So here's the story from point A to B
You gonna get the DL from H-Dub and Winnie
It all began the 15th of September
A day so far back its hard to remember
We've come a long way since that fateful day
And created our stories along the way
Ain't no secret that at first we were shy
But shortly after those feelings passed us by
Now we is a family tight as can be
We've learned to love each other unconditionally
So here is how this song is gonna go
Shout outs to all ya'll mixed into our flow
The first goes out to our girl B
Smilie little red head, cute as can be
At first girl you were scared as hell
But with a little TLC you came out of your shell
We're from Oregon girl where the grass is greener
West coast chicks are just that much sweeter
J-A-Z-Z you're spontaneous and a little crazy
We appreciated your giggles throughout the trip
Your constant support never let no one slip
Katrina this one goes out to you girl
So fasten your seatbelt and try not to hurl
We've got a few questions coming your way
Can you tell me the weather on any given day?
Next is for a hella sick chick from the bay
Lillie Allen you always go with the flow
Youz a new friend that we're happy to know
You represent the SCO
You let everyone know...Ohhh...Bay areaaaa
South Carolina born and raised
But now St. Croix is where you be passin' your days
Mary you got talent you continue to shine
You keep amazing us all of the time
We hope you go home and find your way
And pick up that guitar each and every day
Rebecca you hid it from us for a while
But your quirky humor makes us all smile
If you ever saw Greg naked we will never know
But the fact that you tried makes you brave fasho'
**Ey ladies, send me the good vibrations**
Dis one goes out to da girl with da dred locks
Ya' jokes and ya humor, dey just don't eva stop
You came from da Lonestar state but you ain't no loner
You gonna go back now lookin' like a stona
**Bring it back now**
This next one is going to make you all drop dead
Shayna when you walk down the street you turn heads
You've got spunk but you got class too
Its just impossible to summarize you
Can you help me bargain down this vegan ham?
How'd you get that Shayna discount girl, goddamn!
Boy youz a ginger but we know you've got a soul
When we spend time with you not a moment is dull
Will we give you a hard time, and thats a fact
But we love you homeslice and we got your back
Now lets give it up for this talented fella
Spittin' a sick beat for us, a capella
You started strong but now youz a gimp
And you strut your stuff with a goofy lookin' limp
The truth is Greg youz and honest friend
And we've got mad respect for you-'til the end
Now this is the part where the rap breaks down
Gets real intense no one makes a sound
Everything looks like its 8-Mile now
But really its just Hannah and Whit breakin' it down
Last but not least you know who you are
After all you got us this far
A-D-A-M
A-double L-I-S-O-N
We'd like to take this time to express our gratitude
Even though sometimes we gave you attitude
From your stories we learned so much
Each one of our hearts you truly did touch
Thanks for your encouragement, support and knowledge
And all your great advice about going to college
September to December man the time does fly
But that don't mean its a final goodbye
On a personal note we'd like to say
Grupo Maya changed our life in a unic way
In the words of Adam Haigler, Carpe the freakin' Diem
Always be mindful from the AM to the PM
Thanks ya'll for listenin' to our song
Remember its not goodbye, just so long.
Written by Hannah Wilson and Whitney Perry
Preformed by Hannah Wilson, Whitney Perry, and Greg Doyle
WE LOVE YOU CARPE
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Final Goodbye Part 2
So, after further consideration, we thought it might be appropriate to tell you a little more about our experience in Central America. As we sat and looked out at the ocean over dinner last night reminiscing about the time we spent together hysterically laughing, pushing buses through flooded rivers, living with various Central American families, and braving horrifying outhouses we realized how much we have grown and learned from each other these past 3 months. We will all go home with a reminder of what each person in the group learned from us through cards composed by Whit and Hannah and with the memory of a hilarious, creative rap summarizing our group courtesy of Greg, Whit, and Hannah. Although we are all sad to leave, we know that this is not goodbye.
Sarah and I want to thank the group for teaching us more about ourselves then we ever thought possible. We both feel so lucky to have spent the past 3 months with all of you and wouldn't trade this time for anything in the world. We also want to thank our families who gave us the opportunity to go on the life changing trip and who supported us along the way. Finally, Adam and Allison. We couldn't have asked for better leaders. You two were organized, nurturing, inspiring, thoughtful, and simply fun to be around each and every day.
In the words of Adam, let us all continue to Carpe the freakin' Diem.
Love,
Sarah and Katrina
Sarah and I want to thank the group for teaching us more about ourselves then we ever thought possible. We both feel so lucky to have spent the past 3 months with all of you and wouldn't trade this time for anything in the world. We also want to thank our families who gave us the opportunity to go on the life changing trip and who supported us along the way. Finally, Adam and Allison. We couldn't have asked for better leaders. You two were organized, nurturing, inspiring, thoughtful, and simply fun to be around each and every day.
In the words of Adam, let us all continue to Carpe the freakin' Diem.
Love,
Sarah and Katrina
Final Goodbye
Fortunately for all of you we, Sarah and Katrina, are the group's final bloggers. Since we have spent the entire trip fantasizing about all the food that would be available to us when we get home and have been food vacuum cleaners for those of us who are lighter eaters , we thought it would be appropriate to spend the last blog sharing our fantasies with all of you. So we now present to you SARAH AND KATRINA'S FABULOUS LIST OF FOOD!!!
