Saturday, August 28, 2010

"Sleeping" in the Airport

In the interest of experiencing new things and not being overly cautious, I decided to stay the night in the Lima airport. This is very unlike me. I am a planner big time, in fact ambiguous plans make me really anxious. I had read that lot of travelers stay in the airport though, since the flight times to Peru seem to be on the whole very inconvenient.

Can't wait to do this again! Sacred Valley ($1 bus ride from Cusco)
Although I used to hate Starbucks because it was "too corporate" (I blame living in Boulder for 5 years for even having thoughts like this), I now appreciate them more than I ever thought I would. The bonus of the corporate atmosphere is, you always know what you are going to get. The minus is that in Peru where a bus ride to the Sacred Valley costs less than a dollar, a Chai Latte costs $6USD. Umm no joke that's more than NYC.

Either way I have camped out with some other travelers (I assume from their zip-off travel pants and copious amounts of luggage), have a seat on a comfortable lounge chair and have free internet. The free internet all Starbucks locations is what has really won me over. That and you can always count on them for a taste of the USA- they were the only place in Spain that was playing Christmas music before I returned when I studied abroad.

As for sleeping, well that's probably a farfetched dream. For starters I have OCD and sleeping in front of strangers is not something I am good at without a familiar face. Secondly, I have OCD so the thought of falling asleep in a developing country with all my possessions just hanging out does not seem like a great idea.

It's currently 1:30 and I plan to stay awake until I can check-in at 3:45 for my 5:45 flight. It's going to be a long night after an already long day. My spanish is progressively getting worse as exhaustion is settling in, o well at least my placement test is not this morning!

It feels strangely like deja vu to be back in the Lima airport for a long time. Last time Josh and I were inadvertently here for almost a whole day due to American Airlines shenanigans and flight cancellations. I even came into the same gate that we waited for hours figuring out what was going on, missed two flights and eventually made it back to the USA. (Guess who's flight was delayed again today? Yep my AA flight. And I ate a roll for dinner after false promises of a veggie meal- the worst.)

Lima at sunset, pollution is gross, but makes sunsets very nice to look at! 
Enough rambling, sleepiness is starting to close-in, but I'll be awake and probably eating the entire bag of Pirate's Booty throughout the next 4 hours.

New adventures!

Friday, August 27, 2010

Ready, Set, Jet!

I have just one more full day in the USA for three months as I write this! As I am getting ready to leave the country, I keep encountering a lot of the same questions: Are you scared? Are you excited? Where are you staying? What are you doing? 3 months is a long time? What are you nervous about? What will you miss?

I thought maybe I'd go ahead and clear some of these questions up all together.

Are you scared, nervous, excited?

I am mostly excited. I need to get out of NYC and I need to feel like I am once again contributing to the world in an effective way. I am excited to be around fellow travelers, spanish learners, and people who "get" what I am doing without judging me for not working 90 hours a week. I am not nervous or scared honestly. I traveled 3 months before and this time I have been to the country and speak the language. I know I will be fine! Like any country, you just have to be a little more vigilant and careful if you are a girl alone.

I am however a little concerned about being a vegetarian in Peru, but I think I will manage. Where there are tourists, there are vegetarian options and Cusco is a tourist hub for better or for worse.

Finally, I hate packing for stuff like this. I am finally packed though and I am not bringing any make-up except concealer and mascara! It was the hardest decision to make, but I think it is the right one. 

Where are you staying? What are you doing?

I am going to be attending the Amauta Spanish school in Cusco, Peru and living in the student residence there for 3 months. The first month is 20 hours a week of Spanish classes and then the next 2 months I will be volunteering for 20 hours a week. I am going to be volunteering with girls that have been sexually exploited and helping them reintegrate into society. It's going to be hard, but very rewarding I hope.

Oh and there are 9 grad school applications to keep me busy!

What are you going to miss? 3 months is a long time?

I never really think about how I am going to miss things in advance, other than food. I am perpetually missing friends where ever I am in the USA anyway. Unfortunately having friends that are adventurous and driven like me has lead to my best friends being spread out across the world. I will miss them in Peru the same as I would in NYC or Colorado. Thank god for skype, well, when it works!

I will miss some things about NYC in particular and as of now, I am not sure when I will be back and pretty sure that I won't be back to live here. I will miss the availability of anything you want 24 hours a day (even delivered if you want), some of the best foods on the planet and friends new and old.

Instead of missing things, I often focus on things I will not miss to make me feel better. The 90 degree, high humidity days; the subway, the constant headlines of bed bug infestations all over the city (Abercrombie, Hollister, CNN, movie theaters- I already have enough OCD thanks!) and the smell of the NYC streets.

