I. Am. Downright. Indecisive. And it may just be the death of me. Or at least the death of my mental sanity. Ive been here. Ive been there. Ive been back to here. And back to the there. And pretty much EVERYWHERE in between. And fear that all the coming and going has ultimately lead me nowhere. How can that be?! I am in a state of complete and total limbo as I try to decide what to do, where to do it, and what that means for the next 12 months of my existence. I have many MANY options. Im not hurting for options. Just hurting for decision-making skills. Honestly, I look back over everything Ive done and accomplished thus far and think, "HOW did I pull that off?" Because it all involves a definitive decision in some form or fashion and Im currently experiencing the writer's block of decision-making. Grrrr. Luckily, I have the support of all those around me, but my endless rants of what to do, where to do it, and when may just drive us all nutty before too long.
I found this quote the other day and I think it may describe my predicament quite nicely:
"Free will is beautiful, but too many choices can really screw us up."
Dont get me wrong, I still appreciate my predicament. The sheer fact that I have so many options and choices and opportunities is a blessing, but downright overwhelming at times.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Back in the States and Running in Place
My, oh my! It's been soooooooo long since my last update. And given that I have been all the way from North Carolina back to Ecuador and many many places in between it seems even longer than 4 months. For a quick as a quick 4 month recap can be, I shall say this: Mid-Sept, I realized my Nov. 2nd end-of-work date was coming up fast, so I spoke with my Ecua fam and they agreed to host me for another whopping 6 week stint in the land of 12 hour days. So having wrapped up my post-NOC plans, I settled in to make the most of what was by far my best season yet at NOC. I had such a lovely group of co-workers at Slow Joe's, wonderful "house" mates at Mashburns, and such willing and adventurous friends from all over who humored me by going on long hikes, bike rides, runs, and drives through the country. I love Western North Carolina. And as the days got shorter, the few of us left in the gorge would snuggle up under sleeping bags and watch old movies on VHS (VHS? Whats that?). Some highlights: Celebration Sunday with the whole Mashburns gang after an incredibly exhausting GAF weekend, another Ryan's outing - this time in our PJs for the breakfast buffet where even my very own dad joined us!!!, a delightful Burningtown bike ride with 3 Mashburnians, a 4 hour hike through the pouring rain with dad in the Smoky Mountains Natl Park, a visit from Emily, a Halloween outing to the middle of nowhere to run through a muddy corn maze and later take photos with the Ghostbusters themselves, dressing up with Sarah as a scary fairy for Halloween, and then a goodbye hike to the Wesser Fire tower with incredible views of the mountains all around. What a place I have been blessed enough to live for four summers!
Then I packed all my things into my car and was on the road once again. This time just 3 hours South to Atlanta where I spent a day with Emily before leaving my car and bidding adieu to the U S of A and flying South to Ecuador. I spent 6 fabulous weeks with living with Ivo and Luisfer, going for morning runs through Parque Carolina, eating a freshly picked 5 cent banana and freshly baked 20 cent empanada de queso every morning, traveling to various parts of the country for hikes, bike rides, family visits, soccer games. And spent one fantastic week showing this amazing country off to my mom.
Really, there are no words to properly describe how awesome it was to have my mom there. My mom is NOT one to travel on her on. From one city to the next. Much less another country. So I really didnt fully believe she was coming until she was sitting on her Quito-bound flight in the airport in Atlanta. I didnt give her much time to adjust to the 10,000 foot gain in altitude before taking her up another 1000 feet to get a sweeping view of the city of Quito and the mountains surrounding it. I took her all around the Historic Center, climbed with her to the top of the most beautiful church in the city, and wined and dined her on some super tasty Ecuadorian treats. She experienced travel Ecua-style when we took the public bus to the highlands town of Otavalo - and was literally thrown across the bus when she didnt get to her seat fast enough and the bus took off flying around a curve - poor mom! We went for a beautiful, yet challenging, hike to a waterfall, ate some delicious home cooked meals at the most beautiful hacienda way up in the hills where we were the only guests and treated like queens, and visited the local artisan market where she got to ooh and aah over the beautiful artwork (and treat herself to a few things)! We then headed to the cloud forest where - in true Ecua-fashion - one of the roads leading to our hosteria was washed out so we had to scootch our way across bamboo poles lain over a rushing creek while several men held our hands to keep us from falling and then passed our bags to us so we could climb into a truck full of manure waiting to take us on the rest of the way. Once we got there, we were able to breath a poop-free sigh of relief, go for long hikes amongst the butterflies and orchids, and spend Thanksgiving morning meditating and reflecting beside a beautiful river near our lodge. Another public bus ride led us back to Quito where mom got to see the school where both Annelle and I studied, walk in my favorite city park, and eat a delicious Thanksgiving meal with Luisfer and Ivo. We had a grand old time for sure!
And after 6 weeks of speaking Spanish, daily power outages, eating yummy Ecuadorian foods (empanadas de queso, pan de yuca, arroz con menestra, quimbolitos, oh my!), and traveling near and far to hike, bike, eat, drink, and breathe the land and culture, I boarded an ATL-bound plane (24 hours later than planned due to a mess-up on my part...long, dramatic story...) and made my way back to my dad's house in Jackson, MS where I was welcomed by a tiny puffball of energy - my sister's new yorkie! After the shock of a new creature (my mom calls her her first "grandchild"), I dumped my bags, ate a big bowl of Peanut Butter Puffins, and settled back into the creature comforts of life in dad's house. December and early January brought lots and lots of quality family time in Jackson with dad and Susan, Oxford with my mom, and New Orleans for New Years with Annelle, dad, and Susan. I really enjoyed being back home, back with my family. Last year, I spent the holidays in Argentina with Vanina's family, but it was nice to be back together with my family this year!
