All Things Amsterdam

My Dutch friends told me that it's been fun to see their world through my eyes over the past few days since it's easy to not notice certain things about your own culture if they've always been there.  Here are some of the fun facts I've noticed about Amsterdam/Holland since I've been here.  I've been here almost 10 days already so I'm completely an expert in Dutch culture now. Feel free to reference me in any scholarly articles:

1. It is not impolite to ask for the "toilet" as the toilet and bath/shower are actually in separate rooms.  If you ask where the bathroom is to relieve yourself, people will wonder what kind of uncivilized person you are to pee in the shower (or at least to admit to it)

the toilet room

2. There is quite a bit of diversity here for such a small place.  The main immigrant groups are Turkish, and Moroccan.  There are some similarities with marginalization of the groups to immigrants in the US, but in my limited opinion, not as extreme. *As a side bar, being the cultural studies nerd that I am, I've had several interesting conversations with my Dutch friends about discrimination, integration, etc. and trying to compare and contrast immigrant status in the USA to Holland.  Especially in lieu of the recent US school shooting and why the US seems to be so much more violent and dangerous.  I've heard theories over the years that much of the violence in the US has to do with our vast diversity (which I don't necessarily agree with), and while I know our numbers are way higher than here, I still see a much more peaceful existence here.  I never once felt threatened here, and honestly would feel safe walking alone at 3 in the morning (which I saw several girls doing)---this is something I have NEVER felt, anywhere I've been.

3. People are quite helpful and friendly.  I know some of my friends will disagree with me here, but at least in my experience, everyone has been quite pleasant.  Even the man we flagged down on his bike at 3:30 am to help us find the apartment.  First of all, he actually stopped, which was shocking enough to me.  Then, he pulled out his smartphone to help, and then rode off on the bike and came back to confirm it's location.  I mean, who doest that, really?!

4.  The roads are tiny and shared by EVERYTHING--bikes, cars, trams, pedestrians.  There's an intricate system here that everyone adheres to and the tourists mess it up as I've been so lovingly reminded every time my friends saved my life from walking into a head-on collision with a bike. "Don't be a tourist!"

5. Most dogs walk along without a leash and do so quite well, even on trams and restaurants--inside!

6. You must have a "Pin" to be able to use a credit/debit card in a store and some restaurants.  This means, it must be in the Dutch banking system.  Otherwise, you must go to an ATM and get cash.

7. Eating a chocolate-sprinkle sandwich is normal.

8. Holland also has an area known as the "Bible Belt"-- more conservative parts.  I was warned about this when heading north to Zwolle and such.

9. English is spoken everywhere, written material is bilingual, and tv/movies as well. Speaking of tv, they have all our shows: family guy, modern family, scrubs is REALLY popular here for some reason, plain jane, etc.

10. STAIRS--there are lots of them, and steep ones!

11. If using crutches, people use the kind that go around your wrist, not under your arm like we typically use. 

12. And it goes without saying that bikes are EVERYWHERE! Still can't figure out why they still use them, in winter, rain, and all and haven't graduated to motorbikes like the rest of the world.  I'm not complaining, I love it! Just a curiosity.  And of course, with bikes come unique dutch gadgets--kid seats, kid carts, fun back-tire locks, lights, baskets, etc. (see my facebook album)

I AMsterdam

I AMsterdam.  It seems to be the current marketing slogan that I see everywhere here.  I'm not exactly sure what it's supposed to mean, but someone thought it was grand enough for a national campaign so I figured it was cool enough for the title of this post.

It's Tuesday, December 18, 2012 and today marks a week ago that I arrived in Holland.  Since then, it's been a great time filled with friends and new adventures.  As I mentioned in the last blog, Tuesday night was spent catching up with everyone at a Turkish restaurant and Wednesday day I walked around all of Amsterdam with Steven.  At night, I met up with Peter and spent Thursday catching up on much needed sleep while he went to work (sucker).  We had a nice evening dinner and then I returned to the Dutch boys for a movie night at home.  We "watched" (I fell asleep) the Bodyguard in honor of Steven and my love affair with Whitney Houston that dates back to Laos.

Steven and Jo have 3 other roommates, Alex, Hugo, and Derek (known as Merv).  All of them are SUPER nice and have welcomed me into their home with open arms.  They are all students studying at University and I can't help but notice how strikingly different their lifestyle is compared to the typical American college-dorm lifestyle experience and I think they are much more mature and responsible for it.  Almost every night they grocery shop, cook, eat, and cleanup all together as a group, planning it around each other's schedules.  I love their sense of community!

On Friday, I headed north to the city of Zwolle.  It took about 2 hours door to door and was quite easy. The tram/train system here is easy to navigate, and it helps that everything is written in both Dutch and English and everyone speaks nearly perfect English as well. (We had a conversation about why this is last night, compared to other countries, and concluded it had something to do with the fact that all the tv sitcoms and movies here are shown in English, rather than translated.  Could be.)  Anyway, Jo had helped me figure out the train route and I made it no problem (except for my first train getting delayed en route, causing me to miss the 2nd train).

