Archive for the ‘q & a’ Category

re-defining home

Sunday, October 19th, 2008

(The following question was posed to me by the editor of TravelBlogs.com)

What does home mean to you after traveling for so long?

When I first left the country, I was an angry girl; ashamed of my country, annoyed with American tradition & culture, disregarding of my family history, disappointed with my education, and I was no longer on speaking terms with religion.

It was the story of the young shepherd, Santiago, in The Alchemist that filled my spirit with an insatiable fire to move, and specifically to buy my first open-ended ticket to what would eventually accumulate into seven years of adventures abroad. But I still vividly remember the moment when I closed that little book and said, with noted disappointment, to myself, “Wait. The boy ends up where he began?” It was foreshadowing on my life that I was just barely smart enough to note with a squinted and suspicious eye.

Of course, I ignored the winking omen. And picked up the challenge of the chase. Home? I don’t need one. House? On my back. Family? They can live without me. Country? Never belonged there. Religion? I’ve got big skies and starry nights to answer those questions now.

Over time, my notion of home as an outward place harboring social detest, devolved into something much softer and closer. For somewhere along the path, I picked up meditating. And I remember, for a few years, telling people that “home” was that warm little nook in which I centered myself every morning, with my eyes closed, about ten minutes deep into sitting.

But this version of home is lonely. And, as every long term traveler eventually learns, the charms of a transient life are, mockingly, transient. I began to feel myself scrapping; the surfaces of cities, the shallowness of temporary friends, the stereotypes of a culture, the Lonely Planet highlights of a country. Feeling my travels weighted too heavily on the side of quantity, I added a few stones to the quality side, by slowing down my itinerary and stationing myself in small communities for 3-6 months at a time, usually working with this or that NGO with the goal of fostering the connection between local and international circles. In this way, I did finally learn full names, foreign languages, local bus routes, and the best street food stand in town. But still, I found myself in the strange position of never asking a person his or her name before finding an above-par answer to the question, “How long will you be staying?”

And that is perhaps when the big “C” word entered my mind and vocabulary. I decided that I did not care WHERE in the world I lived, so long as I was surrounded by people with whom I shared like values, trust, mission, curiosity and intentions; Community. One in which I could foster my new understanding of the concepts of interconnectedness and interdependence. A place and people in whom I could invest and connect. For just as I, in my perpetual pilgrimage had learned that my travels were less about the goal than the journey. SO had I learned that my relationships were less about the people, than my interactions with them. And I needed a circle. Of brothers and sisters and parents and lovers and extended family and community with whom I could exchange: trust, teachings, experience, dependence, beliefs, challenges, support and, of course, love.

But before I continue, I must also include the most noble, impacting, profound and beautiful lesson that my travels have BEATEN into me – and that is of Humility. The thought of the arrogance and ignorance with which I set upon my world “stomp,” today, changes my cheeks to shades of shame. That I left my country on the spit and snarl of these two charges, just emphasizes the depth of my personal projection. Such self-righteousness we assume in the task and name of seeking change! The world IS change; it’s the predominant characteristic of nature and the Earth and nothing but comical to presume that we need seek it out. We human beings, both individually and cumulatively, will constantly be presented with the challenges and opportunities to evolve to our higher selves regardless of the continent upon which we happen to find ourselves born or standing. I need not cross the world on a jet engine to either solve the puzzles of the planet or recognize the mystery of life. But perhaps, like Santiago, we just have to make the physical journey to come to that same, mocking-with-good-humor-at-our-humbling-expense, conclusion.

A few months ago, I drank yak butter tea in an underground stone house at 15,000 feet, on a shelf of the Tibetan plateau. And as I watched the children playing with puppies, and the women chatting happily over the meal cooking on the fire, and the father spinning yak wool while checking in with the teenagers coming in from the fields, I realized that every community is precious, none more or less than another. Be it a tiny village high in the Himalayas or the park of a busy urban city street, the challenges, lessons and connections are the same. We don’t need to cross borders, but only to venture into the unknown. For only by leaving all that we know, do we discover exactly who and where we already are. And there, sipping tea in one of the most remote corners on the world, I concluded that the joy of travel, is not where it takes us, but the new awareness of where and who we already are. Very little does it actually matter where we go and, thus, where we began is the only place in the world in which we can end.

In the end of The Alchemist, Santiago returns to the sheep, fields, trees and family of his upbringing with a smile. Santiago’s community did not change. But his awareness and appreciation of his interwoven role within it, did. Home, to me, is defined as the circle of people and places in which we choose to foster kindness and love. It’s a community: of friends, teachers, lovers, mentors, family, students and every messenger met along the path. Home is the web of our interconnectedness. And once we realize the degree to which we are interdependent, the rest, I believe becomes irrelevant. Home is left, and returned to, as being nothing more than a new awareness of what’s been there all along.


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a few questions & answers

Sunday, January 13th, 2008

Visions of India Dec 2007, originally uploaded by seekingsol.

I recently answered the following questions from a Portuguese journalist and figured to recycle the content. The answers are short because the last time I had something published, the editor, having no mercy with the scissors, cut my tresses of words to something of an ugly bob. So my answers are trimmed in anticipation of another hack job. :)

Q: Tell me about your life before the trip?

My life before “the trip” was spent checking off a list of the acquisitions that people around me (family, culture, society) told me I needed to have in order to be happy. I think of that period of my life (ages 14-21) as years of blindness: I just felt around in the dark and let the people and objects I bumped into direct my path. I certainly wasn’t unhappy. I just had no goals or passions or interests of my own and so I was fine with putting my faith in the path that American society prescribed for me. I’ve since realized that I sort out a lot of my life by walking down paths that lead to dead ends; it’s just my slow process of learning. So when I had everything I was told would make me happy, but still felt empty, I realized that the path prescribed me was a dead end. I was simply done with that path and ready for a new one.

Q: Why did you decide to go?

I wanted to know what would remain if I left everything behind. I was numb and wanted to feel things again – coldness, warmth, pain, rain, surprise, bliss, confusion; it didn’t matter to me so much what I felt, but just that I could FEEL again, something that could confirm that I was alive. I started to contemplate the idea of traveling for a year in Central America, and only at the first contemplation of the idea, I began, for the first time in a long time, to feel something. I felt nervous and I felt wicked and I felt brave and I felt afraid. But I was feeling! And that’s how I knew I was doing something that I needed to do. So I bought a ticket. I had a job at the time and I didn’t even tell my boss. I just bought a one-year-return ticket and let all the details sort themselves out on their own.

Q: What is the message you want to pass to your generation?

That your life is unique and a mystery to be explored. I’m not sure how we can live with sunrises and sunsets and stars and not wonder the big questions that such visions inspire. But I really think these questions should be pondered, individually and with each other. Because they are the most important questions in life and I have a hunch that anyone who asks them, will come, via their own unique path, to the same conclusion. And this conclusion is the answer to most of our (humanity’s) problems. So I guess my message is to engage your sense of wonder and think creatively with your life path; it’s your own to create and color.

Q: What did you learn travelling for so many countries?