And once everyone went back to their respective homes and jobs, I flew to Texas for a Rotary Ambassadorial conference where I got to meet a number of other people who won the same scholarship as I who will be flying all over the world in the next year to study everything from economics in Australia to Arabic in Egypt. I also got the added pleasure of spending a couple of days with Elsa and one beautiful, yet cooold, afternoon walking through downtown Austin with Abby and Liz. texas is suppose to be hot. And if not hot, at least WARM, but while it was 80 degrees in Jan last year, it was a whopping 19 degrees this year. Brrrrrrr:(.
And from cold Texas, I went to colder Chicago where I was given a very very WARM welcome by the entire Bangert clan and spent 6 days reconnecting with old friends and co-workers. It was good to see Rene and Molly as it had been nearly a year and a half since I had seen two of the most important people in my life and I had some good much needed life talks with Rene, Molly, Blanca, and Holley. So cheers for having amazing friends all over the place!
And now I am back in Mississippi spending some time with my mom before taking one more trip (for the moment) this time to Utah for some skiing with the family and catch-up time with old friends and co-workers. Oh, and in the meantime, while I am thoroughly enjoying having the time and freedom to visit so many people, I am madly stressed as I try to figure out what to do with my life....more on that later! VIVA!
Then I packed all my things into my car and was on the road once again. This time just 3 hours South to Atlanta where I spent a day with Emily before leaving my car and bidding adieu to the U S of A and flying South to Ecuador. I spent 6 fabulous weeks with living with Ivo and Luisfer, going for morning runs through Parque Carolina, eating a freshly picked 5 cent banana and freshly baked 20 cent empanada de queso every morning, traveling to various parts of the country for hikes, bike rides, family visits, soccer games. And spent one fantastic week showing this amazing country off to my mom.
Really, there are no words to properly describe how awesome it was to have my mom there. My mom is NOT one to travel on her on. From one city to the next. Much less another country. So I really didnt fully believe she was coming until she was sitting on her Quito-bound flight in the airport in Atlanta. I didnt give her much time to adjust to the 10,000 foot gain in altitude before taking her up another 1000 feet to get a sweeping view of the city of Quito and the mountains surrounding it. I took her all around the Historic Center, climbed with her to the top of the most beautiful church in the city, and wined and dined her on some super tasty Ecuadorian treats. She experienced travel Ecua-style when we took the public bus to the highlands town of Otavalo - and was literally thrown across the bus when she didnt get to her seat fast enough and the bus took off flying around a curve - poor mom! We went for a beautiful, yet challenging, hike to a waterfall, ate some delicious home cooked meals at the most beautiful hacienda way up in the hills where we were the only guests and treated like queens, and visited the local artisan market where she got to ooh and aah over the beautiful artwork (and treat herself to a few things)! We then headed to the cloud forest where - in true Ecua-fashion - one of the roads leading to our hosteria was washed out so we had to scootch our way across bamboo poles lain over a rushing creek while several men held our hands to keep us from falling and then passed our bags to us so we could climb into a truck full of manure waiting to take us on the rest of the way. Once we got there, we were able to breath a poop-free sigh of relief, go for long hikes amongst the butterflies and orchids, and spend Thanksgiving morning meditating and reflecting beside a beautiful river near our lodge. Another public bus ride led us back to Quito where mom got to see the school where both Annelle and I studied, walk in my favorite city park, and eat a delicious Thanksgiving meal with Luisfer and Ivo. We had a grand old time for sure!
And after 6 weeks of speaking Spanish, daily power outages, eating yummy Ecuadorian foods (empanadas de queso, pan de yuca, arroz con menestra, quimbolitos, oh my!), and traveling near and far to hike, bike, eat, drink, and breathe the land and culture, I boarded an ATL-bound plane (24 hours later than planned due to a mess-up on my part...long, dramatic story...) and made my way back to my dad's house in Jackson, MS where I was welcomed by a tiny puffball of energy - my sister's new yorkie! After the shock of a new creature (my mom calls her her first "grandchild"), I dumped my bags, ate a big bowl of Peanut Butter Puffins, and settled back into the creature comforts of life in dad's house. December and early January brought lots and lots of quality family time in Jackson with dad and Susan, Oxford with my mom, and New Orleans for New Years with Annelle, dad, and Susan. I really enjoyed being back home, back with my family. Last year, I spent the holidays in Argentina with Vanina's family, but it was nice to be back together with my family this year!
And once everyone went back to their respective homes and jobs, I flew to Texas for a Rotary Ambassadorial conference where I got to meet a number of other people who won the same scholarship as I who will be flying all over the world in the next year to study everything from economics in Australia to Arabic in Egypt. I also got the added pleasure of spending a couple of days with Elsa and one beautiful, yet cooold, afternoon walking through downtown Austin with Abby and Liz. texas is suppose to be hot. And if not hot, at least WARM, but while it was 80 degrees in Jan last year, it was a whopping 19 degrees this year. Brrrrrrr:(.