Gert and Bert demonstrating how the "Piss pole" works

Kiddie carrier bikes in Holland

Site-seeing in the local park with a very cold, stoic, Peter

Cheering on Steven at his games

Hanging with Jo

So, I arrived in Zwolle about 45 minutes late and asked some guy to borrow his iphone so that I could contact Bert and Gert, 2 Dutch friends who I met in Australia.  We were all meeting in Zwolle for the day.  The 3 of us met up, along with Gert's friend, and enjoyed a day walking around Zwolle catching up, taking in the sites, eating yummy food, learning about Dutch culture, and photographing unique bicycles.  I really appreciated them taking the time and traveling to meet up.  It was a great day and I only wish it could have lasted longer! The only thing I did not enjoy was spending half my budget on bathrooms.  They charge you, even in the train stations, and some restaurants.  Granted, it's only about 50 euros but when you have a bladder like mine, that adds up!

Friday evening the boys cooked dinner and we all ate and then enjoyed some "after-tabling" conversation, as they call it in Dutch.  Watched movies and then around midnight, Steven and Jo and I went to a local bar where Alex works for a visit.  My sleep is still a bit off for now--they are 6 hours ahead of EST and I haven't really kept to a schedule which isn't helping.  Saturday I went to the supermarket with Steven and Alex and on our way home, found Peter and Andras waiting outside the door.  I went to lunch with them at an Italian/Turkish place, La Dolce, across the street and had a fabulous 4 cheese pizza.  After lunch, Peter and I walked around the city a bit and enjoyed some drinks downtown.

It was evening by this time so we stopped at Andras' apartment to see it (very nice) and then met up with all his Hungarian friends at one of their apartments.  We didn't head out until around midnight again (pretty common here) at which point we went to a small bar.  After a little bit, we "decided" to go to another club near Rembrandt Square, De Kroon.  The dj was pretty good so we had a nice time dancing.  It was interesting to strip off 5 layers of coats, gloves, hats, etc. once inside and then to bundle back up afterwards.  Peter and I left before the others, stopped for a quick bite, and then took a taxi home to Andras apartment.  Unfortunately, the taxi driver didn't know exactly where the building was so he dropped us off in the general vicinity and we had to wonder around at 3:30 am to find it.  Luckily, we were in Holland where people are generally friendly (except for bathroom attendants and little old ladies who literally push you out of the way when crossing the street) and it's super safe so when Peter flagged down a guy on his bicycle at 3:30 am, the guy happily stopped, looked up where we should go on his iphone, and then even rode ahead and back to confirm it was the right way!

I couldn't fall asleep until around 7:30 am so I was not very well rested the next day.  Peter and I went to breakfast and then I went home to hang with the boys until heading with Merv to watch Steven's hockey game.  My first time watching a field hockey game ever, and especially for men.  He plays pretty high up there, even getting paid so it was a great competitive game to watch!  He played 2 games and won both.  I also met his parents, sister, and her husband and adorable son.  Peter also showed up and he, Merv, and I got some dinner on the way home.  Merv drove us in his car so I've now taken almost every form of transport in Amsterdam except a bike!

Yesterday, Monday, I had a lazy morning at home.  The boys all have exams and Peter is working during the days so it's a good time for me to rest a bit.  I did manage to go running with Merv in the afternoon, through the city and a local park.  It's fun to see all the dogs everywhere without leashes and yet under control.  They are even allowed in the train and restaurants! I cooked dinner for the boys last night and made a Thai pineapple fried rice dish.  It turned out great and was enough to feed 5 hungry boys--thanks goodness! After dinner, Peter and I went to the Festival of Lights; a walking tour of Christmas lights and light art shows around the city.  I also got to try Gluven (sp?), the warm sangria-like drink.  It was pretty good.  We stopped for dessert on the way home and then caught a train from Rembrandt square.

I had been buying 1-hour tram passes all week (at 2.70 euros a pop) and didn't realize until the other day that you are supposed to swipe them in to activate them. So....turns out I have a bunch of unused passes to now use and save me a bit of money.  Decided to test the theory out last night and...the first one didn't work, but the 2nd one did! The trams here are like Singapore in that you swipe your ticket in and off at your stop because it charges by distance (unless you have a single 1-hour pass like mine which you can just use as many times in an hour that you need).  The only time I had a problem was on some of the older trams when there was no attendant on the train to buy a pass so I just had to ride without paying (sorry!)

So, it's Tuesday afternoon, I'm laying in bed being lazy again and will get up in a minute to continue doing the same.  No plans today other than to head to the local market for a souvenir.  Catch up at the end of the week when I head to Hungary!