1. Philly Cheese Steak- This is no ordinary cheese steak. This is the sandwich that has been making mouths water for three months at the mere thought of its delicious cheesey goodness. The beef arranged so beautifully within the toasted hoagie bun is cooked to perfection alongside sweet grilled onions. The melted mozzarella lining the bread melds beautifully with all the flavors. To truly experience the glory of this culinary masterpiece, however, one must drench it with the slightly spicy but oh so delicious melted queso that comes with the chips that you enjoy while you hungrily await your sandwich. Together, these flavors combine to create the thing my dreams are made of.
2. Magic Pancakes- They are created at Katrina's house every Sunday morning. They are the combination of all things good in this world into one delicious breakfast. They begin with simple banana pancakes. However, once you remove the golden brown pancakes, full of sweet bananas from the skillet, the magic begins. Melted chocolate chips are drizzled generously over the fluffy pancakes, followed by a large helping of creamy melted peanut butter, a staple for any pancake dish. The meal is not complete without a large glass of cold milk. All part of a balanced breakfast.
3. BBQ Sandwich from TEXAS- Its been a long trip for a Texan without BBQ. Which is why no list would be complete without a nice, big, juicy chopped beef sandwich. The first decision you have to make is what type of bread you want filled with the delicous goodness that is to come. If you are experienced in these things, you will most certainly select the thick cheesy jalepeno bread with just enough kick to keep it interesting. Then you load it up with tender chopped beef. Do you want BBQ sauce? of course you do. That's a silly question. Drench it. Next you order a side of creamy potatoe salad. When you get to your table, you will probably want to dive right in to your sandwich, but patience is a virtue. First, take some of your potatoe salad and add it to your sandwich. Now, it is ready. You may look ridiculous, since you won't be able to fit the fat, flavorful sandwich into your mouth, but don't worry what other people think. The looks you are getting are strictly from jealousy.
4. Elbow Room Mac n' Cheese- It is meant to serve five. Katrina claims to be able to down it alone. I believe her. The deep bowl of pasta nearly overflows with fat pasta tubes literally drenched with cheese. It is the kind of mac n' cheese where after every bite you are left with cheese dripping down your smiling face. The best part of this gooey delicacy is the salty layer of crunchy bread crumbs baked not only on top of the heaping bowl of pasta, but also layered within. Every new layer of bread crumbs you reach is a crunchy surprise adding texture and excitement to an already explosive dish.
5. Shrimp Po Boy- It begins with a fresh and flaky french baquette, cut down the middle. Inside, it is filled with fresh, crisp lettuce and fat, succulent fried shrimp. The shrimp is golden brown and fresh out of the gulf. To make this sandwich really pop you need ample amounts of tartar and cocktail sauce. Before you devour this dish, lightly drizzle a fresh cut lemon or lime over the shrimp. Thick cut onions, deep fried and delicious, sit on the side. The batter surrounding each sweet onion is salty and greasy in the best of ways. When dipped in ketchup, these onion rings truly come to life. The combination of deep fried shrimp with the deep fried onion rings creates a meal that leaves you ready for a nap, no matter what time of day.
6. Cheeseburger- It is a simple food, classic if you will. Best enjoyed after a light appetizer of one dozen juicy BBQ chicken wings, the cheeseburger is arguably the greatest American creation. We prefer a traditional burger. A thick juicy patty resting on top of the lightly toasted bun is the star of this dish. However, it would be nothing without a generous helping of cheddar cheese, slightly melted, crisp onions, lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles. The key to a good burger is to have the perfect balance of hot meat and cheese and cool, refreshing veggies. It is crucial to lather the bun with both ketchup and mustard for the perfect flavor combination, preferably dipping each individual bite in an extra helping of ketchup. No burger is complete without a soda and fries. The root beer is served in a short, fat mug that still has the frost from the freezer clinging to its exterior. The carbonation dances up to your nose with each sip of the icey drink. On the side, thick cut fries so hot they are nearly steaming await you. The interior of each fry is soft but the exterior is slightly crisp and salty.
You're Welcome.
Katrina and Sarah
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Roatan Baby!... But We Ain't Rowin' yet!
We arrived here on the island of Roatan, Honduras on Wednesday. The private jet was a new experience for some of the group members, and by private jet we mean a twenty-seater plane with no terminal. Being from New York, I (Shayna) was effervescent with joy as I got to walk up the stairs for the first time to a plane; whereas Jasmine felt like she was at a much warmer version of the airport in the small city of Kenai, Alaska. From the first five minutes on island, we were already missing the Spanish, although we are finding a new language barrier with the native language 'Island' spoken here.
Our accomodations are incredible and one with nature as we can walk just a few feet out of our rooms into the bay ( that is "infested" with crocs... just kidding!). Scuba is challenging and filled most of our days with dives, inspirational videos ("Go places, Meet people, Do things" I quote you not), and confined exercises. So far the group, as a whole, has seen turtles, eels, "rainbow" fish, fish, more fish, string rays, and oh yeah, the curious barracuda who needed a nibble of Adam's pretty pinky shiny snorkel, they weren't kidding when the guides (Tony and Rino) said not to swim with shiny objects. No worries... we were actually very fortunate to see such a rare fish up close (and personal!)