And from cold Texas, I went to colder Chicago where I was given a very very WARM welcome by the entire Bangert clan and spent 6 days reconnecting with old friends and co-workers. It was good to see Rene and Molly as it had been nearly a year and a half since I had seen two of the most important people in my life and I had some good much needed life talks with Rene, Molly, Blanca, and Holley. So cheers for having amazing friends all over the place!
And now I am back in Mississippi spending some time with my mom before taking one more trip (for the moment) this time to Utah for some skiing with the family and catch-up time with old friends and co-workers. Oh, and in the meantime, while I am thoroughly enjoying having the time and freedom to visit so many people, I am madly stressed as I try to figure out what to do with my life....more on that later! VIVA!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Adventures in the Gorge
Hi all! For some reason I have not felt terribly inspired to update this lately and have let nearly 6 weeks pass since last writing. However, it is certainly not for lack of inspiring and exciting things to write about as life never fails to be an adventure on a daily basis here in the Nantahala River gorge. So there is much to report!
First of all, I would like to note that I saw the sun today for the first time in 9 days. Nine days does not seem like a long time until you experience each and every day of non-stop rain, clouds, fog, and slogging through mud, mud, and more mud. At first, I looked at it from the glass half-full perspective - "At least we arent experiencing the drought of the last 2 years;" "The trees, plants, farmers must be SO happy;" and "It's a good excuse to read a book, watch a movie, curl up indoors." Oh wait...this last one got me. It WOULD be a good excuse to curl up inside on the sofa and read or watch a movie, if ONLY I lived in such a place. My dwelling is not so fancy. I described it to my dad as a "cabin" being that is has four walls, a roof, a wooden slat with a thin mattress for me to lie upon each night snug in my sleeping bag, and is made of wood. But that is about all it has. Dad arrived to discover that spending the night with me meant a 200 yard walk in the dark to use the facilities and climbing a wooden ladder to sleep on an equally thin (and rather a bit more dusty) mattress in the "loft." Again, loft often inspires visions of something cute, cozy, and comfy. This is NOT that kind of loft. Dad decided it would have been better described as a Swiss climbing hut. However, having never visited a climbing hut, I have taken to just telling people I live in a shack and use the outhouse to answer the call of nature (and thanks to a recent move, I am now only 20 yards from the toilet - makes those middle of the night stumbles to the bathroom all the merrier)! But do not be led astray. I LOVE where I live. I may not like it so much come next month when cold temps roll in and my heater-less abode provides no comfort from the elements, but for now, I live in a great community where we wile away evenings in our one common room drinking tea, reading the "latest" tabloids (often received a 2-4 weeks after they come out, but, hey, it's news to us!), and doing crossword puzzles. HA! Sounds like a cheesy scene right out of The Waltons...The things people must have done to keep themselves entertained pre-tech era, I suppose. But, I digress...
The sun is out again - I no longer have to run wearing scuba gear to prevent from drowning and may once again use that awesome hot pink road bike of mine. Woohoo! And now back to the days I refer to as BtR - i.e. Before the Rains.
This is my fourth season working at the Nantahala Outdoor Center, but it is really the first time I have truly felt like a part of the NOC community. It probably has a lot to do with living in staff housing for the first time ever, but I also think that I have made much more of a personal effort this year to hang out with co-workers. And, as a result, the adventures have been numerous, varied, and made even the days of non-stop rain bearable.
Most memorable adventure goes to our Mashburns - this being the name of the place where I live - family outing to eat dinner at Ryans Steakhouse buffet. A co-worker and I each one a gift certificate for 2 to eat at this restaurant located 45 minutes from our "casa" in the nearest city of any size. We decided that rather than choosing dates, we would let anyone interested take part in a competition to win a coveted date with us. But what kind of competition should we have? Alas, we decided on a Sumo Butt Wrestling competition amongst co-workers. People signed up, rules were explained (basically using only your butt, you must knock the other person out of our mud-made ring), and the competition was underway. By the end, Kate and Liz won this "survival of the fittest (butt)" challenge. But people were so thrilled about the prospect of a night out on the town, that another 4 people hopped on board to join us (even knowing they would actually have to fork over $10 for the grand buffet). This being a special event for us gorge dwellers, Kate managed to get the 6 girls some fancy dresses straight from the 80s from the local theater and the guys dressed in their own redneck wedding clothes. Bathed, dressed, and with our tummies rumbling, we headed off in two cars for a night of food - LOTS of it - and an especially exciting after dinner trip to Wal-Mart. Really, there is no end to the amazing things one can find in that store - doggy vitamins, Jonas brother towels, and EEE sized bras...who knew?!
Dinner at Ryan's in our "fancy" clothes!
For awhile, there were so many calamities, that I thought I might need to plant myself in a plastic bubble until I managed to get myself some health insurance: Sarah was still recovering from her Copperhead bite; Liz broke her tail bone - while filming an NOC safety video, no less!; Will tore his pectoral muscle during a swift water rescue course and subsequently had to have surgery to repair it; Daniel had surgery to repair an infected Brown Recluse bite; a bear entered onto Slow Joe's porch one evening while I was alone using the computer (it later ran off as I didnt look like too tasty of a treat); and two dogs chased me with blood in their eyes while on a solitary (and previously peaceful) bike ride. And the powers that be finally decided to grant me health insurance, so I feel a little less tense when biking/running/walking/breathing.