Amsterdam-Part 1

Amsterdam has been great so far! I arrived around 6pm local time the day after leaving MD so I had somehow managed to lose almost an entire day in travel.  Since I had carry-on luggage only, I walked straight to the arrival hall and was greeted by two friendly faces from my Asia travels, Jo and Peter! I had been warned about the cold and while it is a bit chilly, it’s not as bad as I had anticipated.  I think it’s made worse because you are walking/biking outside all day in it instead of getting into a nice heated car to get around town as you would at home.

I’ve only been here 2 nights, but it’s been a blast with so many friends already! The first night, I had dinner with Peter, Viktor, Andras, and Dani (Hungarian friends of Peter who I had met in Asia as well) and my Steven!! It was a bit surreal to be eating in a Turkish restaurant in Amsterdam with Hungarians and 1 Dutchman whom I had all met in Asia.  I love globalization! : )

I’m staying with my friends Jo and Steve who are Dutch but I met in Laos.  My first day was spent touring around AMS with Steven.  He was a trooper and braved the city by foot with me when our attempt at scoring me a bike for the week didn’t pan out because the Greek bike-dealer we visited informed us he’d be heading to Greece for 3 weeks.  Turns out Peter used to live on the same street as Jo and Steven and knew all the same shops, places, etc. Small world!  So, when the bike deal stuck short, Steven and I decided to walk the city running his errands and checking out the sites along the way.  It was fun for him to be a tourist in his own city : ) We even stopped at the Anne Frank House to see where she hid and wrote her diary during the war.  It was a fascinating experience. 

The 3 Musketeers of Laos reunite in AMS!

I had been to Amsterdam about 12 years ago and had only a few vague memories of it.  This was before the currency converted to the Euro and the dollar stretched a bit further.  This was also when I used cash instead of debit/credit cards so I did not remember that I can't seem to use my cards here : (  Of course I did remember the kindness and great English of the Dutch, but my main memory was of the STEEP stairs here--Nothing has changed! I’ve almost killed myself a bunch of times on the boys house stairs : ) Their house is really nice and right downtown.  All of their roommates are nice and have made me feel very welcome.  We’ve had dinner together each night and watched local Dutch shows like Scrubs and Modern Family together.  They’re also working on getting me addicted to their local soap opera they watch : ) And so far new things I've learned are: pizza is pretty good here, ice cream is fabulous, and eating chocolate-sprinkle sandwiches for breakfast is normal.  I’ll write more when I’m not busy having fun!  

A Whopping Order of Anxiety, Please

The past few weeks have been crazy busy and stressful.  While it's been mostly for good reasons (prepping for this European holiday trip, followed by a move to Guatemala a few days afterwards), it's nonetheless caused my anxiety to rear its lovely head again.  My symptoms typically include a rapid heartbeat and the sensation that I can't get enough air when I breathe in (good times).  This time, however, it's decided to manifest in my stomach.  While also not fun, I'll take an upset stomach any day over hyperventilating into a full-blown panic attack.

Although my flights to the west coast were successful, I found myself wrought with anxiety as the days approached this long flight to London.  At one point, my anxiety was so bad, I seriously considered canceling the trip.  Okay, maybe only for a mili-second, but the fear was real.  I tried rationalizing with myself, "You have flown a million times, what's the big deal?" "You made it 5 hours to Cali so what's an extra 2 to London?" "You're flying at night so you can just sleep."  The problem with rationalizing with anxiety is that your brain is wired to always search for the one in a million chance that the ending will be different this time.  Luckily, my therapist is amazing and the day of my flight, she gave me a few pep talks and reminded me that the goal is NOT to NOT feel anxiety but to just deal with it when it appears--Welcome it in when it shows up. Say, "thanks head for making me aware of those things! Yes, I can feel my heart beating exceptionally fast, but that's okay because I know it will eventually end."

The idea of going on such a long trip also started stirring feelings in me that I had in Singapore, not necessarily connected to the flight, but more just a feeling of being so far away and “stuck.”  The panic attacks happened to me there and since I didn’t know what was happening at the time, I just felt so trapped and not able to get home.  The thought of this long trip was starting to make me remember those feelings.  Now that I’m here, I’m happy to report though, that this has not been the case.

As I've mentioned before, I personally try hard not to take medication--for any reason, including anxiety.  I think it's an individual decision that everyone must assess for himself or herself and I don't judge others, but for me, it's not my first choice. Yesterday, however, as I weighed the pros and cons, I was leaning towards taking something. Not only was I dealing with the anxiety of the flight and life stresses but also my sciatica decided to flare up again the day before.  This causes me to have a stabbing and excruciating pain radiating up and down the entire right side of my body and lower back.  The only relief is to lay flat on my back on the floor and even that isn't entirely pain-free, it's just a bit less. The pain is aggravated and at it’s worst when sitting.  So the 7-hour flight and I were not going to be best friends. I rationalized with myself that taking something for the anxiety would help both that and my back and that it didn't mean I would need something for every flight but that on this particular day, I needed some extra help. 

