In a New York Minute

Leave your things behind 'Cause it's all going off without you...

2009-06-15T18:03:00.005-05:00

My blog has moved! I will still check out nomadlife for travel tales, but from now on will be posting on my wordpress-hosted blog. I am already enjoying how many more creative design options that it has compared to the ftp templates with blogger. Check it out!

what the world needs now...

2009-06-10T09:57:00.005-05:00

If money makes the 21st century go 'round, the economic value of peace should resound much louder for the leaders of our world....

Last week, I had the incredible opportunity to attend a conference at the UN which presented the findings of the Global Peace Index in 2009 with Chris and Jim. Being back at the UN brought back so many memories of the summer that I spent in NY, attending briefings with diplomats every morning, learning the in's and out's of the UN, visiting consulates and permanent missions every afternoon, talking about every aspect of international relations you can possibly imagine.

The session that we were lucky enough to attend was hosted by the Institute for Economics & Peace. The Global Peace Index (GPI) is an attempt to measure the relative position of peacefulness of states and regions around the world, based on quantifiable data collected by peace institutes and think tanks and analyzed by the Economist Intelligence Unit, including a variety of measures such as the number of internal and external wars fought, political instability, military expenditure as a percentage of GDP, UN and non-UN deployments, number of displaced persons as a percentage of the population, and more.

It's an incredibly interesting and complex study, only 3 years into its existence, that has examined a huge spectrum of drivers of peace and violence (functioning of govt, freedom of the press, extent of regional integration, life expectancy, primary school enrollment ratio, women in parliament, importance of religion in national life, GDP per capita, hostility toward foreigners/private property, electoral process).

The presenters of the study led a fascinating explanation of how the study was conducted, how various indicators were chosen to include, how certain countries landed where they did on the spectrum (New Zealand being the most peaceful country among the 144 analyzed, Iraq the least peaceful, Colombia toward the bottom at #130, and the US just below the median at #83), the shortcomings of the study, the economic implications of the findings, and much, much more. A Q&A followed and the discussion was intriguing. I'm excited to look more in-depth at the study.

While there were many shocking results and statistics presented to us, I will highlight just three here that describe the Financial Value of Peace:

- Only 4.4% of the global economy is estimated to be dependent on violence

- The annual economic impact of a cessation of violence has been estimated at $7.2 trillion USD

-In peace, $4.8 trillion USD of new business would be created annually

Just something to ponder...

**Defining Peace: The difficulties in defining the concept of peace may partly explain why there have been so few attempts to measure states of peace across nations. The GPI has defined peace as the absence of violence, a definition most people will agree with, which also allows measurements.

What would you do if you weren't afraid?

2009-06-10T09:44:00.004-05:00

Just when he thought he was getting ahead, he would get lost in the corridors. It seemed his progress was two steps forward and one step backward. It was a challenge, but he had to admit that being back in the Maze, hunting for Cheese, wasn't nearly as bad as he feared it might be.

As time went on he began to wonder if it was realistic for him to expect to find New Cheese. He wondered if he had bitten off more than he could chew. Then he laughed, realizing that he had nothing to chew on at that moment.

Whenever he started to get discouraged, he reminded himself that what he was doing as uncomfortable as it was at the moment, was in reality much better than staying in the Cheeseless situation. He was taking control, rather than simply letting things happen to him.

- excerpt from "Who Moved My Cheese?"

Spotlight on Microfinance in Colombia

2009-06-08T10:51:00.006-05:00

I came across an article on Twitter this morning about the arrival of the Grameen Bank to Colombia. Within Latin America, the Grameen Bank is currently working in Guatemala, Mexico, and Costa on Microfinance initiatives and is now officially getting started in Colombia. The Economist Intelligence Unit, supported by the InterAmerican Development Bank has identified Colombia as the most advanced country in terms of Microcredit Initiatives over the past year.

Definitely check out the article - interesting stuff :)

National Running Day

2009-06-03T12:16:00.019-05:00

Today, June 3, 2009 is officially the first annual National Running Day. No, this isn't like Guacamole Day or any or those other obscure holidays that people make up.

