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Teddy Bears To Colombia

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On my first trip to Medellin, I was invited to visit many homes up in the hillside barrios. I was talking to the children and there was this young girl who showed my her prize possesion. It was sorta a mini version of beanie bear, It was a hand-me-down, and it was covered in stains.

I rememeber looking at it and thinking how freakin' lucky I was to live in the US and to be able to make enough money to buy the things I NEED as well as those I WANT. I am so lucky that I can travel to another country without having to worry about the overall cost of the trip.

That's what I was thinking as this young girl, with a big smile on her face, proudly showed me her toy.

As I planned my second trip to Medellin, I went out and purchased five stuffed toys to give out to some of the kids I met.

When I arrived I stuffed them into a bag and went to see how everyone was doing in Itagui. I showed up and was greeted with hugs and kisses, and a tinto.

I sat down and told everyone what I told my friends and family back home regarding my trip to Medellin. They were happy to see me again. As usual, a typical hot lunch was served to me, the folks watched me eat, as I continued with my stories.

Sometime after my lunch, the kids started showing up as they were getting out of school.

I called some of the children over, several that I spent a lot of time with on my first trip, and had them sit down in front of me. I reached for my bag. They all looked at each other and smiled.

When I purchased the stuffed animals, I did not just buy any o' stuffed animal. I bought the ones that reminded me of a specific child. I don't know why, but I remember thinking, "This one is Luisa! This one is for Valentina! Eveyln will LOVE this teddy bear! This is Eliana! Catholina will be very HAPPY!"

So now all the kids are sitting quietly, waiting to see what is in my bag.

I reach into the bag and pull out a Rabbit, and everyone is excited! I hand it to Valentina, who is two years old, she takes it and immediatley makes it her own, by clutching it close to her chest. She is all smiled. The rest of the children enjoy watching Valentina hug her little rabbit.

This is basically the same response from all the children. The older folks look on, all of the childrens parents are working, and everyone is very HAPPY, not just the children.

The children swarm around me, hugs, kisses, a million thank you's, they won't let me escape. They clutch their stuffed toys with one hand as they fight to get closer to me. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING!

After a few minutes the matriarch of the family tells the children to leave me alone, so I can breathe. They children thank me again, and I can breathe again.

I sit back and continue my conversation with the adults. The matriach asks me if I'm ready for a Pilsen. I am!

She brings me a Pilsen and asks me "estas amanado?" I reply, "Yes, I took a bath at the hotel before I came."

EVERYONE LAUGHS at my reply.
___________________________________

I am going to return to Medellin in January and have set up a "Teddy Bears To Colombia" for children in the poorer barrios in Medellin, Colombia. I am asking for donations for anyone who wants to send a teddy bear to a child. I want to purchase the teddy bears in the US and deliver them to the children in Medellin. I think it makes a world of a difference to them, knowing that the bear has traveled a long way to their new home in Medellin.

When I purchased the first stuffed animals, I thought about buying them something that didn't need batteries, you wouldn't necessarly take it out of the house with you, or at least not too far from home, and thought that the stuffed animals was a good way for them to care for something that was truly theirs, not a hand-me-down.

I have posted the link on http://medellin-colombia.blogspot.com for anyone interested...

"The Teddy Bears are purchased in the U.S. and are then distributed to children in Medellin, Colombia. Send a small gift of happiness to a child in South America, spread the joy."

I CAN'T WAIT TO RETURN TO MEDELLIN!

By Medellin Traveler on Dec 16, 2007, 20:53 in Friendly Talkzone.

adrimm (Moderator) says on Dec 16, 2007, 23:16:

I think it's a heartwarming project and applaud your initiative... bringing a bit of cheer to a child is a wonderful thing.

One question: wouldn't it be less costly to buy them in Colombia? That way you'd not only be helping the kids (potentially more kids since I expect stuffed animals might be more affordable there), but also supporting the local economy.... to make it personal donors could have the option of sending a tag with a drawing from their own child, or a little note or something...

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Medellin Traveler says on Dec 17, 2007, 03:45:

adrimm -

From what I have been told by the local children is that there is no teddy bears to be found in Colombia compared to the ones I brought. The Teddy Bears I'm buying are all handpicked and of a high quality

The reason I am purchasing them in the US is because I am aware that the children did seem to enjoy that their stuffed animal traveled all the way from Chicago to Medellin. They always mentioned that when showing the stuffed animals to family and friends.

And though I have not checked it out, I believe a Teddy Bear of quality will not be cheap in Colombia. I too, was surprised at how expensive everything was. I walked into a mall and thought I was on the magnificent mile, by the Water Tower Place in Chicago.

Another discovery... the city of "la moda" has many clothes which are made from "potato sacks type material." The locals loved the simple 100% cotton t-shirt I was wearing one day. They kept touching it, rubbing it, feeling it. I had to take it off. :o)

This is something I would continue to do on every trip to Medellin. I made a few calls yesterday and have a Paisa seeking out children in other barrios.

TEDDY BEARS TO COLOMBIA ...
"The Teddy Bears are purchased in the U.S. and are then distributed to children in Medellin, Colombia. Send a small gift of happiness to a child in South America, spread the joy."

Discover Medellin, Antioquia - Colombia www.medellintraveler.com

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SamGompers says on Dec 17, 2007, 06:37:

Nice project! What if you charged a bit extra for the teddy bear and started a fund to help out a school in Medellin? or a clinica? I.e. it's great to give teddy bears to these kids - - and it would be great to use the teddy bear donations to help support a more collective project as well. Just an idea . . .

Also, what is the connection between Colombians and Winnie the Pooh?

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tejasmarcos says on Dec 17, 2007, 07:36:

i had no luck in a similar request MT. alot of good folks here, but it seems most are interested in the run of the mill chit chat stuff..........

* i'm in. send me some information...........

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Dec 17, 2007, 07:49:

I sometimes pick up the $5 USD plush animals available at Kohls. They're probably made by slave labor in China but the profits support a charity(ies) in the US. The Colombian nippers seem to like them.

http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/ourbrands/kohlscaresforkids.jsp

I wanted access to health care, housing and education, but, no, I get potholes, trash and silicone tits instead. -Desi.

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kalder says on Dec 17, 2007, 07:58:

I imagine people will respond to this. The link is clear and easy to use. The thread may require an occasional bump to keep it in the public eye though.

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kalder says on Dec 17, 2007, 10:58:

And, btw, what MTrav is doing is quite wonderful. Good man.

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Medellin Traveler says on Dec 17, 2007, 16:30:

PepeA -

My visits to the Salvation Army always leave me feeling dirty afterwards. Always feel like I need to be delouced before entering my home.

I kind of want to go for a good quality teddy bear. The kind of gift I would give to my own child, if I had a child.

I added the "Teddy Bears To Colombia" post to my blog http://medellin-colombia.blogspot.com

Discover Medellin, Antioquia - Colombia www.medellintraveler.com

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Medellin Traveler says on Dec 17, 2007, 18:14:

PepeA -

Yes. Thank you.

I appreciate your suggestion.

Most of my halloween costumes are clothes I've bought at the Salvation Army, most of which I return the next day.

Discover Medellin, Antioquia - Colombia www.medellintraveler.com

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