Explosions on Many Levels

It has been a whirlwind of a weekend - for the most part in a good way.
We moved MB out on Friday, had a lovely Sushi dinner (my favorite) and crashed in the city at their new place. Bright and early Saturday morning we began to unload from the amazing (sarcasm) Uhaul truck the rest of MB's stuff. I had to leave to teach Yoga at WSC, so Sean and MB finished the job.

This was the big day!!! (The day he was going to ask her to marry him...)

I waited after my class for the news...finally I received a phone call....she said YES! What a great way to start a 3-day weekend!! It was wonderful to hear that they were engaged, and turning a new leaf in their lives together. I met up with them to have lunch and to return the dreaded Uhaul. The rest of the night was great - we unpacked, jammed to music, and ate Mexican food....yummy!! :)

But as all of this was going on, in a different country, explosions were happening (to be honest, Pacaya exploded on Thursday),Pacaya - one of Guatemala's active volcanoes erupted, rain was falling, and the country was at a state of emergency. My heart is broken right now - I want to be there and not, all at the same time. I want to throw my arms out and help in anyway I can.
I think the rain was beginning to be a good thing, considering all of the ash everywhere - but since the rain hasn't stopped and people are losing their homes....I don't really like the rain anymore!
26 days until I am there...what else could happen in the mean time?

The Road I Have Chosen

There are 11 more days left until I am out of Maryland - I am in denial of this currently. That is a little over a week - oh my god! I am really excited about my move - but I am getting a little nervous about being there. I received my contract today - that was great news!
My thoughts....
----I always said when I decided to create this blog I would be open and honest...I am trying to be. I AM excited, but I am nervous because I will not be consumed with "stuff to do," like I have been for the past 8 years of my life. This will be the first time, in a looooong time that I will have nothing to do. I will work my four hours each day, here and there take Spanish class - what I am going to do? I am bringing a ton of books with me, I plan to get into shape, I plan to bike around a lot - but what else? Think about it...I am teaching from 2-6pm....it gets dark around 8pm....hmmmm. I wish this was easy; I hope it doesn't take too long to adjust.

Quote of the week: "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." Robert Frost
Some people in my life still are concerned and unsure of my plan, my reason, and my goals. I get that....I feel, that I want to be with people, to help others, to be some place where I need to learn another culture to relate - to understand the background of them, I want to be somewhere, where I can not worry about the things I do now. I know that I can have this in the states...but that is not what I want (or my heart) right now. I want to travel, to experience the world - and never be trapped by a job I sort of like, or a place. I guess I am scared of commitment...and the idea of not changing.

I have a lot of growing up to do, and a lot of personal realizations to discover...I can't wait.

p.s. Roommate #1 moves out in 2 days!

Counting Down

It was a great weekend - I went camping and light hiking with my roommate and some friends, in northeast part of Maryland. It turned out to be a perfect weekend with great weather and great food. This was one of my To-Dos before I moved....Check!

I officially have 14 more days left of work...wow. It is kind of exciting to think about sleeping in for a little while...my biggest worry will be what book I should read, or checking my facebook status - which don't get me started on that subject. As of late, I've been having some personal issues with fb - it has been getting on my nerves...I think I am going to take a mini vacation away from it.

I end one job on June 11th and begin another on June 28th. I wonder what my new job will be like? Reality is beginning to sink in a little more. Especially since the couple of work projects I have left to keep me busy will be rapping up this week.

Not much going on tonight, but this week should be busy - roommate number 1 is moving out on Friday. :( I will be alone in this house soon!

14 days, 14 days, 14 days!

WTF?! No one told me we were moving!

This blog is dedicated to my lovely roommates....

I am sitting here on a Monday night drinking some wine with my roommates, jamming obnoxious music and trying to rid our rooms and lives of stuff...we are currently making a goggle doc of the shit we must clean, cancel, throw away or donate....what a way to spend a Monday night!!
The stuff we must do in order to get our deposit back is ridic....seriously. Clean the gutters, check smoke detectors.....really, why are we all moving out at the same time? The only night we have together, we spend with wine and making documents. hmmm....I need a life (JK).