We had lots of group bonding time with late night games of Ninja, in addition to the game played underwater of course... because true ninjas can be in harmony with their bouyancy! We have lots of studying to do for the big scuba exam eeeep! (but the only one choosing to read the entire book twice for the exam, which you can take as many times as needed and only requires a 75 % score to pass, would be none other than Shayna :)). We are living each day, hour, and second to the fullest as we are in the here and now every waking moment enjoying our last few days in Central America with each other.
Rewind....picture that obnoxious VCR sound from back in the day...San Jose, Costa Rica: Nostalgia for Jasmine and Shayna, who were both there, miracuously, two years ago at the same time. I (Shayna) was able to visit the orphanage that I had worked at, as well as cruise along memory lane in La Sabana Norte.. after taking public transportation interacting with the locals. I also found a huge mango and veggie burgers and almost cried in bliss as the supermarket employee helped me to checkout. We stayed at Costa Rica Backpackers and had the pleasure of meeting Katrina's twim, i.e. her older sister Allie who was so warm and amicable to our entire group... she was practically family!! ( well, for Shayna at least...)
I (Jasmine) enjoyed the hostel lifestyle meeting new travelers, especially in the kitchen (from Spain, Italy, and Germany all in the one helping) I had no problem with conbining my pasta sauce with the daily spaghetti consumer from Italy! The last night in San Jose, Sarah, Rebecca, and me (Jasmine) pulled on Sarah's hair for hours, the profanity coming out of her mouth was really what kept us going all night, and we have a head count of 41 gorgeous, ratty dreads ...they look AWESOME!!
Before we sign off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY!!!!!! I ( Shayna) didn't forget you, I just haven't had a chance to call, but love you so much and hope you had an incredible day!
Also.... HAPPY CHANUKAH to all and have a soon to be MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
See ya' later man as you would say island style (Mary has been the only one that completely understand the "English" spoken here)
P.S. Shayna is still chanting about Jasalicious in the deep blue sea who swims so fast and swims so free and Jasmine is still rolling her eyes but not annoyed because she has the pleasant thought of tree crayons bubbling about within her noggin!!!
PEACE!
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Save the Baby Turtles
This is Lillie and Rebecca signing in after a week in Playa Hermosa with the adorable tortugitas. When we arrived at Punta Judas, finding enough beds for everyone was our first challenge, but after the initial confusion we all found a place to rest our heads and enjoyed a delicious meal. The first day of work found the group in an all too familiar situation of moving dirt as we cleared the invasive grasses that surrounded the turtle hatchery. Afterwards, we spent our afternoon blissfully relaxing in the waves or in the hammocks overlooking the beach. That night we went on our very first turtle patrol. We were excited to discover three mama Olive Riddley turtles and 5 nests. Each nest held nearly 100 golf ball sized eggs all stacked on top of each other. In this way we spent our days working on digging a new hatchery and our nights releasing baby turtles into the ocean.
Adam and Allison introduced a new aspect of our stay with a game of Assasins. Each player received a mark and a method of killing. For example, Lillie made the first kill of the night when she asked Winnie to borrow her shoes hardly 10 minutes after the game was announced. Katrina was the clear MVP, tricking Jasmine into singing a song, Mary into performing her dancing skills, Shayna into making loud animal noises, and Rebecca into playing leapfrog. As of now, it seems as if the game has ended in a stalemate between Katrina and Bridget.
Some of our readers may have been wondering how a Carpe Diem group celebrates the holidays. Well, Adam and Allison surprised us all with a lovely Thanksgiving dinner in town at a Carribean/Local restaurant. We enjoyed fish, coconut rice and beans, salad, and two delicious desserts of a brownie sundae and a banana split. During our meal we expressed three things that we were thankful for, and both laughter and tears were shared. After such an amazing meal we were further surprised by our token American friend who was kind enough to share her meal of stuffing, potatoes, and cranberry sauce. The rest of the night was spent relaxing before our first night of releasing baby turtles. It was truly a night to be thankful for.
For the next three days we are back in San Jose relaxing, catching up on journaling, and bonding. Afterwards, we leave for Roatan, Honduras the last stop on our epic journey. We hope that these last 10 days do not fly by too fast, but we are as always looking forward to seeing you all at home.
Signing out. Peace, Love and Happiness.
Lillie and Rebecca
Adam and Allison introduced a new aspect of our stay with a game of Assasins. Each player received a mark and a method of killing. For example, Lillie made the first kill of the night when she asked Winnie to borrow her shoes hardly 10 minutes after the game was announced. Katrina was the clear MVP, tricking Jasmine into singing a song, Mary into performing her dancing skills, Shayna into making loud animal noises, and Rebecca into playing leapfrog. As of now, it seems as if the game has ended in a stalemate between Katrina and Bridget.
Some of our readers may have been wondering how a Carpe Diem group celebrates the holidays. Well, Adam and Allison surprised us all with a lovely Thanksgiving dinner in town at a Carribean/Local restaurant. We enjoyed fish, coconut rice and beans, salad, and two delicious desserts of a brownie sundae and a banana split. During our meal we expressed three things that we were thankful for, and both laughter and tears were shared. After such an amazing meal we were further surprised by our token American friend who was kind enough to share her meal of stuffing, potatoes, and cranberry sauce. The rest of the night was spent relaxing before our first night of releasing baby turtles. It was truly a night to be thankful for.