I learned that borders mean little and that an open mind and heart means a lot. I learned that despite the thousands of dialects, we (humans) all speak the same universal languages: of laughter, music, dance, art, and play, of love for family and of needs for safety, community, health and peace. I’ve learned that it doesn’t matter where you start, go or end; but that life, like little kids in the mud, will teach you everything you need to know utilizing whatever resources are available, providing an open heart, creative mind and will to learn are present. And I’ve learned that the truth is easy to find; you just have to ask, respectfully, for it and be ready to listen.

Q: What is the experience, the place or the person that marked you the most?

An American woman named Hanley Denning donated her entire life to providing education, safety and health care to children living in the slum community of the Guatemala City dump. She was a friend and mentor. She died, tragically, in a car accident this year. But she is still my guide by her example of total selflessness and the power of a single human to better the lives of thousands. You can learn more about her and/or the project at: www.safepassage.org.

Q: What is your next trip?

Currently, I’m living in Varanasi, India but in May of 2008, I, along with a best friend, will begin a 40-day pilgrimage into the Dolpo Region of remote Nepal. Logistically, we hope to explore the kingdom of Mustang and visit what is considered one of the last enclaves of pure Tibetan culture left on earth. Intuitively, we are most interested in the nomadic nature of the pilgrimage itself, and the messengers, messages, questions and answers, we are bound to encounter and ponder along the way. For those interested, I’ll be documenting the pilgrimage on my blog: www.solbeam.com.

Q: Is it possible for a normal person to do the same? Leave a job, family and country and travel the world?

I’m a normal person. I’m actually abnormally clumsy, slow on many subjects, and I bite my lip over the same questions that everyone else does. If anything, that’s my charm: that I’m a single, solo, and normal girl, and I did it. It doesn’t take great courage, but it does take a first leap of faith. My advice to everyone is the same: don’t think about it – just make the decision and start acting like you own it. Make a physical commitment if you can – buy the plane ticket, go the school registrar and ask to defer your next year of university, get the second job you need to save the money. Once the commitment is made, the rest of the details (obligations, logistics, etc.) will sort themselves out on their own. All you have to do is make the decision and take the first step. At least “try on” the decision and see how it feels. If it makes you feel lighter or sparks something on the inside, you’re probably on the right path.

Q: And what about the money? How much does it cost?

Mostly likely, it’ll cost you less than it does for you to live at home. My costs of living abroad are a fraction of what I spend when I’m living in the States. My best tip is to be aware that there’s a two-tiered cost structure when traveling in foreign countries: prices for tourists and prices for locals. Do you hang out at the places in your town where tourists hang out? Of course not. Those places are unauthentic and overpriced. So try to avoid the package tours and tourist hot spots. Pick a random place that fancies you and instead of sticking to the guide books, study the local language, make friends with locals, and let them be your guides. If you are authentically interested in understanding another culture and country, people will feel it and open their hearts, houses and lives to you. An amazing resource for finding friends in foreign countries is the online community of travelers congregated at www.couchsurfing.com. Those are my best tips.

What do you know about Portugal?

I walked along the Camino Portuguese from Santiago, Spain to Porto, Portugal. The route has very few pilgrims on it and no organized accommodation for those on pilgrimage, but I was greeted and treated with enormous warmth by the people of Portugal. Shopkeepers let me sleep in their attics, bartenders served me free hot meals, priests let me set up my tent in the courtyards of their churches and I reme
mber even spending one night at the fire station. I found the people and landscapes of Portugal to be exceptionally lovely and have put the country high on my list of places, should I ever slow down enough, to retire. I was unable to finish the pilgrimage due to heat and forest fires, so someday I plan to return and complete the route, walking from Porto to Fatima.

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q&a – (kind of edited, but not updated) as of 9/08

Monday, December 4th, 2006
a rare appearance at the other end of the camera, New Zealand, 2003

a rare appearance at the other end of the camera, New Zealand, 2003

q & a — (kind of edited, but not updated) as of 9/08.

: : : What Is This?

This is the live travel journal of a perpetual pilgrim (“sol”) as she, equipped with backpack, blog and her sense of Wonder, wanders aimfully across the continents…

: : : How did it start?

It started out as a quest to pursue a “personal legend”; a term coined by Paulo Coelho in one of my favorite fables “The Alchemist.”

“…whoever you are, whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it’s because that desire originated in the soul of the universe. It’s your mission on earth. To realize one’s Personal Legend is a person’s only real obligation.” – “The Alchemist“, Paulo Coelho

Of course, I don’t feel as if I know anything, let alone my “mission” on earth. But what I do FEEL — is that I must move. Pursue. As for WHAT I am pursuing, I haven’t any concrete idea. Nor am I really all that interested in what prize my hunt may capture. It’s the “pursuit” itself that has thus far enticed me into the last seven-something years of unforgettable adventure through over 35 countries and across six continents. It’s the pursuit itself that ignited my passions for volunteer work, salsa dancing, spanish, scuba diving, Eastern philosophy, experiential education and photography. It’s the “pursuit” that has taught me the lessons on life that I searched for, but never found, in my textbooks at university. It’s the “pursuit” that has humbled me both as an American and as a human being, grounded my respect and understanding for the intelligence of nature, and sparked my spiritual quest, setting fire to both my heart and heel.

You know that feeling when you look up into the night sky and fall dizzy in questions of our place in that space? We’ll I’ve decided to dedicate this life, to seeking and understanding that mystery of being. I don’t really fancy finding answers. I find my fancy in the questions themselves.

Neither do I have inspirations of being entertaining, making money, being popular or enlightening anyone. I’m just documenting my travel adventures, as well as the progressive realizations made on the path of my pursuit, and inviting anyone along for the ride.

There are only two things that I ask of myself in this life; to seek inspiration, and to share it. THIS is simply my way of combining my greatest passions: travel, writing, and the web, to realize that mission.

: : : Where Are You Going Next?

“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost. The world will not have it. Keep the channel open, follow your heart, and everything else will take care of itself.” – (?)

I love those three words — a “vitality”, a “life force”, a “quickening within” — for they come the closest to describing that feeling that moves me to make the choices I do. Why Guatemala? Why Spain? Why by boat? Why by plane? Why here? Why him? Why her? Why then? My choices and directions in life have become increasingly dependent on that “quickening within.” But with each decision, Intuition has reaffirmed that my trust in her is secure and worthy. I once saw a sign in a beach town in Costa Rica that read, “A true traveler is never intent on reaching a destination and knows that her best adventures are usually found off the original path.”

Where am I going next? Where omens and opportunity lead me.

: : : How it Started

About eight years ago, I bought a plane ticket to Costa Rica and sat down with my boss to tell him I was taking a month of vacation from work.

“No you’re not.” He said.

“Yes, I am.” I told him.

*very long pause*

“No you’re not.” He continued. “You have two weeks of paid vacation that you’ve already used. This is THE most critical time for this company. It is unfathomable that you take leave right now. Maybe in six months we can consider some extended vacation. But right now? Absolutely impossible.”