June 3 has been designated by several major organizations in the running industry, including USA Track & Field, Running USA, the Boston Athletic Association, New York Road Runners, the Oregon Track Club, and more, as National Running Day. The initiative is encouraging everyone, young and old, runner and non-runner, to lace up their shoes and go for a run today, as way to promote a healthier, more active lifestyle. The running industry is focusing especially on inspiring children and educating them on the benefits of running, as so many phys ed programs are included in schools' budget cuts.

We live in a country that the world often views through the lens of obesity and fast food chains...and with good reason. The unhealthy lifestyles that so many Americans lead cost over $100 billion annually in health-care expenses and productivity loss due to obesity problems, so much so that inactivity and poor diet are on their way toward overtaking smoking as the #1 cause of preventable death in the US. Sad.

It's pretty cool to see recreational and competitive runners using various social media channels today, especially Twitter and Facebook, to create a hype around National Running Day. You don't need to run a marathon, or even a 5k race, but even small steps toward getting up from your desk or your couch to go for a run goes a long way...and you just might enjoy it ;)

And we'll never be worlds apart...

2009-05-31T22:40:00.004-05:00

I love New York.

I love that there is always someone passing through the city from one corner of the world to another.

When your friends are thousands of miles away, it's reassuring to be at the crossroads which bring so many together.

Planning many, many reunions over the next couple weeks, both expected and unexpected.

Re-discovering the Dream...

2009-05-30T18:10:00.005-05:00

Living the dream.

The mantra we all lived by in college as we planned for our adventures abroad. The energy in people who I surrounded myself with. The decision the shake things up my sophomore year by moving to Paris. The passion that I felt in ordinary, everyday moments while in Colombia. The opportunity to work a dream job with an organization to which I was incredibly dedicated, surrounded by an amazing team of people. How I approached everything in my life.

Living the dream.

What has been missing from mi vida over the past several months.

I realized that I was not heading in the direction professionally that I wanted, which was making me more and more unhappy in my personal life. I've never settled for something that I wasn't passionate about, but it was starting to look like that was the direction that I was heading, which made me feel very...not me.

And so I made some major changes over the past few weeks. I took a risk and left the job that was making me unhappy and which I knew was never going to lead me achieve my goals. Best decision I've made in a long time. Spending some time back in Madison always seems to give me clarity and remind me to not stop pushing until I'm doing what I am completely passionate about, to never settle for less than the best.

I have a few ideas for the short term, which will keep me based in New York (yay! still love this city). I'm playing around with an idea for the next part of the plan, which makes me happier just thinking about the possibility that I ever was at my last job. There may be a bit of nomading involved; time will tell.

Ohhh, life. Love the adventure.

there's no place like home...

2009-05-25T22:29:00.004-05:00

It was a perfect Madtown weekend, in every way possible. Though most of my college crew has spread their wings and followed their dreams down different roads, on certain occasions the winds of Madison call us all back together again. The sun shines down on the lake, we bring pitchers of Spotted Cow and Babcock ice cream out to the iconic yellow, orange, and green terrace tables, and it is as if a mere matter of weeks has passed since we were last together.

After deciding a few months ago to run the Madison Half-Marathon, it turned out that several friends - both runners and non-runners - had the same idea, and several reunions fell into place. Others drove to town for the day from Chicago, the Twin Cities, and West Bend, making the weekend even richer.

The race was a memorable one for me. I ran with Simon and Liz and the memories flooded back as we passed the Camp Randall Stadium, the Lakeshore dorms. We saw friends' old apartments and campus buildings where we had spent countless hours in classes. Liz and I remembered many runs together as we turned down the Lakeshore path and around the Union. The course went up Langdon, we laughed and pointed out different frat houses that we had partied at. A couple spectators handed out beer along the course, and the three of us had no intention of turning it down - I love Wisconsinites. Zach was cheering for us near James Madison Park, Jackie at Tenney Park. The final 5k curved around the Monona Terrace and the sun shone on Lake Monona. The last couple miles were tough, but as I turned down the final stretch and pushed my way to the finish line amidst the cheering, I knew that I would PR by several minutes.

