February 2011
1 post
Gracefully Accepting Departure with Thank You
It is difficult for me to believe that in less than a week I will be leaving Chile. I am going to miss Chile, it will always hold a special place in my heart. My experience here has opened me up in new ways; challenged me, blessed me, and guided me on to new paths in life. I have had the opportunity to meet and work and dance with many amazing people. I have had the opportunity to travel to...
January 2011
1 post
“Every time you leave home,
Another road takes you
Into a world you were never...”
– For the Traveler, John O’Donohue
October 2010
1 post
“The symbol of Goddess gives us permission. She teaches us to embrace the...”
– Sue Monk Kidd
September 2010
4 posts
Chile Celebrates With Me!
Well, it happens that my birthday is a national holiday in Chile. With the 18th of September being the Day of Independence and the 19th of September the Armed Forces Day, it makes for an exciting time in Chile for me, and everyone else! If I lived here permanently, I would never have to work on my birthday hehe.
The festivities this year began with a wonderful surprise from Gretchen on Tuesday....
It takes time, but it does happen.
Having rounded our one year anniversary of being down in Chile, I can say I am incredibly happy with the way everything is going. This year has been a crazy adventure and I know that I have grown a lot, and learned a lot more.
I have been especially busy with different projects at EPES and Centro de la Mujer and I have been thoroughly enjoying everything. From assisting with a workshop on women,...
Can't help but smile.
I believe there are some people in this world who can make anyone happy. The kind of person who puts a smile on every face, and joy in every heart. For me, one of those people is my new friend Patricio. I met Patricio back in June when I started accompanying him to physical therapy, and since then I have enjoyed my time with him tremendously. Besides the obvious physical manifestations of his...
August 2010
1 post
Old McDonald had a Farm!
Teaching English to the kids at the jardín has turned out to be one of my favorite volunteer activities! Seeing them last Monday, after having been in Peru for a couple of weeks, I realized I had actually missed them… a LOT. They are so adorable, and I have become attached to them in little ways. It has been so wonderful to see how much they have grown, and how much they have learned these...
July 2010
1 post
June 2010
1 post
Wrap it up.
Last weekend I participated in the first training course on HIV/AIDS for the Americas at the medical school of Universidad de Chile. Although it was only three days, it proved to be very comprehensive and the organization of the course was very effective (also, I had not yet been part of something, in Chile, that was so punctual!). Each day consisted of lectures and presentations from doctors,...
May 2010
2 posts
Better than none...
I obviously cannot call myself an expert on community building, nor on promoting the education about and prevention of different themes that affect individuals and populations, as a whole. However, I can say, my experiences thus far have allowed me to be able to detect good and and not so good ways of executing group-oriented activities. By working with EPES I have learned the methodology of...
Smells of fallen leaves...
I spoke too soon… today was a lovely fall day. Did I mention that I love fall? Well, I do. The parks are beautiful; it seems the leaves changed color over night! Ah, what beauty surrounds us right now.
Ellen, the director of our volunteer program, and Sister Toby are here this week visiting us and observing the work we are involved with. The week will be spent taking them to every side of...
April 2010
3 posts
...and Winter knocks on the door...
When we first arrived in Chile back in August it was cold, especially at night. However, with the thought of Spring pretty much on the doorstep, getting through the first few weeks wasn’t so bad.
Now, after months of hot, dry, sunny weather here in Santiago, it is finally becoming quite obvious that winter is upon us. Although the days continue to be comfortably warm, as soon as the sun...
Cherishing moments, Collecting memories
Making memories of every moment.
These moments that seem to be flying by,
yet at the same time, gracefully float down the stream of time.
It has been almost eight months (which is very difficult for me to grasp) and it has been a time of new surroundings, new culture, new food… experiences that really do not seem all that new to me anymore. My life here in Chile, is my life, at this...
Spreading my Wings...
Just for today
be free and happy.
Just for today
have joy.
Just for today
you are taken care of.
Live consciously in the moment.
Take your blessings with gratitude.
Respect your parents, teachers and elders.
Earn your bread honestly.
Love others as you love yourself.
These are the spiritual rules of life, according to Rieki. Reiki, Japanese for “Universal Life Energy,” is a...
March 2010
4 posts
Staying Optimistic...