I followed my original itinerary. And when I returned from that life-altering adventure my boss said, “Well. You were right. Everything worked out smoothly, and looking back now, there was NO better time that you could have taken leave.” (Of course, at the time, neither of us was expecting that month abroad to inspire my complete resignation and the purchase of a one-way ticket…)

Regardless, I think it was that confrontational day that my self-erected wall of “life rules” came crashing down, along with the authority in the words “impossible”, “unfathomable”, “absolutely” and “no.”

There are so many “rules” of life to which we simply subscribe, without questioning. We have so many freedoms that we never exercise simply because we’ve never tugged at the phantom-chains that bind them. Of course, the first time I challenged those rules, the notion seemed nothing but comical…

“Ha! Imagine what my boss would say if I just bought a ticket to Costa Rica and left for a month!”

“How crazy would it be for me to just quit my job and travel for a year! What a dream!”

“What a silly thought…me? A scuba divemaster? I could never be a divemaster. I can barely swim.”

“How could I ever work as a photographer? I don’t know ANYTHING about photography!”

“I could never spend two months walking 700 miles across Spain!”

OR…could I?

The first time “I could never” turned into “hell! I just did!” — life irreversibly changed. Why? Because for one, I figured out that this world, this society, this system, didn’t really care about my individual life. I had broken “the rules” and the gates of hell did not open and consume me, I wasn’t arrested and sent to jail, my parents didn’t ground me, my friends didn’t disown me, and my boss didn’t fire me. I had slipped right through the societal-cracks and landed on two free feet.

My “silly notions,” “dreams” if you may, were perfectly real and attainable — and I had every right in this world to move my free feet and take pursuit of them. Now I take my “silly ideas” more seriously than Newton’s laws of physics. They STILL always start off as laughable, but now that the pattern has been recognized, my giggles quickly transition to a grin and a “oh no, here it comes…” nervous anticipation of an oncoming challenge. Now I know — and can recognize — my most wild but “serious intentions” masquerading in the sheeps’ wools of “silly notions.”

So in December of 2000, at age 23, I resigned from my position as Senior Editor at CollegeClub.com and bought an open-ended ticket to Guatemala, whereupon MercuryFrog posed the following “comical” question:

“Why don’t I build you a site so that you can write about your adventures and share them with your online community as you experience them?”

My laugh quickly turned into a serious grin.

Solbeam.com was born in January of 2001 by the kindness and talent of MercuryFrog. (Merc is both the developer and designer of this site, and compliments should be sent directly to him.) It should also be noted that Merc is continuously and selflessly facilitating the dream chasing process for numerous individuals *beside myself* and that he has secured his place in the “Solbeam’s Exceptional Human Beings” Hall of Fame.

And thank you also to Slava and ThinkHost.com for swooping a silent hand into my life, in a perfect act of altruistic kindness, to support the website and fanciful aspirations of a perfect stranger.

I consider the two of you as nothing less than my guardian angels.

Since January of 2001, those of you watching this site have adventured with me through Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, Cuba, South Korea, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, The Dominican Republic, Spain, Morocco, Portugal, China, India, Ecuador, Colombia, Sikkim, Nepal, and Tibet together. We learned Spanish and how to salsa together. We scuba dived off Cayes, in oceans, through Cenotes and into sink holes together. We learned to bartend and danced on tabletops together. We were robbed at gunpoint together. We raved on bay islands together. We battled with hairy spiders, sand flies, lice and scorpions together. We volunteered with children of a dumpster community together. We mediated and fasted at multiple retreat centers together. We hiked volcanoes and watched them erupt together. We got on wrong planes together. We rock climbed together and we boogie-boarded together. We hosted multiple stomach parasites together and suffered countless colds and mysterious skin infections together. We taught English and escaped monsoons together. We got in motorbike and car accidents together. We rode elephants and got attacked by baby monkeys together. We worked tirelessly at Club Med together. We walked 1,200 miles of the Camino de Santiago and Chemin de St. Jacques together. We saved turtles and learned to surf together. We made many trails through the Himalayas together. We were adopted into a Colombian family together. We fell in love with India countless times together. We discovered a passion for Eastern philosophy and spirituality together. We watched the stars and pondered at our place in the Universe together. And we shared multiple sunrises and sunsets together.

You laughed with me. You cried with me. You danced with me. You learned with me. You supported me and you believed in me. I give my ENDLESS thanks to all those of you who keep up with this site and have shared these experiences and emotions with me. Because IT is the only physical thing I have to grasp onto after returning from these adventures. How I could ever give any inch of accurate representation of my travels abroad “over coffee” is inconceivable. “You just had to be there” will have to suffice many inquisitions…but for those of you who WERE there, WITH me, my mind can smile and sigh in relief. I’m not so alone after all. And for that ease of heart and mind, I have you to thank. I may live out of a backpack, but solbeam.com is my home and you, a family.

: : : Who Are You?

My parents would say I’m the daughter that they gave birth to in Anchorage, Alaska and raised in Portland, Oregon. I’d be the one child that insisted on school in California where, since my departure, they’ve received phone calls about once a month *if lucky* — usually only alerting them to my next skydive or adventure abroad. In comparison to my three happily-married and “home-body” siblings, I’m certainly the “black sheep” of the family. My high school friends would probably say I’m the “late-bloomer.” While they experimented with boys, drugs and other freedoms, I was busy pullin’ a 3.9 GPA and a strict midnight curfew. In college, I was the “girlfriend.” I dated the same *fantastic* guy from week three of college through graduation day. While I never, for one second, regret that choice — I currently have a *possibly unhealthy* aversion to relationships and tend to avoid commitments to anything more than a lunch date… made at 11:45.

When I graduated, I spent a few months in Europe and returned with some hefty credit card bills that needed immediate attention. I fit everything that I owned into my car and drove down to San Diego where I had heard that it was 75 degrees year ’round. I landed a job at CollegeClub.com, having no idea that it that would forever change my life; “Travel Freak Becomes Web Geek”. I put in 80-hour weeks *under web cam surveillance* and was labeled “loco” by friends & family and “passionate” by co-workers.

In December of 2000, I put in my resignation and purchased a one-way ticket to Adventure. I have, for the most part, been travelling ever since.

: : : What Does “solbeam” Mean?

“solbeam,” was my username on CollegeClub and the common name by which I was known in the CC Community. “Sol” means “sun” in Spanish. My skin color most likely comes from my Spanish ancestors (rather than the German ones) and in addition to being a complete sucker for sunsets (and rises), the sun holds special significance for me as it was what led me from Oregon to North California, from North Cal. to South Cal., and from Cal. to Central America. When I come to crossroads in life, both figurative and literal, regardless of how more or less traveled they are, I opt for the path with the most light, the most warmth…the most “sol.”

: : : Can You Give Me Some Advice on Where to Travel?

I’m sorry, but I do NOT give out any specific advice or recommendations on places to go for one very good reason: travel is extremely circumstantial. Each person’s adventure is totally unique and completely dependent on multiple factors including, but not limited to: weather, health, holiday, attitude, company, length of stay, and financial situation. If you want advice on specific places to go, I recommend you simply research online (LonelyPlanet.com, Iexplore.com, About.com) or browse the Travel section at your local bookstore. As for travel guidebooks, I recommend both the Lonely Planet and Rough Guide series.

