The original entry has been a draft for the last 2,000 miles and was supposed to be finalized then published today. I had decided that it would be my final entry because life has been more beautiful than ever and that I wanted to simply live it to the fullest without putting it into words.

However, that entry will remain a draft and this is the new end to my blog... not because I want it to be, but because our trip has come to an end and pretty much has to be.

Long story short: our taxi driver snuck away in reverse and drove off with everything we had. Everything; from the boxers I wore every other 4 days to the hundreds of pictures I am still trying to let go of. As well as everything that Seth had too.

Its funny because our trip was supposed to end here in Lima, Peru after making a loop and returning in January -- it still ends here, just a bit sooner. Its a sudden end that I wish was not here just yet, but an end I have come to accept. 

Its ok, because money has been wired to us and we know that when we get home we will have food on our plates and a roof over our heads while being surrounded by the people we love. We know that the majority of our stuff is just stuff, things that can be replaced, and that they really have no significant meaning when looking at the bigger picture. More importantly, we know that he did not rob us or anything that makes us who we are.

I hope he learns how to take two photos at the same time with both of my cameras and to upload them on the laptop, I hope he enjoys the music in my iTouch and his new Blackberry, I hope he feeds his family with the money he now has and enjoys all the stuff I once did, I hope he gives much meaning and care to the gifts I received and I truly hope my shoes fit him.

Thank you to the family at the US Embassy for their kind charity and to Antoinette Carrillo for being the angel she was, the things she did, and for reminding us that love still exist.

I am flying back to D.C. tomorrow with a police report, my temporary passport, an old bus ticket, the clothes I had on, and a note that says "it isnt much, but I hope this helps a little."

I am also leaving with memories, a refreshed soul, a stronger mind, and good feelings because I know I will be back soon.

See you guys Monday :)

Ecuador

Genny told us to ask for "el gringo alto" (meaning the tall white person) once we got to the blue church, we did, sure enough the locals knowingly pointed straight to their gate at the end of the road. The (very) tall German man, Ingo, welcomed us with opened arms, literally, and at that moment I knew things were going to be great. 

The days spent were with the family of 5, 3 exchange students (Belgium, Iceland, and Japan), 2 WWOOF volunteers, and later their own guest from Spain. And it wasn't just us, we also went out and bought a new cow (now named Ryo), which later joined the family of over 60 other animals (llamas, goats, pigs, dogs, cats, chickens, roosters, rabbits, turkeys, geese, ducks, and sheep) on the farm. 

Never had I thought life of over 80 living things sharing one great space would ever be so peaceful. Everyday was a good day because it was either the market for fresh vegetables, cooking large meals together, helping out around the farm, relaxing and conversing, or all 12 of us going for some ice cream. 


To live in the country like this, I'd say yes quick. 

can you say "fresh"

The Family (2 MIA)

2 weeks old

he's much more human than you'd think

We crossed our first border to Ecuador exactly one month later and headed straight to Genny's home (40 minutes outside of Quito) for several days, then decided to kick it in the city for a bit. Enjoying the warm and breezy weather while hanging with other travelers was all too good, especially when cooking or dining out was only a buck or two. 

Northern Quito

Centro Historico (Old Town)

A German guy back at the hostel said he had been traveling for 5 weeks in Ecuador, it was awesome, but he's ready to be home. At that point it had also been 5 weeks for us -- just that here it's only the beginning.

Where we are headed will be filled with long mountain bike rides, hiking, volcano thermal springs, rafting, and all the good stuff, as we explore a part of the Amazon... then the beach sounds good.

the sweetness of Colombia

The love for the people in Bogota stayed with us as we rode an overnight bus to the jewel of Colombia; Medellin. Sandra is from Medellin and throughout our stay in Bogota she never passed a chance to share how much Medellin is better than Bogota. The food, weather, people, culture, nightlife, and everything you want in between. Medellin was the place to be -- sure enough, it nearly was. 

The second largest city but most progressive, its built in a bowl, a modernized city surrounded by beautiful mountains and clear skies. The energy is high and a piece of everything can be found. We were there during the best time of the year because the week was the Feria de las Flores.

A cozy house with Isabel, her daughter, sister, nephew, mother, a little cute pug, and a cat that had me sneezing, was our home for a week. Isabel is one of few deaf professions in Medellin and teaches at one of the four deaf schools. Her unit is part of a mainstream school where she has 30 students from the first to fifth grade (she also convinced the school board to require hearing students to take one year of LSC after their 3 years of Spanish). When you're traveling and looking for deaf locals to exchange with along the way, Isabel is one of the people you hope for. Her humor, openness, intelligence, support, and guidance made Medellin a place I would have to return to.  