Every experience has its ups and downs. I am accepting that, I must if I want to continue to be happy here. This last week was very difficult for me, it was the first time I really came to a breaking point of frustration and discouragement. The challenges and difficulties seem to be inevitable at every apparently hopeful corner. Its different here in Chile, and that is okay. Everything, from the...
Chile Ayuda Chile.
I am not sure if this photograph has been depicted in the States, but this image has been plastered all over the news and commercials down here for the past week. I love this picture. I love it. In the middle of the turmoil and destruction, yet standing strong with the torn and tattered flag of his beloved country. Beautiful. ¡Fuerza Chile!
The mindset of the Chilean people, post-earthquake, is...
Turning disaster into Opportunity...
As everyone is aware, a devastating earthquake shook Chile Saturday in the early morning. The experience was terrifying and I still cannot believe this has all happened, especially while I have been living down here! Crazy. Luckily, everyone I am connected with is safe, that has been such a relief. I believe we are all still recovering from the fear and intensity of the entire experience though....
February 2010
1 post
“Adventure is a path. Real adventure – self-determined, self-motivated, often...”
– Mark Jenkins
January 2010
3 posts
Quizzical thinking for an unsettled mind...
Why am I here in Chile? What is my purpose here? Although I have learned so much and although my experiences here have opened me up in new ways, I still seem to be teetering between a sense of contentment, that I know I am here for a reason, and a sense of restlessness, of wanting to start getting involved more directly with the people. Working with EPES has been a great opportunity and I have...
Hoping I would see the world through both my...
I love to take pictures. I love to capture time. I love to document an adventure via a digital camera, shooting stills that I can later enjoy; reliving little moments and critiquing the quality of shots. I love to observe things from different angles, discover beauty in something that may at first seem not worth admiring, and unleashing opportunities of creativity in ordinary encounters. Of...
December 2009
2 posts
"City Sidewalks, Busy Sidewalks....
….dressed in Holiday style.” Silver Bells is one of my favorite Christmas songs, but unfortunately this year not even that song could get me completely in the swing of Christmas. I am sure this has mostly to do with the fact that I am away from home, there is no snow (when the temperatures are pushing 90 everyday, its hard to remember its actually December) and that I am not in the...
Despite transformations and improvisations... I...
The past couple of days have been quite entertaining, and although I have thoroughly been enjoying myself all week, I have been lacking all inspiration to blog. This is interesting, too, because although I have fallen into a rhythm of comfortability, of actually living in Santiago, at the same time, I do not feel as though I have been idly going through the humdrum of the “every day.”...
November 2009
7 posts
Quilted blankets and Ginger men.
What is unique about the culture of the United States? Unlike many other countries, there is no national dance, there is no national dish and there is no national attire. American culture centers around American football, fast food, the latest gadgets and seeing who can make it to the top first, or so that is what many people think. But, underneath all that I would like to hope there is something...
Just listen. Hear the Music. Feel its Beauty.
Its just the First second. I am Somewhere else.
Strolling down a Great Ocean Road. Falling, or is it Flight?
Learning that I am here, I am me, From now on.
Oh, the Places I dream of.
This is just a One Time Deal, or is it?
What are the odds, one-to-two, two-to-one, or, are they Ten to Five?
Sometimes I wish this mystery of life was more Clear Cut.
Why do I feel I am on this crazy journey,...
In this moment, you are exactly... Right Here.
Little moments today… where I was exactly right where I was.
This morning around 8:30am:
Gretch and I began our (almost) daily hour long trek across the city to EPES. This requires us to hop (which is a term I use very loosely, considering most of the time its more like- take a deep breath, squeeze on and try to avoid as much contact as possible) on the Green metro line, which is only a...
“Wherever my travel may lead, paradise is where I am…”
– That is a quote by Voltaire, which is on a bookmark I received today from one of my very good friends, Sarah. I love the bookmark and the quote, they are both beautiful! Its funny too, because it came at a very appropriate time, considering that Gretch and I will be traveling to Mendoza, AR this...
"Bright Blessed Days... Dark Sacred Nights."
What aspects does an organization need to possess in order to remain sustainable? This was a question Karen, founder and director of EPES, asked all of us during a meeting this morning. Founded 28 years ago, EPES was created with the vision of Six Pillars of Sustainability, which serve as the foundation of its mission. The pillars are: a theological vision, clarity of mission, leadership/...