In just one long weekend, I saw many, many close friends, wandered up and down State Street, visited some of my favorite cafes and bars, and soaked up every ounce of Madison goodness that I could. I may not return often, but Madison will always have a place in my heart, will always call me home.

Madison: Experiences for a Lifetime

Best roommates, best friends.

hanging out with the guys on the terrace

PR 2:19:45

my "little sisters"

AIESEC love: Erin's first Marathon

Les Parisiens: Joe's first Half-Marathon

Just dance....

2009-05-18T23:18:00.001-05:00

...gonna be ok.

In order to understand the world, one has to turn away from it on occasion...

2009-04-27T20:14:00.002-05:00

I can't wait until summertime in this glorious city...

The day is fresh, I'm coming home again...

2009-04-26T11:29:00.004-05:00

Leave Saturday, May 23, 2009

Delta AirLines 2894

Depart 8:25am New York, NY (LGA)

Arrive 10:30am Minneapolis, MN (MSP)

Delta AirLines 2787

Depart 1:10pm Minneapolis, MN (MSP)

Arrive: 2:14pm Madison, WI (MSN)

Return Monday, May 25, 2009

Delta AirLines 6630

Depart 4:10pm Madison, WI (MSN)

Arrive: 7:30pm New York, NY (LGA)

we are a product of all we have seen...

2009-04-19T14:17:00.003-05:00

While spending a lazy afternoon in Juan Valdez, sipping a cup of rich Colombian coffee, catching up with emails, the guy at the table next to me looks over at me. "Excuse me," he asks. "But are you Colombian?" Slightly puzzled, slightly amused, as I have no Latino heritage but have often been asked that question, I respond, "No, why do you ask? Are you?" He tells me that yes, he is from Cali. We chat in Spanglish, I explain that I actually have lived in Colombia and he tells me that I look Colombian. I respond gracias and he asks por que gracias? I'm not sure why that was my response, why I take this as a compliment, but I do. I've felt for years now as if a part of me is truly Colombian, that I connected with the culture there on a level unlike anywhere else that I have ever been, and while mi sangre may not be Colombian, mi corazon is.

the wide waters of New York inspire me...

2009-04-12T11:41:00.003-05:00

Inspiration from a gorgeous early run.. mornings like these are the reason that I am a runner...

you pushed me to go the extra mile...

2009-04-05T10:13:00.004-05:00

This morning was one of my best short races to date. The weather was gorgeous, and I knew from my first mile split (which had included Cat Hill) that it was going to be a good race. There's such an advantage to racing a course that you know inside and out, where you can anticipate the grade of each uphill, know exactly how long you have to recover on the rolling downhills. I finished in 38:17, one of my best race times yet. Now if only I could run a 9:34 pace during the marathon ;)

My fellow Badger running buddies in their first NYRR race

Do you ever wonder what happens to the words that we send, do they bend, do they break from the flight that they take...

2009-04-01T23:12:00.006-05:00

We stand in the pouring rain, waiting for tonight's training to begin. Coach Ramon, back from accompanying our spring season to Italy for the Rome Marathon, chides us over slacking while he was away for the past two weeks. As we are waiting for him to go over our hill workout....

"So, one important announcement. There has *kind of* been a mix-up between the NYC TNT Chapter office and the race organizers out in San Diego. We sent in all the registration forms after recommitment last week, but it seems that somehow our team does NOT have any spots reserved for the race [panicked looks start to spread] and the race is already full. If you were signed up for San Diego, you always have the option of switching to Anchorage or Lake Placid, but we ARE trying to get everything straightened out in time, so don't worry too much, hopefully we can figure everything out [looks of confusion]. So for tonight's hill training, we are going to be running Cat Hill. What I want you to focus on.."

He goes over the workout as everyone tries to process what he just said. He shouts for us to head out, as Coach Christine asks if he doesn't still have one more announcement. Nope, he starts yelling at all of us to stop being cry-babies about the rain and pick up the pace.