The road lead us to Tolu, a small town 8 hours North on the N.W. coast, where the waves continuously hit the shore as the town flourished with the daily routine. It was paradise. Not the clear-blue-water beach type but the type that was heaven because all there was to do was sleep, eat, drink, swim, and chill. Places like this remind me why I love traveling so much: it keeps me in the present, I live each individual moment deeply and I do not dwell on the past nor worry about the future -- exactly what I came for. 

Once the weekend hit we headed to the photogenic city of Cartagena. Luis, who we met in Bogota and saw again in Medellin, flew up and stayed with us for the following week. We arrived late and rushed to drop off our bags at our place then dashed to the old town. After strolling around for a bit we decided to buy a carton of rum and sit on the great walls as the historical setting glowed with warm colors and Black Eyed Peas played for the nearby wedding. 

We were in Cartagena for barely 24 hours and soaked in pouring rain toward the end. I didn't have much time to see the city during the day, missed the opportunity to go all out with my camera, but was able to laugh in the storm and jump into puddles before changing clothes and leaving to Tagana.

Tagana was like Tolu just East of the coast. Although the population was an extra digit and the amount of tourist increased, it was still the place I wanted to be. So sweet we ended up staying almost a week. Swimming, working out, chilling, cooking, partying with the locals, quality beer, cheap food, and sleeping in hammocks outside for the night was all I needed and more. We had spent enough money on good times with everyone already so this was where we grounded ourselves and enjoyed simplicity. 

The deaf people in Colombia are to thank for the majority of our experience. We have spent our time with the leaders of the community, the ones who spend Friday night at a club talking about linguistics and development. It was inspiring to see that they too have passion for the language, culture, and are driven to enhance the future of their children. By living with them throughly each day, seeing the things they showed, learning what they taught, and being introduced to everything has provided that understanding and experience of the Colombian culture -- like I said, they made it real -- and that is what I will remember most about this beautiful place as I leave. 

I've read so much on the Internet on how dangerous Colombia is; how dozens have been robbed, kidnapped, and/or murdered.  No where did anything mention that Colombia is also a place where couples never hesitate to share their love for each other at anytime, anywhere, and children everywhere stay out late to play soccer.

We're currently back in Bogota at Geovani's home along with his mom. Times like this can be confusing for a second. You know when you leave one place for a very long time then return and wonder what just happened. Its like an hour ago that I was sitting on the beach in Tolu and now I am already back in the city. I like how I know I am 3 weeks wiser and more experienced, but I'll sure miss swimming all day and taking breaks to drown a bottle of brew. 

Several people I've talked with before my trip have told me how much they've enjoyed South America and how Colombia is one of their favorites. I've always smiled with admiration and curiosity, but now know why, I've seen the beauty and felt the love. I can't say its my favorite yet because its only my first, what more is that we're not even done with Colombia yet. The final week will be spent in Bogota, Cali, and Pasto before we head down to Quito, Ecuador.

Just got in town so I think I'll take a nap then go out for a run... here is what my iTouch was able to do:

Medellin

 Sandra

its believed that this comet hit the earth and created the land below

 view from the top

friends from Medellin

 Isabel's class

 the old town of Medellin

 Isabel

 Feria de las Flores

all of the above were handmade 

the calm life of Tolu

Avena -- a VERY tasty drink!

Cartagena

on the walls in Old Town

 sunset in Tagana

 children playing soccer

Tagana

...and so it begins

The morning came as fast as I knew it would. We departed DCA to Orlando (not Miami, my bad) where we were able to catch Sinbad during our layover. He is aging and apparently sweats a lot because he carries his own personal hand towel, but he's as energetic as ever and I'm pretty confident he just as hilarious. 

After one of those bumpy rides where all you can do is hold on, we finally arrived to Bogota.

And so it began...

Seth's dad's network reaches all the way out here to Colombia so we were able to connect with deaf people; which led us to Sandra (a deaf, rebellious, beautiful, outgoing, fun, 26-year-old), who picked us up and showed us the way

During our time in Bogota, we visited the:

Instituto Nacional Para Sordos (National Institution for the Deaf) - an institute funded by the Government that focuses on Colombian Sign Language (LSC) development, linguistic analysis, publications, and training. In the early years, the institute also taught deaf children but is now a center for research and resources. 

Federacion Nacional de Sordos de Colombia (FENASCOL) (Colombia National Federation of the Deaf) - an association similar to NAD that focuses on deaf education, equal rights/access, advocacy, and working with parents of deaf children. 

Centro de Relevo (Relay Center) - a video relay service center with an average of 5 interpreters that make an average of 300 calls per day. It's the only VRS center in Colombia but I was surprised and relieved to know that they have one. 

