I took a moment from my day

It’s hard to believe I have been here for nearly 3 months. I can’t believe how quickly time moves here. I guess that's how it goes living in a Chinese city. Coming from a village of 700 people to a city of 7 million of course it'll take some time to adjust to the hustle and bustle of life in a Chinese city. Traffic jams consist of more than just a group of cows. Where you no longer wake up in the morning to roosters crowing but instead to the sounds of construction work going on. There are bad points and there are good points (mainly good points), but I’m finding it all works out. Everything is all part of my experience here. I can't believe I am in China. I still feel like I'm walking around in the never ending Chinatown district in New York City. I haven't had much time to really process my move here, so on a recent day off, I took the day to do just this.

 First, I took a walk around a nearby lake admiring everything around me. A group of ladies dancing around with a colorful fan in one hand. Their bodies moving around so delicately. Just a few feet from them an elderly lady sits alone on the bench singing opera as other ladies listen while knitting a pair of socks. A man sitting below a tree meditating. A group of people practicing Thai Chi. Others scattered throughout doing their morning exercises under a line of cherry blossom trees (exercises like walking backwards, or standing and just hitting themselves – ( I guess it’s a way to get the qi [energy] flow going throughout their bodies), clapping their hands, swaying their arms back and forth, and other random exercises. A man propped upside down on a bench. Maybe a form of Yoga?

I sit on a park bench to people watch for a moment. Business men carrying suitcases frantically trying to get to work on time. The “minority” women in their colorful traditional clothing, carrying their babies in a sling behind them, school children in their uniforms, boys in their taekwondo outfits. People walking their dogs dressed in a sweater and booties. (I guess when you are only allowed to have one child here, people will tend to spoil their dogs.) There’s just so much going on , and I could spend hours just people watching.  And I do just that. After a morning of people watching,  I hop on my bicycle to join the other bicyclists and families (dog included) on their scooters. I pass by a line of restaurants with flashing Chinese characters full of people inside digging their chopsticks into a bowl of oily noodles.  Vendors lining the street selling fruits, vegetables, dog, chicken feet, etc. People everywhere.

I pedal to a river, where I’m better able to escape the crowds and be at peace. I direct my focus on the river, allowing the craziness of this city to escape my mind. Even with people walking by, I do my best to block them out.  Their stares at me often last longer than a respectable amount of time. Maybe they are admiring the largeness of my eyes, the curliness of my hair, or my plump figure.  (Yes in China I am fat, which is much different than in El Salvador, where I often was forced to eat all time since they thought I looked like a sick, unhealthy, undernourished individual.) Perhaps they are wondering why I am alone, sitting, staring, and writing. Some take a look at me, then at the spot in the river where my mind found peace, expecting to find some strange creature or something. They don’t see what I see… they haven’t found what I found, and they carry on with their days.

I love China. Of course there are some things I’m still getting used to. But overall, I couldn’t be happier with my move here. The culture. The people. The new foods. The new friends. My soul and mind continue to grow with each day.  The euphoria and freedom I feel of being in a new place on the other side of the world. On my bike ride home, I take a few more moments to admire everything around me. Next month, or maybe even never week, everything will begin to appear normal.

Another country. Another journey...

Green Lake in the center of the city. These birds migrate from Siberia for the winter.

 After a long 26 hours of traveling I arrived in Kunming, Yunnan, China. If you ever decide to travel to China, do not travel during their Spring Festival/Chinese New Years. During this time it is the biggest migration of people, with millions of people traveling home to visit with family during their 10 days off from work. 



around a Buddhist temple

So far I have nothing but great impressions of this place. As it is a city of 6 million, it is so densely populated, so the city itself doesn't appear that large and it is relatively easy to navigate. It seems there are more people on scooters or bikes than cars, which helps minimize the air pollution and traffic. Even the garbage collectors ride bikes. Of course, many still wear those sars/pollution masks.

"Dumpster Bikes"

The language is seemingly impossible to learn. The writing (symbols) I will likely never learn, but I hope to take some classes to help me with some basic vocabulary for speaking and understanding. So far my vocabulary consists of, "I don't understand." "This one." "Thank you." and "Hello"

Ommmm

I like my job so far even though I haven't started teaching. I've been doing many observations, and I've decided there can't quite be anything cuter than small Chinese children learning English. There are about 15 other foreigners at this school, 10 of them being from England. 1 French guy, 1 Australian guy, and 3 Americans (Wisconsin, Seattle, Portland) My workload will be quite small to start off, only 11 hours a week with 6 office hours. So I will have plenty of time to work on my Chinese, explore the city, and the beautiful countryside.