Christine is the nice coach. She loves us. She tells us that we all fell for it...

APRIL FOOLS.

travel tales

2009-03-29T21:51:00.007-05:00

Mexico was a breath of fresh air, literally and figuratively. While I longed to stay longer and explore more of the country, the vacation was relaxing and rejuvenating. I spent some quality time with my best friend, drinking plenty of margaritas and mojitos alongside the pool, soaking up the sun. I spent hours reading, writing, and pondering whether or not it was time for me to move back to Latin America or elsewhere. No rash decisions have been made, but I appreciated the time out of my comfort zone to reevaluate several things in my life... as I usually do when abroad.

We spent one day on an excursion that including zip-lining (SO much fun) through the jungle, mountain biking, snorkeling and climbing/swimming through crazy caves. Our fellow travelers, as well as our tour guide kept us thoroughly entertained. Of course, I managed to fall while in the caves and bang up my leg on the rocks, as horror thoughts of knee injuries interfering with my marathon training flashed through my mind. It had swelled up pretty badly by late afternoon when we got to the hotel. One of the bartenders creatively fashioned an ice-pack out of seran wrap (that worked surprisingly well) for me, but I spent most of that evening chilling on our balcony rather than salsa dancing.

One of the highlights of the trip was befriending much of the hotel staff. As is common with many all-inclusive resorts such as the one where we were staying, the majority of the guests were gringos who spoke not a word of Spanish and who had no real interest in experiencing anything that might resemble the true Mexican culture because it might shake up their perceptions a little too much. It was amusing to see the reactions of the resort staff and our tour guides when they realized I spoke Spanish - often when I would overhear a conversation that they had not intended for us to hear.

(ellos) Mira sus oyos bellos. Ellas son mis novias.

(yo, sonriendo) Lo siento. Creo que no.

(one employee to another) oh, look at their beautiful eyes. They are my girlfriends.

(me, smiling) Sorry. I don't think so.

They were usually caught completely off-guard and would laugh in astonishment, immediately striking up a conversation, asking where I had learned Spanish, what I had done in Colombia, if I was married/had a boyfriend (some things never change when it comes to Latino men, regardless of where they are from), and what I thought of Mexico. I chatted with the driver who took us to and from the airport about how Hurricane Wilma had impacted Cancun and the small town along the Guatemalan border that he was from. The guide on our excursion asked about different travel adventures that I had gone on in Colombia, most notably in the Amazon. We shared some interesting comparisons on two countries that have had such a different experience with tourism.

The resort had live music at night, which alternated between mariachi and other very traditional Mexican music and my personal favorite...salsa. The fact that I knew how to dance may have been even more surprising than the fact that I could speak Spanish. Songs that I knew by heart, many of them Colombian, which made me feel so at home, in this country that I had never before visited, as I spun around the dance floor and took deep breaths of salty, Caribbean air.

Come Monday, it'll be alright...

2009-03-18T07:02:00.002-05:00

Thoughts of sun and sand and tropical cocktails have been getting me through the week. Possibly even more exciting than the idea of chilling on the beach with my best friend is the idea that I will be back in Latin America next week. I'm yearning to speak Spanish, explore the Mayan ruins of the Yucatan Peninsula that border Belize, and feel myself surrounded by the passion of Latino culture, music, food, and hospitality.

My passport has once again been gathering dust for too long and I have not added a new stamp since I journeyed to Turkey, a year and a half ago. There are several tentative travel adventures which lay ahead of me this year... my nomad instincts are kicking in again, and I couldn't be more excited to jump on that plane next week and head to Mexico.

there's a hole in the world tonight...

2009-03-15T18:21:00.003-05:00

It's hard to articulate the emotions of saying good-bye. A string of particularly tough ones are surrounding me, but haven't truly sunk in yet.