The bear visits Slow Joe's!
And now onto a positive note - There have been many beautiful bike rides with Pete, Chris, and by my lonesome, early morning runs along the Upper Nantahala, movie nights in Sylva and Asheville with Sarah, Tofu dog and Sangria dinners at Pat's, dogsitting with Sarah (and discovering instructor Gary's super secret stash of enough Slow Joe's trail mix to help him survive the apocalypse), a day of bumper cars, pizza buffets, and video games at the Fun Factory (similar to Chuck E Cheeses) with Shock, yummy homemade Argentinian dinners with Vanina, and being treated to TV nights sitting on a real couch in a real house while Kate housesits - oh the luxury of lying upon a non-mold laden carpet and watching trashy cable TV!! I have also taken to being a total kodak moment mom this season documenting each and every moment of life with my crappy digital camera. And I mean EVERY moment. I even went so far as to document the events leading up to throwing away an entire case of mayonnaise after one brilliant person put the box in the freezer (to her credit, the mayonnaise and meat boxes look VERY similar). My co-workers are getting used to the camera flashing to capture such events as washing dishes and opening a giant can a jalapenos.
Wee One-Eyed Willie - the fruit of our Fun Factory tickets
Taking a break from washing the dishes
Saying goodbye to the mayonnaise
And one delightful weekend, I received a real treat when my dad, Susan, Susan's 7 year old granddaughter Victoria, as well as good friends Scott and Diane Segars, and Doug and Maryanne came to visit, paddle, and break it down at fellow kayaking buddy Whitney Sanford's wedding. We ate some yummy chocolate mousse, danced to 80s tunes at the reception (I cannot express enough how much it means to me that I have a family who knows how to let loose and have fun on the dance floor. We may look silly, but who the heck cares?!), and I got to play the proud daughter and take a ton of photos of the fam as dad fearlessly guided Susan and Victoria down the mighty (mighty cold, that is) Nanty. Much to my relief, my dad did not pull his usual scare tactics, and Victoria had a blast on her first ever raft trip. Cant wait until they come back!
Letting loose at the reception
Dad, Victoria, and Susan rafting the Mighty Nantahala!
Dad, Susan, Victoria, and I outside of Slow Joe's
As for life outside of the gorge, I visited Emily Mcguire Journy in Atlanta and took a quick trip across the country to Portland, OR to see Alexis, one of my best friends from Smith, get married. I spent 5 days catching up with old friends, eating freshly caught crab meat, camping 100 yards from the Pacific Ocean, watching my first live baseball game, dancing til my feet hurt, and hiking in the Colombia River gorge with my brororo. I fell in love with Portland and have decided it shall be my next US home....go there and you too shall be enamored!
Hanging out with Hannah and Alexis at a baseball game in Portland:).
Hiking with Jarratt in the beautiful Colombia River Gorge!
Now I am soaking in the sun and the tranquility of a Slow Joe's free day to eat a yummy muffin, read the local paper (on the day it comes out, no less!), and catch up on emails and phone calls while I have steady cell phone reception. Life is good, and I feel beyond blessed for the life I have, the opportunities I have been granted and the friends and family that surround me in body and spirit here and afar. Love to all! VIVA!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
In my mind (and heart and body and soul) Ive returned to Carolina (del Norte)!
Hi all!
So it has happened. I have returned to Western North Carolina, to the good ole Nantahala Outdoor Center, and to my trusty position as a doer-of-all-things-needed-to-be-done at Slow Joe's Riverside Cafe. I feel like ever since I set foot back in the United States of America, I have been on the move, and the adventures continue, so as long as you keep reading, Ill keep writing....and I imagine I will keep writing even after you keep reading - it's just too much fun!
So for a recap of my last two weeks: I visited mom in Oxford, saw her new cute cozy house, got my second pedicure in my life, saw The Hangover (funny movie, but NOT a mom movie - sorry mom!), and ate yummy deserts. I then drove 8 hours to North Carolina, moved into my temporary housing where I am sharing a bunk with the resident spiders, ran, worked, ran, worked, repeat for 8 days straight. Broke up the monotony by spending one delightful evening after work swimming in Lake Fontana where I was baptized as a Mashburn Mermaid - Mashburns being the name of the staff housing where I will soon be moved. And then, the GRAND AVENTURA of the week occurred when my friend Liz and I rushed Sarah, a co-worker and fellow Mashburn Mermaid, to the emergency room after a pleasant evening hike ended with an attack by a copperhead. Questions were asked ("How does one decide whether to give anti-vemon or not?" Doc's response? "Oh, it's more of a gut feeling." Hmm...), anti-vemon was FINALLY administered, lessons were learned (Copperhead bites can cause the heart to stop - believe me, this little tidbit of information was NOT helpful in calming Sarah as the doc listened to his gut...), and Sarah now sits in the comfort of her uncle's house in Atlanta while her leg returns to a normal size (it swelled from her foot all the way to her thigh - ahhh!) and she regains the ability to walk. And in an effort to pass on the knowledge gained during this ordeal, I pass along this...1)Do NOT ice a snake bite. It can cause you to lose your limb. 2) For the uninsured (i.e. yours truly), a snake bite could be the end of any savings as you know it. Anti-venom is EXPENSIVE. $7,000 per vile and Sarah's "small" bite required 6 viles. 3) It only takes one "near bite" experience to cause one to jump as the sight of a log lying alongside the running path and shiver when someone suggests we go see the movie "The Rise of the Cobra." Umm...No thanks!