For the next three days we are back in San Jose relaxing, catching up on journaling, and bonding. Afterwards, we leave for Roatan, Honduras the last stop on our epic journey. We hope that these last 10 days do not fly by too fast, but we are as always looking forward to seeing you all at home.
Signing out. Peace, Love and Happiness.
Lillie and Rebecca
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Carpe Diem Presents Whitney and Will's Wonderful Words of Wisdom
Hi, Whitney and Will here. We're Wonderfully happy, and We made it to Costa Rica! But lets reWind the clock back to Granada.
Granada Was an aWesome, but very touristy, city. We Went ziplining Which Was Wicked fun. Whoever Wanted could go upside down, and superman style Which Was Wonderful! We also recieved free coffee Which We doWned because it Was Wonderfully delicious.
We also Went to Masaya, an artisans market Where We bought the rest of our gifts. We Were dropped off at the Wrong market-Where We could buy meat, shoes, or various vegetables. After trying to relocate everyone, We made the group decision to go to the authentic market doWn the road.
The next day We took a day trip to Lago de Apoyo-it Was Wonderful. We spent the day sWimming and kayaking in the Warm, clear Water of the crater lake. It Was a Wonderful day in the sun, highly enjoyed by all.
We also celebrated our tWo month anniversary (!!!!!!! WoW) Which was a simply Wonderful dinner at a Canadian-Mexican restaurant in the heart of Granada. Allison and Adam prepared us Wonderfully heart Warming appreciation cards that We then presented to each other. Each card had three adjectives Written on them, and We added one more of our oWn. It Was Wonderful. Everyone Was Wailing by the end. Wahhh.
While Granada was truly Wonderful, Ometepe Was Wonderous. It is an island formed by tWo volcanoes in the middle of Lake Nicaragua, With a boisterous ecosystem and a Wonderful climate. We Were able to choose our oWn activities, some choosing to lounge around and relax, and others (the self proclaimed Dream Team) climbed Volcan Maderas in the pouring rain. What a Wacky adventure! We also rented bikes and enjoyed exploring the island from our home base in the city of Moyogalpa. Some of the group members also enjoyed a Wonderful sunset boat ride on the lake, very romantic. Our other excursion Was to "Ojo de Agua," (Eye of the Water) a crystal clear pool of cold, fresh Water. It Was aWesome!
This morning We left bright and early on the Lancha (small ferry) back to the main land. We drove to the border of Costa Rica in the most Wonderful bus yet, and then hopped on a public bus to San Jose. But this was no ordinary public bus-IT WAS WONDERFUL. AC, reclining seats, curtains, a bathroom, and mucho mas. We loved it-didn't Want to get off.
We've arrived now at Hostel Galileo Which is a Wicked place to kick it. TomorroW We're off to Playa Hermosa to save some sea turtle babies- no big deal. It ain't no thang.
A few extra pictures from Nicaragua:
Granada Was an aWesome, but very touristy, city. We Went ziplining Which Was Wicked fun. Whoever Wanted could go upside down, and superman style Which Was Wonderful! We also recieved free coffee Which We doWned because it Was Wonderfully delicious.
The next day We took a day trip to Lago de Apoyo-it Was Wonderful. We spent the day sWimming and kayaking in the Warm, clear Water of the crater lake. It Was a Wonderful day in the sun, highly enjoyed by all.
We also celebrated our tWo month anniversary (!!!!!!! WoW) Which was a simply Wonderful dinner at a Canadian-Mexican restaurant in the heart of Granada. Allison and Adam prepared us Wonderfully heart Warming appreciation cards that We then presented to each other. Each card had three adjectives Written on them, and We added one more of our oWn. It Was Wonderful. Everyone Was Wailing by the end. Wahhh.
While Granada was truly Wonderful, Ometepe Was Wonderous. It is an island formed by tWo volcanoes in the middle of Lake Nicaragua, With a boisterous ecosystem and a Wonderful climate. We Were able to choose our oWn activities, some choosing to lounge around and relax, and others (the self proclaimed Dream Team) climbed Volcan Maderas in the pouring rain. What a Wacky adventure! We also rented bikes and enjoyed exploring the island from our home base in the city of Moyogalpa. Some of the group members also enjoyed a Wonderful sunset boat ride on the lake, very romantic. Our other excursion Was to "Ojo de Agua," (Eye of the Water) a crystal clear pool of cold, fresh Water. It Was aWesome!
This morning We left bright and early on the Lancha (small ferry) back to the main land. We drove to the border of Costa Rica in the most Wonderful bus yet, and then hopped on a public bus to San Jose. But this was no ordinary public bus-IT WAS WONDERFUL. AC, reclining seats, curtains, a bathroom, and mucho mas. We loved it-didn't Want to get off.
We've arrived now at Hostel Galileo Which is a Wicked place to kick it. TomorroW We're off to Playa Hermosa to save some sea turtle babies- no big deal. It ain't no thang.