When individuals come into your life and have a profound impact on you, it's hard to accept that things won't always stay the same, that your paths will diverge. Even if your friendship stays strong, the relationship inevitably changes with geography. They are no longer a subway ride away when you want to meet for coffee, no longer the ones with whom you will share crazy stories of nights out. Life isn't static. You may find yourself slip comfortably into a routine for awhile only to have it inevitably shaken up. It's hard as hell to adjust to not seeing people who are intertwined in the fabric of your life on a regular basis

And so, what do you do when your friends move away? You say "see you soon", rather than "good-bye". You accept that life will continue to change, relationships continue to evolve, nothing stays the same and that is the beauty of life. Good-byes help you cherish the time you spend together and cement the memories in your mind forever.

A Race Like No Other...

2009-03-14T10:25:00.004-05:00

As I crossed the finish line of the NYRR 8000m race this morning, I moved one step closer to THE race that I've had my eye on since I found myself integrated into the New York running scene last summer... the NY Marathon. Maybe one day I will aspire to run Boston, the pinnacle of distance running, but at this point, my heart is set on running one of the greatest marathons there is - in my city.

A course that traverses 5 boroughs and 5 bridges, finishing in Central Park, will be the culmination of the journey that it takes to qualify. Nine races in 2009 will guarantee my entry for NYM 2010. I have two behind me, a 5k in Washington Heights and today's 8k in the Park. And so, interspersed with the destination marathons that I have ahead of me this year, in Madison, Lake Placid, and San Fran, my New York races will be what really keep pushing me toward the goal that I have ahead of me.

Do you have what it takes?

Not just a Wisconsin thing...

2009-03-12T21:07:00.002-05:00

I just discovered this week that they use the world "bubbler" in Rhode Island. I got kinda excited.

hoy es un dia de aquellos en que miro hacia el cielo...

2009-03-10T22:41:00.002-05:00

I rarely make impulse purchases. But I haven't left the country in nearly a year, and it has been over a year and a half since I have stepped foot in a new country. Spring is around the corner, but I'm restless for the warm, tropical Caribbean breezes that surrounded me when I lived in Barranquilla.

I think I just bought a ticket to Mexico. And I leave in less than 2 weeks :)

a tale of two subway passengers...

2009-03-09T07:07:00.005-05:00

Scene: NY subway. 1 local train, heading uptown on a Sunday morning. Not overly crowded, the usual assortment of characters that you see in the metro on a daily basis.

Not far from me is an older woman, whom most would presume to be homeless, or nearly. Her mismatched, ragged clothing was pieced together, a shopping cart packed with large black garbage bags was leaned against her leg, and she was leaned over, taking up two seats, appearing to have been passed out there for quite some time.

Another presumably homeless, or less-fortunate at the very least, musician boarded the train at one stop, sang a couple mariachi style songs and proceeded to make the rounds of the car, begging for spare change from the other passengers, most of whom tried to appear indifferent, as one often does in these situations.

About the same time, the older woman woke and began to shout some kind of nonsense, decidedly directly at the musician, seemingly in Spanish, though I could only make out a few words. It didn't exactly sound pleasant. As he approached our end of the train car, however, she reached under one of the many tattered layers of makeshift clothing, pulled out a single dollar bill, and placed it into the cup that he was holding out. He nodded his thanks, departed at the next stop, and she proceeded to fall back asleep on the subway seat.

People surprise you.

If I can't hear the music and the audience is gone, I'll dance here on my own..

2009-03-05T20:29:00.006-06:00

Sometimes you get lucky and all the elements click when you go out for a run. You push your pace 15 seconds faster than usual. Your stride is steady and strong. Everything just feels "right", you can't explain why. These are the days that remind you why you love to run. These are the days that you live for, the days that make you forget about your last tough run, when something felt off. You get in the zone and feel that you could run forever. Your mind clears, your heartbeat syncs with your feet pounding on the pavement. You cherish the moment of solitude, the clarity.

westside of Manhattan at sunset

I wanna go where the mountains are high enough to echo my song...