So, I packed my meds in my carry-on, as I always do just in case, and decided I would take one right before the flight.  As I sat in the airport, I felt fine so I thought I’d wait until I felt I needed it.  All was calm until we began to board the plane.  That’s when the anxiety kicked in and I almost grabbed a pill.  But, I decided to push through it and once at my seat, was fine.  And then, I hadn’t even sat down yet when the flight attendant offered me an empty 3-seat row so that I could lie down for my back.  Turned out to be a great flight in the end (except for the small aircraft with the world’s smallest overhead bins, crummy tiny tvs that wouldn’t turn, and the bad food, but I’ll take 3 seats over movies and food!)

In the airport in Baltimore, I had debated mentioning my back condition to the check-in counter because I wanted to have my luggage as carry on. I learned the hard way that the trick to this is to check in online and not to go to the counter to ask questions with your bag because then they will weigh them and/or make you check them. I managed to avoid it again this time by leaving my bags for a minute while I informed them of my back injury at the check-in counter.

The rest of the trip was pretty uneventful as well.  Arrived in London at Heathrow airport and had to change airports for my next flight.  I had purchased my National Express bus ticket online for 1.5 hours after my arrival to allow me time through customs, but turned out “customs” was the easiest thing I’ve ever been through and I was at the bus stop in 10 minutes so I caught an earlier bus.  The EU passport side at customs was super long and the non-EU passport side had no one.  I literally walked right up and out.  Then, there was no form to fill out for customs, just an honor-system area to walk through where you picked your door “nothing to declare” or “declaring goods” (there was also a 3^rd door for EU peops) As far as I could see, there was no one working at any of the doors so I walked right through. I even turned around to walk back and make sure I hadn’t made a mistake since there was no control.  Just hoped I wouldn’t have problems at the next airport when they would tell me “um, miss, you have to go back to the other airport and get your stamp.”  Luckily, after an easy, comfortable 45-minute bus ride to the Gatwick airport, that didn’t happen. 

Gatwick was interesting.  The boarding gates are not posted until about 20 minutes before each flight so everyone waits in one giant departure waiting area around the shops and restaurants before dashing to their gate last minute.  It allows for great people-watching. 

I give mad kudos to London airports for their bathrooms—they are all GIANT stalls that allow your suitcase cart (which are free and also appreciated) inside no problem, and for the food options, of which included many gluten-free and healthy vegetarian options in supermarkets (I had a lovely 3-bean super food salad).  The flight from Gatwick to Amsterdam was a quick 1- hour flight.  Also not full and had an empty seat next to me.  Seats were extra big and leather and luxuriously nice as well.  Flight was over before I knew it and I was ready for my fun in Amsterdam to begin!

Thanks, Thanks, and more Thanks!

I'm not always the best at keeping up with writing on here.  It's easy to brush it off when things are going well or I'm super busy and don't feel like making the time for it.  Then I get a "thank you" from someone who reads the blog and it makes it all worthwhile.  It reminds me of why I started the blog in the first place--to help others feel not so alone.  In the past 2 weeks, I've had several people write me out of the blue just to say "thanks" for writing the blog and that it has helped them.  Here's to YOU, and all of you who read this, to say THANK YOU--it means the world to me that you enjoy "this happy place" and reminds me that we're all in this life together! : ) 

Whoopi Goldberg and her dog, Joe

I enjoyed soaking in an apple-cider vinegar bath last night.  Sounds weird, but it actually felt silky-smooth-great! And didn't smell bad, like I had anticipated.

Earlier in the day, I was enjoying the 70 degree sunshine (and LOVING it!) at the lake.  After a short run, I decided to just sit and enjoy the sun when a friendly 12-year-old German Shepard mix came up and starting smelling his way into my  heart.  Of course, that meant I had to talk to the owner too.  She was a friendly middle-aged woman who looked like a younger version of Whoopi Goldberg.  We got to talking about life, as I could do with a wall, and she started telling me her life story. She had just moved here from PA, a city near my father's hometown. She was fixing up her uncle's house, etc.  Then she mentioned something that made my ears perk up a bit more---she is a massage therapist! I couldn't help but thank the Lord as I sat, leaning against the fence post, trying to alleviate the back pain I had been having for the past week or so.

I asked her her thoughts on the hot/cold treatment approach as I've heard varying opinions from medical professionals throughout the years.  Some say to use hot to dull the pain, while others warn against it saying it causes more inflammation since my issue is chronic.  Her opinion was to do both.  Cold for no more than 20 minutes, then heat, as long as it is WET heat, like a warm towel or bath.  She also had a few other suggestions, including the Baltimore School of Massage (where I will be enjoying a $15, 50 minute massage this weekend--normally $25 and I found a $10 off coupon!).  And, as Joe started pulling her away, she mentioned apple-cider vinegar.  "Don't forget to soak in apple-cide vinegar," she yelled, "it naturally pulls out the toxins in your body and will help with muscle pain."  Sounded sane enough to me coming from Whoopi Goldberg and her 12-year old pup so I popped on over to Giant, bought me a huge $4.99 gallon of vinegar and enjoyed a nice toxic-releasing soak in the tub!

