The first day i went to Santo Domingo there was a procession just starting.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Santo Domingo
Talked about it before and here it is...first of many photos of Santo Domingo as this only captures one part of it.
It´s time to talk about the new people in my life
I have already talked about my hostess who each day offers even more kindness, support and information. To say that i lucked out with her would be a major understatement.
The grandmother of the house, the mother of my hostess is fantastic in her own right. She is turning 85 on Saturday and they are having a big lunch and party for her. Since i am now part of the family (her words not mine) i am expected to be there. of course i wouldn´t miss it for the world and am very grateful for the invitation. She has great stories about her life and her family, and while there are moments it is hard to understand her i find spending time with her, whether we are talking about the past or watching telenovelas, to be quite enjoyable.
The Seattle boys. So i met the Principal first as he and i started spanish classes on the first day. We hit it off right away and hung out quite a bit last week. Lots of laughter as we tried our best to speak in only spanish when we were together. Good times. His boyfriend arrived this week and we have had some time together in the past few days. They are coming over for lunch on Thursday to meet the hostess and the grandmother. i think it will be fun.
the salsa teacher and dance studio owner...terribly flirtateous, ridiculously talented and able to run a studio that teaches everyone all at the same time. 2 hours tonight with three different partners all of whom where between the ages of 16-20 and have been dancing since they could walk. yep i am going back tomorrow.
by the way, there is no better way to humble a person than throw them into a new city, different culture and a place with a language they only sort of know. oh and if that person is an overachiever who has glimpses of control issues, well they are in for innumerable challenges that can only be met with a bit trust and a lot of laughter. but to quote a friend, that is just what i heard from a friend of a cousin, i haven´t experienced that myself.
The grandmother of the house, the mother of my hostess is fantastic in her own right. She is turning 85 on Saturday and they are having a big lunch and party for her. Since i am now part of the family (her words not mine) i am expected to be there. of course i wouldn´t miss it for the world and am very grateful for the invitation. She has great stories about her life and her family, and while there are moments it is hard to understand her i find spending time with her, whether we are talking about the past or watching telenovelas, to be quite enjoyable.
The Seattle boys. So i met the Principal first as he and i started spanish classes on the first day. We hit it off right away and hung out quite a bit last week. Lots of laughter as we tried our best to speak in only spanish when we were together. Good times. His boyfriend arrived this week and we have had some time together in the past few days. They are coming over for lunch on Thursday to meet the hostess and the grandmother. i think it will be fun.
the salsa teacher and dance studio owner...terribly flirtateous, ridiculously talented and able to run a studio that teaches everyone all at the same time. 2 hours tonight with three different partners all of whom where between the ages of 16-20 and have been dancing since they could walk. yep i am going back tomorrow.
by the way, there is no better way to humble a person than throw them into a new city, different culture and a place with a language they only sort of know. oh and if that person is an overachiever who has glimpses of control issues, well they are in for innumerable challenges that can only be met with a bit trust and a lot of laughter. but to quote a friend, that is just what i heard from a friend of a cousin, i haven´t experienced that myself.
Misquito update
I broke out the repellent last night, one too many bites on my ankles pushed me to it. I was hoping that the misquitos would get tired after 5 nights of the same thing but clearly i was wrong. I heard from a friend that they are all over in Panama City...fantastic, can´t wait for that.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
life these days
aside from the random misquito bite (sneaky bastards!) the days in Oaxaca are no less than wonderful. my hostess is gracious, thoughtful, talkative and a former teacher who is now doing counseling in the schools (fitting huh?!). we have great discussions about many things and she is open to answering any and all of my questions, no matter how ridulous or how much i butcher her beautiful language. of course she helps me with the language and she knows there are professionals to help as well (lucky for her).
4 hours a day of spanish classes: 2 hours of grammar and 2 of conversation. my classes, which are all supposed to be for a group, consist of me and a 16 year old from Minnesota. seriously. we have lots of fun and while the teachers may find it is challenging to have a 16 year old in classes geared towards adults, i think he is doing great and really wouldn´t have it any other way :-)
so here is something to think about, how often do you see-hear planes overhead? there has been 1, a small prop plane that circles the city with a big banner for one of the candidates in the July 4th election. but that is it. no jets, and most of the day nothing in the sky but clouds and birds. weird and soothing at the same time.