: : : Are You Travelling With Anyone?

This is another ambiguous question. Am I travelling with one person (or friend) for my whole trip? No. I prefer to travel “alone.” But that’s the funny thing about traveling. By traveling “alone”, you actually meet MORE people. Travellers seek each other out. But what is probably more important, is that on the road — you are surrounded by others who share the same passions in life and who find the same excitement in the pursuit of something “different.” On the road, we’re all alone, all “in between” careers, all out of our element, and all vacationing from societal influence. And I’m learning that as wonderful as being “independent” and “alone” and “different” are, there is also something so very special about finding a community of people who share your same tastes at the dining table of life.

: : : Where Did You Get All The Money To Be Able To Travel?

This is the biggest complaint I hear; “I would travel…if only I had the money.”

I pay for ALL my travel expenses.

Please don’t think for a second that I’m pracin’ around on Dad’s plastic. My parents “taught me the value of a dollar” by letting me pay my university tuition (at a private school no less). Not a chance they were about to finance my world stomp. I still have thousands of dollars in school loans yet to be paid back (one can usually defer school loans for up to three years). Why am I telling you about my financial situation? Because I want to emphasize that anyone who REALLY wants to travel – can.

If you want something, you do what it takes to get it. I saved. I’ve chosen “travel” as my treat. I count my money in days spent abroad. I don’t own a car and I’ve only slept on hand-me down beds and futons. I’d simply rather spend that money on airfare, hostels and bread & cheese. I understand the trade-offs and have made a choice. Anyone can travel if they want to. All it depends on, is how bad he or she really wants it.

And one of the biggest myths of travel is that it’s expensive. A person can travel easily on $10-30 dollars a day abroad, if you’re keen on bread and cool with dorm rooms. You won’t be a “tourist”; You’ll be a traveler. Your daily expenses (rent, food, clothing, entertainment) in The States surely amount to more than $30 dollars a day. (Please don’t e-mail me and ask me to explain this further or tell me it’s not possible *people often do*. It IS possible, but I really don’t feel obligated to give proofs or find deals for people.)

But without a doubt, it is cheaper for me to live abroad, than in the States.

In addition to saving a lot and spending little, I always work while travelling abroad. Bartending, volunteering (in exchange for room), working as a divemaster, teaching English, working as a photographer, and guiding tour and student groups are all means that were not only gentle on the savings account, but also rewarding cultural experiences. When I first started working abroad, I didn’t have any experience and knew very little of the local language. All it takes is desire and initiative. You can search for jobs abroad online before you depart (I’ve found three jobs to date through GoAbroad.com), or just go door-knockin’ at all the bars and restaurants in town until you come up with something. And if you’re really looking, something ALWAYS turns up.

I currently work as an “Experiential Education Guide” leading groups of college students on 3-month semesters abroad programs for a brilliant company and intimate family, Where There Be Dragons. I usually work one or two semesters a year and find some type of volunteer work (abroad) that pays for my board during my “downtime.”

: : : How Do You Have So Much Time To Travel?

It’s not about “having” time, but rather “making” time. You just put you stake in the ground and say, “this is what I’m gonna do” and then you do it. No one EVER has “extra” time to travel — at least not before they’re retired. People, time, events will allow you to do whatever you wish – as soon as you make the decision to go.

“The universe always conspires to help the dreamer.” — “The Alchemist”, Paulo Coelho

When I’m abroad, I’m not “on holiday.” Travel is more than a priority in my life; it’s my WAY of life. I have intentions of continuing my travels abroad for many years. Periodically, I have, in the past, found myself frequenting a little “Universal Township & Experiment in Living” in South India called, Auroville, in which I love to snuggle down for extended periods of rest and reflection.

: : : What Advice to You Have For a First Time Traveler?

Let nothing get in the way of your desire to travel. Buy the ticket now and worry about the details later; They WILL fall into place. Travel while you’re young. You have no commitments, your parents are healthy, and you have the back that can withstand a pack and legs that can climb a volcano. This is the only time in your life that you will enjoy staying in dorm rooms or have the gut to drink the locals’ poison into the wee hours of the morning and wake up when the rooster crows at 5am the next day to catch a bus to another country.

One of the biggest MYTHS of American society that I’ve uncovered in my travels is this; “Two weeks of vacation each year is enough.” Two weeks will never be enough. Adequate time for emotional, spiritual, physical and extracurricular development IS necessary in mature adult life too! And this doesn’t mean you have to cross any actual US borders to engage yourself. “Work=life” is just a faulty equation in my book. Take time for yourself to discover and develop your passions. You need it. You deserve it. And as Americans, it’s high time we put our foot down and stomped out this socially-supported falsehood. Try questioning “the rules” with your boss, parents, school, etc. Push a little. Pry a little. Stretch a little. Fight a little. You might be very surprised with the results.

I was.

And remember, regardless of the “where’s”, “when’s”, and “what’s” — everything WILL work out. If you miss your train/bus/plane — laugh and recognize that your adventures are never lost, but only changed.

Also, if you do fancy taking your adventure abroad, you might check out my Travel Disclaimer.

: : : How Can I Contact You?

Simple. Send an e-mail to: solbeam@gmail.com. I’m a pretty busy girl, but if you send me a note or question, I’ll try my very best to get back to you. (If I’m not stationary in a country, a reply could be delayed by a few weeks.)

Always remember that if you take the initiative to pursue your dreams, the Universe will, ultimately but not always obviously, work in your favor.

I sincerely wish you the best in your physical, emotional and spiritual travels!

sincerely,

:) sol

“When you step off the edge of the unknown, you will either find something to stand on, or learn to fly.”

Posted in q & a, travel philosophy, travel tips | No Comments »

A Few Q´s

Saturday, July 3rd, 2004

Question: When you get a chance, remind me why you and – supposedly – the rest of the world hate George W. Bush.

All I can say is that I personally promote peace, unity, compassion and a non-dualistic view of life.

I don’t hate him. But I deeply fear the amount of power he holds in his hands. I do not have faith in his intellect or wisdom — with either the planet or the people. And I feel immense compassion for a person who must be in such terrible inner turmoil to project such pain upon the entire world.

But mostly, I just desire a President who respects the advice and learned wisdom of all the other world leaders; who promotes peace instead of war; who has compassion instead of pointing fingers; and who understands that the “evil” we see outside of ourselves is only a projection of that which is already within us.

Question: So if you really intend to pay your debt back to humanity (instead of the US government) how do you plan to do it?

Please see that planning is beyond me. I’m leaving the planning and organizing to the hand of the Divine. And trusting that if I open myself up to the inspiration, it will come to me, on a daily basis. As it has. No more promises to tomorrow; Only today. And so long as I open my heart to compassion, inspiration and undefended love TODAY, then I am working in alignment with the Will of the Universe. And THAT is all I can hold myself to.