Me Too!!

You know what they say, "Misery loves Company."  I like the thought of this statement, not because I'm cruel and want others to suffer, but because the human spirit needs to live on hope.  And we need to know others understand and empathize with us. Sometimes when you're going through a tough time, all you need to know is that you are not alone; that someone else has been there, knows what you are going through, and has survived---which hopefully means you will too! 

How to Have a Lovely Day!

Seems simple enough to me! Except for the wearing perfume part.  Don't do that 'cuz it makes some people (like me) sick from strong smells.  Other than that, get to making others, and yourself happy! :)

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

Sending a little Jolly Joy your way today and everyday...

be on the lookout for it! : )

Backpacker Brain

This little gypsy spirit of mine loves the backpacker life.  Here's a glimpse into how our brains work : )

Are you a Healer?

So I went to Acupuncture tonight. It's offered free in my town from students learning to be professionals.  Anyway, as I talked the girl working on me, she began asking me some supplemental questions, feeling my energy and "chi" and then concluded that she thought I was a healer.  I wasn't sure what to make of that except to feel a bit proud and cool : )   But, I just looked it up and it sums me up to a tee.....so, now I feel even prouder and cooler : )   So, if I have to deal with anxiety and being called overly-sensitive because of my awareness of energies, etc. in exchange for the title of "Healer," I'll take it! Think that will fly on a resume?! : )

How do you know you're a healer?

Here a few signs that you could be a modern-day shaman:

1) You're sensitive. This includes being sensitive to your environment such as sounds, energy and the people in your surroundings. You can be easily overwhelmed. You prefer nature, as well as quiet and calm spaces.

2) You like being alone. You're introverted by nature. Being in large crowds is draining and overwhelming for you. When you're alone, you feel like you can charge up your batteries and regain your energy.

3) You're intuitive. You have a good sense of how things will turn out, and people often to turn to you when they have a problem. You can easily anticipate people needs and wants. You often have dreams and visions.

4) You have a big heart. You're empathic and compassionate. You can easily feel other people's pain. People often feel better or comforted in your presence, and feel safe in sharing their life secrets with you.

5) You are aware of energy. You see and sense the world through a different lens. You know that the world is more than just what you see, and you're able to look beyond the surface level of situations and exchanges. Your abilities can also make you sensitive to negative and positive energy.

6) You enjoy helping others. You genuinely enjoy being of service to other people. You may already be in a role of helping others as a practitioner, such as a nurse, chaplain or therapist. It brings you deep meaning and joy to help others.

7) The word "healing" excites you. You don't know why, but you're attracted to healing and want to learn more. You know you have a calling and have a feeling that healing can help you explore more deeply your gifts and talents.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sura-flow/healing_b_1764825.html

Peace Corps Guilt

I was reading a blog entry from a girl who is currently a Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay, just like me a few years ago.  (Thanks for posting, Jen B.!) As I read her post, I couldn't help but relate to many of the things she said and thought I'd highlight them here.  It reminded me not only of my time in PC, but my trips to Mexico, Baltimore, SE Asia, and any time I see someone in need.  Blame it on my good-old Catholic-guilt upbringing, blame it on my hippy genes, blame it on whatever you want....all I know is, I live with a good, healthy dosage of guilt every day and am happy to do so if it causes me to act more responsibly towards those less fortunate. I am VERY fortunate to have all that I have but I am well aware that it is just that, LUCK, and nothing else that separates me from those born into other circumstances and I can't sit back and watch others drown without trying to do something about it. 

To read the entire article, as well as see the source, please see the link below.

"Someone is drowning in a lake and you are watching. She is sinking lower and lower, her head tossed back so that she can just barely manage a gulp of air. You can save her. Most people would argue that ethically you mustsave her. In his 1971 essay "Famine, Affluence, and Morality," ethicist Peter Singer compares the general moral obligation to help the drowning to every privileged individual's moral obligation to alleviate global poverty.

People all over the world are dying. They are suffering and we are watching. It is immoral, says Peter Singer, not to do everything in our power to help them. iPods, spankin' new cars, vacations to Disney World... we spend money on these things instead of paying for life-saving surgeries, feeding hungry children or investing in third world economies. According to Singer, the fact that we don´t need to watch the poor suffer doesn´t change the fact that they are drowning and we know it. And we let them.

I can't claim that reading Singer's essay was the reason I joined the Peace Corps, but it definitely instilled in me a sense of... duty.....no...Guilt!

I tell people I joined the Peace Corps to understand what it means to be poor, but that´s just part of the story. I joined the Peace Corps to figure out how to escape the guilt of having so much while other people have so little.