Update on my life: I am moving in 4 WEEKS....moving - like, driving away from Maryland, out of my house - moving. It wasn't suppose to be this way. I was suppose to leave my job in four weeks, spend some "qt" with friends and family, then move. Now, as of today, I am moving, saying goodbye, and leaving for good in 4 WEEKS. Yikes!!
I am really excited and want to be in Guate, but I don't want to go to the doctor, pack, move, clean, buy shit, fly and figure out the other 367 other things I need to do before my facebook status will say "Guatemala" as the city I am living in!

I will miss you roomies...pleeease don't forget about me! But can you please choose an f'ing date to move out already?! :)
Love you!

Check One

I made it back! So after a week of stress (hidden behind my smile - of "I got this shit figured out...sort of") I finally have the job. I mean, I really had the job while I was there, but I didn't actually receive the contract. So I freaked out a little for about 5 days, then I was done. It is settled...I can move on now - to more important things like.... how I have been sick since I have returned, or how I am moving in basically 5 weeks and avoiding this subject with all costs right now, or shots - yeah, I have to get shots!

There are a ton of things I need to figure out and plan and pay for before I make my way....traveler's insurance for instance. I really don't want to think about that one...moving on. How about I talk about what has really been on my mind - how am I going to get my mountain bike there????? My dad seems to think that we can take it on the plane with our luggage...hmmm, makes sense...I hope he is correct!

I need to get shots before I leave - yep, don't want to think about that one yet either. Did you know how expensive shots are? ...because I had no idea!! And insurance doesn't cover any of it!!! Yikes.

Moving on - I have been sick since I have been home, this sucks. I was reading a website today (and not wikipedia, or webmd) a real website that I was recommended by a secretary at a doctors office - that is legit right? Anyway, I was reading about getting sick while traveling...and yep, it appears that I caught that bug and don't want to let go! How can this happen? I mean, I have been to Guate before, and Mexico numerous times...I can't even begin to count the places I have traveled and the number of times - but one of the most important travels - I get sick? So the website was suggesting to seek medical attention after 72 hours...well guess what, that was like 6 days ago - oops! I have an appointment on Monday, I should be fine by then I hope! ha

One thing down...389 more to go!

Understanding...it's not that easy.

I wanted so badly for my parents to understand why I wanted to be in Guatemala...what that country means to me, why my heart feels pulled to be there. I wanted them to feel the same way I do...but I knew they wouldn't completely understand. They support me, they want me to move...they just don't have the same longing that I have.
At first they didn't understand my feelings - or even see my point of view. But we got caught up one night in conversation with five others at our dinner table. The joy, love, and peace that was coming from each and everyone of them was unreal...my parents even felt it.
The people at our table were talking to my parents about everything that I was feeling in my heart! One of the guys there understood what I had been trying to tell them this whole time. This place is unique, it is a magical place that no-one really understands unless you come, you experience the people, and the surroundings! Finally, there was someone who really got me....got it!

..."Guatemala still has this almost gravitational pull, and those who have felt it know what I speak of. There seems to be magic in the air here. You can feel it the moment you look out the window from your landing airplane as you fly over majestic mountain ranges, volcanoes, and a sprawled capital city that spills over into neighboring ravines and plateaus." Argueta

I am not saying that this is where I am going to spend the rest of my life, but it is where I want to spend some of my life.
Maybe, I can make a difference?

I am back from Guatemala

I HAVE A JOB!! I just wanted to share that small piece of information first!!!

Wow...I can't express how much I love Guatemala. It is nice to be back, to get into the routine of things (ha - who am I kidding....). I AM excited to see everyone I live with and work with, to tell them about everything that I have experienced, everything I went through trying to get to Guatemala, and what my new life will look like.
To make a long story short, I missed my connecting flight to Guatemala (go figure, I have the worst plane luck ever!!!) so I didn't arrive until 9:30pm that evening instead of 11am. What a long day...and on two hours of sleep. My best friend's wedding was the night before - it was so much fun. So much fun, I didn't go to bed until 1:30am and got up to catch my "way too early flight," at 3:30am.
Anyways, I got there...I met with my future boss, I met her boss, I saw where I would be living, and done!! She offered, I accepted....DONE and DONE.
I start on July 5th - teaching English to young children while taking Spanish class in the morning. I am really looking forward to helping these children! I have a feeling I will be learning more from them, than them from me!
Things went great! I was so happy to be back there, and my parents to see/understand Guatemala - the beauty!
I can't believe I actually did it! I got a job before I moved!!!
That is all for now. :)