I'm very excited to leave Saturday! I'm not so excited to be sleeping in the airport on Saturday night, but at least I will probably have a good story...

¡Hasta Noviembre EEUU!

My first time out in nature in over 2 months! Can't wait to be close to nature again.
(In the background the East Coast's version of "mountains")

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

What Do You Eat?

I seem to have an affinity for choosing things that I have to explain A LOT. What genetic counseling is, why I am traveling, why I have no "home", and most often why I am a vegetarian. I think it's actually a pretty rude question. I don't ask you why you like to eat bloody, animal carcass do I?

That being said, being a vegetarian is sometimes challenging in other countries. It is by no means impossible though. I even met my friend Lindsay (now even a veg food blogger) by bonding over the fact that we were the only vegetarians on study abroad. Sometimes we went hungry and only ate bread and drank wine, but most of the time we did alright.

Being a vegetarian is not as hard as it seems and, on a separate rant, anyone who thinks vegetarians eat fish should be slapped. In every place I have been so far I have managed and been able to find vegetarian food.

In Spain the land of jamón legs hanging around and jamón chips, I was able to live, eat out and enjoy local food for 5 months! I lived on tortilla española, goat and sheep cheeses, vegetables, frequent visits to the best vegetarian restaurant in Madrid (Artemisa) and becoming a regular at an Indian restaurant (very authentic mind you- not).

Lindsay and jamón chips, couldn't get this one to flip, but you get it

I think the only thing that I regret being a vegetarian is not being able to try a lot of the local cuisines. I am not going to eat aplaca or cuy in Peru, but to be honest I was never an adventurous meat eater to begin with. I just rely on my friends to tell me what it's like. I would like to try more street food, but it's probably better for my health that I don't.

Ceviche in Lima, Peru; I may have tried a bite, but I blame Josh; only time I've cheated in 3 years!

Some of the best food I have had in other countries is vegetarian- India (everything in general, but best saag ever), Israel (hummus, sabich, arab pastry like a calzone- Josh what's it called?, burekas, falafel), London (veggie burger), Spain (cheese, wine, tortilla), Greece (tzatziki, giant beans, feta) and Italy(best pasta ever). And countless other places.

I just wanted to write this to prove to everyone that A. I'm not starving, B. I don't feel like I am depriving myself and C. I will prove to nay-sayers that I can be vegetarian anywhere in the world.

I am looking forward to making my way around Cusco and finding the best vegetarian Peruvian food that this country has to offer! Don't feel sorry for me missing out on food and I won't feel sorry for you when your cuy makes you take multiple trips to the toilet!

If all else fails, Peru is famous for Pisco sours and since they are made with egg white it counts as a meal right?

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Breaking Up is Hard to Do

Grand Lake on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park; Looks like a postcard

I recently read a blog about someone's relationship with the USA and how it was similar to a relationship with an ex-boyfriend. I feel like Colorado is that place for me. We never really got along with each other and I knew from the age of 15 that we weren't meant to be and that I wanted to move on. But for some reason I keep going back.

Don't get me wrong, Colorado is a great state. In fact when people talk about how great their state is, I am always quick to defend Colorado or talk about what makes it amazing and unique. Personally, for me right now, the timing just isn't right. For all of the things that I love about Colorado, there are are similar things that I can't stand. In other words it's not you, it's me.

When I am homesick in another country, I long to see the mountains, feel the sense of familiarity, I miss the amazing summers, the mild winters and the beauty that encompasses this state. I miss the proximity to nature, the ability to be in the mountains to hike in under 10 minutes, camping, good beer, 300 days of sunshine and the friends still there. I hype it up in my mind and when I return I am disappointed again and again to see that it hasn't changed, but knowing I have.

The atmosphere for me is tainted by family problems (which I won't go into, but if you know me you know what I'm talking about), a ridiculously small and boring downtown Denver, a lack of public transport (Denver area), a population that has taken medical marijuana to a whole new level ($50 and a headache- well you clearly need weed for that and can have a prescription aka green card) and people who only want to play. The kind of people that are attracted to Colorado and who love the outdoors, unfortunately often times are not on the track to self-actualization or growing up and joining the real world. I respect that is some people's life, but it's just not the mentality that I have.

Estes Park side of RMNP

I know that I will be back, maybe not for a long time, but flings with Colorado are always going to bring anticipation and comfort. I'm applying to grad school here with reservations, but I assume that everyone at CU Health Sciences is probably a little more focused and motivated.

Colorado is definitely like an ex, I come searching for things that I know it can't provide, but hoping every time that something will have changed and be different. I will continue searching for the place in the world that gives me a sense of home and belonging. I am not sure you ever get over a relationship without finding someone (in this case someplace else) better for you, that makes you forget about the other.