Here in my rural-ish urban community in Paraguay, I am living in a vat of perpetual boiling hot guilt. And I've found that I am not the only one. All of the following causes us volunteers to feel that little pang in the chest that means we are doing something pretty horrible:

1) Taking time for ourselves

We feel guilty for staying in the house all day, or for being out of site and missing our neighbors' birthdaysopa. We feel guilty for watching a movie alone instead of with some Paraguayan neighbors. We're servants of the community, right? It's supposed to be a full-time job. Every hour spent watching a movie is an hour we could have helped a child with his homework. Every trip to visit a friend is a leadership retreat for teenagers that never had the chance to happen.

2) Not sharing personal possessions

Just this week I was called a bruja for not lending my computer to someone. And maybe I am a bruja. Families share with me whatever little food they have and I share nothing. I feel like the meanest witch alive.

3) Being too chuchi (fancy)

How can we live in a house with a modern bathroom if no one else has one? How can we buy the chuchichocolate from America when our neighbors can't afford a bag of rice? How can we be paying someone to wash our clothes, how can we go on vacation, how can we have hot water, how can we have running water, arrrrghhhhhhh!

4) Being unsustainable

Apparently the whole point of this helping others thing is sustainability. Don't give stuff to the community, get them to work for it themselves! So, that sounds awesome... until you have the opportunity to get 40 free pairs of reading glasses from America. You can nix the freebees or you can help 40 impoverished ancianosto read again. But then you have to accept the hot-headed guilt that comes with it, the possibility that you jeopardize your community's motivation because they realize the truth that their lives would be so much easier if the first world shared some of its money.

5) Failing to save the world

A couple weeks ago, a 9-year-old girl showed up at my house for the first time. I was surprised by the visit and amazed -- María had come a long way since she first joined our girls group six weeks before. She was the girl who smiled but rarely spoke, and even then rarely in Spanish -- only in the indigenous language Guarani. And now she popped by just to hang out. But something struck me as odd, as I glanced at my pizza in the oven and then at my watch. The time was 11:50. Almost lunch time... the holy hour of the only meal that really gets eaten in Paraguay.

¨María, what time do you have to be home?¨ I asked her.

¨No, my mother isn't cooking today,¨ she replied.

¨What?¨ I was shocked. Even the poorest families I know eat something for lunch, even if not very much. ¨Aren't you hungry?¨

She told me no, she'd had tortillas at 5AM.

It wasn't a question of feeling generous and tossing a dollar at a beggar child on the street. This was María. My María. Her immune system, her literacy rate, her confidence level and her general growth rate all depended on me in that moment. I shared my pizza with her.

She ate every bite. Even the green pepper and onions sprinkled on top... and you would be hard-pressed to find a child where I live who would eat a vegetable you can see. Then she asked me what I was making for dinner.

I immediately felt thrown into a moral crisis. All my guilt -- for leaving site, for being too chuchi, for not sharing and for being unsustainable -- charged forth dressed for battle.

I can't feed her every single meal. I can't be responsible for this little girl.

Stop being selfish. Yes, you can. You make more than enough on your Peace Corps stipend to feed another person.

But what about her eight siblings? What about her neighbors? What about everyone else who is falling through the cracks? How can I do this just for her?

You took a vacation to Peru. You did that instead of feeding a little girl.

It's not even sustainable to buy her food, I should try to develop the soup kitchen at our local community center instead.

You know that is unrealistic. The soup kitchen is open for three lunches a week and is already a strain for the women who cook. You are going to stand back and watch this little girl fall.

All this seems to me a pretty depressing lose-lose situation. Either I ignore the hunger of a child, or I create jealousy amongst her peers. And either way she will be hungry again next year after I go back to America. How do I cope with all of this burden? How do any of us cope?

It helps to remember Goal 3 of the Peace Corps: to help people back home understand human need and realize their responsibility to throw that lifesaver. In a sustainable way, of course. Because the guilt that we are allowing people to drown is not mine. It is ours."

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/esther-katcoff/peace-corps-guilt_b_2059161.html

Organic Lavender Bath Melts

Looking for a great homemade gift to make someone? I haven't tried this recipe for organic bath melts myself, but I'm intrigued enough to try and to share it should you be so inclined as well.

Lavender Bath Melts


YOU WILL NEED:
50g organic shea butter

50g organic cocoa butter
2 drops of lavender essential oil (per melt)
1 teaspoon of dried lavender flowers
1 teaspoon of organic chamomile tea

METHOD:
1. Finely grate your cocoa butter and add to a glass bowl. Add your shea butter to the grated mixture.
2. Place your glass bowl on top of a pan of hot water and stir until melted then take off the heat.
3. Open a teabag of organic chamomile tea and sprinkle 1 teaspoon of it into the mix.
4. Sprinkle your dried lavender into the mix and give it all a good stir.
5. Gently pour your molten mix into silicone moulds (you can also use ice cube trays but I find the melts easier to remove from silicone). I like to use small pretty shapes such as flower moulds that are designed for chocolate.
6. Add your essential oil (in this case lavender) to the moulds.
7. Put your melts into the fridge to harden up for about an hour.
8. Pop your melts out their mould and store in a pretty glass jar.