“He will cease from what is base and frivolous in his life, and be content with all places and with any service he can render. He will calmly front the morrow in the negligence of that trust which carries God with it, and so hath already the whole future in the bottom of his heart.

The conditions are hard but equal. Thou shalt leave the world, and know the muse only. Thou shalt not know any longer the times, customs, graces, politics or opinions of men, but shalt take all from the muse. For the time of towns is tolled from the world by funeral chimes, but in nature the universal hours are counted by succeeding tribes of animals and plants and by growth of joy on joy. The world is full of renunciations and apprenticeships, and this is thine; thou must pass for a fool, and a churl for a long season. And this is the reward; that the ideal shall be real to thee, and the impressions of the actual world shall fall like summer rain, copious, but not troublesome, to thy invulnerable essence.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

And thus, the “season of the fool” is graciously welcomed to my life :)

Comment: “To me you seem like a flustered butterfly, flying around the world in the constant search for a new metamorphosis…”

What I’ve learned is this; that what people see in me is only a reflection of what they (consciously or unconsciously) have seen in themselves. If they are afraid for/of me, it is because they fear their own power and potential. If they are angry with me, they have a like unresolved argument within themselves. If they find inspiration in me, it is only because they recognize a flame of the same fire that burns inside of them. If they see me as a sister, it is because they have recognized their own mirror inside, looked inside it, and seen us as One. If they give me unconditional love, it is because their love of self is also undefended. And if they see a butterfly — batting madly about in its excited search for ascension — then it would indicate to me that the observer has witnessed their self on the edge of that same leaf of metamorphosis.

In any case, I am absolutely delighted with the vision. For I once walked 700 miles following the frenzy and fancy of white butterflies, and a more beautiful creature of inspiration I could never fathom. But perhaps what is still misunderstood, is that I am not nearly so much interested in where I am going — as I am in the flight itself.

Other thoughts, Q’s, comments?

solbeam@gmail.com

(sol’s travel photos)&nbsp (about sol)&nbsp (some sol stories)&nbsp (LeapNow.org)&nbsp (travel disclaimer)&nbsp (packing list)

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A New Myth

Saturday, June 26th, 2004

“So what do you read?” he asks me as I deliver black coffee and sugar to the table.

The unsuspecting target is unaware that he is about to be ambushed by my Army of Authors.

I charge, “Reading? Well, let´s see….a few books by Osho, and works by Edgar Cayce, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Carl Jung, Ghandi, Canstenada, and Sri Ramana Maharshi as well as some inspiring material my mother just sent me by Joseph Campbell… wait, listen to this…”

I pull out the ratted email from my back pocket and begin to read…

“If you want to find your own mythology, the key is with what society do you associate? Today there are no boundaries. The only mythology that is valid today is the mythology of the planet, and we don’t have such a mythology. The closest thing I know to a planetary mythology is Buddhism, which sees all beings as Buddha being. The only problem is to come to the recognition of that. There is nothing to do. The task is only to know what is, and then to act in relation to the brotherhood of all of these beings.”

“The mythology of the planet,” I sigh.

“No. Fiction,” he says and yanks me down from lofty thoughts. “What fiction do you read?”

Fiction? I scratch my head and think about this question…

“I think my life has got enough fiction in it. I’m not sure what I’d do with any more romance, adventure, danger or mystery. I suppose that’s part of the reason I read non-fiction — to help ground me and to give my reckless story some theme and reason.”

—

And that is the question…

What IS the Theme and Reason of my Myth?

The question came up from a reader, “Do you actually expect a governmental agency to be flexible with your loans? Do you think society is going to let you be an exception?”

And my answer is: Absolutely not!

I chuckle with everyone at the idea of such a bureaucracy giving even a moment’s attention to an individual. That would be in opposition to its very nature. I will be delighted if I manage to tug a grin out of a single suit.

And a few people (including my parents) have suggested that I just “do the time” or make a few sacrifices “to pay” for the past, even if that means, temporarily “selling out.” But what I seem to have a difficult time explaining to people, is that I simply do not have this power within me. I am unable, as suggested, to “sacrifice” a single moment of living (out of integrity) for either yesterday or tomorrow. It’s not within my power. If I try, my soul actually aches. I feel physically sick with a sneaky and slow, but terminal disease. Not walking in alignment with the Truth in my heart splits me in half. And this straddled path is one I can not walk.

I broke a contract with Society. But Society also broke its contract with me. It told me that it would take care of me, that it would suffice all my needs and give me happiness, if I would only OBEY. It said, “consume, produce” and you will be happy. All the institutions told me that I could “get” happiness in the forms of money, heaven, marriage, material objects, beauty, prestige and/or security; That happiness was something “externally attainable” and earned by long-term investment. And THAT was the biggest lie I’ve ever been told.

And you know why I know now that it’s a lie? Because all lies need to be constantly defended. They need thick walls of support to hold them up because they have nothing else under them. And, my god, is society every trying to convince us of this one. Television, radios, billboards, magazines, newspapers, politicians, teachers, parents, priests, music lyrics, novels, movies, fashion models, celebrities, advertisements on every wall, screen and sign shouting; “BUY ME!”, “DON’T DO THAT!”, “LOOK LIKE THIS!”

*sigh*

But the sky is not falling. Poor Chicken Little. If only he’d stop shouting and look up for a minute.

Cause all it takes is a few minutes of silence looking up at the clouds or the stars for the quiet voice of Truth to awaken within. THAT voice does not need billboards or bikinis or block letters or smart rhymes to get its message across. THAT voice needs no support; It stands on its own. And THAT voice speaks only in a whisper – to those that are ready to listen. And that voice tells me that I can find both Peace and Joy in complete silence.

And from now on, in THIS life, this is the only voice that I abide.

For as you already know, I do not feel confined to one life. Perhaps in the next I will have a house and husband and children and will pay off my school loans in a timely manner. But with THIS life, I will seek a new myth. A story of a girl who surrenders everything to follow the voice of Inspiration within. Perhaps she will die in the making of this Myth. Perhaps she won`t. But either way, she WILL die trying.

I understand that I am challenging rules. I am questioning the system formally, because I think the system needs to be questioned. But I do it all only in the name of Wonder itself.

And just as I surrender to the voice of Truth within, I also surrender to whatever consequences may come from following the path that voice prescribes. I have broken a contract with Society. And Society is a dangerous player to confront. But I have done so with consciousness and in alignment with personal Truth. So if I am punished, or sent to jail, or laughed at, or beaten by Bush himself, then I accept that as part of my Myth. Truth is, I would die for this message. If the point of my puny life is simply to raise an eyebrow or two, then I am absolutely contented!

Because we are all living in a fog of world consciousness. And if even one person turns their head at me and wonders, “just what the hell does she think she’s doing?” — then my job is done, my message received.

For that is ALL I want.

For people to start looking around themselves…

At the condition of this Earth, and the condition of Humanity,

And not at the condition of their “living” — but at the condition of their Being,

To stop defending and start questioning,

To be quiet and start listening,

To look up at the stars with Wonder again,

And ask…

Just what the hell are we all doing?