So after only 8 days in NC and leaving Sarah in the care of her uncle, I turned around, drove 8 hours BACK home to Mississippi where I had an interview this past Saturday for a $25,000 Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship to study public health and nutrition abroad for a year. In late June, I heard about this opportunity, so I spent a few hectic weeks in Ecuador gathering recommendations, transcripts, writing essays (in English and Spanish - thanks Luisfer for your patience and guidance!), and researching schools and programs in countries all throughout Latin America. And thanks to so many people both here in los estados and Ecuador, I was able to get everything together and turned in on time and was back here in time for the big interview before the committee on Aug 8th. And later that same afternoon, heard word from the head of the committee that I had been chosen to receive the scholarship - woohoo! I will not hear WHERE I will be sent (most likely Argentina, Nicaragua, or Colombia) until November and will not be leaving to study until Fall of 2010, so there is still a bit of suspense. But lo importante es saber que I got it! And to know that I at least have some sense of what I will be doing in the future...
And after the stress of interview preparation and the drama of finding out I won - Susan screamed so loud she nearly lost control of the car (we were en route to Clarksdale for a Blues festival) and Dad had me calling every family member we could think of - we spent a sweltering afternoon in the Delta eating rib tips (dad, not me), listening to Blues music, and driving among the cotton fields en route to Tunica, MS where we saw the Counting Crows in concert. Then, the next morning, I once again got in the car and drove the 8 hours back to North Carolina where I intend to stay until the season (and my job) ends on Nov. 1st.
So that, once again, brings me back to Western North Carolina, to the NOC, to Slow Joe's, to being a productive member of society (i.e. one that brings home a paycheck), to long morning runs in the rain, to evening bike rides through the rolling hills and past the pastoral farms, and to the beauty of all that is natural and mystical here in the Smokey Mountains. I am at home in the mountains. I love it here. I miss Latin America. But there is so much beauty here in my own country, and I feel blessed to have been received with open arms once again here on the banks of the Nantahala. Come visit and you too will be enamored - I promise to steer you clear of the snakes! VIVA!
So it has happened. I have returned to Western North Carolina, to the good ole Nantahala Outdoor Center, and to my trusty position as a doer-of-all-things-needed-to-be-done at Slow Joe's Riverside Cafe. I feel like ever since I set foot back in the United States of America, I have been on the move, and the adventures continue, so as long as you keep reading, Ill keep writing....and I imagine I will keep writing even after you keep reading - it's just too much fun!
So for a recap of my last two weeks: I visited mom in Oxford, saw her new cute cozy house, got my second pedicure in my life, saw The Hangover (funny movie, but NOT a mom movie - sorry mom!), and ate yummy deserts. I then drove 8 hours to North Carolina, moved into my temporary housing where I am sharing a bunk with the resident spiders, ran, worked, ran, worked, repeat for 8 days straight. Broke up the monotony by spending one delightful evening after work swimming in Lake Fontana where I was baptized as a Mashburn Mermaid - Mashburns being the name of the staff housing where I will soon be moved. And then, the GRAND AVENTURA of the week occurred when my friend Liz and I rushed Sarah, a co-worker and fellow Mashburn Mermaid, to the emergency room after a pleasant evening hike ended with an attack by a copperhead. Questions were asked ("How does one decide whether to give anti-vemon or not?" Doc's response? "Oh, it's more of a gut feeling." Hmm...), anti-vemon was FINALLY administered, lessons were learned (Copperhead bites can cause the heart to stop - believe me, this little tidbit of information was NOT helpful in calming Sarah as the doc listened to his gut...), and Sarah now sits in the comfort of her uncle's house in Atlanta while her leg returns to a normal size (it swelled from her foot all the way to her thigh - ahhh!) and she regains the ability to walk. And in an effort to pass on the knowledge gained during this ordeal, I pass along this...1)Do NOT ice a snake bite. It can cause you to lose your limb. 2) For the uninsured (i.e. yours truly), a snake bite could be the end of any savings as you know it. Anti-venom is EXPENSIVE. $7,000 per vile and Sarah's "small" bite required 6 viles. 3) It only takes one "near bite" experience to cause one to jump as the sight of a log lying alongside the running path and shiver when someone suggests we go see the movie "The Rise of the Cobra." Umm...No thanks!
So after only 8 days in NC and leaving Sarah in the care of her uncle, I turned around, drove 8 hours BACK home to Mississippi where I had an interview this past Saturday for a $25,000 Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship to study public health and nutrition abroad for a year. In late June, I heard about this opportunity, so I spent a few hectic weeks in Ecuador gathering recommendations, transcripts, writing essays (in English and Spanish - thanks Luisfer for your patience and guidance!), and researching schools and programs in countries all throughout Latin America. And thanks to so many people both here in los estados and Ecuador, I was able to get everything together and turned in on time and was back here in time for the big interview before the committee on Aug 8th. And later that same afternoon, heard word from the head of the committee that I had been chosen to receive the scholarship - woohoo! I will not hear WHERE I will be sent (most likely Argentina, Nicaragua, or Colombia) until November and will not be leaving to study until Fall of 2010, so there is still a bit of suspense. But lo importante es saber que I got it! And to know that I at least have some sense of what I will be doing in the future...
