"You're kidding me...why?" This is the question I get more than any other when I choose to reveal, I am forced to say, or someone has heard about my plans for the trip through the grapevine. "Central America?!" "Are you crazy?!!" I have come to give these questions a lot of thought because I know many times I have not answered them properly. It's hard to describe briefly all the myriad reasons that have gone into this decision. My best response so far, I think, has been, "Please understand that I'm not trying to be a smart aleck when I say this, but it is because I can". That answer usually gives the questioner pause, and then other questions follow. But not before I try to clarify my response. "What I mean is", I say, "I am really free to do this!" I go on to say that many people have all kinds of ties that keep them in one spot. One day it suddenly became very clear to me that I did not, so why not? Is this what they call foot loose and fancy free? Maybe...I only know that at one point, I leaped out of bed at 3 a.m. and said to myself, "Woman, you had better get up and go!"
Speaking of ties, aside from my occasional discomfort when I'm asked "why", what I've really come to enjoy are the conversations with people who I wouldn't ordinarily speak with. You know how it is, you are briskly moving along in the course of your day, and you are intent on scratching off at least a couple of items on the "to do" list, so there's really not much time to talk to strangers. Here's an example. A few days ago I was at the bank depositing my nifty little take from my latest yard sale (still paying AT&T). I was quite pleased to get my favorite teller instead of the guy who gives me a big pain. Last time I saw him I needed 20 penny wrappers...he gave me 15 with a big fake smile (you know the type!) and told me that was all he had (without asking another teller!) As a result, I had to wrap pennies in plastic baggies...but I digress. While making the deposit with my favorite teller, we talk about the trip, and she said, "Oh, I would love to do something like that, but I can't leave my mother". The way she said that, with great thoughtfulness, I could tell she loves her mother very much. There she is in her life...would taking a trip to Timbuktu be better for her? I would have to say, "Not necessarily so!". Not that I am any expert, but I believe that Love, with the capital L, trumps all. Wait, there's more...
While the teller is making my deposit and we are talking, it seems a Mexican couple at the next teller booth are listening. When I finish my business and am walking out the door, the woman stops me and asks where I am going in Central America (wow...I must have a loud mouth!). Her husband hangs back (he may not speak very good English), but she is very talkative and curious to know as many details as I am willing to tell. She is so wistful and tells me how lucky I am, how they (she and her husband) would love to do that if they could. I ask her if she can speak Spanish. She answers yes, she is fluent in both Spanish and English. So I say to her that she is very lucky! She can speak Spanish and English in an English speaking country, and that when I relocate in a Spanish speaking country, I will have to become fluent in that foreign (to me) language.
I have told you this whole story, because I want to share with you some of what has motivated me to this point in my preparations. I am running out of time for this entry, and I have not yet said many of the things I wanted to express. Well, there will be another post, but please allow me just one more moment of your time.
Last night a friend who is also considering a trip to Central/South America invited me to watch a film called "The Motorcycle Diaries". While we watched, he had his notebook opened to Google Earth and we traced the progress of the trip from Cordova, Argentina (where Che Guevara was born), to Chili, Peru, and all the way up to Venezuela. There is breathtaking footage of the vibrant countryside and Incan ruins in Peru, the great Amazon river, seaside villages in Chili, and so much more. It is a true story about Ernesto "Che" Guevara, who had almost completed medical school, and his close friend, who was studying Biochemistry at the University, when they decided to take a break from their studies and make that trip. That trip changed the entire course of Che's life. It is in Spanish with subtitles, which is always a big help to me as I try to learn the language. I give the film 5 *****. I hope you will check it out on Netflix or whatever and let me know what you think! You won't be sorry. Till next time! (Hugs and kisses for reading this far!) :) Cynthia
Speaking of ties, aside from my occasional discomfort when I'm asked "why", what I've really come to enjoy are the conversations with people who I wouldn't ordinarily speak with. You know how it is, you are briskly moving along in the course of your day, and you are intent on scratching off at least a couple of items on the "to do" list, so there's really not much time to talk to strangers. Here's an example. A few days ago I was at the bank depositing my nifty little take from my latest yard sale (still paying AT&T). I was quite pleased to get my favorite teller instead of the guy who gives me a big pain. Last time I saw him I needed 20 penny wrappers...he gave me 15 with a big fake smile (you know the type!) and told me that was all he had (without asking another teller!) As a result, I had to wrap pennies in plastic baggies...but I digress. While making the deposit with my favorite teller, we talk about the trip, and she said, "Oh, I would love to do something like that, but I can't leave my mother". The way she said that, with great thoughtfulness, I could tell she loves her mother very much. There she is in her life...would taking a trip to Timbuktu be better for her? I would have to say, "Not necessarily so!". Not that I am any expert, but I believe that Love, with the capital L, trumps all. Wait, there's more...
While the teller is making my deposit and we are talking, it seems a Mexican couple at the next teller booth are listening. When I finish my business and am walking out the door, the woman stops me and asks where I am going in Central America (wow...I must have a loud mouth!). Her husband hangs back (he may not speak very good English), but she is very talkative and curious to know as many details as I am willing to tell. She is so wistful and tells me how lucky I am, how they (she and her husband) would love to do that if they could. I ask her if she can speak Spanish. She answers yes, she is fluent in both Spanish and English. So I say to her that she is very lucky! She can speak Spanish and English in an English speaking country, and that when I relocate in a Spanish speaking country, I will have to become fluent in that foreign (to me) language.
I have told you this whole story, because I want to share with you some of what has motivated me to this point in my preparations. I am running out of time for this entry, and I have not yet said many of the things I wanted to express. Well, there will be another post, but please allow me just one more moment of your time.
Last night a friend who is also considering a trip to Central/South America invited me to watch a film called "The Motorcycle Diaries". While we watched, he had his notebook opened to Google Earth and we traced the progress of the trip from Cordova, Argentina (where Che Guevara was born), to Chili, Peru, and all the way up to Venezuela. There is breathtaking footage of the vibrant countryside and Incan ruins in Peru, the great Amazon river, seaside villages in Chili, and so much more. It is a true story about Ernesto "Che" Guevara, who had almost completed medical school, and his close friend, who was studying Biochemistry at the University, when they decided to take a break from their studies and make that trip. That trip changed the entire course of Che's life. It is in Spanish with subtitles, which is always a big help to me as I try to learn the language. I give the film 5 *****. I hope you will check it out on Netflix or whatever and let me know what you think! You won't be sorry. Till next time! (Hugs and kisses for reading this far!) :) Cynthia
Cynthia, I love your explanation. This is what I love about you. You know you are free. You are brave. And you sometimes really step out in life. This is one of those times--you're living bigger than life! I hope this site goes viral. :) Louise
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