A few extra pictures from Nicaragua:
Saturday, November 13, 2010
The clock is ticking and grupo maya is not wasting anytime. This radical group of motivated young adults have just made yet another transition. It is no secret that many of us left our hearts in san juan del sur either in the waves, the welcoming community, or parque maderas (a center for art, ecology, sustainability and natural medicine) itself. Its mary and hannah reporting here from our shnazy hostel oasis in granada. To say the least, our bus ride here was not exactly pleasant. Some would say we cheated death as we cruised down the highway dodging motorists and keeping our eyes peeled for the occasional loose backpack. Or, maybe we like to exaggerate a little. But sure enough, we´ve made it to this lovely city safe and sound. But let´s not get too ahead of ourselves, let´s talk Parque Maderas.
Not only did we experience our most organized, productive, and rewarding volunteer project, but we departed knowing more about ourselves and feeling inspired for the future. Tyler, the founder of Parque Maderas opened our eyes in more ways than one. He showed us that, in fact, dreams can become realities and that living a life practicing sustainability is possible. We were provided with three meals a day, each meal was a healthy balance of fresh locally grown food. A unanimous decision was made by the group that this was the most amazing food we´ve ever had.
Between catching waves and enjoying free time around the property, we worked with an organization called Comunidad Connect to construct composting toilets out of earth materials. The leader of the volunteer project, taught the group about natural building and carpentry.
Now we´re free traveling and carpe-ing the diem more than ever, friends. There are plans to zipline as well as trips to markets, volcanoes, and lakes. We are all slightly apprehensive considering these last weeks on our journey, but are without a doubt soaking in the moment and loving every minute of it!
now a quick poem by hannah.
It has been years since I have seen the stars so bright.
Months since I have woken with the morning sunlight.
Too long since I have seen colors reflect off the Pacific Ocean.
Or even had the time to appreciate it´s constant calm motion.
It has been a long time since playing in the mud has sounded fun.
Or since i have spent a day splashing in the waves and soaking up the sun.
Never have i let the voice of nature speak louder then that of all else.
More then ever aware of more then just myself.
It has been a lifetime since I have realized how I want to live and be.
Finally the future now holds something for me, unwritten and free.
Dedicated to the staff and atmosphere at Parque Maderas.
Until next time...hannah and mary.
Not only did we experience our most organized, productive, and rewarding volunteer project, but we departed knowing more about ourselves and feeling inspired for the future. Tyler, the founder of Parque Maderas opened our eyes in more ways than one. He showed us that, in fact, dreams can become realities and that living a life practicing sustainability is possible. We were provided with three meals a day, each meal was a healthy balance of fresh locally grown food. A unanimous decision was made by the group that this was the most amazing food we´ve ever had.
Between catching waves and enjoying free time around the property, we worked with an organization called Comunidad Connect to construct composting toilets out of earth materials. The leader of the volunteer project, taught the group about natural building and carpentry.
Now we´re free traveling and carpe-ing the diem more than ever, friends. There are plans to zipline as well as trips to markets, volcanoes, and lakes. We are all slightly apprehensive considering these last weeks on our journey, but are without a doubt soaking in the moment and loving every minute of it!
now a quick poem by hannah.
It has been years since I have seen the stars so bright.
Months since I have woken with the morning sunlight.
Too long since I have seen colors reflect off the Pacific Ocean.
Or even had the time to appreciate it´s constant calm motion.
It has been a long time since playing in the mud has sounded fun.
Or since i have spent a day splashing in the waves and soaking up the sun.
Never have i let the voice of nature speak louder then that of all else.
More then ever aware of more then just myself.
It has been a lifetime since I have realized how I want to live and be.
Finally the future now holds something for me, unwritten and free.
Dedicated to the staff and atmosphere at Parque Maderas.
Until next time...hannah and mary.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Hola amigos! Greg and Bridget here with the word on the past week of our travels. We had our three day trek last weekend and celebrated Shayna's birthday on the second day with vegan chocolate cake that Bridget and Jasmine baked. The trek was AMAZING! We walked 24 miles total up and down mountains through rivers leaving blood sweat and tears behind. We stayed in rural villages each night sleeping on the floor in each one, and we played Battle Hack with our tour guides and the locals. Battle Hack is a violent game in which any number of players stand in a circle and juggle a hackey sack until three players have touched it and after the third person has touched it someone grabs it and throws it as hard as they can at the other players, if you get hit three times you stand against a wall and everyone else gets a turn throwing the sac at you :)... in ancient times they used a severed head instead of a hackey sack... so we considered ourselves lucky. Will received most of the throws. This game was very popular with the locals. On the second day of the trek we came across a raging river which we crossed with our 40 pound packs mind you on logs suspended about ten feet in the air.
We were all very proud of our work on the trek and also happy to arrive in San Marcos, the bellybutton of the universe. We spent three days in Hotel La Paz which was surrounded by centers for yoga, meditation, several types of massage, and energy work sessions. Greg attended a metaphysics and meditation class, a tarot card reading, received reiki, and also a sweedish massage. Bridget had a tarot card reading, and Egyptian massage, emotional chiropractic therapy, and had a session with a Dr./psychic/ physiologist/ numerologist/ teacher/ kabbalahist/ aura color reader... he was very helpful. We all enjoyed our time in San Marcos looking deeper into our internal paths. On our last night in San Marcos the group had dinner at Cafe Fe where we also listened to live music by a hippie group called Kun Kun Chaku. Everyone was blown away by their talent, it made our last night in San Marcos a lot of fun.
