great expectations

This is actually not a review of the book by Charles Dickens, so if that's what you're looking for, I will now refer you to SparkNotes.

What I'm talking about is the expectations we have when it comes to big changes in our lives. After watching the "corto" or short movie El Mar in our Spanish class yesterday, it got me thinking about what we expect things to be like, and what reality actually brings.

In El Mar, a little boy wants to celebrate his birthday by going to the ocean. As he waits with his mother in the bus station, the camera pans to pictures little Nacho has drawn depicting what he imagines the ocean to be like. The pictures are full of vibrant color, the ocean is full of octopi and brilliant fish. In one picture, he even imagines the sea to be a bright yellow. He tells his mother that in school, they said that the earth is 70% water, just as a human being is comprised of 70% water. He believes we each have an ocean inside of us.

After waiting for hours in the bus station, a long journey to the coast, and a bus breakdown, Nacho and mother finally arrive at the ocean. By this time, it is dark outside, and the sea appears drab, gray, and lifeless to poor Nacho. The sea did not live up to the grandiose image he had in his mind's eye.

But isn't that life? Won't life be better when we have finally switched jobs? When we have finally purchased that one item? When we have moved to the perfect city? When we finally get to take that trip? And then we discover, life just keeps being life. One day at a time. Good and bad, up and down. We get sick of things, or they don't live up to our expectations to begin with. ¡Que decepción! What a disappointment!

I am a daydreamer. There's no denying it. I am constantly looking up flights to exotic destinations. I am constantly scheming about how I can take my next trip. I imagine a romantical city with cute street side cafes, quaint houses, parks teeming with culture and picnics and life, art museums, vibrant markets, and sidewalk vendors with charming personalities. The history! The people! The culture!

This was the case on my second trip to Ecuador. The first trip had been magical, with one adventure after another. The jungle, the beach, horseback riding in the mountains, ziplining, volcanoes, and breathtaking scenery. 5 weeks. Still new and exciting.

Then I spent 4 months in the very same place, and it took on a new personality. One of routine and everyday life. I passed the same shops and people everyday on the way to school. I frequented (mostly) the same restaurants and bars. Sure, adventure was interspersed sporadically into our lives, especially on the weekends, but we were there to attend school. And guess what? School in Quito becomes a mundane activity, just like it does in America.

Did that stop me from daydreaming? I should say not. I still imagine romantic Paris, historic Italy, and quaint Germany. I still hope to become familiar with those places I can only dream of right now. For me, I guess, the lesson is to not let life be a series of disappointments. Find routines you love. Savor your daydreams while you have them. And when you fulfill your dreams, don't let your expectations get in the way of enjoying the reality. Sometimes, reality exceeds even the greatest of expectations.

Have you ever been disappointed by something you had dreamed about?

Pura Vida, and keep dreaming, dreamers!

alone

I love being alone. I love having time by myself to read, write, wander around and take photographs, or even just watch a movie. I feel my social battery recharging whenever I can steal a little time all for myself. It makes me a better conversationalist when I do have to go and socialize with the masses.

Traveling alone is a completely different story. As a chaperon for a high school trip to Costa Rica, I feel like I really am by myself, even though I am surrounded by students most of the time. I am at a host family by myself. That means no one to pick up the slack if I can't think of anymore small talk. That means no one to vent to about the 2 year-old child at my host family's house who keeps biting me (literally leaving teeth marks). It means being a little bit nervous to walk out anywhere by myself, and that I have to go out of my comfort zone to make new friends if I want to go out at night. And most of all, it makes me dependent upon my own Spanish speaking and comprehension skills.

When the tour guides give instructions that are crucial to our safety and well being, or when the school gives a time and place to meet, it is up to me to relay this information to my students successfully. A situation like this could either make someone shut down completely, or it could be an opportunity to grow as a person and as a Spanish speaker.

Since I am in the land of Pura Vida, it is difficult not  to be optimistic about everything. The people are incredibly kind and accommodating, the weather is hot, hot hot, then scenery is humbling, and the culture is one of contentment. How could I not smile, throw my shoulders back, and give it my best shot?

I am by no means a native speaker. I make tons of mistakes. I still get frustrated when I can't convey a particular thought, or when I forget a vocabulary word that I already know.

But I can have a profound conversation with a native speaker. I can finally understand Spanish in a loud bar (not an easy feat...try understanding a second language shouted over speakers pumping out deafening beats). I can make jokes in Spanish. I can easily circumlocute when I don't know the word I'm looking for. Most of all, I feel confident when I speak, and not many things slip past me when I am listening to a native speaker. No longer do I just smile and nod as I pick up one word here or there. I am working my way up the ACTFL inverted pyramid!

