Quito!

I had a great time in Quito last week.  I had no idea how much history was packed into the city and country of Ecuador.  It was a great time.  I would love to go back to visit again sometime.

I spent most of my time at an International Educators Conference but, I spent the rest of the time with Ariel and our friend Mariqui touring the city.  She did a great job of showing us the highlights.  

What I liked the best about the city was the Colonial part.  We got to cimb up to the highest tower of the Basilica and that was great because we got a great view of the city.

Mariqui, Hannah, & Ariel

Mariqui also took us up one of the volcanoes that surrounds the city called Pichincha.  On the way up we got a spectacular view of the city, once we got up to the top we were in a cloud.  Ecuador's climate is quite cold most of the time.

 

Mariqui did a great job of showing us the highlights.  We walked around the old city and saw the churches, Ariel was able to see on of the museums and she took us out to eat real Ecuadorian cuisine.  

Probably one of the best parts of the trip was getting to spend some time with some of Ariel's Ecuadorian friends that he made when he lived in Guatemala.

I loved the people, the flowers (there were so many beautiful flowers everywhere!) and the culture (so much art, museums, history, etc.).  I would love to go back someday.

hello storytime!

I am about to leave Washington, DC to embark on a new chapter of life.  I'm going to get married and will be learning to live life together with Ariel.  It's not surprising that I'm feeling introspective and re-visiting my sometimes neglected blog. 

I have a feeling that I'll be writing a bit more frequently for a while.  I'll have so many exciting new things to write about!  Getting married, living in Panama, starting a new teaching job, making new friends... I'm sure the list will be endless.  

To make things even better, I'm marrying my best writing companion.  We have always enjoyed writing together so, this space and others will probably be kept up with more diligence since it's something that we both enjoy and want to do with our time.  This will probably make my mom very happy, since recently I have not been very consistent in telling the stories of things happening in my life.

Needless to say, if you read my blog... welcome back.  =)

brother in town

Andrew made it safely to DC tonight!

some bonhoeffer

Thank you Megan, this is perfect.

"Nothing can make up for the absence of someone who we love, and it would be wrong to find a substitute; we must simply hold out and see it through. That sounds very hard at first, but at the same time it is a great consolation, for the gap, as long it remains unfilled, preserves the bonds between us. It is nonsense to say that God fills the gap; God does not fill it, but on the contrary, God keeps it empty and so helps us keep alive our former communion with each other, even at the cost of pain ... The dearer and richer our memories, the more difficult the separation. But beauties of the past are borne, not as a thorn in the flesh, but as a previous gift in themselves. We must take care not to wallow in our memories or to hand ourselves over to them, just as we don’t gaze all the time at a valuable present, but only at special times, and apart from the keep it simply as a hidden treasure that is ours for certain. In this way the past gives us lasting joy and strength."

Dietrich Bonheoffer

happy (lunar) new year!

I forgot to say "happy year of the tiger" to everyone on Sunday.  I've been enjoying the "lunar new year" stamps these days as I've been loving the snow break to write cards to my friends. I think this is going to be the best year of the tiger ever.

That being said, we went back to school today after our snow storm break.  We were thinking of all the snow related compound words like "snowman", "snowball", "snowflake"... I also had to respond to the principle's question about individual's intent to return next year.  

To be honest, I teared up as I was writing it.  I am going to miss it there.  I have had a very good experience and feel like I've learned a lot.  The people have been so incredible and I'm so thankful for such a wonderful team of people.  I know I'm not leaving yet but, I want to make the most of it.

Not that I'm completely sad.  The truth is that I'm mostly happy because in addition to having to say goodbye to lots of wonderful things in my life, this year is also going to be filled with new and wonderful things (like getting married) and hopefully experiencing and learning in another school setting.

staying for 10 years

Last week I got to know one of my co-workers a little better. She told me that she'd been working with the organization that runs the school I work at for about 10 years on and off since high school. She said, "This is a good place and it only gets better and better." I think anyone would admit that there are areas where the organization could improve, that is just one more reason that it's a good organization.

I spent the rest of the evening thinking about staying somewhere for 10 years. I haven't lived anywhere for 10 years in almost 10 years. I've spent the better part of the last 8 years moving from place to place. I wonder if I will ever be in one place for 10 or 20 years. There seems to be something very, very good about investing in a place with that type of commitment.

Some day, I'd like to be around long enough to see children I knew in elementary school graduating from high school and maybe stick around longer than that... I don't know where that'll end up being but, there is something in me that craves it a little at least.

