Tranquilo

The life of the gypsy woman entails a butt ton of movement.  While this quality serves me well in my every day living in the states because I get to have a daily planner that looks like someone barfed onto it there are moments that I realize that maybe slowing down isn´t so bad afterall.  Ordinarily I run around even here in South America, but today I wasn´t feeling well and I totally surrendered.  I took a nap.  This is nothing short of a miracle for me.  After my nap I lazily took a walk up to the Virgin statue which entailed like a cagillion stairs to walk up and I took the time to rest when I needed during my trek.  From there I went to one of my favorite hot springs and relaxed in the thermal baths.  One of the locals spotted the single gringa and started a conversation with me.  I did my due diligence to try and communicate with him in Spanish.  I have turned over a new leaf with attempting to speak as much Spanish as I can since I went into a temporary lapse of forgetting my purpose here. Trying to fumble your way into a new language is most humbling.  Often I am grasping for words the words I do know and they get mixed up with the new words I am currently learning and soon it becomes this Spanglish soupy mess!  I forget how to speak and just stare at my zapatos.  Tonight was progress because a) I couldn´t stare at my shoes and b) I attempted to try and understand then speak.  It was a short conversation!!  However, the evening was mucho tranquilo because there was light rain sprinkling down and only the local people speaking their native tongue.  I just observed and relaxed into the moment and this woman who was 90 years old comes by and starts singing to me.  I could get used to this kind of life.  I felt complete gratitude for the peace and tranquility this place offered me especially after the last few weeks which have been challenging.  It is not easy attempting a language and adopting to a new culture and more often than not have people look at you like you are bizerk.  Or get corrected when you really thought you nailed it.  Or even better, grasping and grasping for a simple word and you can´t communicate then you are forced to stare at your shoes....again.  I was at a birthday party recently and got pretty overwhelmed with not being fluent and went into my comfort zone and refused to speak anything but English. I wouldn´t even consider my Spanglish soupy words.  Finally, I realized that I should at least tell my host happy birthday.  I muster up the courage to approach him after an hour and walk directly up to him and look him into the eyes and say proudly, "Feliz Navidad!"  He buckles over with laughter as do I and realize that while I love a good Christmas cheer it wasn´t Christmas.  Otra vez!!!

Hookahs not Hookers

Listen, pronunciation is key to any language.  It is amazing how one vowel sound or consonant blend can completely change the context of a conversation.  Take last Friday last night for example, Karl and I were making our way to another bar for the evening.  The rest of the volunteers made their rounds to the local favorites so off Karl and I went.  This being an Ecuadorian shuffle we tried to visit a better establishment than the local bump and grind bar that the other volunteers fancied, but it was closed.  As we were making our way back Karl asks me if I wanted to share a "Hoookaah."  It took my brain a moment to register the words that I was hearing.  Did I want to share a hooker with the director of the children´s program?  It only took me a few polite seconds to say "No, I do not want to share a hooker with you."  Now, many people in this situation may have found it bizarre that someone asked you to share a hooker, but in my case it did not. I have been on the planet for many moons and I´ve been asked many preguntas that I would have prefered to have never been asked.  Take this case for example, yes, I would prefer not to share a prostitute.  I know it´s Friday night and maybe that´s scene but this Colorado girl does not roll like that.  I was a little surprised that the option was available since Banos is a small tourist town. I inquired with Karl and asked if there where many hookers in Banos.  As I was waiting for his response I see that we were approaching a Hookah bar.  Click, click, click...now it started adding up.  It´s a hookah not a hooker he wanted to share!!! Phew!  I did explain to him the miscommunication in dialect and we had a good chuckle over it and the volunteers enjoyed hearing the tales too.  Karl and I did wind up sharing a "hookaaah" together after all.  There are many moments that I realize I am far away from home because experiencing bizarre things like this is common particualary in Latin America.  On my way home I listen to the roosters crowing at 12:30 in the morning, or when I am at the local hot springs trying to change into my bathing suite the door gets jammed and I have to crawl up and out of the changing room.  My friends commented that luckily I am active and can just climb out of everything!  Or perhaps when I was trying to Skpe my dear friend and the headphones would fit the head of a small 7 year old child but not a grown person. Then I ask for another headphone and one side of the ear piece hung down around my knee cap and made it really difficult for my friend to hear my voice.  Finally, frustrated at the situation I am waving my broken headphones around trying to have a miracle happen and strangely enough it does!  He whips out a brand new pair of headphones and I am thinking why on earth were you storing them?  Was there a particular occasion that would have warranted the use of them?  HELLO!!!  Bienvenidos to Bizarreville.  I actually enjoy these types of experiences after the fact because it is making up my adventures here in Ecuador.  Looks like I will be pushing onto Peru to help volunteer with a nutrition program for children.  Hope I encounter many hookahs and not hookers there......

