I either heard or read that when one travels for any extended amount of time you change and expect that things/people have changed back home but they don't. Consecuently, others expect you to come home unchanged as well. This doesn't happen either.
I am trying to reflect back on my time here (and avoid the afternoon rain). Here are some things I learned about myself or in general this month, as well as things I didnt learn but had reaffirmed. Some are silly and some are serious:
I need more alone time than most.
I think all good books are written by people that have last names starting with M, S, and/or W.
People that have the least give the most.
I need to know more about my world.
Once finished with a book, I feel I've just lost friends and miss them.
I have very little, if any, patience outside of work.
I think yoga will be my newest passion.
I am much more laid back and passive than I thought possible, especially compared to the "me" growing up.
Trust is a gift that I take responsibly.
Priorities shift.
My age shows in my hands and eyes.
I'm a sucker for anyone that reminds me of my little brother.
I can't stand "helpless" people that really aren't.
Things work out if you are nice and considerate.
I am still scared of fire.
Naps will always be my guilty pleasure.
Sometimes, it is best to not say anything, but then people think I don't care when really I am trying to respect them.
Life is complicated yet simple.
I am OCDish when things are unknown and the complete OPPOSITE when I am comfortable.
Family has many definitions just depends on the circumstance.
I surprise myself.
People are still my greatest investment.
And finally, I am starting to have crazier ideas about life plans than my husband, which is hard to do!
-- Post From My iPhone
1.7.09
Long Lost Relative?
Hall and I met my second week here but as of yesterday I am convinced he is a long lost relative of mine.
I just clicked with him from the beginning. He is a grad student from KU and is really going places. He is proficient, if not fluent, in Italian because he studied there for a year and goes back often, and is now studying Spanish. He is a brilliant writer and deep thinker. He loves an intellectual discussion even though he gets frustrated with others lack of openness. I loved going to mass and Tuesday night social issues lectures with him. Happy hours with him were always fun and he's laid back. He barely noticed I "stood" him up on Tuesday. My watch broke and my phone wasn't working so I had no idea I was an hour late. Or I was on Guatemalan time, either way he was chill about it. He is the type of person I just love meeting while traveling. And look at these pics don't we just look like we could be related or at the very least have similar personalities?
This how both of us, unprompted, chose to pose ~smiles~during seperate times. One pic is at Kafka's and one is in Honduras while Hall wasn't around, so he had no idea about my "signature" pose, mouth partially open, smiling and hamming it up!
I just clicked with him from the beginning. He is a grad student from KU and is really going places. He is proficient, if not fluent, in Italian because he studied there for a year and goes back often, and is now studying Spanish. He is a brilliant writer and deep thinker. He loves an intellectual discussion even though he gets frustrated with others lack of openness. I loved going to mass and Tuesday night social issues lectures with him. Happy hours with him were always fun and he's laid back. He barely noticed I "stood" him up on Tuesday. My watch broke and my phone wasn't working so I had no idea I was an hour late. Or I was on Guatemalan time, either way he was chill about it. He is the type of person I just love meeting while traveling. And look at these pics don't we just look like we could be related or at the very least have similar personalities?
This how both of us, unprompted, chose to pose ~smiles~during seperate times. One pic is at Kafka's and one is in Honduras while Hall wasn't around, so he had no idea about my "signature" pose, mouth partially open, smiling and hamming it up!
Random
Rita and I went on an excursion with our school today. Don't worry nothing crazy happened. We saw some Mayan ruins that were no where near as impressive as Copan or Tikal. We did get to see a true (not staged for tourist) Mayan ceremony-wedding, I think.
I took lots of video for the Tim and my memory card is full! I rode home with a representative from the German Embassy and her boyfriend instead of the school shuttle. Very interesting. My teacher rode with us too. Don't worry I wasn't hitch-hiking again.
I also had pizza, beer, and cake with Yohanna, the teacher I assisted last year, and Rocxana, the mom of one of the kiddie at the school I volunteered at, and her two daughters. So fun! Apparently "Dallas" sounds like a Spanish (possibly slang) word for "butt" and this is hilarious to a three year old and she definitely does NOT want to visit me in "Butt, Texas". We might go out Friday night too.
I did some Christmas shopping and some shopping for myself. I love the handmade table runners for only $10! I got one for the fall, Christmas, and Easter/spring.
The Christmas one is reversible depending on whether or not I want green or red.
Here are some random pics I have not posted:
My school
There are garden/patio rooms but since I never complain I get rooms like this:
Here is a gorgeous flower arrangement in the Artisans market
And some random food pics. Hope I have not posted this yet.
Tamale, beans, plantain with cream:
And cheese, it's not as dry or as salty as last year:
-- Post From My iPhone
I took lots of video for the Tim and my memory card is full! I rode home with a representative from the German Embassy and her boyfriend instead of the school shuttle. Very interesting. My teacher rode with us too. Don't worry I wasn't hitch-hiking again.
I also had pizza, beer, and cake with Yohanna, the teacher I assisted last year, and Rocxana, the mom of one of the kiddie at the school I volunteered at, and her two daughters. So fun! Apparently "Dallas" sounds like a Spanish (possibly slang) word for "butt" and this is hilarious to a three year old and she definitely does NOT want to visit me in "Butt, Texas". We might go out Friday night too.
I did some Christmas shopping and some shopping for myself. I love the handmade table runners for only $10! I got one for the fall, Christmas, and Easter/spring.
The Christmas one is reversible depending on whether or not I want green or red.
Here are some random pics I have not posted:
My school
There are garden/patio rooms but since I never complain I get rooms like this:
Here is a gorgeous flower arrangement in the Artisans market
And some random food pics. Hope I have not posted this yet.
Tamale, beans, plantain with cream:
And cheese, it's not as dry or as salty as last year:
-- Post From My iPhone
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