I'm happy...

Feelin' good

I've always kind of had a thing for book lists. The truth is that sometimes I feel good about life or slightly depressed depending on how many books I have been able to mark off of my "to read" list. This is probably a ridiculous but, it's just the way I am...

Anyway, in a couple days, I'm going to be headed to Central America for a couple of weeks. As most of you know, I love Central America and traveling is one of my favorite things to do. It is also a complicated time for Central America, it will be interesting to be traveling during the next couple of weeks.

I am going to do my best to take a picture a day and post at least a couple times while I'm there.

so much on my mind

They say that if you have a lot on your mind to write you should just start writing it and then your ideas will come together. I hope that happens. Last night I was talking to one of my aunts and I realized that she reads my blog! I didn't know. I wonder how many other people read my blog and I have no idea that they read it!

There is a lot on my mind, like the unrest in Honduras and the beautiful weather in DC this summer. I've been reading Till We Have Faces and more than anything experiencing the odd sensation of being "in between". I will be going on a two week trip through Central America in less than two weeks. I know that as soon as I get back my life is going to be a whirlwind of activity no matter what ends up happening to me next. I am literally experiencing the calm before the storm.

I realized this week how much I am like a bird. I can make myself at home, sing, and delight in a place but, without too much difficulty, my heart can turn and open itself up to a new adventure and a new place. I have come a long way, I promise, I believe very, very much in investing in people and in staying places. I think "staying" is a big part of changing places. But, I also believe that I am not going to fix or ruin a place and if I have opportunities to live and be alive in other places, I don't have to pass them up.

This week I've spent more time alone than I have since the first two weeks of January. I like having time alone. It makes my time with people that much more wonderful. Other things I've been thinking about a lot recently are the words of Jesus "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? " and Solomon "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven". Sea lo que sea, por algo será.

Up

I just have to say that this is a great movie. It's funny how many people dream of adventure but never get around to it. I love Ellie in this movie. I can identify with her, sometimes I have a little too much enthusiasm. I guess I hope that I would be able to always embrace the simple things in my life and love them... but, I also hope that I'll get to have the adventures too! I wonder how many Ellie and Carl's there are out there...

"I am a Panamanian"

I wrote my first journal when I was 7 years old. I kept it during the year that my family traveled through the United States. My parents just brought it to me this past weekend. It made me laugh because the first entry actually shows how little I've changed since then. The first thing I wrote in my journal was:

"I am a Panamanian. We left today."

Being from Panama and always "leaving" are two major themes in my life. So little has changed.

worries and blessings

I've been a little more worried than usual in the past couple of days about what is going to happen to me next year. I know that I shouldn't worry. I know that God is good and will provide for me.

I also know that in spite of my worries I am so blessed. I live with wonderful girls. I am in an interesting city and am part of a really good community. I am really happy right now, in spite of my worries.

We loose sight of so many things when we worry. We miss out on the good things in life. So, I'm trying not to worry. With that thought, I think there were times during college that I missed out on some fun because I was worried about stuff.

One thing I will never regret is the time that I spent in the downtown East Side of Vancouver. I just found this video made by my university featuring one of the coolest profs at my school and the East Side. I have MUCH to be thankful for.

I went to NYC...

I think I mentioned that I went to NYC last weekend. I actually have a few funny stories from my time there. Overall, it was GREAT to have time to wander around the city, watch people, think, read, etc. I did love New York City even though I don't think I'd want to live there, not right now at least.

being homesick

Last night I was having a difficult time falling asleep. I was tired but, I didn't want to go to bed. I sat there trying to figure out what was bothering me. I started thinking about all the complicated things that could be keeping me awake. I even tried to let those things be the things that were keeping me awake but, my mind couldn't even stay focused on the things that could be worrying me.

I started reading a book which is usually my favorite refuge when I cannot sleep but, then I realized what was keeping me awake. I started thinking about all the conversations that I've had in the past three weeks where people have told me, "I'm going home." or "I miss home, I think I should go home soon," or "I'm going to go visit my best friend in [x country or state]." and I felt stuck.

It is not that I don't want to live in one place. It's not even that I'm not happy to be here right now but, it's the sensation that I cannot [or should not] leave [even for a visit] if I wanted to that I don't like. I hate that feeling. Especially when I'm surrounded by lucky people who don't feel stuck in the same way. I would love to take that ticket to Panama or California. I miss my Grandma and my best friend in London. I wish I could go to Japan and visit some people I know in Africa [etc.].