We flew to Nicaragua on Friday and we are currently in San Juan Del Sur staying at an amazing hotel overlooking the pacific ocean. Where all hanging out right now in the kitchen bar area after a long day of surfing. Were all very tired and some are pretty sunburned. We all radically shredded the gnar all day in the swell. Tubular. Greg and Bridget both were naturals. Were spending the rest of our time here surfing, hanging out on the beach, and volunteering at a local school building yet another bathroom and teaching English to the children. Were loving Nicaragua and chilling on the beach. till next time!
We were all very proud of our work on the trek and also happy to arrive in San Marcos, the bellybutton of the universe. We spent three days in Hotel La Paz which was surrounded by centers for yoga, meditation, several types of massage, and energy work sessions. Greg attended a metaphysics and meditation class, a tarot card reading, received reiki, and also a sweedish massage. Bridget had a tarot card reading, and Egyptian massage, emotional chiropractic therapy, and had a session with a Dr./psychic/ physiologist/ numerologist/ teacher/ kabbalahist/ aura color reader... he was very helpful. We all enjoyed our time in San Marcos looking deeper into our internal paths. On our last night in San Marcos the group had dinner at Cafe Fe where we also listened to live music by a hippie group called Kun Kun Chaku. Everyone was blown away by their talent, it made our last night in San Marcos a lot of fun.
We flew to Nicaragua on Friday and we are currently in San Juan Del Sur staying at an amazing hotel overlooking the pacific ocean. Where all hanging out right now in the kitchen bar area after a long day of surfing. Were all very tired and some are pretty sunburned. We all radically shredded the gnar all day in the swell. Tubular. Greg and Bridget both were naturals. Were spending the rest of our time here surfing, hanging out on the beach, and volunteering at a local school building yet another bathroom and teaching English to the children. Were loving Nicaragua and chilling on the beach. till next time!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Hello blog readers, Whitney and Lillie checking in on our last night in Xela. Today was our final day of classes and we had a party and a lovely goodbye ceremony with our teachers and staff of Casa Xelaju. It was also Jaime´s, one of the office workers, birthday so we had cake (!!!) and tostadas. They were both delicious and many of us went back for thirds (we´ll admit it-fourths). It was a sad goodbye, as many of us formed good connections with our teachers, but we´re all ready to move onto the next adventure. Hannah made a poster with photos of all of us and our teachers as a goodbye gift to the school, and they gave us all letters with our names and decorations. All of us learned so much with the three weeks of school here, and are really appreciative towards what the school has provided. We leave with improved Spanish and high hopes of returning one day. We won´t say ¨adios¨ to the city, but ¨hasta luego¨(see you later).
This afternoon we had our group transitions meeting at Adam and Allisons apartment. Every time we move onto new destinations, we discuss how our time was spent, what we expect for what lies ahead, how we´re feeling in the present, and our dynamics as a whole. We call these meetings ¨four point compass¨ and they always relieve us of our nerves, make us concentrate on how we´re feeling, and pump us up for the upcoming destinations.
Yesterday was the half way mark of the trip-41 days has never gone by so fast. We´ve officially entered the second semester of the trip, which is crazy to think about. Tomorrow at 6:00 AM we head off on our three day TREK through the jungle to Lake Atkilan, San Marcos. WE´RE SO EXCITED!!! There are some avid backpackers and some newbies within the group so its going to be an enjoyed experience by all. We will arrive in San Marcos to endulge ourselves in a spiritual retreat where we will studying mind body and soul excersises such as yoga and meditation.
We´re very grateful for being in such a comfortable setting as our longest time without moving but are also excited to move on.
Let the countdown begin.
GO GIANTS!!!!!!!
Your CA girls,
Lillie and Whitney
This afternoon we had our group transitions meeting at Adam and Allisons apartment. Every time we move onto new destinations, we discuss how our time was spent, what we expect for what lies ahead, how we´re feeling in the present, and our dynamics as a whole. We call these meetings ¨four point compass¨ and they always relieve us of our nerves, make us concentrate on how we´re feeling, and pump us up for the upcoming destinations.
Yesterday was the half way mark of the trip-41 days has never gone by so fast. We´ve officially entered the second semester of the trip, which is crazy to think about. Tomorrow at 6:00 AM we head off on our three day TREK through the jungle to Lake Atkilan, San Marcos. WE´RE SO EXCITED!!! There are some avid backpackers and some newbies within the group so its going to be an enjoyed experience by all. We will arrive in San Marcos to endulge ourselves in a spiritual retreat where we will studying mind body and soul excersises such as yoga and meditation.
We´re very grateful for being in such a comfortable setting as our longest time without moving but are also excited to move on.
Let the countdown begin.
GO GIANTS!!!!!!!
Your CA girls,
Lillie and Whitney
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Doughnuts, Salsa, and Clouds
Hello faithful viewers, Greg and Katrina here with news from the past week in Xela, Guatemala.