Some co-workers and I up to the temple

 Kunming is the capital of the Yunnan province. So it's a big city, but just minutes to ample hiking, climbing, and beautiful countryside in the surrounding mountains. I went with some co-workers this past weekend on a hike up to a Buddhist temple. Of course, I had to respect that I couldn't take photos inside. I'll never forget the moment I walked into that temple. For someone who is intrigued by Buddhism, to enter a temple for the first time was quite moving and peaceful. The smell of the incense burning, the calm, the comfort, the giant gold Buddhas, the colors, the peace, the details, the cherry blossoms lined outside, etc.The overall affect was very appealing. Everything about the moment was perfect. It's moments like those that remind me why I do what I do....

I think it is safe to say I will like it here. The best part of it all is the weather is essentially perfect. It has been 73 and sunny since I've gotten here. Now that I am thinking about it, I don't even think I've seen a cloud here yet.

As much as I do love this place, obviously things haven't been "perfect" for me. The lack of language skills makes things a bit more difficult. I've gotten lost on my own. I've ordered food which was disgusting. (Generally, I like the food here, but when you are starving, and you walk into a restaurant and point to what someone else is having you just don't know what you'll be getting.) I've given in many times to go to McDonalds (a place I haven't gone to in years) for some comfort food (and a menu that isn't in symbols.) I've learned to laugh at myself as I know it is all just part of my journey here ... and with a city of 6 million, it isn't very likely I will run into the same people very often.

I'll finally be able to move into a place next week, so I can begin cooking for myself. It is with another English teacher from the UK. It is close to the lake, so it will be nice to escape the big city feel and relax in nature every now and then.



Chinese traditional toilet

 Some other things worth mentioning: The Chinese traditional toilet (see picture above), which of course is a step up from the "outdoor hole in the ground" or "just pee along side the house" bathrooms in El Salvador. At the hospital, the doctors were smoking. Not just that, but in the chest x-ray room. The only construction workers I have seen are women. Which is especially bizarre for me coming from El Salvador, where the men do all the working, and the woman stay home with the family.
 

PS-  Facebook and blogspot are blocked here in China. So when I am on a computer that has it unblocked, my time is very limited and the connection is quite slow.  Excuse me for any mistakes or confusion on this blog, I had to write it quite fast for that reason.
Be in touch <3 class="separator" p="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">

Next Stop....

Exactly one month from today, I will be on a plane going to a place over 8,000 miles away to begin the next chapter of my life. I'm truly thankful for everyone who has been more than supportive with my "off the beaten path" kind of lifestyle that I have chosen to live...

These past 5 months that I spent at home have been great. Other than the near anxiety attacks in grocery stores and on the freeway, dealing with this technology madness ("there's an app for that...blah blah blah) and not being the special white girl with royal treatment here, my readjustment issues were relatively minor. Being back in the US was rejuvenating for me, and just what I needed. Warm showers, carpet, washing machines, not having to tuck a mosquito net in at night, dancing at Phish, cuddling with my dog without being judged, Zumba, Yoga, cross country skiing, eating yummy food, etc. All of this has been wonderful, but what made my stay truly special was being able to spend time with all of my friends and family that I haven't seen in years. Whether it be a year, or 4, we all caught up right where we left off. 

My beautiful family @ Christmas

The inevitable has come, and my time at home is slowly coming to an end. As most of you know, I've been called (by my own heart) to go abroad again. The world absolutely fascinates me, and settling down just isn't a thought in my mind yet. For me, traveling is more than just sightseeing or learning a new culture. It is the freedom and inspiration along with the changes and growth within myself; both intellectual and spiritual.  My mind and spirit evolve with each new experience I have, or new person that I meet. Meeting people of different cultures, helps deepen the understanding that we are all one. Although from different cultures, we still have the same wants, needs, purposes, and desires.

My heart has been a wonderful guide to me thus far, so I will continue to listen to it. By not following my heart would be depriving it, along with my mind and spirit, the stimulation and passion that it needs.