I give serious props to those people who travel completely by themselves, especially females. It requires courage, self confidence, and a positive outlook on life.

I hope to try traveling completely on my own at some point in my life. It would be a great opportunity for personal growth.

What are your tips for traveling alone? Would you ever try it?

Pura vida! And keep dreaming, dreamers.

decisions

Life is a series of decisions. You decide what to eat for breakfast. You decide how you're going to behave toward the people closest to you in your life. You decide to stay in a current job or to get a new one. You decide, and you live with the consequences. That is the beauty of our God. He gives us free will to make our life what we want it to be.

When it comes to travel, decision making plays a huge role. Do I have the money to take this trip? If so, is there a better way I could be using this money? Where should I stay? What kinds of activities should I do? How long will the trip last? Should I deliberately miss my flight and stay here forever?

Naturally, one of the largest factors in the decision making process is money, or lack thereof. Those of us who are blessed enough to have the opportunity to travel know that it is not cheap. So making the decision to go on a trip of any kind is a big commitment. So why do it? I could be putting that money toward student loans. Savings. A new wardrobe for work.

If you have read past posts, you know I am an advocate of Dave Ramsey. My husband and I are working to become debt free, and plan to create an emergency fund after that. Dave Ramsey, however, advises his readers not to spend any extra money until they are debt free. Great advice. And we follow it. Usually.

For example, when the opportunity arose to go to Las Vegas with my best friend before her wedding, I didn't even hesitate. Granted, I knew I could get my plane ticket for free (thanks, credit card rewards points!), the hotel was cheap, and I did a lot of extra substitute teaching at the end of the year. Do I want to have a comfy retirement fund when I'm old and gray (if, God willing, I make it to be that old)? Of course. But I don't think I'm willing to sacrifice unforgettable experiences with those I love to get there. I want to have wonderful memories and pictures to look back on when I'm older, not just a stack of money.

I'm normally one to make rational, beneficial decisions. I believe in "everything in moderation," living a healthy lifestyle, and being cheap frugal. But I guess if my parents taught me to be smart with my money, they also taught me to experience and enjoy life, to follow my dreams, and to see the world. As long as it doesn't put me further into debt. 

Plus if I had turned down Vegas, I would have missed out on all this:

Happy hour!

Happy Hour at the Stratosphere - dos por uno!

Delicious martinis and the best view of Vegas!

 Incredible food.

This roasted tomato fondue changed my life.

These nachos had vegetables on them, so they were healthy. It's science.

Walking the entire Vegas strip in one day(and I mean the whole 4 miles), because our bus passes expired, and who wants to pay for a taxi when you can walk?

Right around the time we realized walking 4 miles in 100 degree heat was a bad idea.

M&M store. A candy lover's dream.

I'm taking him home with me :)

This is real. My mecca.

Hoping to catch a showing of "Bite." A risque show about vampires. We never did get around to it...

Get bitten.

And don't forget...Vegas night life! I accomplished one goal from my life list: #54 - take a shot in Vegas. 

Done and done.

And don't forget! I gambled $2! I'm a high roller!

We only played this one because the lever we got to pull on the side was huge!

Vegas 2011. You rocked my socks off.

Do you ever make exceptions to your budget? What do you find to be the pleasures in life worth splurging on?

Keep dreaming, dreamers!

spring cleaning

Ahhhhhhh. Long weekends. A cornucopia of possibilities. Barbecues, movies, long walks, and spring cleaning with the husband.

OK...maybe spring cleaning doesn't sound that exciting. In fact, if I were still living with my parents, I would be rolling my eyes at the very mention of it. For some reason, though, once you have your own place, spring cleaning doesn't seem so bad! It's revitalizing...rejuvenating...a chance for a fresh start. On the docket for Spring Cleaning '11:

1. Cleaning out and rearranging closets. I used to work in retail, and something about folding clothes so the edges line up just so makes my heart flutter. Arranging them in rainbow color order. Ironing the hanging shirts. Lining up my shoes all nicey-nice. And the part I'm most excited about...getting rid of half my wardrobe! Let's face it...when you're teaching high school students, but you still have tank tops and dress pants from high school, it's high time for a change. (Sisters...if you want to see any clothes before I sell or give them away, let me know. I wouldn't recommend it, though...not cute.)
2. Scrubbing down every nook and cranny of the house. I'll spare you the sordid details.
3. Deep cleaning the laundry room in the basement, and setting it up for the newest addition to our family. No, I'm not preggers...who puts their baby in the basement? Justin and I are getting a yellow Labrador puppy in just  2 weeks! We'll be setting up the kennel, raiding the dollar store and PetsMart for a plenitude of toys, and picking out a cute little leash and collar set for him. Now we just need to pick out a name. Take a look at the cutest lil' bugger you've ever seen:

 After this weekend one more week of teaching before SUMMER BREAK. Ahhh teaching is the best job ever. 