HOW TO USE:
Pop one bath melt in a warm bath and wait for it to dissolve. Be careful as the cocoa butter can make your bath quite slippery. If you don’t want your bath to be covered in lavender flowers and chamomile you can always place your bath melt in a muslin cloth bag.

VARIATIONS:
Feel free to adapt this recipe to suit your own personal preference and tastes. Other great combinations include lemon and orange with grated lemon zest or shredded rose petals and geranium essential oil.


Source: http://www.bebeautiful-beautyblog.com/2012/08/diy-lavender-chamomile-bath-melts.html

Half the Sky

I was watching the tube the other night and happened across a documentary called: Half the Sky.  It's about prostitution in India and other parts of the world and the organizations trying to give the women and their children an opportunity for a different path in life. It was educational, depressing, inspirational and made me want to find out more about it and how I could help.  To that end, I'm # 17 on the wait list  at the library to read "Half the Sky," by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.  If it sounds interesting to you, I encourage you to learn more and check out the book or video or both.

h

FREE Kids Books

You love your kids! You love the Earth! You want your kids to still have an Earth to live on and love when they grow up!  How bout sharing these FREE books with them? They even have FREE activities to do together!   Oh, and did I mention they were FREE?!!

http://www.livingvalues.net/green.html

A few Good Squirts of Shampoo

Ah, the Backpacker Life.  I came across this photo in my FB Newsfeed this morning and it made me happy to reminisce (wow, I used to think I was a good speller but that one had me going for awhile) on the good ol' life of a backpacker.  And then it made me wonder, for a split second, about my life choices since there are many of these I remember doing before backpacking and continue to do after....but don't worry, the concern only lasted for a split second.  I'm totally proud to be a Traveling, Gypsy, Cheapskate!!!

Traveling friends---would you agree with any of these?!

Here's to Happy, Frugal, Traveling Lives!!!!

I'm in Love!!!!!

For those of you who think I won the lottery or had some secret inheritance to afford me all my travels, I wish you were right. Sadly, that's not the case. As a steady volunteer/teacher/non-profit worker, I've learned to scrimp and save, save, save!

Today I watched a highly intellectual show called "Extreme Cheapskates" and fell in love! These guys are my heroes! Here are some of the pearls of wisdom I took away from the show---great money-saving tips for pinching pennies...every little bit counts! (I also learned things like how to barter for discount butcher meat like goats heads but I'm choosing to pass on that one)

1. Dryer Lint + Toilet Paper Roll = Fire starter log

2.  Do-it-yourself pet beds

3. Soap slivers + panty hose = soap on a rope

4. Rolled up foil stuffed inside citrus bags = home-made brillo pads for scrubbing pots and pans

I saved the best for last..... you're welcome!

10 (more) uses for DRYER LINT!!

*Use it as packing material when mailing things
*Re-spin it into yarn for crocheting/knitting
*Place clumps in your yard to help birds make nests
*Make clay for kids art projects (see link below)
*Protect plants from the cold or as mulch to keep warm and damp
*Stuff a sock with lint and place under a door in the winter to stop a cold air draft
*Make home made recycled paper! (see link below)
http://www.essortment.com/ten-uses-dryer-lint-15708.html

Crossroads

Part of what keeps life interesting is the possibility of new opportunities and change at any given moment.  But, part of what makes life terrifying is the possibility of new opportunities and changes at any given moment! I've reached a point where I have a few offers and major decisions to make and while I'm grateful for options and exciting new adventures, I'm also frightened of the choices I have to make. I feel like I'm at a crossroads and I don't want to make a bad decision ( I know, I know, "there's no such thing as a bad decision if you choose to be happy...blah, blah, blah." I get it). I'd appreciate all your thoughts and prayers as I try to navigate through it all and figure it all out--thanks!

From Katie to Tyra!

The past week or so has been full of lots of highs and lows.  As much as I'd like to say I've been perfect at remaining focused on the good ones, that has not always been the case.  But....I refuse to let life keep me down so I'm getting back up again!

Here's how my week has progressed:

My week started (and has remained like this)

I've been weeble-wobbling my way through it all...

I've been knocked down plenty but I won't let it keep me down!

I'm working on it!

So I'm picking myself up and forging ahead.

And I'm feeling pretty confident.

And I'm making my way from Katie to Tyra!

Happiness is a Sad Song

Although I agree that laughter can be the best medicine sometimes, I'm also a firm believer that a good cry can be cleansing and healing to the soul.  Sometimes you need a little inspiration so I thought I'd share some songs that fit my mood when I'm ready for a good eye cleansing. Some of them aren't sad at face value but evoke certain memories for me, both sad-sad and happy/nostalgic-sad.