"Now what?" A question we begin to hear the day we graduate from High School. 11 years later, I am still searching for answers to this question. However, this time with less stress and anxiety. Now this question exhilarates me. The more that I break out of my comfort zone, the more I understand just how much potential and capability we all have. It's simple: If you can dream it, you can do it. ( I think that maybe was a Nike ad from the 90s or something .. I don't know... but the corny phrase is still stuck with me.)

Well, with all that being said .....I've been called to go live in the beautiful city of Kunming, China, the capital of the Yunnan Province. After actively searching for the ideal place for me to spend the next year, and make some money doing so, I have finally made my decision.  My departure date = February 18.

To give you an idea where Kunming is;
The city on the map that is closest to the border of Laos

Kunming is located on the eastern edge of the Himalaya Mountains. It is nicknamed "The City of Eternal Spring." Kunming is described as having a "laid-back" atmosphere (as far as Chinese cities go), and is in close proximity to nature and good trekking. There I will be teaching English at a private language center to children ages 3-12. There are currently 15 foreign teachers working there. Talking to a few Americans who are currently there helped reassure me of my decision.

After a year of teaching there, I hope to save enough money to spend 6 months afterwards backpacking and volunteering with local organizations throughout Southeast Asia. Of course while I'm there, I hope to ride an elephant, scuba dive off the coast of Thailand, participate in a 10 day silent meditation retreat in a Buddhist temple tucked deep in the Himalayas, and roam the jungles of Vietnam pretending I'm Forest Gump. =) Of course, visitors are always welcome and encouraged!

From a village of 700 people to a city of 6 million, this experience will be, to say the least, much different than my last. I hope you continue to follow me on this new and unique journey back into the world. Thanks again for your support.

My dog, the Zen master

By now you are probably thinking, "Is this all she does? Write blogs?" ha. While your assumptions aren't too far off, I have also begun planning for my next few years abroad. When I say planning, I have now THOUGHT about signing up for my TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course. Thinking about doing something is a good first step right? Lol. Tomorrow. Yep, tomorrow is a good day to start the course.

So a combination of my blogging obsession and the love for my dog, Maggie, results in a blog titled, "14 things we can learn from our animals." (yeah, a bit strange, but don't read on if you aren't interested :) )

Now, I know I've always loved animals, but this appreciation for them has grown stronger since spending the last 27 months in Central/South America. Those that have traveled to a less developed area of the world certainly know the difficulties of seeing this. Dogs everywhere, all struggling just to survive. Dogs scavenging through trash bags, entering restaurants, and sometimes even digging through burning trash. Dogs with their ribs almost penetrating through. Dogs eating human feces. Dogs being mistreated.

As time went on on, it did get a little easier, but I never could quite get used to it. Of course, I was the weird one, giving these "useless, smelly, dirty" animals so much attention. “Jamie, you know if you hold that animal you will never be able to have children”, I would be told. I would ignore their disguised looks, and their comments. I didn’t care. I love animals, and I will treat them with the kindness they deserve, even if it meant dealing with the gossip going around town of how dirty it was that I touched these animals. However, by the end of my service, I did take notice to some people treating their dogs nicer, and I even saw many children holding their animals.

So, yeah, bottom line; I love animals, and I believe we have a lot to learn from them too. So here is a list of what animals, particularly my dog Maggie May, has taught me:

1. Love unconditionally. You could be gone for a day, or you could be gone for an hour. Or you could accidentally leave your dog in the backseat of your car for a few days (I won't mention which friend of my accidentally did this ;) ) It doesn’t matter, they will ALWAYS still be happy to see you. My dog's love for other people has no bounds. She just wants to love, and be loved as often as possible, no questions asked.

 2. Don’t focus on the past or the future. Enjoy the present moment. As stated in the study, “A Wandering Mind is an Unhappy Mind,” people are happiest when doing activities that keep the mind focused. Thinking, reminiscing, or planning an activity that is not within this current moment can undermine happiness.

And of course that can lead us to another lesson learned from our animals…

3. Be happy, always.

4. Just being present is enough. I always thought the best kind of a friend is one who you can sit on a front porch with and not have to say a word.

