Why We Are Going to Colombia

Today is the last blog post for Harper Builds Bikes in Colombia 😔 To end the wonderful trip, last night, we had a surprise dinner on a boat with our friends who live in Colombia (and their family and friends). It was terrific!  The view on the ocean was beautiful, and the food was delicious.  I also learned how to dance salsa with Carolina.  We stayed out late and after this great night, we packed for a long day of traveling this morning.  Before we left, we stopped by a park that had wild creatures in the trees, including these three animals that we actually saw: 1) a monkey, 2) an iguana and 3) A SLOTH!!  The sloth smiled at us, and Mommy went crazy!  Unfortunately, it’s time to leave.  Thank you for following my blog over this past week.  Please follow any other blogs I make for future travels!  This trip will be hard to beat!

Yesterday morning we left Barranquilla and arrived in Cartagena.  We spent all day walking the streets of the city, and it was packed with more people than I’ve seen on this trip.  My favorite part about Cartagena is that the buildings are so colorful.  Although Cartagena is so lovely, it is also very loud and full of people.  We saw a traditional wedding, where all of these women are dressed in beautiful white dresses, dancing to music played by men in white shirts, both groups making a pathway for the bride and groom.  By the end of the afternoon, I was ready to head back to our quiet room.  We did make it out for dinner, and after dinner, instead of a taxi, we took a horse and carriage home.  On the way, we started to hear music … and then a group of rappers started rapping for us and following us to our hotel.  When we arrived at our hotel, it seemed dark outside, but inside everything looked bright and fresh.  Today, I woke up in excitement because I had news that I was going to have my hair braided in the traditional way for many Colombian girls.  A nice woman named Brenda spent 2 hours on my hair … but it was worth the wait!  I love it!  With a style like this, I knew I had to show it off … so I went outside with Mommy and Nonni (my grandma) for some shopping.  I received a lot of compliments on it!  Cartagena is different from Barranquilla (and my home in Wilmette), but Mommy reminds me that it’s important to experience new people and places.

Today was the big day!  We left by bus early in the morning to reach the Alpes de Sevilla school in Galapa, Colombia.  When we arrived, it was steaming hot!  We saw all of the children, and got a tour of the school.  It looked nothing like the school that I attend.  Even though the school didn’t have as much in the classrooms as my school, all of the students seemed happy.  After the tour, we met some of the students and their families, and then took our seats under a tent to watch students perform their country’s traditional dances.  After the dances and some speeches, it was time to give away bicycles to 69 students.  I gave away bikes to a couple of students, and so did my family and others involved in World Bicycle Relief.  Then, after some of the students received their new Buffalo Bicycles (and tools, helmet and water bottle for each bicycle), we met a special girl named Maria Angel who, with her father riding her new bicycle, and her on the back of it, showed us the 4 km route to her home.  We all rode bicycles together with her.  It was a long journey to her home, and I was surprised that she had to walk it every day (1 hour walk each way). When we arrived at her home, Maria showed me her two room home (shared with 9 people). The home did not look like any home I’ve ever seen.  Maria showed me her room (PS — it was beautiful). I met her little niece, aunt and grandma, and before we left, I gave her a Chicago Fire soccer shirt to give her a souvenir from our home.  I was so pleased to meet Maria.  Today was great!

Yesterday we landed in Colombia!!  It felt so good to be out of the cold and into the warmth.  I enjoyed meeting Laura, who is with us this trip, and Mommy and I went swimming in the HUGE pool at our hotel to cool down.  Afterwards, at dusk, we went to a rainbow monument to see it light up.  It was beautiful to see such a big structure glow.  Since I had to wake up at 2 am yesterday morning, I was SO tired at night when we went to dinner.  After a good night’s sleep … Today we spent time in the morning meeting with people helping the Colombian community.  I took a break in the middle of the meeting to visit the town of Barranquilla with Mommy and Laura.  We walked and walked and walked … but it felt good to take a break.  At lunch, my new friends at World Bicycle Relief gifted me a Colombian futbol (soccer) jersey, and we headed off to build bicycles at the Buffalo Bicycles facility.  When we arrived, there were lots of people there to celebrate the opening of this bike center.  There were also tons of people taking photos and videos of people and the bikes.  Then there were speeches … and I couldn’t wait any longer to build a bike!  When it was time to build a bike, Patchie (my grandpa) and I put it together (it was mostly me doing the work) and people were excited to watch me because I was one of or the youngest person to build a Buffalo Bike.  Afterwards, Patchie and I took it for a spin and it was amazing.  When we returned, I was interviewed for the Colombian news to tell them about me and building bikes.  Finally, it was time … everyone got on their bikes and we rode for about an hour to a fun place on the river to get a refreshing drink.  I am so excited for tomorrow to give away almost 70 bikes, and for someone to ride the bike I built.

I am a 3rd grader at Central Elementary School in Wilmette, IL. I am the oldest of 3 girls and I am named after the famous author Harper Lee, but it helped that my parents also love Ben Harper and Eddie Vedder’s daughter’s name “Harper Moon” Vedder.

I play soccer, act in plays, have fun with my friends, love reading and math and have dreams of playing for the US women’s national team when I grow up

My family and I are headed to Colombia with the World Bicycle Relief, which is an organization very near and dear to my Grandfather’s (I call him Patchie) heart.

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• See a different part of the world (Colombia) through the eyes of a 3rd grade American Girl
• Understand the impact that being kind and helping others can have on the world
• Comprehend how something as simple as a bike can change a person’s life