And after the stress of interview preparation and the drama of finding out I won - Susan screamed so loud she nearly lost control of the car (we were en route to Clarksdale for a Blues festival) and Dad had me calling every family member we could think of - we spent a sweltering afternoon in the Delta eating rib tips (dad, not me), listening to Blues music, and driving among the cotton fields en route to Tunica, MS where we saw the Counting Crows in concert. Then, the next morning, I once again got in the car and drove the 8 hours back to North Carolina where I intend to stay until the season (and my job) ends on Nov. 1st.
So that, once again, brings me back to Western North Carolina, to the NOC, to Slow Joe's, to being a productive member of society (i.e. one that brings home a paycheck), to long morning runs in the rain, to evening bike rides through the rolling hills and past the pastoral farms, and to the beauty of all that is natural and mystical here in the Smokey Mountains. I am at home in the mountains. I love it here. I miss Latin America. But there is so much beauty here in my own country, and I feel blessed to have been received with open arms once again here on the banks of the Nantahala. Come visit and you too will be enamored - I promise to steer you clear of the snakes! VIVA!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Home Sweet Home (for a short while!)
For a quick update as to my whereabouts on a stormy Sunday afternoon: I returned to my hometown of Jackson, MS on Tuesday night after saying a sad goodbye to my lovely Ecuadorian hosts (and a not so sad goodbye to the little critters I slept with each night). The return trip was 16 hours as I first flew to Miami where upon landing I immediately burst into tears - not sure if it was due to being happy or sad about returning, but nevertheless I was certainly a pathetic sight as I sat there wedged in between two complete strangers trying my darndest to clear my eyes and look "normal." After going through immigration and being readmitted into the good ole U S of A, I boarded a train for an hour long trip to the Ft. Lauderdale airport where I entertained myself by eating Dunkin Donuts and reading The New York Times during my 4 hour layover. After what seemed like forever, I boarded a plane for Atlanta, waited around another hour and FINALLY made my way to Jackson and the waiting arms of Susan around 11:30 PM. Talk about an exhausting day!
Since returning to the comfy coziness of my dad's house, I have caught up with old friends, battled the intestinal blues (appears some little critters made their way through immigration wiht me:(), made tentative plans for the next month and thought about packing my backs for my next adventure. Tonight, I will head to my mom's house in Oxford, MS, and then onward I go to North Carolina to begin working at the NOC on Thursday. Looking forward to being back in the mountains - hiking, biking, eating Becki's pasta salad, Della's hummus, and homemade cookies fresh from the oven. Come visit:)! VIVA!
Since returning to the comfy coziness of my dad's house, I have caught up with old friends, battled the intestinal blues (appears some little critters made their way through immigration wiht me:(), made tentative plans for the next month and thought about packing my backs for my next adventure. Tonight, I will head to my mom's house in Oxford, MS, and then onward I go to North Carolina to begin working at the NOC on Thursday. Looking forward to being back in the mountains - hiking, biking, eating Becki's pasta salad, Della's hummus, and homemade cookies fresh from the oven. Come visit:)! VIVA!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Tis Time to Say Goodbye...
Buenos días! I am sitting in Ivo and Luisfer's apartment in Quito, Ecuador in what has been my home for 5 weeks now and am pulling all my things together to pack my backpack one last time before I head back to los estados unidos for awhile.
Ready to go out in Guayaquil!
I spent my last weekend of my time here in Guayaquil near the coast with Luisfer and his family. Guayaquil is a big city and very very hot...similar to Mississippi in the Summer...so I was immediately reminded of what I will be returning to in just over 24 hours. And my body's reposnse? Complete and total shock and shutdown. After only a few hours wandering around the city center with Luisfer and his mom and eating some amazinginly delicious llapingachos (cheese filled potato dumplings) covered in peanut salse prepared by his grandmother, I proceeded to sleep nearly 4 hours...qué vaga soy! But refreshed and revived, we headed back out to the center to eat dinner, climb 450 stairs to the top of a hill overlooking the city and the rivers the snake through it, and then off to dance the night away in celebration of my final night out in Ecualandia (Luisfer's cousin lent me clothes so I had actual "going-out" attire!). Sunday, a cousin and her boyfriend joined the two of us on a bike ride before eating lunch, playing tennis, eating again - this time in the company of 12 family members - I love Latino family get-togethers! - and then boarding my final night bus to return to Quito.
Bike ride to the river in Guayaquil
Tomorrow will mark the end of 8 and a half months of my life as a mochilera traveling solo throughout South America. I have visited five countries (Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador), visited countless cities - from capital cities with 12 million people to pueblitos with population of 200 and every size in between, met some of the most wonderful, hospitable and inspiring people, and had some of the most amazing experiences of my life on this adventure of mine. I have been challenged in ways I could not have imagined - physically and mentally - and, as I said from the beginning, tried my best to stay in the mindset of "Do that which you think you cannot do" when faced with such challenges.
