At least its not a 9 to 5...

Two weeks into life in the city of eternal spring and I really am loving this place more every day. I chilled in my lovely home tonight, moon bathing on the patio and just taking time. I watched the first episode of Portlandia on YouTube while cuddling with Tornillo-kitty who is attacking my typing hands right now. I'm listening to the newest LCD Soundsystem album, getting stoked to go see them in concert in Bogota next month. Life seems to take on normalcy no matter how much you shake it up. I'm enjoying settling into a routine without losing the awe of the moment and of this place.

I wanted to give a quick update on what I'm actually doing here on a daily basis. I work a legit 8-4 shift Monday through Friday for Colombia Reports, writing articles about Colombia in English for anyone who cares about the moving and shaking of this turbulent country but doesn't speak Spanish. The 'newsroom' is the living room of my apartment. I've only been late to work once.

When I begin the day it's usually just me and a researcher (a Colombian who scores over local media to flesh out what stories we want to write about). The two other reporters (an American and a British guy) and a couple people working on advertising come in by 9 and then we map out a plan to get the top stories done on time.

We try to have a new 'front page' which consists of the four biggest stories of the day by 8 am, 12 pm and 5 pm. My editor, Adriaan, does the morning stories and then he passes the baton after 8. I get coffee and get going on the first article. The researcher gives me a story (i.e. FARC hostages get released or Shakira breaks up with her boyfriend) and a source for it - usually a Colombian newspaper article. I then research the story, looking for additional sources to get more context and check the facts of the original article I'm drawing from.

For the most part there is NO other news in English about the goings on in this country. That means lots of translating. I've learned to trust myself over online translators and I'm coming to love playing around with both languages so the essence is the same, even if the words aren't.

Then I write the story in English, add some links and a photo and pass it on to my editor who will then 'publish' it. I get through about six stories a day.

And I'm loving it. I love learning about this country, I love learning Spanish and about words and about the different topics I am researching. I think my lil gemini self likes this whole journalism gig 'cause I am constantly changing my focus, learning about something new. I love the people I work with, the fast pace of a newsroom, arguing about grammar. I love that on my lunch break I can walk outside and I'm in the heart of this crazy living organism that is Medellin.

These small joys make me happy in a new way on a daily basis. I got to trek out to the mountains outside this weekend when I was invited to a birthday party at someone's country home. I've been exploring different neighborhoods, trying on the night life for size, discovering new restaurants, making new friends and smelling flowers the likes of which I've never...

It fits. Or I'm being molded. Either way it feels good.

THIS link goes to every story I've ever written for Colombia Reports.