5.  Language goes beyond words – 90% of our communication is nonverbal. While much of it is through body language, I believe, too, a lot comes from energies/our emotions. I understood a great deal of this with my work for over 5 years with children with special needs. It's as if one's lack of ability to verbally communicate is replaced with a strong sense to read people’s emotions. While working with these children, I learned it didn’t matter what I said as much as HOW I said it. When I was frustrated, the students were frustrated. If I was nervous, so were they. If I was happy and positive, they were too. Simple as that.  Realizing this, my work with special needs children came easier to me. After I began rewarding their small successes through positive reinforcement, I would see more progress with my students.

When I moved to El Salvador, I was now that child with special needs. I knew about 40 words in Spanish before being placed in a community of people where no one spoke my language.. As mentioned in #4, just the presence of another person is meaningful. I’m thankful for the patience & positive energy I felt through Salvadorians, just like I’m sure the children I worked with were appreciative of my patience and positive energy.

I say some of my best teachers in life have been non-verbal children with special needs or Salvadorians whose education doesn’t go beyond 4^th grade.

6. It's the simple things – like going for a walk. My dog will just come up and sit next to me (and awkwardly stare), until I say the magic word; walk. And then that’s it. She’s content for the rest of the day. I’ll admit, my walks out back in the woods are just as exciting for me too. It certainly doesn’t hurt to exercise and spend more time outside, especially in this beautiful fall weather.  Rides in the car, walks in the park, doing laps around the house for no apparent reason; you name it, this dog finds joy in every little thing.

7. Don’t take life seriously. – Have fun. Learn to laugh at yourself. Don’t judge yourself or others. Don’t worry about what others think. Those that do love you will love you forever, and those that don’t, just don’t matter.

8. Take naps - Even if you don't have time for a nap, take some time for yourself. Meditate. Clear your mind. Focus on your breathing. Just take a brief moment out of the day to relax. To reflect. To have "me" time.

9. Just breathe – Dogs may pant to regulate their body temperature. For us, breathing might not make us cooler, but it helps regulate our emotional temperature. In, out. Focusing on our breathing helps us concentrate more on the present moment, and it’s also a great stress reducer.

10. Don’t be afraid. Be curious. Try new things. Be adventurous. Life begins when you leave your comfort zone.

11. Forgive – Dogs don’t hold grudges. As humans, we shouldn't either; we are all intelligent enough to know people make mistakes. Learn something from you or the others mistake and move forward.

12. Treat strangers with kindness too. Don’t be afraid to look people in the eye, or maybe even say “hello” once in awhile when you pass someone on the street. It is impossible to take Maggie on a walk in town where she doesn’t feel like she has to greet EVERYONE. At least, the people love it (most of them.)

13. Spend as much time as you can with your loved ones (talk to each other, and not just via text.)  No matter where Maggie is in the house, if she hears my family talking, she always comes in the room to be part of the conversation. She’ll come in the room, sit on one of our laps, and listen until the conversation eventually fades.

14. Play – Whatever this means to YOU. Go outside, hike, bike, climb, practice yoga, laugh, have coffee with a friend, or maybe play fetch with your dog. Whatever it may be, don’t forget to take some time out of your day to do something that makes you happy and is fun.

  

It's just that simple; eat, love and be happy. I think our dogs know what is important in life :)

Less is more

When asked, what I miss most about living in El Salvador, I respond with, living the simple life. The simple life; life that has less of a focus on materials and "stuff", and more of a focus on peace, values, and compassion for others.

Some days, I find myself more stressed and anxious living here, and I don't even have a job! After over 2 years of living a very simple life (practically living out of a suitcase or a backpack), the amount of options and choices I have to make are a bit overwhelming.

When did getting dressed in the morning become such a struggle?  So many options! As soon as I accept that I will no longer weigh 100 lbs again, I will donate my clothing. This will help eliminate at least 30% of my clothing. Also, thank goodness for my stylish friends  who are certainly not afraid to tell me which of my clothes are out of fashion (*cough, cough, thanks Laura. hehe)  This will also help me with the selection process of what to keep in the closet.  So that will narrow my options down to about 10 outfits, which will be just fine with me. Even with the epic battles I have with my closet each morning, I still only wear the same 5-10 outfits anyway. 

So, before coming home, the thought of watching TV (since I've gone years without it) sounded quite appealing to me.  However, with the amount of channels on DISH, I end up spending more time flipping through the channels then I do actually watching something. I gave up on TV, and will unfortunately not be able to partake in any conversations regarding recent television shows. (Who the hell is Honey boo boo??! Sorry Mindy, I tried to follow your conversation! hah)

Anyone, feel free to pass good movie suggestions my way.