But now the "real world" (I.e. one in which I must work to recuperate my savings) is calling me home. And I am not sure how I feel about returning home. It will certainly be good to see my family and return to North Carolina to work and play in las montañas, but I will miss Latin America - the ambience, the friendly people, traveling everywhere by bus, living a very materialistically minimal existence traveling with - I kid you not and please do not be disgusted - 3 pairs of pants, 4 shirts, two sweaters, and 2 pairs of shoes (and, yes, holes have peeked through a few of my clothes, but I HATE shopping even when things are cheap...), and - most delightfully - the ability to buy any and every kind of food imaginable by simply walking out your front door - no need to go to the supermarket here! I will not miss - being utterly confused about the how, why, when, and where of bus stations, bus schedules, bus routes; eating nothing but bread for days on end when other options included potato chips and soda; explaining to people that I only drink water (why would someone be so crazy to live like that?!), do not eat red meat, deep fried foods, and prefer to have veggies at least once a day; and I will defintely NOT miss bathrooms without toilet seats and toilet paper....although it may be awhile before I stop throwing the papel higenico en the trash can...8 month long habits die hard:)!
Tonight is celebration of my final evening here, the boys and I plan to eat ice cream (first!), pan de yuca, choclo, arroz con menestra, perhaps a llapingacho, and, if space allows it, an empanada de queso. And tomorrow, painfully bright and early, I will be off to my hometown where Susan will be awaiting my arrival with bells on! Hasta la proxima, America Latina! VIVA!
Ready to go out in Guayaquil!
I spent my last weekend of my time here in Guayaquil near the coast with Luisfer and his family. Guayaquil is a big city and very very hot...similar to Mississippi in the Summer...so I was immediately reminded of what I will be returning to in just over 24 hours. And my body's reposnse? Complete and total shock and shutdown. After only a few hours wandering around the city center with Luisfer and his mom and eating some amazinginly delicious llapingachos (cheese filled potato dumplings) covered in peanut salse prepared by his grandmother, I proceeded to sleep nearly 4 hours...qué vaga soy! But refreshed and revived, we headed back out to the center to eat dinner, climb 450 stairs to the top of a hill overlooking the city and the rivers the snake through it, and then off to dance the night away in celebration of my final night out in Ecualandia (Luisfer's cousin lent me clothes so I had actual "going-out" attire!). Sunday, a cousin and her boyfriend joined the two of us on a bike ride before eating lunch, playing tennis, eating again - this time in the company of 12 family members - I love Latino family get-togethers! - and then boarding my final night bus to return to Quito.
Bike ride to the river in Guayaquil
Tomorrow will mark the end of 8 and a half months of my life as a mochilera traveling solo throughout South America. I have visited five countries (Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador), visited countless cities - from capital cities with 12 million people to pueblitos with population of 200 and every size in between, met some of the most wonderful, hospitable and inspiring people, and had some of the most amazing experiences of my life on this adventure of mine. I have been challenged in ways I could not have imagined - physically and mentally - and, as I said from the beginning, tried my best to stay in the mindset of "Do that which you think you cannot do" when faced with such challenges.
But now the "real world" (I.e. one in which I must work to recuperate my savings) is calling me home. And I am not sure how I feel about returning home. It will certainly be good to see my family and return to North Carolina to work and play in las montañas, but I will miss Latin America - the ambience, the friendly people, traveling everywhere by bus, living a very materialistically minimal existence traveling with - I kid you not and please do not be disgusted - 3 pairs of pants, 4 shirts, two sweaters, and 2 pairs of shoes (and, yes, holes have peeked through a few of my clothes, but I HATE shopping even when things are cheap...), and - most delightfully - the ability to buy any and every kind of food imaginable by simply walking out your front door - no need to go to the supermarket here! I will not miss - being utterly confused about the how, why, when, and where of bus stations, bus schedules, bus routes; eating nothing but bread for days on end when other options included potato chips and soda; explaining to people that I only drink water (why would someone be so crazy to live like that?!), do not eat red meat, deep fried foods, and prefer to have veggies at least once a day; and I will defintely NOT miss bathrooms without toilet seats and toilet paper....although it may be awhile before I stop throwing the papel higenico en the trash can...8 month long habits die hard:)!
Tonight is celebration of my final evening here, the boys and I plan to eat ice cream (first!), pan de yuca, choclo, arroz con menestra, perhaps a llapingacho, and, if space allows it, an empanada de queso. And tomorrow, painfully bright and early, I will be off to my hometown where Susan will be awaiting my arrival with bells on! Hasta la proxima, America Latina! VIVA!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Conociendo Colombia (and putting off my Final Goodbyes)
Buenos Días desde Quito, Ecuador! Im STILL here, although a FINAL return ticket has been bought - no turning back now! But, in the meantime, I will enjoy my final days of my Grand Aventura.
View from high above Bogotá!
