RECAP...
Fifteen months ago I left Washington Mutual Bank with a little bit of cash in the bank and a desire to see the world, to give back to those less fortunate, and most importantly to pass through a journey that would change my perspective.
After a few quick trips to California and Hawai'i, I left in my VW Eurovan Camper for a six-week trip from Seattle to Maine, down the east coast through Boston, Philadelphia and Virginia, west thorugh Asheville and Kentucky, north through Milwaukee to Saskatchewan, then west again through southern Canada to Banff and Trans-Canada 1 back to Seattle.
During the month of October 2008, I sold, gave away or packed up all my possessions and gave up my Seattle apartment before heading out of the country. First a quick visit to The Netherlands followed by a week in Williamsburg Virginia, then the beginning of my six-month commitment to Global Vision International to teach in indegenous communities throughout Central and South America.
- Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala (Nov 15 - Dec 29, 2008) Homestay with Anegela and Dulio and two weeks of Spanish lessons; teaching at the GVI school in Santa Maria, weekend trip to Playa San Diego in El Salvador, mountain biking and kayaking at Lake Atitlan, weekend trip to Livingston and and the Mayan ruins in Tikal, and Christmas week in Antigua.
- Copan Ruinas, Honduras (Dec 29 2008 - Feb 6, 2009) Homestay with Carla's family and Spanish lessons, hanging out wth Wess, painting the GVI school and helping to build a concrete sink, enjoying tons of tourist activities including horesback riding to La Pintada, hot springs, butterfly park, bird sanctuary, and of course the Mayan Ruins; and visiting Isias, Maria andd Alexander in Llanatios. And the food, ahhhh the wonderful Honduran food!
- Esteli, Nicaragua (Feb 6 - 14, 2009) No teaching this time, only construction of a concrete block stove for one of the GVI student families.
- Otavalo, Ecuador (Feb 15 - March 28, 2009) The most amazing teaching experience of the entire six months, exploring the capital of Quito, exploring the artisan market and dining out in the town of Otavalo, visiting El Lechero and other sights within walking distance from the town, and several adventures a bit further from town including Mt Fuya Fuya, Lago Cuicocha and the hot springs at Chichambiro.
- Arequipa, Peru (March 28 - May 17, 2009) Living in town and teaching in the nearby community of Sachaca, mountain biking down Chachani, trekking Colca Canyon and off-roading to Lago Salinas, visiting Puno and Lago Titicaca, hiking the Inca trail to Machu Picchu.
I hooked up with Mad Max (the Road Kitty) and we hit the road together in the Eurovan for a few months. We started south to visit Penny in San Luis Obispo CA, then east to Phoenix for a visit with my brother and his girlfriend, and old friends. Next we went through Arcosanti to the archeological sites in the Four-Corners area. From there, Max and I traveled to visit family and friends in the Midwest. Finally, we went to Colorado and the wonderful discovery of cousins in Ft Collins and Boulder. After nearly two months out on the road we returned to Redmond WA. Back in the Seattle area, Keith and his daughter Sarah were again very generous to let me and Max stay with them while I re-adjusted to life in the city and began to look for new work and a new home.
AND NOW...
I am SOOOO lucky that my re-entry into the working world has been so painless. I met with former co-worker Mark Withers, now of Avalara, shortly after returning to Seattle. We pretty quickly discovered a good fit between my skills and the company's needs. Avalara is one of the few high-tech companies based on Bainbridge Island, an idyllic community a few miles across the water from Seattle. The company provides sales tax software and services, and beginning October 19th I'll be leading the requirements management and software delivery processes and their new Delivery Manager.
I've finally pulled my belongings out of storage and have mostly settled into a new home on Bainbridge, just a few blocks from my new office and very close to the Seattle ferry terminal. I'm VERY happy with the new place. I've discovered a community of great women also living in the condo complex, and there's a handy little organic grocery in the same block. Max has a well-manicured garden and a set of ancient trees for exploring while out on our walks, and a view of the water and mountains when he's stuck inside during the day. It's a pretty good life right now :)
(link to slides of my new apartment on Bainbridge Island)
AT THE MOMENT...I decided to take one last week of adventure before starting at Avalara on Oct 19. At the moment, I'm in Copan Ruinas, Honduras, visiting my dear friend Wess. We met in Honduras back in January when I was a volunteer with GVI, and we traveled together (with Max) for awhile in Michigan and Wisconsin earlier this summer. He moved to Honduras from his home in North Carolina the same weekend that I moved to Bainbridge Island. He'll be teaching English and studying the culture here in preparation for his graduate studies in anthropology. I'm rather enjoying the hammock on his back porch overlooking the jungle below, and listeing to the thunder in the evenings, exploring the Mayan ruins, eating fresh papaya, and preparing baleadas, canches and other amazing Honduran delicacies. Ahhh the food!! What a great final week of exploration before heading back into the working world.
COMING NEXT...
I haven't yet determined the fate of this blog. It's purpose had been to record my journeys and share them with friends and family along the way. Now that I'll be settling into an average work-a-day life again, I'm not sure how interesting my stories will be for awhile. I suppose I'll have to seek out adventures, not just for blogging (of course) but to keep life interesting and to stay young.
Stay tuned..!
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