Oh, and how could I forget, grocery stores.. whew. Just the thought of them makes my heart pound.  My first time in a grocery store experience; So I gave myself 2 weeks to indulge on food.... To yes, go completely overboard and eat anything and everything.  2 weeks,  to eat all that junk food I craved. After finding, the WHOLE aisle of just cookies, I had to now decide, what kind of cookie? Oreos, of course! Found them! Oh wait, but did I?  Berry burst Oreo. Cool Mint Cream Oreo. Triple double chocolate Oreo. Coconut Delight Oreo. Cookies and Cream Oreo. Where are just the plain Oreos? 

And we wonder why 35% of Americans are obese. Well, I suppose, one way to look at it is one can certainly get their exercise walking around these massive grocery stores trying to find something  ;) hehe.

Another big adjustment for me would be the cool, popular, unique factor (or, the lack thereof).  I'm no different then anyone else walking the streets here. Why would I be? I'm just a white girl. One amongst the other 93% of people here.. No, "buenos dias,""Salu!" or "Hola" No greetings. No acknowledgments. No eye contact. There are no children running up to hug me. Here in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, I am just another white person walking the streets. I'm not a rock star. No one knows my name, nor do I know theirs.

Okay so I probably wasn't THAT cool in El Salvador either. People just really liked me because I was different, and I was also able to help broaden their conversations beyond the weather and corn.  I'm sure other PCVs can relate, that in our communities we are spoiled.  People go out of their way to make sure we feel special and are comfortable. Giving up their seat for you. Giving you the first plate of food. Sending their son up the mango or avocado tree to bring some down for you. 

With all that being said, my first week back to the states, I passed a sign hung outside, that said "Live simply. So that others may simply live." This sign was hung outside a very tiny house (which appeared to once be someone's shed) nestled between two larger houses.

I really liked the quote, and the longer I am back and living in the US, the more I am beginning to think more and more just what this quote means to me. The simple life is not only beneficial to myself (less stress and a more relaxed way of living), but to others as well.  Our actions affect half a world away. You are part of a much bigger story than your own. We are a world of people that from different backgrounds, ethnic groups, financial status, etc. But we are all one. We are all humans. Our responsibility of humans is to look out for each other. To be compassionate and understanding. We are all striving to reach a common goal; happiness. So why make it harder for people? Our greed needs to turn back into remembering our needs.We need to slow down, we really do. When you get more and more, another is getting less and less. That doesn't seem like a fair equation, does it?

Random picture for this blog, but uhm... Happy FALL!!?!

An image from my Peace Corps experience that will likely always stick with me. The village children going through my burning trash to salvage something that I threw out (A half eaten tomato that I thought was too old to be eaten, or a cereal box that they could make a toy house out of.)

 Did it really have to get to that to to really show me just how wasteful I am?

 

I certainly am far from perfect, and there are many things I wish I could do different. I wish I would grow my own food. I wish I didn't feel the need to buy the Iphone. I wish I could hit that delete button on my facebook account. I wish I could be a vegan (unfortunately, I love cheese and ice cream too much, ahah) I wish I could say that I don't own 28 headbands. I have a long way to go. Living in a developing country has certainly helped raise this awareness, and I know it will only continue to grow.

I came to El Salvador with the intention to help develop a community. I left with more than just that. This community of people helped develop me instead. I learned more from them, then they will ever know. Thank you Calderitas.

"If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life,  let it."

Rockin' in the Free World

After 21 months of living in El Salvador, and 4 months of traveling around South America, I have finally made my way back home to central Pennsylvania. I love being home, and this blog is dedicated to the reasons why it is, oh so nice, being back home.

Philadelphia Airport

The title of this blog, "Rockin' in the Free World", seemed most relevant for me. I'm not even back to my home in Winfield, PA for 20 hours and I'm already at a music concert. So Neil Young didn't play, "Rockin' in the Free World," but I still enjoyed his sounds, along with the sounds of many other famous artists (Willie Nelson, DMB, Jack Johnson, Grace Potter and The Nocturnals,etc.) that came together for Farm Aid.  The money from this shows helps support family farms.