Until then Colorado, you're my first true love, but we really need to see other people.

Me at Flagstaff, about a 5 min drive from Boulder!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

New Goal: The New Seven Wonders

An unlikely member of the list: Rome, 2007 with my mom!

By chance and luck, I have found that after I visit Machu Picchu in November, I will have visited over half of the "New 7 Wonders of the World". On the list are the following places:
  1. Machu Picchu, Peru
  2. Petra, Jordan
  3. Taj Mahal, India
  4. Great Wall of China
  5. Colosseum, Italy
  6. Chichen Itza, Mexico
  7. Christ the Redeemer, Brazil
If you are asking yourself where are the Great Pyramids? Well I am too confused why the colosseum is on there and not the pyramids. So I am adding them to my own personal list of things I'd like to see!

Petra, Jordan aka The Valley of the Crescent Moon in Indian Jones


The ones I have seen so far have been pretty incredible. I never planned on going to Jordan, but it was really amazing! Though I am still mad about paying too much!

Nonetheless it is a new life goal to see all of the places on the list. Are there any places that you think should have been included?

Probably one of the coolest places ever to see- even at 115 degrees F!

How Traveling Does NOT Leave a Hole in Your Resume

Since I have decided recently that I am finally going to apply to graduate school this fall, I have been faced with the task of making the last 2 years since I graduated from college sound like legitimate career experiences. By the end of this year I will have been traveling and away from the USA over 6 months and a real job for 9!

While talking with professors and recommendations I have been trying to sum up in resume form what I have been doing and how it applies to what I want to become. It is a hard task for me personally, because when I left in March I really had no idea what I wanted to become or do. What I do know is that after traveling I feel like I have grown as a person and these experiences are valuable not only to me personally, but also to schools/companies.

Because traveling is not always this peaceful, just a few hours before we were lost with a bad map and hebrew signs!

I have a growing list of things to put on a resume to fill the "gap". Also, I have discovered the wonders of the "functional" resume which makes those gaps much less obvious.

I am not sure who reads this blog, but I would love to hear other people's suggestions as well.

So far this is what I have come up with:

  • Interfaced with people of many cultures, socioeconomic statuses and languages in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South America
  • Planned and negotiated travel itineraries to stay within time and money budget constraints
  • Cultivated communication and language skills in Spanish and English interacting with people in Spanish and Latin American cultures
  • Learned to communicate via verbal and non-verbal means to overcome communication and language barriers
  • Performed cost-benefit analysis when scheduling conflicts arose to maximize use of time and money in various locations across the globe while traveling
  • Adapted to unanticipated problems and situations to improvise new plans due to unexpected events encountered while traveling
  • Developed negotiation skills through regular contact with sellers and vendors in markets and stores globally
If only blending in were a marketable skill

Obviously I personally have done some more things like getting certified to teach english as a foreign language, volunteering to teach math in NYC and will be volunteering in Peru. But I am wondering what applies specifically to the trips that I was just there to travel.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

What does traveling add to your resume?

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Random Happenings via iPhone Photos

In lieu of a long blog post, which I have some ideas in the works, here are some pictures from around the city taken on my iPhone:

Want to know when it's going to rain? Just ask me when I will be walking home from Trader Joe's at Union Square (1 mile), carrying groceries and it will be sure to rain on my way home. Do I own an umbrella? Nope, luckily Lindsay felt sorry for me and gave me one!

Taken while I was hiding under an overhang. Found out that my iPhone 3G now has zoom at the same time! Also found out that paper bags + downpours = bags falling apart

NYC fashion: People apparently liked my Spanish fashion report. Well for girls in NYC it's high waisted skirts, cut-off jean shorts or long "boyfriend" shorts with shirts tucked in. Maybe a belt and a long necklace. I don't own a full-length mirror so I tried to see what I looked like: Here's my attempt at belonging with a high-waisted skirt :)

Next investment: full-length mirror when I have a more permanent situation

I was walking around Gramercy and saw this sign. The top part was a little shiny, but it says free slice with a shot. The more you buy to drink the more pizza you get for free. Too bad my friends said it is the worst pizza ever!

This sign could also say: all day everyday: get wasted, eat crappy pizza and use free wifi to send drunk emails

I decided to read outside yesterday since it was finally not deathly hot. Washington Square Park is a 5 minute walk from me and there are always some interesting characters. I was scared for this man's safety!

"You have one on your shoulder" - old lady to the man; pretty sure he's got more problems than "one"


Less than one month until I leave for PERU! Can't hardly wait to get out of this crazy heat and concrete jungle!