2009-02-23T06:21:00.002-06:00

"It's all too common in Latin America, where the divide between rich and poor is usually very wide, to hear stark differences in outlook and attitudes at the table. When dining with the rich, the poor are often referred to with varying degrees of fear, condescension, and outright contempt. Unsurprisingly, conversations at the tables of the poor express an entirely predictable desire to see the heads of the rich paraded on stakes. Seldom do the two strata of society agree on anything besides soccer.

So imagine my surprise to hear - again and again - expressions of optimism, hope, good feelings, and a general believe that things were going pretty well - in Colombia. In Medellin, no less, not too long ago the murder capital of the world! In expensive restaurants frequented by the well to do, the kind of people whose cars are bulletproofed, who travel with armed drivers - and later - in what was the toughest, poorest barrio in the city, I hear the same thing. That the government seemed to be doing a pretty damn good job, that things were getting better and better, that the future looked bright - and that it was a very good thing to be Colombian, and from Medellin in particular.

In a world where the bad guys seem to win with a relentless regularity, and where even the presumed good guys appear, usually to be their own worst enemies, it's really gratifying to see things get so dramatically better somewhere - especially a place where at one time, it really and truly looked hopeless. It is inspiring, when you've gotten used to the notion that some problems won't ever be fixed in your lifetime, to see some of the very worst kind of seemingly insurmountable problems so quickly and effectively improve. When you see a real change in the conditions and in the human hearts of a place where just a few short years ago, one neighbor couldn't walk twenty yards over without risking death from another, where drug cartels recruited their murderous young footsoldiers by the hundreds, where even the police feared to tread - it makes one hopefully again - about the whole world.

Colombia. Vacation Wonderland? Yes. Absolutely."

- Anthony Bourdain visits Medellin

Tiffany had sent me the link to the No Reservations blog review of their episode shot in Colombia a few weeks ago and I was overwhelmingly impressed with the depth and clarity of Anthony Bourdain's insight into the culture, as well as the simple fact that this hit Travel Channel series had ventured to a country that is still off the radar for so many.

I was chatting yesterday afternoon on the phone with my friend Carol (who had recently ventured out to Queens with me for a delicious, authentic Colombian feast), when she told me to go turn on the Travel Channel because the re-run of this episode was airing.

I sat glued to the television, feelings of nostalgia washing over me every time the camera panned across the panoramic view of Medellin, through the valley and up the mountains. My mouth watered as Anthony Bourdain and his local guides visited the markets, learned how to make chicharon and empanadas, and tasted every comida tipica you can imagine when you think of Colombian food.

Overarching his discovery of the culture through their cuisine, it was evident that his eyes were opened to that simple concept that everyone who visits Colombia learns: Colombia es Pasion. I was happy to see that he discovered all sides of Medellin that makes it the complex, beautiful city it is... from the Plaza Botero up to the barrios high in the mountains. He heard the same tale of the metrocable that so many paisas proudly shared with me. The guides explained to him how the city has been reunited in the past few years, and highlighted the beauty of these "slums", which were once a death trap and are now the signs of re-birth, possibility and the desire that runs through the souls of Colombians to show the world the true potential of their country.

The show painted an incredibly positive, and accurate picture of Medellin, where it has been, how far it has come, and why paisas are so proud of it. It also inspired another trip out to Jackson Heights last night.

Don't forget your smile :)

2009-02-19T20:09:00.003-06:00

"I don't know if you noticed or not during yesterday's workout TNT is all about many things: The Cause, the running, the fundraising, the training, new achievements, goal times, new experiences, friendship, putting up with coaches with accent, putting up with coaches that will make you sweat a bit (or a lot), but we are also about having fun and enjoying everything we do. Workouts are supposed to be fun (at least for the coaches as we Looooovvvveeee pushing you around), so make sure you always show up to the workouts with your 'game face' that will be 'your biggest smile'. There's nothing better than doing something that you enjoy doing. And while during the first few weeks some of you may thing 'damn.... (can I say that??) this running thing is hard!!' I promised you ...... it's get easier......

We are all in this together, let's make the best of it!!!

See you sabado, 9:00 am Bethesda!!

Behave!!"

Ramon Bermo

Head Manhattan coach