Concerts are certainly on the top of the list of what I've missed most about the US. I love music, and something is transformed with my mood & my surroundings, when I listen to it. At Farm Aid, I loved sharing that same energy with over 30,000 people.

It is nice being able to dance, without having to know a specific dance. I love American music for that.  Don't get me wrong, I do love Latin music and the dances that go along with them; such as cumbia, salsa, or bachata. When my Salvadorean friends would ask how we dance in America, they seemed somewhat appalled that there isn't a certain dance, but more a matter of "going with the flow of the music." I guess I could have shown them the chicken dance or the electric slide, but I thought I'd rather save the humiliation on that one.

As for the others? What I love most about being back?

1 Family and friends. The people who have been by my side through all of this and who were on this life changing journey with me. Through emails, phone calls, care packages, or just the thought of them helped me through this experience. Now it is time to tell them about it in person.

Mom, Dad, and I in front of my dad's 57 Chevy
At the cruise in - Country Cupboard, Lewisburg, PA

2.  Speaking English - Okay, so right now, I'm sure I sound like an English a a second language learner. I have many, "what is that word in English?" moments. As an aspiring writer and English teacher, I hope my English grammar comes back to me.

3. Being organized - No more living out of a backpack. Here in the US, my clothes go in a closet or a drawer. My money goes in a wallet, not rolled up in a money belt against me.

4. Music & Concerts - As mentioned above. The same 1,000 songs on my IPOD got a bit old. I love the sounds of new music, and being able to "let go" at live music concerts. Who is in for Phish New Years Eve?

5. Driving a car - While, the first time on the highway was a bit hard, I love being behind the wheel and singing at the top of my lungs (even if I do get a few weird looks by passing vehicles).

6. Hot showers -  Not wearing shoes and not having to bring shower supplies each time you take a shower is an extra plus as well.

7. Markets - More specifically, the Amish. This group of people that were all around me while growing up, suddenly appear more interesting to me. For those who don't know, I live on the edge of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, which is noted for their high Amish population. Because of their delicious baked goods, such as whoopie pie or shoofly pie (lard pie according to Noel), I foresee myself gaining some weight being back here.

buggies parked during Sunday morning church

My Peace Corps friend Amy at the Watsontown Yard Sales
(She loved the area, but was certainly quite shocked that I came from it) 

8. Carpet. Walking around barefoot inside a house is sooooo nice. Oh, the little things.

9. Bathrooms. In Central and South America, I was lucky to find an indoor bathroom. I was even luckier to find that inside bathroom with a toilet seat. Having toilet paper was certainly out of the picture (If you are traveling there, make sure to always carry a roll with you). Here in the states, I'm finding myself going to the bathroom in places even if I don't have to actually "go." Toilet seats, toilet paper, sinks, mirrors, AND hand dryers. How luxurious!  I just need to remember, the toilet paper goes IN the toilet bowl.

10. Hiking and being in nature.

A section of the Appalachian Trail in PA

11. Washing machines - I'm not actually sure this is a "great thing about being back in the states." I felt like I just had to write it. I secretly miss washing my clothes on a rock. The thought of washing machines is definitely appealing to someone who works a full-time job (which is not me).

12. A house free of unwanted creatures - the cockroaches, tarantulas, scorpions, bats, and mice. Oh, how could I forget the pigeons!

13. The beautiful fall colors. and the brisk fall weather.

14. New old clothes. It's nice not having to go shopping. After being away from your clothing for over 2 years, everything in your closet is new to you.

15. Conversations  that go beyond the weather and corn.

16. Being back "in the loop." I have developed a small obsession with checking the world news app on an hourly basis. It's as if my brain is making up for lost activity.

17. Watching movies on something other then my 10 inch laptop, and doing so on a couch (not a hammock) Dare I admit how lazy I've become. Tomorrow, I'm going to the gym. Tomorrow.

18. My dog Maggie.  I'm gone for 2 years, and I see just how quickly I am replaced. She has taken over the couch, my bed, and the backseat of the car. Even if I do kick her off these spots, put her in her place, and call her fat 20 times a day, she still forgives me. That's the amazing thing about animals; they don't hold grudges. I love this dog, and I love being able to give positive attention to animals without getting weird looks or remarks. It's nice to see others doing so too.

The most spoiled dog in the world, Maggie May

19. The food, and all the options for food. Menus at restaurants are a bit overwhelming, but worth the effort. (My body is actually craving beans and tortilla).

