Day 153, Cartagena: At Fundacion La Vecina we teach children how to fly.

I just want to post some pictures to say how much I love taking zumba classes. Today I can barely move because I've been doing sports everyday for over a week, but I just like it so much. Zumba classes with D are the the perfect way to learn how to dance the Colombian way, I swear it's not the same thing than doing Zumba in Europe. I think I still look more or less ridiculous compared to the Colombian girls in my group but I'm getting better each time. Besides, I like a lot this small town way of doing things: the teacher knows all of us, we are all friends and we do things together outside the classes as well. It's so different from going to a gym, participating in a class and then just leaving. Like in Jamaica, the dancers here form a tight community, and it's nice to be part of it now and get to meet new people all the time. And it is great to have time to go dancing almost everyday, easy life is so good.

Here are some pictures to show how much fun we always have:

Group picture from this Tuesday

After class selfie this Monday

Hips don't lie with K

And then there are also the amazing views when we have classes at Portal San Felipe shopping mall. Dancing in sunset and starlight, love it.

La Vecina kids love dancing as well, no surprise. Again, this is so different from what I'm used to in Europe: during their afternoon break, the children (boys included!) start spontaneously to dance and it's so natural for them. I tried to film:

Younger girls show that they can do it too:

​Another current trend amongst the La Vecina kids is jumping, or "flying" as they call it. It all started when my colleague K showed some kids a picture of her jumping in a lotus position and told them that she was flying. She explained that if they sat down and remained silent and concentrated for fifteen minutes, they would be able to fly as well. At first the children actually believed her and we had hard time trying not to laugh when they tried to "fly". At least we got them to be quiet for a moment!

They have understood now that flying is not that easy but everyday, all the time, kids come to ask us if we can take pictures of them jumping. So we do, here's a part of my collection of fourth graders. Aww, they are cute.

Tonight I'm going to a Champeta party to dance some more and tomorrow morning I'm off to Cali for a couple of days. And Cali means of course: salsa! 

xx: Emi

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