Right, it's been a while.  I actually forgot I had my own blog until I started hunting for blogs about  my soon-to-be new residence (more on that later).  I feel I should continue this for future Kwaj residents, my friends and family (though in these next blogs the pictures will be also available on FB), and myself.  Years from now my time on Kwaj will have seemed like a blip on the radar.  My blog might help myself, in my golden years, remember how active I was when I was young.  We'll see.

Moving on.

The benefit of living and working overseas (if you're not working for the government) is NO U.S. TAXES!  Woo!  But, there's a catch.  At  least for here.  You have to establish non-residency (of the U.S.) to claim foreign-earned income.  It's actually kind of boring, tax-wise, but was the catalyst for my 6-week trip to South America.  You see, in the Marshalls, to establish non-residency, I had to be OUTSIDE the U.S. (and all territories) for 330 days.  I burned up 20 or so of my INSIDE U.S. days over Christmas break (whilst visiting home), so I had to say out of town.  So, where to go? Enter: Colombia.  And we did.

My parents and I headed to Cartagena, Colombia, for the majority of our Stay-Out-Of-The-U.S. adventure.  I don't believe any of us had ever been to South America, so woo!  New continent!

First, let's talk food. 

I'm a big fan of Anthony Bourdain, so of course I had to try La Cevicheria in the Walled City of Cartagena.  I was not disappointed.  We went there twice.














Ceviche, for those living the culinary dark, is seafood cooked by the acidic powers of the citrus in lime juice.  Mix it with onions, tomatoes, cilantro, maybe some avocado, and bam!  Delicious, fresh, and filling. 

Of course, the buildings were spectacularly colorful. I couldn't get enough of all the brightly painted walls and brilliant fauna in the Walled City.