savor the journey...they say

so when i was travelling in central america i kinda hated the long bus rides.

i always got really anxious, you know, wondering if we were ever really going to reach our destination and trying not to wonder what i would do if we didn't. it was a little unsettling to my type-a-ness to travel at the mercy of a slightly crazy honduran who would always babble incoherently to my very gringa ears. often inquiring to the remaining duration of the trip, i would simply receive a laugh and a nod of the head 'ya tiempo, amor.'

of course, without the journey i never would have seen my sweet friend and her community hidden in the beautiful mountains of guatemala and i would have missed the excitement of jaloning up to a remote honduran village where there was no electricity or running water. i never would have seen the border town at night...so alive with boracha music blaring in the adjacent cantinas. i never would have tasted mama marixas amazing tortillas. i wouldn't have gotten to sell atol to the local school kids at recess or munched on delicious guayavas fresh from the tree. i never would have met jorge or maria or erlinda, orlando or eveylene.

i am beginning to feel like i'm stuck on the perpetual bus ride. i keep waiting to arrive, and everytime i just think i might...the journey continues. i wouldn't mind it so much if someone could just assure me that, eventually, the destination will come into view and i will know, with certainty, that i am here. but such assurance eludes me at every single turn, and at times i feel like i am the only one on this route. i keep watching my companions hop on and off...

but i am simply lost.

i'm not even certain which path i've chosen anymore...'oh wait, did i take the "no i'll never finish school or have a real job" turn at the fork in the road or is this the "just kidding, i don't want to be a crazy nature doctor anymore" trail?'

hey busdriver!!!! i wish for just one moment you spoke my language and could tell me in a calm, collected voice that eveything is going to be okay.

i love this place

so today i decided i really like the store ikea it is amazing! all in one place you can choose how to create your own space, eat a delecious turkey crossaint sandwich and spend hours checking out the latest and greatest decorating ideas (all for a low low price even wal-mart would have a tough time beating). and the excitement doesn't end there -- once you get home you become a creative carpentry genius (with the help of some very scandinavian drawings to direct the assembly process)...tonight i built a chair and a shelf -- i even broke out the tool box, making use of some screw drivers and a saw!!!! hmmm. what will they think of next? ikea i love you -- thanks for making my day special (i can't wait for tomorrow...its bookshelf day!)