Snick, Snack, Snoock

There are periods in our lives when we realize that evolution has occured.  For example, normally when someone cuts you off in traffic you might reach down for your glock 9, however, with the evolution of Self you refrain.  Instead, you might reach for a small bat or shiv.  This IS a marked notice of evolution and the persona that cut you off may not express their appreciation for your evolution at the time, but I applaud your efforts.  Recently, I was hanging with my German friends and we were deliberating on continuing our hike or turning around because the weather started to look a bit manic.  Snick, snack, snoock shortly took place after our conversation.  Now this may not seem like this was an incident of evolution, but indeed it was--after I understood what the heck it meant!  I am often seen carrying around a dictionary pressed against my hip and I´m muy rapido with the whipping out words to try and comprehend the language. For the most part it works quite well, but unfortunately my new vocabulary often does not refer to the actual conversation at hand.  I leave people stumped and wondering.  I do this on purpose because then they won´t have high expectations for me to succeed in their language if they think I am stupid!! Once I do start to grasp the language I will start being sincere and replying in the right context.  I digress---back to evolution... After we completed a round of snick, snack, snoock I learned of all the new rules and versions for our American version of rock, paper, and scissors.  If this isn´t a fine example of evolution I don´t know what is and I was so happy to learn of the updated procedures for this ancient games that has globally settled many disagreements.  When our old staple childhood games shifts into a new evolution it truly is a mark of progress in humanity.  If you haven´t played snick, snack, snoock recently then make a concerted effort to incoporate it in your day.  Maybe after you finish chatting with your co-workers around the water cooler?  Maybe in the car when you are deciding who should get to merge into the lane?  Maybe after you and your spouse can´t decide on the dinner menu?  Snick, snack, snoock will solve all your problems and with the new versions of this game can only help lead to a stronger path of world peace.  For myself, I have a new goal of getting the glue off of my tongue and the removing the marshmallows from my brain in order for me to communicate coherently in the Spanish language.  Hearing the word "Como" is a common place for me in my daily interactions with the locals.  After I pick up my shattered ego off of the floor because I realized I only asked for "salsa de aji" for the love of Christ.  Could my communication be this poor as a Virgo woman?  Apparently this is true because I get consist "Como" throughout the dia.  After proper resuscitation of my fragile ego I muster up my courage and go ahead and ask for the "salsa de tomate."  At this point I´m thinking my eggs are pretty fricken dry and I´ll will settle for anything!!  If the waitstaff happens to get confrontational then you know exactly what I will do to resolve the issue immediately.  "Escupe, senor snick, snack, snook para mi y tu?"  Toda bien......