(sol’s travel photos) (about sol) (some sol stories) (LeapNow.org) (travel disclaimer) (packing list)

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Mountain-Thoughts

Sunday, April 25th, 2004

< New Pictures in the India Album

Always thought myself to be an ocean girl…but my god…after spending only a few weeks in the Himalayas, my heart has expanded exponentially. And while meditating on a cliff I realized this; that what I love about the ocean, is that it fills me up, till I’m overflowing in its essence. But what I love about the mountains, is that they sweep me completely clean, so that I become almost a hollow vessel for life to just flow through…an invigorating breeze of the earth’s essence. (And it seems I desperately need this “grounding.”)And so now I am hopelessly in love with both! Does anyone know where in the world one can settle with these two lovers? Where the mountains spill into the sea?

So people are constantly asking me, “what’s your favorite country” – and if you have traveled extensively, you know that there is no answer to this question. One thing I recently learned about myself is that I judge most things in this life by how “useful” they are. Utility is everything (for me). This is why I have such disregard for the rules, laws, traditions and customs of life (particularly of “civilized” society)…take a wedding for example; cakes with figurines on top, flying garter belts, bridesmaids in matching dresses, uniformly uttered vows, expensive diamond rings…none of this stuff makes any sense to me. (At all.) So I (personally) don’t want anything to do with it. But the issue with this line of thinking is that I keep extending it…till now I’m at the point where my question is not just, “does it make sense and is it useful?” but, “will this activity advance my understanding of life or contribute to the advancement of humanity as a whole?” These are BIG questions though! A bit of a burden to carry with me. But I can’t seem to ignore or deny them and I would live in serious internal pain and conflict if I did.

As already stated, I came to some serious conclusions out there in those mystical mountains; I realized that my place is not in the United States. American society has a serious sickness, as all societies do…but because it is where I was raised, I seem more susceptible to the disease…whereas, when I am outside of the States, at least I can easily recognize, identify and avoid the symptoms . Neither is my place on a homestead. My place may not even include a family (by any conventional means anyway). (It seems that a lot of life learning is just realizing what and who you are NOT). Actually, I’m not really sure where my place is at all — but at the same time, I know that I am EXACTLY on the right path. Funny how confident I feel in the middle of such uncertainty!

So getting back to that question a few paragraphs ago…”what’s your favorite country”…well, based on the factor of “utility” I can now definitely say: India. For India has changed me. India has thrown everything upside down and pulled me inside out. Eastern philosophy and spirituality turned out to be my perfect bowl of porridge. I have suddenly found that all my ”silly” spiritual intuitions, instincts and hunches are all found *literally* written in *Sanskrit* stone here. And being surrounded by sadhus, swamis and others who have devoted their lives to understanding our place in the universe has somehow allowed my own inner swami to emerge from her cave. I realize now that although my travels will continue to take me down many roads, the spiritual journey is my primary path. (ala Ben Harper: “there are countless roads to travel, but only one road to freedom”) I understand now, and finally allow, that the question of the meaning of my life, our life, all life, will permeate my every waking and walking moment. And that’s just all there is to it. Almost sounds simple. And perhaps it is. Cause as a concept it sounds absolutely daunting. But one day at a time…one breath at a time – it’s natural, easy…and delightful. Of course this “pilgrim” phase of my life and the exploration process involved give me chills (and a few tears) of joy almost every day. And I treasure this movement, this constant change, this never-ending stream of stimuli. At the same time, the inner sadhu/swami/yogi inside of me craves a cave – a place where everything stands perfectly still, so that I can feel the movement and explore the darkness and paths within. These paths (inner, outer) and persons (pilgrim, cave-dwelling-swami) have to converge somewhere right? Perhaps they already are…

(sol’s travel photos)&nbsp(about sol)&nbsp(some sol stories)&nbsp(LeapNow.org)

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Q & A on teaching in english in Asia

Sunday, August 18th, 2002

A massive monsoon just hit Korea (see above) and due to this and the fact that the second session of camp was mysteriously curtailed to a roster of 25 children, I have the found the time to compose a few thoughts on my experience and research on teaching English in Asia. I think the best way to approach the issue is just to address a few of the questions that were boggling MY mind when I made the decision to come to Korea.

(And of course, a disclaimer is in order stating that the opinions, observations and information presented here are only that of my own and that each person¡¯s experience teaching English abroad is completely circumstantial and the following information should surely only be used as a guide!)

Q: Do I have the credentials to teach English?

A: Typically, to teach English in Asia you need:

1. A Bachelors or Associates degree (and diploma & transcripts to prove it)

2. English must be your first language (schools almost always requesting only American & Canadian applicants/accents)

3. A valid passport

4. Sometimes there are age limits and photo requirements

5. In almost all cases, consent to commit to a one-year contract is necessary.

Q: What is the level of teaching?

A: It completely depends on who your students are. Some people teach at university level, some teach businessmen, some do private tutoring and some teach at a grade school level. Often, first time teachers start out at the Kindergarten level, where less experience (and more energy) is necessary (and pay is lower). I, personally, taught 4th and 5th graders coming from more privileged educations. Their level of English was that of an American 1st grader. Our curriculum was mostly composed of basic conversation and themes (numbers, colors, animals, expressions) and very basic sentence structuring. The kids can learn the grammer from the own Korean teachers – it is YOU that is hired to really develop their oral, conversational, listening comprehension and pronunciation skills.

Q: What are the children like?

A; Now I don¡¯t really have any prior formal experience teaching kids (except that of the volunteer work I did in Guatemala, but that is an ENTIRELY different essay). But judging by the jaw-dropping I saw on the part of my fellow American-school-experienced teachers, I reckon that what I saw in my classroom should never be expected of any other classroom I may raise the chalk to. Our kids were obnoxiously courteous and respectful, abnormally eager to learn, and perfectly capable of sitting silently in small groups doing an activity without disturbance for two or more hours at a time. We had virtually no disciplinary problems. Please remember though, this is only my experience from a month camp, with Korean children, in the 12-13 year-old range. And any one of these facts could be a major contributing factor to the ease of the class.

Q: Do I have to create my own curriculum?

A: In almost all cases, NO. Any well-organized and accredited school will almost SURELY provide you with a complete and comprehensive curriculum with instructions on how and what to teach. Be sure to ask this question when interviewing. Raise an eyebrow to any school that assumes you will have this responsibility. BUT, understand that you WILL have to think creatively to adapt supplied curriculum to the needs of your students. And the ability to improvise on the spot and ¡°wing-it¡± are claimed by many experienced teachers to be ¡°essential¡± classroom teaching ¡°skills.¡±

Q: How much money can I make?

A: This depends primarily on what COUNTRY you choose to teach in. From my research it seems that Korea, Japan and Taiwan pay the highest salaries. Japan, however, is an outrageously expensive country, and a large portion of your income will inevitably be consumed by costs of living. Taiwan and Thailand have lower pay rates, but are more desirable destinations with less demand for teachers.