On Monday the 18th, after classes at Casa Xelaju, some of the group attended a Guatemalan history lecture from one of the Xelaju teachers, Victor, regarding the Guatemalan revolution. On Tuesday, we had classes in the morning during which Greg and Katrina played scrabble with our teachers because our teachers didn´t know what to teach us since our spanish is flawless. Our group also discovered the legendary Bake Shop in the market on the North side of Xela where the most exquisit baked goods can be found. One can find a wide selection of doughnuts including fantastic fruit filled, gorgeous glazed, pleasantly powdered, sweetly sprinkled with love, and of course, chocolate. The Bake Shop also specializes in croissants filled with meat, cheese and chocolate, as well as an irresistible banana bread, delightful cupcakes, and a wide assortment of cookies. Tuesday afternoon we also attended a cooking class, courtesy of Mary´s host mother, Josefina. Josefina made it clear that Josefina would teach us how to make the most scrumptious tomales in all of Guatemala. On Wednesday, after classes, the group attempted to learn the Salsa at the school with one of the teachers. We broke it down like no one was watching.It´s fair to say we showed the teacher something he´d never seen before. That night, a few members of the group (Greg, Jasmine, Lillie and Adam) went out to a Salsa club to take a few more salsa lessons and put our moves to the test. On Thursday, after class, some members of the group went home to sleep and prepare for the long hike early Friday morning, while some took more Salsa lessons or went to Yoga, which has been a popular group activity in the late afternoons. On Friday morning, starting at midnight, our group began our ascent to the summit of the volcano, Santa Maria. The climb up took about 6 hours, but it was all worth it once we reached the top. The altitude affected some more than others. Mary started feeling sick after about 30 minutes, since she lives on a stupid island, and had to be brought back down. We hiked to an altitude of over 12,000 feet and that was evident when we got to the top and were above the clouds. We sat at the top of the volcano for several hours taking in the falling of the orange full moon on one side, and the colorful sunrise on the other. We´re having trouble putting the experience into words, but most of the group agrees that it was the most beautiful site they have ever witnessed. It was about 40 degrees at the summit, and no one was fully prepared for the drop in temperature after the past month of hot summer weather. The hot chocolate that the guides prepared was an added bonus and helped combat the freezing cold. Yesterday, we spent the afternoon bargaining at local markets for food for our potluck dinner tonight at Adam and Allison´s apartment.
Until next time!
Greg and Katrina
Monday, October 18, 2010
PHOTOS!
compliments of Bridget!
The Rural Village
hike to waterfalls in the rural village
Birthday Boy with his homestay dad
A Fishy dinner
Bridget with her brother and sisters
Sarah´s Birthday
Xela
Hannah and Xela
Mary!
The Market
A toast to Grupo Maya
Grupo Maya at dinner last night
The Rural Village
hike to waterfalls in the rural village
Birthday Boy with his homestay dad
A Fishy dinner
Bridget with her brother and sisters
Sarah´s Birthday
Xela
Hannah and Xela
Mary! 
The Market
A toast to Grupo Maya
Grupo Maya at dinner last night
Hola family and friends Bridget and Sarah here :)We arrived in Rocja Pomtila way past our bedtimes of 7pm to an amazingly welcoming village. We were all escorted to our new bungalows with our assigned roommates. (Me and Bridget were together! How cute!) The walk was pitch black and treacherous. This village has no electricity to light our ways, so we had to rely on a single flashlight. The new rural setting was a shock to our systems after getting used to the luxury of electricity and running water in San Andres. But none of that bothered us because we were so warmly welcomed by our new families. Our family in particular was made up of 7 brothers and sisters all interested in getting to know us.
We started our volunteer project the following morning. We were helping the local workers to level a site for a new community center. The work was hard and tiring in the hot sun. After shoveling, digging, and hauling dirt around (our projects always seem to end up involving dirt), we were ecstatic to see our families each walking toward us with plates of food at ten for our midday snack. Me and Bridget got empanadas! Everyone was super jealous of our food because it was most definitely the best.
We continued work until noon and then went our seperate ways for lunch at our homestays. After lunch, we worked another 2 hours on the community center and then rushed off to the freezing river for our shower and laundry.
Dinners were an amazing chance to spend time with our families and get to know each other in the romantic candlelight setting. Many of our family members only spoke a little spanish with Que´chi (a mayan dialect) being there first language. We were all able to bond regardless of the language barrier. The kids were always wanting to play and our mom was happy to teach us how to make delicious tortillas. Bridget´s could use some practice, but Sarah was pretty much amazing at it as she is at most things. We both loved the process, it was a good way to bond with our host mom and see what sort of work she does on a day to day basis.
We spent the rest of the week working hard in the mornings and afternoons and enjoying our families and each other´s company in the afternoons. There were many coconuts in the village and we all loved when our brothers would machete one open for us.
Also, two birthdays were celebrated in the village, Mary´s 19th and Greg´s 18th. We all enjoyed the celebrations and eating lots of cake and cupcakes (even though the ants got to them first).
We were all extremely sad to leave such an amazing and different place. I think we all learned a lot from our week in this village about what is truly necesary and what brings happiness. We climbed into the bus to leave at 3am under the most beautiful sky full of stars that many of us city dweelers had never seen before in our lives (Houston and Portland do not look like that at night).
Fourteen hours later, we arrived in the second largest Guatemalan city, Quetzaltenango, or Xela. We were all struck by the amazing architecture of the city. Everything was Greek gothic with corinthian and doric columns on all the buildings.
We were walked to our individual homes and shocked at the luxury we all found there. This is by far our nicest homestay to date, complete with showers, hot water (for the lucky ones), and electricity. We are all very excited to be here in this city with so many activities available to us, salsa lessons, yoga, volunteer opportunities at animal shelters and orphanages, so much good food, all on top of the spanish classes we are taking here at Casa Xelaju. We all feel very lucky to have such amazing one on one experiences with knowledgable teachers. We go to school every day from 8 until 1 and have afternoons free to spend with our host families, explore the city, or do some of the many activities available to us here.