Swiper no Swiping

Have you ever felt like you were in a live version of Dora the Explorer?  If you haven´t I am disappointed and a bit sad for you because that´s exactly how I felt at yesterday´s excursion!  A few of the volunteers, one of my friend´s from Quito, and I went white water rafting.  There are times during my journey that makes life feel so surreal.  Take yesterday for example-there we were being instructed on how to properly paddle the boat, avoid potential dangers, and swim safely to the shore.  As I was looking around all I see are the characters from Dora the Explorer!!   There´s Diego guiding the raft, Swiper the fox is up on the hill top watching us go down stream marking his move, Boots is paddling his ass off, Backback is clutching onto Tico like there´s no tomorrow, and I on behalf of the U.S.A. represented a generic version of Dora.  Holy macerel!  I couldn´t believe the sights that my eyes beheld on our journey down the rio Verde!!  I am pleased to announce that the trip was spectacular.  Hoovering inside the rio with the mountains and beautiful country side to our right and left was well worth the price we paid for admission.  Now, this being a South American rafting trip we of course had a Ecuadorian shuffle.  Going directly from point A to point B just simply doesn´t exist in this region of the world.  However, having 3 breaks every ten minutes is a part of this shuffle.  My arms hardly had the chance to become tired with all of the breaks incorporated on this trip.  After the third break I just went with the flow and started floating down stream keeping a watchful eye out for Swiper.  After all he is always on the move!!!  While these last two weeks have been extremely challening in terms of adapting to a new culture, food, environment, and language I have ample opportunities to learn.  Today´s lesson is slowing down and surrendering into acceptance. In the mean time I will keep my ears open and my eyes peeled waiting to hear those three importante words, ¨"Swiper no Swiping!"  My love to all.....

The Ecuadorian shuffle

I awoke at the wee hours of the morning today.  I had my friends from Quito visiting for a few days and we decided to wake up super early and catch the sunrise at the local hot springs.  Now, getting to the actual hot springs is like anything you do in Ecuador an adventure of sorts.  We planned on getting a taxi and arriving there well in time for the sunrise.  What this transpired into is being told that you cannot actually call a cab until 7a.m.  Although a big ole` taxi van passed right on by us with heeps of people!  Then we walk around 2-3 miles to read the signs wrong and have to go back the other direction.  At this point we were hoping that the clouds would disappear so we could actually see the sunrise.  Then we had dogs barking and chasing after us for a spell.  Approximately and hour or so after we left the hostal we arrive at the beautiful hotsprings minus the sun!!  This is the Ecuadorian shuffle with many road blocks or detours in between your goal and what actually happens.  I am glad that we were rewarded with this particular journey and the hot springs were wonderful.  I am enjoying the company of my traveling friends from Quito.  We all gathered last night for movie night at the Bib.  I fell asleep and woke up to a room full of people that prior to 11 days ago I did not have the pleasure of meeting.  It was a strange reality to wake up to and moments like that make you realize the you are a long ways away from mi casa.  While living in a foreign country especially one like Ecuador comes with its daily challenges I do not miss home in the ways I would have anticipated.  However, the two things that I will revel in once I return are my perfectly made chai tea from Starbucks with steaming hot milk, and having a consistently hot shower that I wont have to rush through because at some point it will turn cold.  I have endured more freezing cold shower than you can possibly imagine.  I am getting to be a champ at washing and rinsing in a big way!!!  I start teaching my English classes today and look forward to the new challenges that will bring.  In the meantime back to my Ecuadorian shuffle...wish me luck!

Ejercicio

I got to teach my first group activity with kids yesterday.  Apparently everyone knew before I arrived that I fancy exercising quite a bit!  One of the students asked a local volunteer if they knew me (and they didn´t) she replied, "Shannon loves exercise!"  I was laughing because she didn´t know me, but alas my reputation preceded me here to South America.  Needless to say I have to keep up with mucho ejercicio classes otherwise I would not be living up to my reputation here.  Yesterday´s exericise class constisted of an obstacle course for the children and if one every wants to laugh incredibly hard then set up a similar situation and watch the children fumble around.  The first obstacle had jump ropes, second bouncy ball, third tunnel, and last running around an obstacle five times.  I designed this to be coordination central.  Watching the children whip themselves with the jump ropes or struggle to bounce the ball and jump over the tunnel in complete madness was definitely how I wanted to spend my Friday afternoon.  I had a volunteers watching 3 sections to ensure minimal cheating.  At first they all stumble then quickly resort to cheating.  Kal and I were in synce and made it more difficult if they cheated and they had to start the obstacle course all over again.  This proved noteworthy because after they did that one time we no longer had issues with cheating any more.  I was really impressed at how well behaved they were in this competition.  I followed that with some running obstacles and after it was all said and done they were worn out and happy.  I think everyone got something fun and engaging yesterday.  I am going to teach an exercise class for the volunteers at Arte del Mundo this upcoming Thursday evening.  I also start teaching beginners level English on Monday and that should be a great learning opportunity for both my students and myself.  I am slowly continuing to study my Spanish although right now I am a bit discouraged.  I am still pushing myself to study even though I am apprehensive about practicing it in public.  I am looking forward to this upcoming week because it will give me the opportunity to contribute more to the local community and staff.  We will hope that the staff won´t have too much difficulty walking on Friday after they take my class Thursday night.  If I do my job well then they´ll be gimping around in no time flat!!