4 hours a day of spanish classes: 2 hours of grammar and 2 of conversation. my classes, which are all supposed to be for a group, consist of me and a 16 year old from Minnesota. seriously. we have lots of fun and while the teachers may find it is challenging to have a 16 year old in classes geared towards adults, i think he is doing great and really wouldn´t have it any other way :-)
so here is something to think about, how often do you see-hear planes overhead? there has been 1, a small prop plane that circles the city with a big banner for one of the candidates in the July 4th election. but that is it. no jets, and most of the day nothing in the sky but clouds and birds. weird and soothing at the same time.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Thoughts on the weekend
School is out and as i boarded the flight from LAX to Mexico City i wondered about the kid to adult ratio. I have decided all flights need more kids and less adults. The plane is airborne and i hear, "hurray!" and "good job pilot!"We hit a patch of turbulence and the response was like a roller coaster ride- laughter, shrieks of joy and "oohhs!" We approach Mexico City and everyone is craning their necks to get a glimpse of the huge metropolis and then commenting to anyone within range, "it is so colorful" and "it goes on for a million miles!" Almost a perfect flight. What would have made it perfect you ask...the plane, the actual plane i was in from Mexico City to Oaxaca. Hands down the nicest plane i have ever been on. Ever.
Champulines are roasted grasshoppers, and a staple of the Oaxacan cuisine. You can buy them whole, chopped or ground up. You can eat them right out of the bag or use them as an ingredient in one of your dishes. I had them sprinkled on top of a crispy tortilla with melted cheese and salsa. Yum.
Mole anyone? For those that do not know, it is a type of sauce made with chili peppers, spices and chocolate. As i was served a tamale with mole and chicken (for breakfast, along with fruit, sweet bread and coffee) i was told it is a Oaxacan treasure. who am i to argue with that?
I was invited to attend a free concert with my hostess and her friends. Chopin piano pieces played on a beautiful grand piano in an former convent turned cultural center that still boasts incredibly detailed paintings and architecture. Chopin never sounded so good.
4 misquito bites today. i am not even in the jungle yet. and no, i am not going to put on any repellent.
Champulines are roasted grasshoppers, and a staple of the Oaxacan cuisine. You can buy them whole, chopped or ground up. You can eat them right out of the bag or use them as an ingredient in one of your dishes. I had them sprinkled on top of a crispy tortilla with melted cheese and salsa. Yum.
Mole anyone? For those that do not know, it is a type of sauce made with chili peppers, spices and chocolate. As i was served a tamale with mole and chicken (for breakfast, along with fruit, sweet bread and coffee) i was told it is a Oaxacan treasure. who am i to argue with that?
I was invited to attend a free concert with my hostess and her friends. Chopin piano pieces played on a beautiful grand piano in an former convent turned cultural center that still boasts incredibly detailed paintings and architecture. Chopin never sounded so good.
4 misquito bites today. i am not even in the jungle yet. and no, i am not going to put on any repellent.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Weighing the options
I have 2 items that will hold all my belongings for the next few months, a backpack (!) and the other, a small satchel type thing. Not gonna lie, packing was a bit of a challenge, there are lots of details to consider you know. Of course i had a list but as i looked at everything laid out on the floor it became apparent that the list was not going to help me fit everything into the pack. so i packed. then realized i had left some items out. then unpacked and repacked. i picked up my pack and realized i needed to either build up my muscles in the next few days or eliminate some items from the pack and thus from the trip. don't think i didn't consider the muscle issue first though. then more rational thought prevailed and i unpacked again.
so the easy thing to say is, "oh i don't need that shirt" or "5 pairs of socks, thats overkill!" and then start a pile of not-good-enough-to-see-the-cloudforest/mayan ruins/etc. Realizing the pile was quite small i began the 'sunblock vs. ______ (fill-in-the-blank item)' debate. it goes like this, "sunblock vs. toothpaste. ok i hate sunblock but will bring it because i should wear it. toothpaste, well i really like my teeth and am not sure i am ready for dentures. next?" Basically you have to justify what you are bringing. It worked until i got to...