The Promise--Tracy Chapman

Colder Weather--Zac Brown Band

Back to December--Taylor Swift

Free--Zac Brown Band

Red Light--David Nail

I Was Here--Beyonce

Skinny Love--Birdy

Solo Para Ti--Camila

Stupid Boy--Keith Urban

Let it Rain--David Nail

Time After Time--Eva Cassidy

True Colors--Eva Cassidy

Wanted--Hunter Hayes

Brand New Day--Joshua Radin

So Long Sunshine--Joshua Radin

Wanderlust (not the shitty movie)

Simple Enough : ) 

3 for 3!

I flew in last night to Maryland and that marked 3 medication-free/panic-free flights since my panic attacks started. That's a good thing for anyone, and a GREAT thing for my gypsy soul!

Just a few weeks ago, I wasn't sure I'd be able to travel again. Glad to know there's light at the end of this traveling girl's rainbow!!!

Time to unpack my bag so I can repack it again tonight. Tomorrow I hit the road again!! :)

The Key to Life

Gypsy/traveling life got your key chain full of all sorts of keys?

Here's a simple, creative, and effective idea to help organize!

Source: http://www.abubblylife.com/2012/04/5-minute-diy-color-code-your-keys.html

Laughter is the Best Medicine!

So simple, So True!

THANK YOU to all of you in my life!! : )

Kale Pesto

It seems the new trend hitting America is kale and it's super powers. I've been getting it at the farmer's markets lately and wanted some other uses besides salad and smoothies.  I found this recipe and thought it was a creative use for it.

Haven't made this one yet, but I plan to some day. If that "some day" comes for you before it arrives at my house, let me know what you think!

Kale Pesto

Recipe

This recipe makes about 1- 1 1/2 cups

1 big bunch of kale, rinsed, ribs removed and torn into large pieces
3/4 cups EVOO, 2 tablespoons of which was Meyer lemon olive oil
1/2 cup Parmigiano, microplaned
2 cloves garlic, smashed and rough chopped
1/2 cup pine nuts
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon lemon juice, fresh

Blanch the kale in boiling salted water for about 3 minutes and chill down in a cold water bath, drain and squeeze excess water. Place into small work bowl of food processor and pulse to start breaking up the kale, add rough chopped garlic, process, add pine nuts, pulse several times. Slowly add the olive oils and lemon juice, process until everything is broken down. It will never be real smooth. Finally add the cheese and pulse a few times. Season with salt and pepper.


Source: http://www.food52.com/blog/4256_kale_and_other_pestos

Travel Anniversary

Today marks a year to the day that I started my travels around Asia and the Pacific.  As I reflect back on all the things I've seen and done and the people I've met, I can't help but be happy and so incredibly grateful for all the wonderful opportunities I've had in life.  It would be impossible to recount them all here.  Instead, I thought I'd touch on what it's like to be back "home" from travels.  "Home" is in quotes because I'm not sure a gypsy soul like mine ever has one geographic location that they consider home.  It's more a state of mind and feeling in your heart of being happy wherever you go.  Okay, enough hippy talk.

Ask anyone who has ever traveled abroad from their homeland, and they will tell you how they were not only impacted by things overseas, but continue to see things differently when back to their native land as well.  As a cultural studies nerd, I am constantly analyzing cultural aspects and here are some of the things I've reflected upon since returning to the U.S.

1. It's nice to be in a place where I know the accumulated cultural knowledge and nuances not explained anywhere in guide books, that can only come from living in the culture. I like knowing that when I go somewhere I know whether they will have a bathroom, water, parking, how much stuff should cost, etc.

 EXAMPLES: I was driving down the road the other day and I saw kids sitting at a table on a street corner.  I knew that was a lemonade stand, and with that, I knew what to expect: Kids selling lemonade for a few cents.   The next day, I saw a house with tons of furniture, clothes, and stuff in the yard: I knew it was a garage sale and I knew what that entailed--I knew I shouldn't pay more than a few dollars for anything and that it was okay to bargain in that setting, that I would need to have cash only, that there would not be anything else "in the back."

2. I like being able to get in my car and go anywhere and leave anywhere at any time I want. I can plan my day and be reliant on my own time frame.

3. I like being back in a place where I have "cultural capital"(refers to non-financial social assets that promote social mobility beyond economic means. Examples can include education, intellect, style of speech, dress, and even physical appearance, et cetera.) I like having a network of family and friends to share things with. If I need to borrow something, I can call on them, etc. 

4. I like knowing WHEN there's a public holiday and WHAT that means: i.e. banks, stores, etc. will be closed or have sales, or close early, etc.

5. I LOVE being around family and friends!

If you wanna read more about my travels, check out my travel blog at:
http://www.offexploring.com/danikehm12