wu wei

First and foremost, I would like to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. I realize that I have been slacking. I´ve been caught up in this still sometimes foreign world that amazes, amuses, frustrates, and enlightens me. This blog, which has been taken straight from the pages of my newly aquired llama journal (thanks J!), will have to be short as I am headed on a three day jeep trek through the salt flats in approximately T minus one hour. First a preface I´ve just come off of a seven hour train ride through the snow. Every single adult in my cabin has at least two children, and they all cry intermittently during the ride. The seats recline, thank god, but they fall short about a foot leaving only a backing for my shoulders down. I ... read more

http://www1.snapfish.com/share/p=74611222882640572/l=428391163/g=143005195/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB ... read more

Today officially marks my second week here in Peru, my first week here in the "little fisherman's town" known as Huanchaco. I wish I could fully portray how simultaneously grounding and surreal this experience has been thus far. I've been stripped. It began on the plane and has steadily continued to stream off of me like dirt and oil washes off in a warm, soapy bath. It's the responsibility, the stress, the expectations. It's judgement, superiority and inferiority. It's the conversations about haves and have nots, career moves..."what are you going to do with the rest of your life?" It's the rules, the restrictions, and the precautionary guidelines. It's everything that creates the illusion of comfort and safety. It's everything that makes me feel like a foreigner in a my own land when I don't stay ... read more

I begin this journey by giving thanks; I truly have a wonderful and blessed life. Inspirations: my support system The Alchemist fear courage imagination eastern philosophy and curiosity Many of you know that I've been planning and saving for this experience for quite some time. At first I planned and prepared as a chance for me to give my skills and abilities to those who were in need of it. It then grew into an opportunity to see a different part of the world and immerse myself in a new culture. Slowly, over time I have begun to realize that this isn't solely a "trip" or a volunteering experience, this is the path that my life is flowing towards. It's hard to grow up in our society and not feel that omni-present pressure to graduate college, ... read more