I think that coveting other people's ability to travel is so awful but I guess it's probably my most frequent sin. It makes me feel sad and loose sight of the overwhelming contentment that I am experiencing right now, here, not elsewhere. It also keeps me up at night when I let myself think about what I "really want".

We have so much food! Oh my!

There are so many things on my mind right now. On Sunday, I went to the grocery store to get some food and while I was standing in line I was just observing what kinds of things people were purchasing. I have to admit that the amount of pre-prepared food, frozen meals, snacks, and things like that was almost sad.

I wish that people could enjoy the less expensive and tastier joy of home-made food and eating fresh fruit and vegetables. It is not surprising that people are excessively over weight if those are the kinds of things that they eat every day. It reminded me of a photo essay that I saw a while back called “What the World Eats.” It was a very interesting comparison of how much it costs to feed a family in a week in different parts of the world and also how different the amount of food people have available to them.

Todos vuelven

Todos vuelven A la tierra en que nacieron
Al embrujo Incomparable de su sol
Todos vuelven Al rincón donde vivieron
Donde acoso florecio Mas de un amor
Bajo el arbol solitario Del silencio
Cuantas veces nos Ponemos a soñar
Todos vuelven Por la ruta del recuerdo
Pero el tiempo del amor No vuelve mas

El aire que trae En sus manos
La flor del pasado Su aroma de ayer
Nos dice muy credo al oido
Su canto aprendido Del atardecer
Nos dice su voz misteriosa
De nardo y de rosa De luna y de miel
Que santo el amor de la tierra
Que triste la ausencia que deja ayer
Que santo el amor de la tierra
Que triste la ausencia que deja ayer

Bom Dia!

I'm trying to learn Portuguese. I think that it is interesting how much I LOVE going to class. I enjoy the learning process. I even enjoy how incredibly funny I sound when I'm trying to say normal and simple things in Portuguese like, "This is my aunt, she has brown hair and blue eyes."

I won't lie, knowing Spanish makes it so much easier to understand Portuguese than if you didn't speak Spanish first but, at the same time you have to be that much more aware of your accent and how speaking Spanish is NOT the same thing as speaking Portuguese, there are enough differences that you need to be careful.

Anyway, I love learning languages and I think I should keep this in mind as I try to figure out what direction I should head next with my life.

ice skating!

I recently became friends with a girl who works for an organization called Partners of the Americas. I am excited about this organization. I'm excited because it really works with a volunteerism in a way that I appreciate. I would enjoy being part of an organization like this one.

I was invited to spend some time with their youth ambassadors and was super excited about it.

Their website says that "The Youth Ambassadors program offers Latin America youth new international opportunities and experiences to broaden their knowledge of U.S. culture, society, and education. The participants and U.S. audiences will increase their mutual understanding among peoples of the Americas. The Youth Ambassadors for the Americas program will not only provide new knowledge and experience for participants, but also prepare them for a lifetime of leadership and community service."

I got to ice skating with them on Friday night. I love skating. I think I forgot how scary and hard it is the first time that you get on the ice. Otherwise, it's so much fun! I enjoyed the students and I think I'm going to hang out with them again on Sunday afternoon.

Like a Foreigner

Right now I feel like a foreigner here in this country. Starting a job in an environment very different than I'm used to or ever have been in really, looking for a house, going to the Metropolitan Police Department, the Department of Motor Vehicles, walking around in the cold, and well, to be honest I feel like I'm just fumbling a little.

Today, I was trying to get something done at the DMV and they said that I couldn't do it without my father's signature. I don't know about most people, but for most people that might not be that complicated. You can call him up and ask him for some advice and get some pretty quick overnight mail delivery. It made me feel like a foreigner because my father doesn't live in this country and right now he's off in some remote place where I cannot just pick up the phone and say, "Hey dad, what should I do?"

Anyway, it's really cold here and grey. I know I shouldn't be complaining, I'm happy to be here, I have really great friends here, but the transition is getting to me and I'm not a big fan of the cold. You wouldn't believe how bundled up I am and I'm sitting inside! It's just that when you are trying to get things done and stuff that is out of your control impedes you from doing it, plus difficulties getting around ... it is really frustrating. Last night it hit me, I feel strange.

"bring THAT friend with you!"

On my way back to Santa Barbara with my parents, I became friends with some adorable kids in Tegus. The oldest, Micah, who is four --told my parents that they should come back and bring THAT friend (as he pointed at me) with them. It was adorable and they really did make me want to come back.