Vida

Learning how to make the most out of life is something I am learning to become well versed at lately.  I am continually in state of amazement and fog about all the new and ever changing variables around me.  While I have only been for a week it feels like I have experienced many life times since my arrival.  Each day has a certain amount of unpredictability.  I am creating some routine with my Spanish classes and working with the children, however things are constanlty shifting in one direction or another.  I have recomitted myself to lean on my spiritual practice as most of the people around me do not know what  I am saying!  Recently I have been questioning the spiritual deity or deities that be.  Wondering why things turn out a certain way that leads to pain or loss?  I usually do not receive answers to these types of inquiry, and instead I am left to dig a little deeper and find within the message.  This entails many layers of barriers, but yesterday I sat on the mountain and prayed a deeper prayer than I have in a long time and pushed beyond my usual barriers.  I realized that life is sometimes cruel and painful and while it doesn´t make any sense in the end hopefully things fair better.  I really hope and pray that is true.  In the end I hope everyone that I love gets their fairytale and happy beginning, middle, and end.  

Clases

It´s official I have entered into unknown territory.  Language quickly becomes a matrix and you find yourself desperately looking for a road map.  No entiendo!!  Last night we had Intercambio night.  This entails having the community that wants to learn English intermingle with volunteers who wish to practice their Spanish. We had the opportunity through a fun activity to practice the  language opposite from our own.  We played many rounds of musical chairs and this entailed directing in Spanish to move if.... muevate si.... you like...te gusta. You had to quickly find a chair and move if the command applied to you.  I instructed to move if you like people from the United States.  I am trying to get as many positive plugs for the US-of-A!  The more individuals share their dislikefor Americans then the more proud I become of my own country. Although most of the time I agree with their sentiment and frustrations about Westerners it really doesn´t bode well with me when they share their thoughts because I´m American.  And proud.  Nevertheless, participating in this activity proved challenging because I had the least amount of Spanish on my belt compared with the other volunteers, and became confused most of the time.  I was dashing around for seats not really sure if I was in complete agreement with the instruction!  Then the thoughts of not being able to absorb the language and all of that ran through my mind.  I forced myself to participate the best I could even though I was lost.  I woke up with a sense of purpose. Moments like that can either defeat you, or recreate you.  I had to rely on my spiritual framework to help me focus and trust this process.  God is still with me even if I¨m buzzing around chairs trying to figure out the instruction for the musical chairs game.  However, the highlight of my day ayer was interacting with the children.  Even though I do not speak very much Spanish I did whoop them in a game of Sorry!  Children pull the same antics in the Southern Americas as they do in the Northern Americas!  I was certainly in familiar ground there and enjoyed getting to know them via hand gestures and signaling PARE!  After the Intercambio volunteers and people from the community went out to the local tavern to socialize and I enjoyed hearing stories and getting to know the staff at the fundacion better.  Participating in this community is going to be life altering.  I start teaching English next week and look forward to being able to contribute back.  Short term goal- learn verbs and start to construct sentences.  Long term goal- keeping moving forward even when it´s challenging.  Muevate si.........you want to inspire. 