Adam and Allison have a super sweet pad by the school for meetings and group activities (such as Sarah´s super awesome 18th birthday celebration complete with Tres Leches).
We have also done a few activities together as a group, including going to the futbol game between Xela and San Marcos. We were rooting for the underdogs, Xela and they came out on top, winning two to one. It was an exciting game full of...enthusiasm from the spectators. We all learned a lot there. Mostly spanish cuss words.
Yesterday we went to Chichicastenango, the biggest market of the year in Guatemala. SHOPPING! We all bargained our butts off with the local vendors and got great prices for a lot of really cool things. Expect presents family and friends! :)
After the market, we celebrated our one month and one day anniversary as a group at Panorama, a beautiful restaraunt on top of a hill overlooking the city. The food was delicious (Bridget got fondue! Sarah got shrimp!) and the company was even better. Adam and Allison gave 12 toasts to our group that were all very special to us and meant a lot. We are having a great time in Xela reguardless of the chilly weather and are very exciting about the remainder of time we have here. We have activity ideas such as a hike to two volcanic mountains that erupt every hour! Along with hot springs,basket weaving, music festivals, salsa classes, museums, volunteer oppurtunites, and even a lecture of Xela´s history from one of the teachers at the school. We love and miss you all! Until next time!
Your bloggers, Bridget and Sarah
We started our volunteer project the following morning. We were helping the local workers to level a site for a new community center. The work was hard and tiring in the hot sun. After shoveling, digging, and hauling dirt around (our projects always seem to end up involving dirt), we were ecstatic to see our families each walking toward us with plates of food at ten for our midday snack. Me and Bridget got empanadas! Everyone was super jealous of our food because it was most definitely the best.
We continued work until noon and then went our seperate ways for lunch at our homestays. After lunch, we worked another 2 hours on the community center and then rushed off to the freezing river for our shower and laundry.
Dinners were an amazing chance to spend time with our families and get to know each other in the romantic candlelight setting. Many of our family members only spoke a little spanish with Que´chi (a mayan dialect) being there first language. We were all able to bond regardless of the language barrier. The kids were always wanting to play and our mom was happy to teach us how to make delicious tortillas. Bridget´s could use some practice, but Sarah was pretty much amazing at it as she is at most things. We both loved the process, it was a good way to bond with our host mom and see what sort of work she does on a day to day basis.
We spent the rest of the week working hard in the mornings and afternoons and enjoying our families and each other´s company in the afternoons. There were many coconuts in the village and we all loved when our brothers would machete one open for us.
Also, two birthdays were celebrated in the village, Mary´s 19th and Greg´s 18th. We all enjoyed the celebrations and eating lots of cake and cupcakes (even though the ants got to them first).
We were all extremely sad to leave such an amazing and different place. I think we all learned a lot from our week in this village about what is truly necesary and what brings happiness. We climbed into the bus to leave at 3am under the most beautiful sky full of stars that many of us city dweelers had never seen before in our lives (Houston and Portland do not look like that at night).
Fourteen hours later, we arrived in the second largest Guatemalan city, Quetzaltenango, or Xela. We were all struck by the amazing architecture of the city. Everything was Greek gothic with corinthian and doric columns on all the buildings.
We were walked to our individual homes and shocked at the luxury we all found there. This is by far our nicest homestay to date, complete with showers, hot water (for the lucky ones), and electricity. We are all very excited to be here in this city with so many activities available to us, salsa lessons, yoga, volunteer opportunities at animal shelters and orphanages, so much good food, all on top of the spanish classes we are taking here at Casa Xelaju. We all feel very lucky to have such amazing one on one experiences with knowledgable teachers. We go to school every day from 8 until 1 and have afternoons free to spend with our host families, explore the city, or do some of the many activities available to us here.
Adam and Allison have a super sweet pad by the school for meetings and group activities (such as Sarah´s super awesome 18th birthday celebration complete with Tres Leches).
We have also done a few activities together as a group, including going to the futbol game between Xela and San Marcos. We were rooting for the underdogs, Xela and they came out on top, winning two to one. It was an exciting game full of...enthusiasm from the spectators. We all learned a lot there. Mostly spanish cuss words.
Yesterday we went to Chichicastenango, the biggest market of the year in Guatemala. SHOPPING! We all bargained our butts off with the local vendors and got great prices for a lot of really cool things. Expect presents family and friends! :)
After the market, we celebrated our one month and one day anniversary as a group at Panorama, a beautiful restaraunt on top of a hill overlooking the city. The food was delicious (Bridget got fondue! Sarah got shrimp!) and the company was even better. Adam and Allison gave 12 toasts to our group that were all very special to us and meant a lot. We are having a great time in Xela reguardless of the chilly weather and are very exciting about the remainder of time we have here. We have activity ideas such as a hike to two volcanic mountains that erupt every hour! Along with hot springs,basket weaving, music festivals, salsa classes, museums, volunteer oppurtunites, and even a lecture of Xela´s history from one of the teachers at the school. We love and miss you all! Until next time!
Your bloggers, Bridget and Sarah
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Told you! Photos!
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