Jambo, Habari yako? Well, I made it back from Kenya safe and sound and now it's time to write it all down. I must say that these will be the most difficult of all the journals I've written. I honestly don't even know how to capture my true feelings or explain what I've seen, but I'll try my best. We did so much in two weeks and took so many pictures that I'll have to divide this experience into several journal entries. You'll just have to bare with me because this could take awhile to sum up. I will save my [View Full Entry]

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Ever since I can remember, I have dreamed of traveling to the vast and diverse continent of AFRICA. The stories of my grandparent's travels across the plains of Kenya stayed stuck in my head. Africa is home to so much beauty: the barren wastelands of the Sahara Desert (the world's largest), the snowcapped peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro, the pyramids of ancient Egypt to the north, the mist-covered volcanoes and lakes of the Rift Valley to the east, the dense, untamed jungles of the Congo, the beautiful coastal city of Cape town and the largest game reserves on the planet. But...there is [View Full Entry]

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In October of 2005, Hurricane Stan ripped by the Guatemalan coast leaving torrential rainfall in its wake. Guatemala received as much rainfall in three days as they would normally get in a two-year span. As a result, mudslides and flooding wreaked havoc across the countryside. The region most affected by the rainfall was the area around Lago de Atitlan. The village once known as Panabáj was buried under 40 feet of mud and rock when the side of the volcano shadowing it collapsed. Many lives (over 600) were lost and the site is now a cemetery standing in their remembrance. Other [View Full Entry]

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Hello again everyone, I know it has been some time since my last entry, but there was a little kink in my plans. The Vine containers that were supposed to arrive between the 21st and 24th of November got held up at port due to some unforeseen fees that were tacked on. The next three weeks were spent wrestling around with U.S. shippers, a third-person collection agency, the First Ladies office in Guatemala, money changers, a communicationally-challenged NGO organization, and simply waiting not knowing what day the containers would be released. I have come to greatly respect the patience one [View Full Entry]

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Engine warmed and seat belt securely fastened, I head out to get my first real taste of Guatemalan driving. The Capital is the destination, so I leave Quetzaltenango and head east, single file on the back of the Pan-American Highway that cuts through the Highlands like a serpent. Jockeying for position, I never lose attention to the lawless roads before me. Curves lead to curves, road repairs give no warning, and if I’m not alert, unmarked tumulos will catch me sleeping. Crazed manejeros own the roads and treat them like a playground, tossing caution into the wind as t [View Full Entry]

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Where are we now? The last I left you, I had just finished my six month journey through Latin America, and had lived an experience that changed me forever. You probably thought the story was over, that the book had ended, but this is merely the beginning. Where am I now? Why am I writing this journal? Well, I am back in Guatemala after only three short months at home, but this time I have an agenda- I promise. I am not here for site-seeing or to goof off (well maybe a little), but rather to help out some friends and [View Full Entry]

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Travelling abroad has been an eye and heart opening experience, which will leave a mark on my life forever. I have learned much about the world around me, but most importantly, I have learned more about myself. Travel is not designed to make you comfortable. At times, it can be down right tough and drag you way outside of your comfort zone; but by toughing it out, you become stronger as a result (well, except for battling Salmonella). One thing is for certain, the longer you are away, the more you appreciate the things and people you have left behind. Never [View Full Entry]

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Staring out at the pristine beaches stretching down the Atlantic coast, I turned back to find myself looking up at massive city buildings; backed by the beautiful peaks of the mountains. Rio de Janeiro (January River) is thought by many to occupy one of the most spectacular settings on earth; aside from the Duck Pond in Fountain City of course. It is not the capital (which is Brasilia), but surely is the cultural center to South America's giant; Brasil (and yes, this is the correct spelling). The diversity of this urban metropolis is like no other. S [View Full Entry]

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Standing a front La Casa Rosada (home to the famous balcony from which Evita addressed her adoring crowds), I drew a deep breath and then proceeded to belt out "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" in my most powerful opera falsetto. I finished the grand performance with a ground shaking note (high "F") that would have brought even the likes of Bill Widby (the famous power tenor) to tears. Now, although I was unable to produce a response similar to that of Evita (Eva Duarte - the charismatic wife to President Juan Perón) I still managed to amuse myself and a few [View Full Entry]

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Happy Birthday to me! I'm all alone in Chile. Feliz cumpleaños a mi! I made it to Thirty! Well, I am kicked back and relaxing in Santiago after a 23 hour bus ride through the northern desert region of Chile (the driest desert in the world). The ride was long and grueling, but the scenery was nice to look at (as far as deserts go). The Chilean capital is a booming metropolis, with skyscrapers elevated high across the city. Although, nothing can help but be dwarfed by the mighty Andes (second highest mountain range in the world) that lie only a [View Full Entry]

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