Most recently, Luisfer and I boarded a plane (no long-distance busses this time around!), and made our way to Bogotá, Colombia to spend 5 days exploring the city, visiting his friends, and eating and drinking our way from one part of town to the next. Since we had muy poco tiempo, we stayed in the city. But Bogotá is HUGE, so there was certainly plenty to keep us well-entertained, as well as well-fed. I feel like Bogotá was as much a culinary adventure as anything else. And our first Colombian food? Hormigas (i.e. ANTS!). That's right, these little buggers are a delicacy in these parts - and they dont come cheap. Luisfer and I both ate one each. And that was enough for a lifetime. Basically, I felt like I was eating a dirt-flavored peanut which may not have been so bad had I not had to see the head and little beady eyes before I took to munching away... Other tasty delights included Tamales, Arepas (white corn tortillas) filled with ham and cheese, Obleas - huge crackers filled with dulce de leche (arequipe in Colombia) and grated queso fresco, Bandeja Paisa (typical dish of rice, beans, meat, and platano), and Changua (cheesy bread in a bowl of milk).
Our days involved lots of walking through the centro historico, making our way through the hoards of street vendors, riding the elevator to the top of the tallest building in Bogotá (46 stories) for a panoramic view of la ciudad - Qué Grande!, visiting the Botanic Garden (I LOVE green spaces:)!) where our hostess Nataly works, visiting museums, and playing the typical Colombian drinking game of Sapo (or "Frog" in English) which involved throwing a coin at a box with nine holes of varying point values, two of which were covered by frogs sitting with their mouths wide-open on the top. Neither of us was skilled enough to actually get the coin in the "Sapo's" mouth, but it was still quite fun! And while I was certainly a winner in my own mind, the score card seemed to lean more towards Luisfer and Nataly's team...hmm....
Our nights were spent bar/disco-hopping in different parts of la ciudad where we made new friends, drank chicha (a drink made from fermented corn) out of a coconut shell, tried each of Colombia's different beers, as well as aguardiente, and danced to typical Colombian music. Colombians know how to drink and stay up until - literally - the break of dawn. I didnt make it much past 3 AM (I know, I know - abuelita!), but our hosts kept the party going until about 8:30 AM.
We had a great time and really enjoyed getting to see the city with our Bogotán hosts. It makes such a difference (and is a MUCH calmer experience) when you are with people who really know the city - how to get around, the best places to go, etc. We met some wonderful people, and while, yes, there are police with big guns everywhere - and one even tried recruiting Luisfer to join the force - I never felt more unsafe than anywhere else Ive visited throughout my travels.
I have only a few days left here in my home away from home and will be going this weekend with Ivo and Luisfer to Guayaquil to visit THEIR hometown before making my way to MY hometown. It has truly been a Grand Aventura, and I am sad to see it come to an end. But for now, I will live in the present and revel in my last moments here in Quito with my Ecua-familia:). VIVA!!
View from high above Bogotá!
Most recently, Luisfer and I boarded a plane (no long-distance busses this time around!), and made our way to Bogotá, Colombia to spend 5 days exploring the city, visiting his friends, and eating and drinking our way from one part of town to the next. Since we had muy poco tiempo, we stayed in the city. But Bogotá is HUGE, so there was certainly plenty to keep us well-entertained, as well as well-fed. I feel like Bogotá was as much a culinary adventure as anything else. And our first Colombian food? Hormigas (i.e. ANTS!). That's right, these little buggers are a delicacy in these parts - and they dont come cheap. Luisfer and I both ate one each. And that was enough for a lifetime. Basically, I felt like I was eating a dirt-flavored peanut which may not have been so bad had I not had to see the head and little beady eyes before I took to munching away... Other tasty delights included Tamales, Arepas (white corn tortillas) filled with ham and cheese, Obleas - huge crackers filled with dulce de leche (arequipe in Colombia) and grated queso fresco, Bandeja Paisa (typical dish of rice, beans, meat, and platano), and Changua (cheesy bread in a bowl of milk).
Our days involved lots of walking through the centro historico, making our way through the hoards of street vendors, riding the elevator to the top of the tallest building in Bogotá (46 stories) for a panoramic view of la ciudad - Qué Grande!, visiting the Botanic Garden (I LOVE green spaces:)!) where our hostess Nataly works, visiting museums, and playing the typical Colombian drinking game of Sapo (or "Frog" in English) which involved throwing a coin at a box with nine holes of varying point values, two of which were covered by frogs sitting with their mouths wide-open on the top. Neither of us was skilled enough to actually get the coin in the "Sapo's" mouth, but it was still quite fun! And while I was certainly a winner in my own mind, the score card seemed to lean more towards Luisfer and Nataly's team...hmm....
Our nights were spent bar/disco-hopping in different parts of la ciudad where we made new friends, drank chicha (a drink made from fermented corn) out of a coconut shell, tried each of Colombia's different beers, as well as aguardiente, and danced to typical Colombian music. Colombians know how to drink and stay up until - literally - the break of dawn. I didnt make it much past 3 AM (I know, I know - abuelita!), but our hosts kept the party going until about 8:30 AM.
We had a great time and really enjoyed getting to see the city with our Bogotán hosts. It makes such a difference (and is a MUCH calmer experience) when you are with people who really know the city - how to get around, the best places to go, etc. We met some wonderful people, and while, yes, there are police with big guns everywhere - and one even tried recruiting Luisfer to join the force - I never felt more unsafe than anywhere else Ive visited throughout my travels.
I have only a few days left here in my home away from home and will be going this weekend with Ivo and Luisfer to Guayaquil to visit THEIR hometown before making my way to MY hometown. It has truly been a Grand Aventura, and I am sad to see it come to an end. But for now, I will live in the present and revel in my last moments here in Quito with my Ecua-familia:). VIVA!!
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