Here are some posts from other bloggers I enjoyed this week:

1. Frugal Dad's take on paying for children's college education. I struggle with this same issue.
2. Ciao Bella's portrait of Jennifer Lopez's hair and makeup. I. Want. That. Hair.
3. My sister Molly's Fitness Week. It inspired me to eat healthy, think positively, and hit the gym hard this week. 
4. Elle's Would You Rather post. I love day dreaming about where I will travel next.
5. Sammy's moving adventures. I can definitely relate, transitioning from carefree college student to "responsible" grown up.

Have a great long weekend. Relax. Celebrate. Refresh.

Keep Dreaming, Dreamers!

the memory making business

I snapped the white gloves on my wrist and stared my food in the eye. The cuy, or guinea pig stretched across my plate, taunting me with his taut skin and almost life-like facial features. I lost the staring contest with the guinea pig, and instead caught the eye of my best friend. We shared a knowing smirk. Another country, another cultural experience, another new food. In Russia it was the kvas, complete with floaty things, and in Mexico it was the cactus. In Ecuador, it was the traditional Andean entree - cuy.

I reached for my digital point and shoot camera, knowing that this was a moment to remember. The time I ate guinea pig in Quito, Ecuador.

Picture I stole from someone on Facebook because I don't have any pics from the day we ate cuy

So I turned on my camera, aimed that bad boy at my friends across the table posing with their gloves, and snapped the shot. I hit the playback button to make sure no one had a double chin, only to find <<bum bum bum>> the error message. All of my pictures from the entire trip had been deleted. On week 4 out of 6. I didn't accidentally hit delete. I didn't drop the camera. The pictures simply took a permanent vacation to the Lost Picture Island.

People. This was devastating. I had pictures of cultural land marks. Pictures from going to the equator. Pictures from the jungle. When am I ever going back to the jungle?!?!

I know some people don't even take their cameras on huge, unforgettable trips. They don't want to be "stuck behind a lens." I admire those people for being content with their mental snapshots. Their given-to-error and rose-colored glasses memory. These people just want to live in the moment without having to worry about taking care of of expensive technology.

I am definitely NOT one of those people. I want the tangible memories. I am that person that sits in front of my laptop for hours scrolling through my iPhoto laughing, crying, sighing, and longing to be back in some other country. (I think I got this from my mom. She has shoebox upon shoebox, album upon album of memories. The decor in my parents' home is pictures).

How could this happen? How could technology fail me so?

In my photography class tonight, the instructor walked me and 4 old/middle aged men through the basics of digital photography. One thing I learned is that when it comes to memory cards, quality matters. It's NOT WORTH IT to pinch pennies and save money on the cheap one. In addition, apparently you're supposed to "format" your card on your camera every time after you upload your pictures onto your computer. You can find this function on your camera under menu. Who knew? If you don't do this, and if you always upload your pictures by connecting your camera to the computer using the cable it comes with, you end up with corrupt files (or something...details aren't my thing). Another way to ensure your memories are safe: use several memory cards, and rotate them throughout the trip. That way if one is ruined/lost/stolen, at least you have some pictures!

Lesson learned. When you pay that much money for a piece of technology, learn how to use it and take care of it. Otherwise, you risk losing all those tangible memories. And when you're in the memory making business, as I am, such a loss is hard to recover from.

I ended up enjoying the last 2 weeks I had in Ecuador. I'll admit, it was nice to have free hands, and not worry about constantly taking out my camera. But even to this day, I have nothing to show for my trip when I want to make a presentation for my students, or scrapbook, or something. The good news is, I ended up returning to Ecuador, and was able to recreate some of the shots I lost next to landmarks, and the equator. Unfortunately, I lost all those captured moments, the laughs shared with friends, and the people I shared the trip with.

The equator - round 2

Well, now I know. I am now looking forward to creating new memories on my next trip.

Keep dreaming, dreamers!

Have you ever had technology malfunction at the worst possible moment?

Do you take pictures, or are you more the "live in the moment" type?