It would be relatively easy for me to find a fine teaching position here in Korea right now (had I not other adventures awaiting). The camp I am currently working at offered 2.5 million Won (over $2,000 US dollars) a month, including paying for all my expenses (food and lodging). That¡¯s a lot of money — especially for less than 20 teaching hours a week. But I¡¯d be living with only three other English teachers in a secluded camp that¡¯s quite far from the city and most of civilization. If I chose to take a position in Seoul however, even though I might have to pay for rent and food, I estimate that in one year I would be depositing no less than $15,000 US into my savings account (which in my book, equates to roughly two years of carefree world traveling). But it snows in Korea. A lot. For me, that¡¯s a tradeoff I¡¯m not really willing to make. As you can see, the number of factors involved in these personal decisions are infinite and must be in accordance to personal tastes.

Also, in regards to costs, almost all schools involve some kind of bonus/payment system based on a one-year contract. Many will refund you the cost of your airline ticket AFTER you have completed your one-year contract. Often times a ¡°completion bonus¡± will also be offered at the end of your term. The objective of this system is to provide incentives that reward fulfilling the year contract (and heavily discourage anyone from leaving early). I HIGHLY recommend asking for a reference (preferably an English teacher currently working there) from any school that you consider working for in order to confirm the validity of the contract and those that have proposed it.

Higher salary brackets apply to those who have completed higher education beyond a Bachelor¡¯s degree, those with ESL training/teaching certification, and those who have formal teaching experience in general.

Q: What¡¯s Asia like?

A: What are the Americas like? This question is clearly too complicated to answer in a paragraph. Do your research. Read up on those countries that interest you online or in travel guides/books. Check out the message board postings on LonelyPlanet.com (the ¡°Thorn Tree¡±) or Dave¡¯s ESLcafe.com to read about personal experiences or get in contact with people who have actually been-and-done-that-English-teaching-thing in the country of your consideration.

Q: How much time do I work?

A: This varies by country and school. Expect to work anywhere between 15 – 40 hours. I¡¯m told by experienced ESL teachers to never accept a position that requires of you more than 20 teaching hours a week.

Q: Can I travel while I¡¯m there?

A: Most contracts seem to allow a minimum of 10 days of vacation. It is rumored that many of these MUST be taken during the Chinese New Year (in February). Some school offer many more weeks of vacation, but in general, I *personally* would NOT expect to be able to have much time to travel outside of the country (and that is what the savings account is for, eh?).

Q: Will I feel alienated or isolated living in such a foreign culture?

A: I can only speak of my immediate experiences in S. Korea. The Korean people are the most kind, courteous, hospitable, honest and genuinely caring people I have ever encountered in all my travels. Only here can you actually leave your backpack in the train station, walk 20 feet away into a store to buy a drink, and have complete and total confidence that it will still be there when you return. Only here, will a busy bus driver pull over to give you walking directions. Only here, will a bank teller walk you seven blocks to the terminal, buy your ticket, and make sure you get on the right bus. Only here will the taxi driver INSIST that you keep the change and reject any offer of tip. Only here, can you walk through dark, back alleyways and never ONCE glance over your shoulder or question your safety. Only here, will you be stopped in the street just to be welcomed into the country. No fear of violence. No fear of scandal. Just respect and peace. It sounds absurd, I know. I don¡¯t understand it. But perhaps more importantly is that now that I see it, I turn around — and it¡¯s the REST of the world that seems absurd. The Koreans are obsessed with taking care of guests to their country. And better hosts, I¡¯m sure, don¡¯t exist. But the language barrier is obviously extreme and Koreans seem *suspiciously but rightfully* hesitant about letting ALL their guards down to foreigners. So while you may be treated as nothing less than royalty, expect to put some serious time in if you are seeking an in-depth and ¡°real¡± understanding of the culture and people.

Q: Will there be other Westerners there?

A: Very likely. Not only will you probably quickly find and befriend other English teachers, but often times, if the school provides free accommodation, you will also be sharing an apartment with these same people. There are thousands of foreign English teachers throughout Asia. In major cities, it is not rare at all to step through double doors downtown and feel like you¡¯ve just been transported into a busy bar in California or New York (which can be either welcoming OR overwhelming).

Q: Would I be able to live an entire year there?

A: For you? I don¡¯t know. That is for you to decide. It depends of countless variables that I could never forecast. For me? Yes. From my experience here in Korea, I have determined that I could certainly teach English in Taiwan or Thailand for a year. It was a reassuring and happy decision to add this option to my ever-growing ¡°Opportunities Abroad¡± list.

Q: Where do I find a job?

A: There are an unlimited amount of teaching positions posted online. TeachAboad.com and Dave¡¯s ESLcafe.com are popular and powerful resources. You can also go through a placement agency (for a fee) if you¡¯re uncomfortable with making the arrangements yourself, prefer a little bit of hand-holding or want assurance of contract. If you¡¯re comfortable with your travel, bargaining and teaching skills, the best way to assure the highest salary and best contract is to just GO to the country and do all the research and interviewing yourself (skipping the middleman and his ¡°finder¡¯s fee¡±). The high season for recruiting is in the summer months and schools often times like to ¡°train¡± teachers in the summer so that they have some kind of experience before the school year technically begins.

Q: What happens if I hate it?

A: You can leave. You forfeit your right to all your future wages, bonuses and compensation for flight tickets – but you CAN leave. (Although, no one will tell you this.) But it really shouldn¡¯t be considered an option. The decision to sign a year contract should be thought out thoroughly. Make sure your motives are correct. If you don¡¯t like children or teaching or are just looking for a way to ¡°get out¡± or make a lot of money, this is not a good option. This is a serious commitment and responsibility – not just to yourself and your school, but also to your potential students.

Q: What¡¯s the difference between working at a camp and at a school?

A: A GREAT way (as I have discovered) to figure out if teaching English in Asia is an option suited to you, is to work at an English immersion camp first. This is a short-term commitment that will usually pay for your flight tickets upfront (in exchange for less actual monetary compensation). During the session, you will quickly realize if you have the energy, skills and desire to make a more serious commitment to teaching English. Additionally, you will have the time and opportunity to make fantastic contacts in the business to assure yourself an ideal contract, working conditions and salary. The camp that I worked at is brand new and will be offering both summer and winter sessions for years to come. I will provide contact information for interested applicants for the Winter camp session once it becomes available.

Q: Do I really have what it takes to do this?

A: Do NOT reject this opportunity because you feel insecure about your knowledge of the English language, don¡¯t know how to write a curriculum or don¡¯t have any experience standing in front of a class with a piece of chalk.

It¡¯s more important to ask yourself these questions; Do you really enjoy kids? Do you have a lot of energy? Are you eager to learn? Are you eager to teach? Are you comfortable with taking on the responsibility and commitment? Are you open-minded? Can you assess a situation (or class) and think up creative ways of moving forward? Can you improvise when step-by-step instructions are not provided? Are you comfortable adapting to new environments? Are you a person of good disposition in general?

Make sure you analyze both your motives and personal goals of taking on such a responsibility. If you can find integrity and quality in your motives and can answer yes to the questions above, you will probably, as I have, find teaching English in Asia an extremely valuable and exciting opportunity to travel the world, learn about another culture, challenge yourself, meet new life-long friends and buff up your savings account all at the same time.