Instituto Sordos de Sabiduria (Sabiduria Deaf Institute) - the first school for the deaf in Colombia founded in 1924. It was originally established to promote oralism but with the strong-minded deaf people here, it has evolved to an all inclusive deaf school where LSC is the primary language. I was thrilled to visit and meet the students. I wanted more time to interact, teach, and learn from them but it wasn't time. I know soon enough in another country I will settle and contribute to the deaf youth.

Thanks to Sandra we have been very much involved in the Deaf community all week, meeting a lot her own friends as well. I can say we are almost fluent in LSC, well, Bogota's LCS because apparently each city has it's own signs. I didn't think we would have to learn a new language until we got to Ecuador, but sure, learning different languages is one of the best things about traveling. Speaking of languages, I am also remembering my Spanish and picking up a lot more of it too. 

Friday night we joined everyone at the Sociedad de Sordos de Bogota (Bogota Deaf Society) which is a deaf club for all ages, something we once valued. At the deaf club I was able to see how similar deaf people are here with deaf people in the States (and most of the world). It was full of deaf people and hearing LSC students striving to learn the language. They had door prizes, lots of laughter and positive energy, plenty of dirty jokes and a serious case of DST too. The way they use their "deaf card," converse, share ideas, tease one another, perceive/present themselves as deaf people, and experience oppression from hearing family members or the mainstream society is almost exactly the same as we do. 

Saturday we returned to the Sociedad for a long night of Bingo, and I won! I won a Sony DVD player, but I don't want it nor do I need it so I gave it to Sandra to thank her for all her help. 

There hasn't been much of a culture shift yet because we have been in the community all day every day since we've arrived and all it feels like is home. Like the blunt deaf man at the club said, "they're from North America, I'm from South America, we're all the same." And in a lot more ways than I once thought, we actually are -- after all, we're all Americans (this is a bit different than my experience in Europe, Scandinavia, Kenya, and Southeast Asia). Not only that, we are in Bogota, the biggest city in Colombia, and when you're in a big city, you experience the similar big city life.  

Two things I've consumed here that I don't back home is coffee and meat. Colombian coffee is worth drinking but I'd rather not. I feel better about declining it after breakfast this morning with another host, Geovani, he said coffee is like cigarettes, an addiction that isn't necessary -- something I'd say. As for the meat, it was a culture dish and one was a home cooked meal that I couldn't decline; I admit it was quite tasty. All the food here is delicious -- beans, rice, sweet potatoes, pastries, all of it, especially the soup. 

Tonight we are going up North to Medellin, a beautiful place that everyone here has been telling us about. There is a festival there and more deaf people we will connect with. After that we'll head up even further to Cartagena and around.  We're supposed to experience the Colombian culture even more as we leave the city and that is what I am looking forward to. 

I would like to thank Sandra for having an open heart and guiding us this far. Also Geovani and his mother for allowing us into their home and providing care. And to all the deaf people we have met who have made our experience real. 

It's going to be hard leaving Bogota. We have made so many friends and the energy has been amazing, it's almost as if we're family now. We'll be sure to get in touch with them all again before we head down to Ecuador. Sometimes I feel like I could just stay here in Bogota and forget the rest of the continent because it's not about how many places you visit, but how much you experience in each place. However, I want to see and feel it all, so in this case, the road will always win.

Candaleria, Bogota

The older part of Bogota where some culture still exist in Bogota

(thank you to those who commented, much appreciated. will get back to you when there is more time.)

waiting for the beginning

I've got everything packed up in a 40 liter backpack and I'm ready to go. If this is not the beginning, then at least it'll come soon. I'll be leaving Washington, D.C. for Miami, then Miami to Bogota, Colombia.

Sounds pretty exciting? Well for me at least. Tonight I'll be having dinner at one of the local restaurants in the city with a smile on my face telling myself, this is the beginning.

I have not prepared much for this trip (guess that's why I don't feel like its already begun), sure I have several goals and things I'd like to see and do, but nothing is confirmed and nothing is fixed (I don't even have a Lonely Planet or any other guide book either). I actually feel pretty good about it too, it's one of the reasons why I am leaving in the first place -- to escape the system, schedules, attachments, worries, and everything else that comes with the everyday life here in the U.S. So why stress so much on preparing for freedom when freedom for me means not preparing.

So exactly what will I do/see, who will I meet and when will I move to a next unknown region will be answered when the time comes.

I never considered having a blog (I'm supposed to escape this stuff, right), but after discussing all the pros and cons, I decided I'll give it a try.

You might be stuck in your reality, enjoy it, but follow me here when looking for an escape...