20. Cooking. To continue with food, I have to mention how much I have fallen in love with cooking, or rather the idea of cooking. Due to lack of ingredients, I haven't been able to partake much in this. If anyone has a good recipe, send it my way.

"There is no real ending. It's just the place you stop the story."

Salento, Colombia - The last stop of my nearly 5 month journey throughout South America. I decided to skip the capital, Bogota, and just stay in this relaxing place for my last 8 days. Salento is a sleepy, tranquilo, little town in the middle of the Zona Cafetera region in Colombia.

at the viewpoint; Montana.
female travelers from all over the world,
all traveling alone

A few miles outside of town is Valle de Cocora National Park. This place is so stunningly beautiful, I just had to go more than once. Valle de Cocora is full of wax palm trees, which are tall skinny palm trees that grow up to 150 feet and live for 120 years. In the high altitude region of the Colombian Andes are the only place they grow, and such a odd place it is. We're slightly convinced they were placed by aliens :)

Getting to the park was a journey in itself. A 30 minute ride through the country side, with about 10 people thrown into a jeep wrangler, with 5 of us hanging off the back. Fun fun!

hanging on for dear life on the jeep ride there

At the National Park, we did the loop hike, which took about 6 hours. At the top we reached a reserve that is home to 6 different types of humming birds. Unfortunately it was so hard to get some good photos, since those things move so darn fast. There we enjoyed a free cup of hot chocolate before heading up to the viewpoint (La Montana).

a hummingbird on the hike

Valle de cocora

I met many wonderful people my last week in Salento. I went on some beautiful hikes, and learned about where coffee comes from. It is hard to believe my travels are complete. I love traveling, the freedom of the open road, learning new cultures, and meeting new people. Traveling is the best and quickest way for one to grow; both spiritually and intellectually. Everyday you are learning and experiencing something new. Unfortunately, it was time to leave this all behind. At least for the time being.

 Now, it was time to board that plane. First back to El Salvador, & then north to the USA.

 On the plane ride back to El Salvador, I kept thinking about my flight from El Sal to Chile 5 months ago. Most of the flight, I spent peering down at this foreign land of varying landscapes below me. From the the tropical  oceans of Colombia, the jungles of Ecuador, the snow capped mountains of Peru, and the northern Chilean and Argentinian deserts, I was so eager to find out what it contained for me. I had 5 months to find this out. Now I knew.... but did I really?

One really needs years to see what this continent contains, but with my 5 months I'm happy with what I got out of my travel experience. 

learning how to make coffee
at the coffee plantation, Sacha Mamma

the final product

I thought about the journey I made from one end of a continent to another. I thought about all the people that have made such an impression on my.  People from different walks of life from all over the world. I think about the things I've done on my journey. I think of its breathtaking beauty. The new and interesting food and cultures. I think about everything.

the beautiful doors of Salento

 Climbing to the top of some of the world's largest mountains. Attempting to climb up the tallest active volcano in the world. Diving 60 feet under water amongst tropical coral and fish. Exploring the jungles of Peru and Ecuador. Having monkeys jump on me and steal my shit (ha.) Trying new foods (guinea pig being the most ineresting). Biking down the world's most dangerous road. Inca ruins - Machu Picchu. The world's deepest canyon. Seeing new animals (monkeys, toucans, llamas, donkeys). Driving across the world's largest salt flat in a jeep. Just to name a few highlights of my trip.

Without a doubt, I had an incredible experience traveling around South America. I had an even bigger experience, spending 2 years of my life working and living in a small rural village in El Salvador. It is certainly difficult to leave such places behind. Places so poor. Places without much, but so full of love. Places full of people so genuine and caring with so much to give to others. It's like their lack of possessions makes their heart grow bigger instead.

It was nice being back in my village in El Salvador. I made it somewhat of a surprise to go back there, and I'm glad I did. As always it was hard to leave not knowing when I'll return there again. As hard as it was for me, I needed to move on, and I was ready to be back with my family and friends in the USA. I will forever think about El Salvador, and the people that have made such an impact on my life. This tiny little place has changed me, and I will take those changes with me for the rest of my life.
Chao El Sal.. Hasta la proxima vez...

with Fernada & Lenny (my host fam) in El Salvador

Check back for a "How it feels to be back in the USA" blog soon!