Hope that answers some of your questions. If you have more, feel free to send them to me and I¡¯ll address them here. Cheers! sol

Posted in books & travel recommends, q & a, south korea, travel tips | No Comments »

the age old chicken question

Saturday, October 27th, 2001

The Age Old Chicken Question

As of today, I have been gone for exactly seven months. This date is special for me because 1.) it´s the first day in seven months that I used a telephone, and 2.) it´s the first day in my life that my health and life are completely uninsured (my travelers insurance lapsed today!). Thus, reason number one was in last-minute-and-ditch-attempt to rescue reason number two. Claro? But it didn´t work. Those silly insurance agencies insist on having “working hours” which apparently don´t coordinate with my everyday-is-Saturday schedule *scoffs*. So we will go uninsured for the weekend, a risk that holds a rather lofty position on the danger-and-death barometer of life given my most recent adventures with chicken busses and Bruces (see update entitled “Where´s My Double?).

Actually, in the last week I got two questions from readers regarding the “chicken busses”… which I will re-address now. (Since I can´t be bothered to to rummage through the archive dump, I shouldn´t expect you to).

Reader Question 1: What is a chicken bus?

Chicken Bus: As defined by the completely unofficial and unrelated to Solgersauras:

A “chicken bus” is essentially an old-American-Yellow-BlueBird-School-Bus converted into a Rainbow-Repainted-God-Proclaiming-Dice-Swaying-Mean-Machine mode of Central American transportation. To get from point A, to any point E, L, S or E in Central America, a traveler WILL, inevitably, adventure in one of these buses, (which is a sweet skip down grade-school-memory-lane when you see “MC Hammer Rules” or “Johhny and Susie 4 Ever, San Jose, California – 1984″ carved on the back of the seat in front of you). The “chicken” part? Now I WAS about to launch into the basic common traveler-route-rumor about the orgin which claims roots in the idea that when riding in one of the these busses, there is a 90% chance that you will have a chicken or a few children on your lap for the duration of the trip. (Think “Opening Scene” of the original Indian Jones Movie.) OR that they pack in passengers like they would a truck full of chickens (7 persons per 4 seat row). BUT, that was before I dropped the word “chicken” into www.dictionary.com and got the following: (and this IS official…yet still unrelated to dinosaurs)

“Any of various foolhardy competitions in which the participants persist in a dangerous course of action until one loses nerve and stops.”

Again, please refer to last weeks entry entitled, “Where´s my Double?”. Judge for yourself if it qualifies for the above definition.

Leading me to the SECOND reader question:

Reader Question 2: I saw a picture of an overturned chicken bus in Guatemala in the news. Was that related to terrorists attacks?

I, too, saw a picture of an overturned chicken bus on the front page of the paper today. And there was a picture of one that went over a cliff in yesterday´s paper. And I saw a picture of a chicken bus in a river the day before. And tomorrow, there is a 99% chance that, in the paper, there will be a picture of another chicken bus in some other precarious, life-threatening, doom-inspiring and goose-bumping scenario. Fact of Guatemalan life: At least one chicken bus per day will LOSE in their chicken game of “various foolhardy competition in which the participant persists in a dangerous course of action until one loses nerve and stops.” And the next day, the outcome will be recorded in bloody detail (because unlike the US, Central American press has NO shame in printing photographs of decapitated, dismembered or otherwise destroyed human bodies in full color) and *oh so ironically* distributed ON the busses, during morning commute, to passengers.

*contemplates for a minute and makes note to self*

FIRST thing Monday morning: Renew travel insurance.

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true or false

Monday, January 22nd, 2001

True/False Quiz Answers

1. T or F?  I’ve been invited to be on the Jenny Jones show.
TRUE: No…not your “My Sister Screwed Ya, So Now I Wanna Lose Ya” type of episode. Something much tamer…”Long Lost Reunions” or something. The producer who tried to persuade me to go swore up and down that it was totally legit and that there wouldn’t be ANY surprises…..”uh….no thank you”.

2. T or F?  I was pulled over three times on the day I got my driver’s license.
TRUE: I got the minimal passing score and was pulled over for speeding, having my brights on, and reckless driving….and that isn’t even half the story…but I’ll save it for a future blog. :)

3. T or F?  My parents hired a nun to baby-sit me till I was 18.
TRUE: Sister Maryln was her name…and it just made sneaking out of the house that much more exciting.

4. T or F? I pulled a 4.0 in high school.
FALSE: I graduated with a 3.9

5. T or F?  The police in my hometown have a nickname for me.
TRUE: My license plate started with “QYY” and when my parents called the police *?!* one night when I wasn’t to be found at my girlfriend’s house, they reported, “ahh yes…we pulled over “Queen Yo-Yo” at 11:45 tonight for being out past curfew and issued a warning.” I was grounded for months and there isn’t a Thanksgiving that goes by without that fun little story being retold.

6. T or F? I had a pet rat.
TRUE: I did have a pet rat. I don’t remember it’s name…but I do remember it ate its own tail one day and *mysteriously* escaped from its cage the next. (Yeah mom…I’m on to you.)

7. T or F?  I dated one guy for four years.
TRUE: Well, everybody got this one right. And yes…it has a lot to do the current “EU” status.

8. T or F? I’ve seen Dennis Rodman’s penis in real life.
TRUE: HA! You ALL got this one wrong! Dennis is a exhibitionist on and off the camera. I partied at his beach house last year and he got up and did a little naked jiggy. The rumors aren’t true.

9. T or F? I was in a commercial where I dated a porcupine.
TRUE: Click here to check it out. *a moment of silence for Pricky everyone?*

10. T or F?  I was the principal’s daughter.
TRUE: It’s not as bad as it sounds.

11. T or F?  I’ve skydived three times.
TRUE: AND I’m planning on taking my first completely solo dive in the next week or two. Check back to read my pre-dive “freak-out” blog.

12. T or F?  I was born in Alaska.
TRUE: And I lived in an Igloo…and had a pet penguin…and fished for dinner out of holes in the ice…and…okay, now I’m lying.

13. T or F?  I was in a gang in high school.
False: Although a few friends and I fancied being in a gang and may have gone so far as to name ourselves and come up with a secret hand signal and needle in some home-made tattoos into our ankles with Indian ink …we really were a pretty harmless bunch and hardly deserving of the title “gang”…more like “lame”. :) *but who wasn’t in high school?*

14. T or F? I have less than 30,000 miles on my 6 yr. old car.
TRUE: I hate driving…more than anything…and have the miles to prove it.

15. T or F? My *real* middle name is “Jellybean”.
FALSE: Now who would really name their child “Jellybean”? ;)

16. T or F?  I got kicked off the JV Tennis team.
TRUE: Actually I wasn’t “kicked off”. In fact, I won every one of my matches. I was however, not allowed to return the next year due to my lack of dedication. I skipped practices regularly. Coach didn’t dig it. (But I NEVER missed a dance team practice…so I get some props.)

And CONGRATULATIONS to “theclerk”, the only person who had faith that I had seen Rodman’s more private parts.

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