"sunblock vs. insect repellent...hmmm"
this time it went about like...
Round 1: "something i should wear vs. something i should wear" = draw
Round 2: "something i should wear to prevent sunburn vs. something i should wear to prevent bug bites. ok, sunburns suck but i don't burn often, bites suck but they go away." = repellent 1
Round 3: "ok the sunblock has ingredients i can't pronounce vs. repellent has 50% DEET. well, just because i can't pronounce it doesn't mean it is harmful. still if it isn't harmful why must they disguise it with an unpronounceable name? but then there is the DEET...firstly it sounds too much like DDT for my liking and secondly, why do i have this sneaking suspicion it can seep through my skin into the blood stream and alter my DNA?" = sunblock 1
Round 4: "sunblock vs repellent. mom, what do you think?"
A few more rounds of the pack-repack game and all the essentials were stored away, including the sunblock and repellent.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Geography...can't i just Google it?
Geography. Remember that subject in school? Umm...me neither. What I mean to say is, I don't remember a time where a teacher said, "ok kids it's time for Geography!" I am fairly positive I did not learn about the countries of the world from the out-of-date maps on my elementary classroom wall, but somehow, someway I learned about the world's geography. We aren't in school anymore and I don't know what kind of geography education you had, or how often you care to sit stare at a Google map of say Guyana...So...here are a few geography games and trivia sites to test your knowledge of Latin America:
http://www.triviaplaza.com/central-american-cities-quiz/
Oh, and yes this is rather childish and silly...Stop being so serious and have fun!
Oh, and yes this is rather childish and silly...Stop being so serious and have fun!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
It's risky.
While I have received much positive feedback regarding my upcoming travels, I have also encountered those who are less than thrilled with my plans. Their comments generally come from a place of concern that is best illustrated in these two questions: "isn't that kind of a dangerous place to go?" and "but why would you go THERE?"
Hmm...ok so let's be real shall we? Traveling is dangerous. Heck living is dangerous if you really think about it. Driving on any freeway could result in an accident, hiking in the summer sun without water can lead to dehydration, a trip to the local convenience store could end in getting robbed, biking on a city street can result in getting doored...an airplane can crash, an illness can kill you, a person could assault you, a drink could be drugged, or you could just drop dead. Seriously.
But we don't generally worry about those or any number of other things. We live, we work, we see our families, we run errands and we do whatever else we want or need to do. That includes traveling. So maybe not everyone leaves the country, and of those that leave the country, there are fewer who go off to non-Westernized, non-industrialized nations. But if or where we travel doesn't mean we don't face risks everyday. We do. Maybe we don't think about the risks, maybe we don't want to, or maybe we are aware and that is enough. Or maybe we are just used to them and have forgotten how much risk or danger we face on a daily basis. I recognize that the risks we may face here in a Westernized country, may not feel as "risky" as those faced when you travel elsewhere. And it is true that being in an industrialized nation means there is infrastructure that is responsive to danger and risk and most types of health or safety issues. But there are an alarming number of children in Westernized countries diagnosed on the autism spectrum, eating disorders are most prevalent in industrialized nations, and at this very moment the BP oil disaster continues; even the most powerful countries in the world don't have answers for everything.
The feelings of safety and security are just that, they are feelings. There are legitimate concerns about living, and about traveling. I think the most we can do is be informed so that we are able to make the best decisions possible. So, in order to address some of the concerns and feelings that a trip of this type may elicit, here are a few thoughts:
- Yes diseases/infections like Typhoid, Hepatitis A and B, Tetanus, and Malaria are found in most of the countries in Central
America. Immunizations are the best course of action against them.
- Yes tourists have been victims of crime in foreign countries. Pickpockets and robberies are the most common throughout the
world, not just in Central America. It is a proven business model that has been in place for generations and as long as it
works, it will continue. There are always precautions one can take and sometimes they will be effective and sometimes they
will not.