Settling In

Good news I´ve moved into a state of settling down.  I arrived in Banos the town that I will be studying Spanish and teaching English.  For me settling down looks quite different than the average bloak.  Lately I have been around many English and Austranlian people and picking up their language very well!  Now Spanish on the other hand is proving to be challenging.  However, I start my Spanish school tomorrow and I am desperately hoping that in 3 weeks I can at least start communicating some better information to my waitstaff.  ¨"Senor, puede ketchup?" "Senor, puede salsa verdaaaay?" "Senor, cuanto cuesta el terminal de autobus?"  Shoot, I never realized how important it would be to convey simple messages such as the ketchup. I mean papas fritas are a bit bland without the salsa de tomate!!  In addition to my Spanish-language-waitstaff dreams I have also had some insight on my fears.  After embarking on my journey and being vulnerable to all the potential perils I recognize how my fears in the states are insignificant ahora.  If I can take a big leap of faith into the unknown and surrender to my dreams and wishes in spite of all my challenges then why the heck can´t I call the person back who I have a crush on!  Travel is about surrender and faith.  I was reading tonight about faith.  Faith entails knowing the direction that we are going.  I am glad that definition is cleared up because it´s been a bit fuzzy for me at times.  Even amidst the difference in continent and culture my goals have held steadfast.  Mi corazon esta contento.  If I was experiencing the looming self doubt that as a Virgo woman I often do then my trip would be misery.  Instead I am still strong in my conviction that this was and is the best path for me.  I started my first day at the volunteer organization Arte del Mundo.  I was impressed with their design and structure with literacy and art in the community.  I shadowed one of the English teachers and participated in helping with my poco knowledge.  I am super excited to teach my own class and get to know the local children better.  I am sure they will receive me the same fashion as do the children back home.  Pato, pato, GANSO!!  All of the volunteers have been warm and hospitable to the new gringa on the block.  I hope to contribute in a good and lasting way for this organization.  In the mean time the best thing I can do is practice my Spanish.  "Senor......"

Guagua Pinchincha

Lao Tzu was the founder of the Taoist philosopy.  He is quoted as saying that, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with one single step."  While this sounds almost dreamy he did not summit a 15,695 volcanoe, but I did!  While I wished I could have brought the patience of Lao Tzu on the summit today, I instead sprung on it like the good mountain cat that I am.  I went with two German women and 1 Australian fellow.  I quickly realized that I was not in the company of in shape individuals and my impatience reared inside as I sat and waited, sat and waited, sat and waited for ALL 900 of their breaks!  Eventually the girls slowed down enough that I hopped along with this French couple who shared their delicious lunch with me.  I anticipated an easy turista climb, but instead encountered a relatively modest ascent and it proved challenging the last 1,000 meters.  Coming down was certainly tricky and I had to free climb sections that under any sort of watchful eye would scorn such endeavours. I admit that my impatience gets the best of me because I know all of the dangers that come with late descents.  There´s a lot of treachery with steep descents and I fancy getting the heck out of there and back onto the normal trail in like--- a jiffey.  I was super impressed with the French woman (Judy) who despite her looking like she´d keal over rocked it out and summited with me.  I was of course representing Colorado to the best of my ability and was the first to ascend.  My ego does back flips when I pull stuff like this off!!  I have been getting a fair bit of negative feelings about being an American and many travelers have a great disdain for Americans.  With that being said, you´ll have to excuse me as I pass you on the trail. It´s only fair, right?  While there may be anti-American sentiment by many that has certainly not impacted my adventures especially with a really, really friendly Australian in particular (eh hem!).  It struck me yesterday as I was on the rooftop terrace enjoying dinner with my new traveling companions how normal this life was for me.  Like being in a different continent completely removed from my life was as normal as could be.  Nevertheless, I love the quality of connection and oneness I experience as a traveler.  Hospitatlity, politeness, kindness, and generousity is a common place.  I get less alone time here compared to my own country.  Today´s goal of making the sumitt is accomplished.  Learning how to be more patient---well it´s like Lao Tzu said, a journey of a thousand miles begins with one single step.

New beginnings

Well today is the official day that I take off for South America.  It is wonderful to have the support of my close friends on my journey to see me through this new beginning in my life.  I know it may seem like I travel a lot and this is just another trip on my ever expanding itinerary, but this adventure will supersede all those trips I've taken to Tallahassee!  I hope I am able to reach all of my short and long term goals.  My short term goal for today is surviving the taxi cab ride, and my long term goals are acquiring the Spanish language and making a positive contribution to local communities.  Only time stands in between me and my goals so for now I must send my prayers off and practice like hell telling the taxi cab driver what's up!!  More news on the hour.....