October 2009
4 posts
Even Smile in Your Liver.
“Women, Health and Leadership.” This is the theme of an all-day workshop that Gretch and I were part of on Tuesday. It will continue with the second session this week, Tuesday. The experience was very interesting on many different levels. All of the topics that were discussed and all the ideas that were taught seemed, to me, to be prior knowledge. They were ideas that I believed...
“Your treasure- your perfection- is within you already. But to claim it, you must...”
– That quote is from the book, Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert.
Ah, what beauty it reveals to me.
Home :-)
This is a picture of the room I am now renting. It’s small, but it will be perfect!
New address:
Jofre 0180
Dept 43 Citófono 243
Comuna Providencia
Santiago, Chile
It has been so nice to finally be settled. Now, its time for a period of becoming familiar with the city before we actually begin serving. Today, Gretch and I went on a mini-excursion to discover new areas. (We are...
"X" Marks the Spot!!
I think it is safe to say that we all understand everything changes. The seasons change, and with that the weather changes; we change, and as a result our attitude about life and how we live changes; technology changes, and consequently society changes. Times change. Time simply changes. So I have learned, especially during my time here in Chile, that means don’t bother making huge plans,...
September 2009
11 posts
Hoy es Hoy, Ayer se Fue.
I have now been down in Chile for over a month now and my time here continues to be an amazing experience. I have learned so much these past few weeks; my beliefs about certain issues, my views toward the Earth and all its people, and my thoughts about life in general have been challenged and I have been opened up in so many ways. I am truly in a phase of self-discovery and exploration and...
You were there... and I was there.
I have been in Vilches for almost a week now, and the experiences I have had here have been absolutely amazing! This little pueblo is nestled right in the mountains, with beautiful views of nature, friendly people, and, for me, a great feeling of home. I am truly happy here and my heart is at peace.
So much has happened this past week- independence day, my birthday, hiking, horseback-riding, and...
“Que la tierra sea sanada, que la paz prevalezca en la tierra”
– That line is said three times after a session of circle dance. It says, “that the earth may be healed, that peace may prevail over the earth.” Last night, at a session of circle dance, that line moved me in a different way, it is really beautiful.
Well, we did not get the chance to go...
"You're in the arms of the Angel...
…may you find some comfort there.” That is the line to one of my favorite Sarah Mclachlan songs, “Angel.” Every time I hear it, I just want to burst into tears because it moves me so much.
This past week we have had several invitations for dinner (which is lunch) and “Onces” (which is dinner) at some of the womens’ homes from the Casa. It has been very...
Rincones..."they really love the color blue..."
On a walk to El Centro (downtown) yesterday evening, Julia informed us about the rincones, which are common here in Chile. A rincon is equivalent to the Brown Recluse spider in the States! They are called Rincones because they hide in corners and rincon is the Spanish word for corner. Anyway, I now have this profound fear that they are lurking in every corner and creeping in every crack around the...
Splitin', Peelin' and Dumpin' Bananas!!
It rained all day today. Rain all day is never fun, but it did give us an excuse to play Bananagrams all evening long! It was a lot of fun and a very good time for some bonding with everyone here at the Casa- Ruth, Mimi, Julia, Andrea, Gretchen and Katie, a friend of Andrea’s that is visiting. A few of the rounds we also tried to do in Spanish and that made it an entirely different...
As one we walk this Earth together...
That is a line from a song that we have circle danced to twice now and I absolutely love it- both the song and the dance. I was not familiar with circle dance before I came to Chile, but here it is very popular. I love it because anyone can do it and the movement of everyone in a circle is very fluid and tranquil. The dances range in difficulty, and some of them can be quite hard, but for the most...
New Beginnings
So Chile has been so incredible thus far. I have met so many amazing people who have been so warm and welcoming! Its been great! Surprisingly, even the weather hasnt been bad. The nights are cold, but the days have been very comfortable. Of course, I was setting myself up for the worst.
I am definitely excited to be in Chillan now and starting to take in all the opportunities that I have to...
August 2009
1 post
“When you travel, a new silence goes with you, and if you listen, you will hear...”