- Yes the rainy season has begun and thus there will be storms and flooding which may destroy roads and impede travel. Lucky
for me I don't melt in the rain! Also, people in Central America fortunately or unfortunately are used to this weather and the
issues that come with it. The best thing to do is follow their lead and take it in stride.
- Yes there are mosquitos, sand flies, fire ants, scorpions, snakes and any number of other creatures that bite and sting. But
did you know that of the 135 species of snakes in Central America only 17 are venomous? Or that Costa Rica has over 1000
species of butterflies?
- Yes communication is not as it is in a Westernized nation, it may actually take a few days versus a few minutes. Internet
cafe's, calling centers, Skype, phone booth's and even cheap cell phones are all available throughout Central America/Mexico.
- Yes traveling across borders (whether it is by bus, foot, plane, van, boat) is never simple. And then, one day, when you least
expect it, it is.
- Yes traveling solo is risky. So is traveling in a group or with another person. There are risks no matter what, and the best one
can do is be aware and be prepared.
So the moral of this little missive? I think Denis Waitley expressed it best, "Life is inherently risky. There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing."
Hmm...ok so let's be real shall we? Traveling is dangerous. Heck living is dangerous if you really think about it. Driving on any freeway could result in an accident, hiking in the summer sun without water can lead to dehydration, a trip to the local convenience store could end in getting robbed, biking on a city street can result in getting doored...an airplane can crash, an illness can kill you, a person could assault you, a drink could be drugged, or you could just drop dead. Seriously.
But we don't generally worry about those or any number of other things. We live, we work, we see our families, we run errands and we do whatever else we want or need to do. That includes traveling. So maybe not everyone leaves the country, and of those that leave the country, there are fewer who go off to non-Westernized, non-industrialized nations. But if or where we travel doesn't mean we don't face risks everyday. We do. Maybe we don't think about the risks, maybe we don't want to, or maybe we are aware and that is enough. Or maybe we are just used to them and have forgotten how much risk or danger we face on a daily basis. I recognize that the risks we may face here in a Westernized country, may not feel as "risky" as those faced when you travel elsewhere. And it is true that being in an industrialized nation means there is infrastructure that is responsive to danger and risk and most types of health or safety issues. But there are an alarming number of children in Westernized countries diagnosed on the autism spectrum, eating disorders are most prevalent in industrialized nations, and at this very moment the BP oil disaster continues; even the most powerful countries in the world don't have answers for everything.
The feelings of safety and security are just that, they are feelings. There are legitimate concerns about living, and about traveling. I think the most we can do is be informed so that we are able to make the best decisions possible. So, in order to address some of the concerns and feelings that a trip of this type may elicit, here are a few thoughts:
- Yes diseases/infections like Typhoid, Hepatitis A and B, Tetanus, and Malaria are found in most of the countries in Central
America. Immunizations are the best course of action against them.
- Yes tourists have been victims of crime in foreign countries. Pickpockets and robberies are the most common throughout the
world, not just in Central America. It is a proven business model that has been in place for generations and as long as it
works, it will continue. There are always precautions one can take and sometimes they will be effective and sometimes they
will not.
- Yes the rainy season has begun and thus there will be storms and flooding which may destroy roads and impede travel. Lucky
for me I don't melt in the rain! Also, people in Central America fortunately or unfortunately are used to this weather and the
issues that come with it. The best thing to do is follow their lead and take it in stride.
- Yes there are mosquitos, sand flies, fire ants, scorpions, snakes and any number of other creatures that bite and sting. But
did you know that of the 135 species of snakes in Central America only 17 are venomous? Or that Costa Rica has over 1000
species of butterflies?
- Yes communication is not as it is in a Westernized nation, it may actually take a few days versus a few minutes. Internet
cafe's, calling centers, Skype, phone booth's and even cheap cell phones are all available throughout Central America/Mexico.
- Yes traveling across borders (whether it is by bus, foot, plane, van, boat) is never simple. And then, one day, when you least
expect it, it is.
- Yes traveling solo is risky. So is traveling in a group or with another person. There are risks no matter what, and the best one
can do is be aware and be prepared.
So the moral of this little missive? I think Denis Waitley expressed it best, "Life is inherently risky. There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing."
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