exhibit.
We visited the restored Customs building where many German, American, and Italian immigrants came in the 19th Century.

world's smallest monkeys, zoo in Colombiaa rare white lion, zoo in Colombia
(monkeys are just bigger than my palm, climbing the wire fence; white lion)
She even indulged us in our quest to visit the liger (the rare half lion + tiger, niiice!) in her town's zoo.  Sadly, our guidebook was out of date, and there was no liger, but we saw the world's smallest monkeys and a rare white lion.

Oh, and Mike, we made sure to show her lots of embarassing pictures of you.  Just kidding.   Thanks to Mike & Lilly for the glimpse into Colombian life, and sorry folks, tour guide isn't Lilly's day job.

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Comments on "Making a Friend in Colombia"

Don't be shy, tell us "hi"

SUPER, Bessie. that's great. good job as always. you guys are in such a great place with what is going on in the world of finance right now. Keep on keepin' on!!!!

Fondly,
Daddy Zanders

by Daddy Zanders at October 17, 2008 03:46 PM

Guys thank you for sharing your experiences in Barranquilla with me. I wish you the very best in the rest of the trip and I am very happy you had a great time with my family and me.
Come back, here you will always have friends,
Lilly

by Lilly at October 18, 2008 12:49 PM

Thank you to you and your family, Lilly, for your gracious hospitality to my daughter Bessie and my son-in-law Kyle. They bragged about you SO nicely! I hope you enjoyed their visit as much as they obviously enjoyed being with you!

by mumsie at October 22, 2008 07:57 PM

"Just give me a home with ANTS... Large beautiful ants... Creeping crawling sneeking peeking............. RUNNING ALMOST EVERYWHERE.............. Just give me a home with ants.... And keep them out of my pants... 'Cause they're just as big as an Italian Salami... And make me afraid as Dracula's Mommmmmmie.... So just keep your old yellow home and its ants"................ Far away from me!!!................. And Happy Halloween Everyone... :>}

by DADDIO at October 22, 2008 08:58 PM
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