Cocktails on Peachtree

Happy 2012 -- From the Land of Mayan Myths

2012-01-02T14:23:00.003-05:00

The Mayan ruins at Tikal.

Well, I guess it's time for the obligatory post acknowledging the beginning of a new year and reflecting on the end of another. Before I started writing, I went back and read my New Year's post from last year. It was filled with uncertainty, as I was still in limbo regarding job prospects. As it turned out, I ended up staying in Guatemala, signing a 2-year teaching contract. In that respect, I know that I will be teaching in Guatemala through June 2013, but the job search will begin mid-2012.

The international teaching community gets an early jump in hiring for the upcoming school year. It is a nerve-wracking and incredibly competitive job market, which now requires the creation of elaborate online portfolios, travel to international job fairs (many schools hire at job fairs), and a months-long process of applications and (hopefully) interviews. That's what I have to look forward to in 2012 -- the job search. I'll keep you posted on the search process as it begins mid-year. But let's talk a bit more about 2012.

Guatemala in 2012...let's think about that. I recently visited the elaborate Northern-Guatemala Mayan ruin site of Tikal. Tikal is thought by many to have been the epicenter of the Mayan civilization, a civilization that has come to be associated with a calendar and a story about the end of the world. According to some, the Mayan calendar ends on December 21, 2012 -- is it a sign that the world will end on that day? Or a sign that 2,000 years ago, someone finally got tired of chiseling a calendar that went hundreds of years into the future? While I happen to lean towards the coincidence of the latter, many people have bought into the end-of-the-world in 2012 theory, which ought to make this an interesting year in Guatemala.

The country is predicting a boom in doomsday-related tourism. I, for one, intend to steer clear of Guatemala next December. Although, I think a Mayan themed party may be in order on December 21st.

2011 Holiday Cookie - Peppermint Buttercream Whoopie Pies

2011-12-14T10:30:00.004-05:00

Photo from Epicurious.com

As much as I love to cook, I love to bake even more. And like many, nothing inspires me to get baking quite like the holiday season. Every year I try to conjure up a new Christmas cookie. This year was no different, and I even had a cookie swap invite to boot. I got the idea for the cookie from this Epicurious recipe, but after reading some of the reviews, decided to search out better recipes for the individual elements. So while they ended up looking like the Epicurious cookies, it sounds like they tasted a bit better, in fact, I'm slightly obsessed with how delicious these are. So I present to you...2011's Peppermint Buttercream Whoopie Pies.

As soon as I saw the picture on Epicurious' site, I immediately thought "whoopie pie," which have recently come back into posh popularity in the States (or at least, so I'm told). So I searched out the perfect soft, cake-like cookie to encase the real star of the show -- the peppermint buttercream. This embarrassingly simple recipe was the winner. The only modification I made was to cut back the vegetable oil a bit and add some freshly brewed coffee. I'm a true believer that if it has chocolate, it should have a tinge of coffee to really make it pop.

For the buttercream, I actually started by trying the Epicurious recipe, and the filling was terrible. I felt like I was eating a stick of butter. Too much. So instead:

Peppermint Buttercream:
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons confectioner's sugar
2-3 tablespoons milk (I just slowly added milk until it had a nice texture and the butter-ness was cut down a bit)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract (OR...as I live in Guatemala, peppermint extract eludes me. So I threw some candy canes into a food processor and mixed into the buttercream. It gave a nice color and texture.)
Some crushed candy canes to roll the edges of the cookies in.

Of course, any good buttercream recipe will do. Just add the peppermint flavoring. This was, by far, my favorite holiday cookie to date. They are incredibly sweet, so I baked smaller cookies to create smaller whoopie pies. Happy Holiday Baking!

Indiana Jones, back in action

2011-12-13T16:05:00.008-05:00

The main square of Tikal.

It's been a while since I've posted about one of my Central American adventures. I just realized that I never blogged about my trip to Nicaragua (which I should do this week, as I am returning to Nicaragua for Christmas). But let me start with my most recent adventure -- a journey into the Guatemalan jungle that would make Indiana proud.

Beautiful tree

I've been in Guatemala for the better part of 2 years now, and it's taken me until this past weekend to venture up to the northern part of the country, known for heat, humidity, jungle, wild animals and spectacular Mayan ruins. Of the latter, the most famous is undoubtedly Tikal. I booked my tour through a company in Flores (a charming little island that I will post more about later), and started my trek at 4:15am.

After an hour and a half shuttle ride, we finally arrived at our destination. As the sun was rising, we started on the trail that led us through a twisting and turning jungle, filled with foreign animal sounds (most notable the sounds of monkeys, jaguars and toucans). For me, I was still taking in the sights and sounds of being in the Guatemalan jungle when through the trees I spotted the first, towering, 2,000+ year old temple.

Just a sneak peek of what I was about to see.

{A little background for those unfamiliar -- Tikal, until recently, was believed to be the epicenter of the ancient Mayan civilization based on its size and complexity (scientists recently discovered a larger site north of Tikal near the Mexican border called El Mirador -- the boyfriend is on a 6-day trek there as I type). To give some perspective, some archaeologists have likened Tikal to the NYC of the era, with some of the temples rivaling modern-day high-rises in size. While it's hard to know for sure, some experts think that people inhabited the site as far back as 1000 B.C. The site is also famous for being home to the Mayan Winter Solstice celebration, held December 21 each year. Does that date ring a bell? That's right, Tikal is also the epicenter of the Mayan 2012 myth, which predicts the end of the world. Let's just say, I'm glad I went this year, and didn't put my trip off until next December.}

Me, standing on top of Temple IV.

The largest and most impressive temple at the site is Temple IV, which can be climbed via a very long and exhausting flight of stairs. The view from the top of that structure is in a word -- spectacular. Perched atop its ancient foundation, you can see an endless stretch of Guatemala jungle, untouched by modern development, with the occasional temple peaking up from the verdant sea of foliage. My 30 minutes up there were some of the most serene and awe-inspiring of my life. The sounds of toucans, monkeys, and possibly a jaguar or two (our guide seemed to think so), were such welcomed sounds for this anti-zoo gal. Looking out it was easy to imagine a Mayan King sitting up there looking over his empire, which is probably the same reaction George Lucas had and why he subsequently filmed scenes here for "Return of the Jedi."

For all you "Star Wars" fans, this is the shot featured in "Return of the Jedi."

I've explored a few different ruin sites while living in Central America, but none compare to Tikal. I imaging few ruins around the world could -- except Machu Picchu in Peru and Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Two sites that I've recently added to my must-see list. And I'm also now curious about this new site, El Mirador, which apparently features the largest pyramid (by mass) in the world. That's right Egypt -- the Ancient Mayans may have just schooled you. Look for a post about El Mirador after the holidays, when I convince Steve to share his 6-day journey through the (real) Guatemalan jungle.

Pumpkin Spice Bread

2011-10-23T15:08:00.005-04:00

Ok, so this is the story about how a once-loyal-blogger replaced blogging with cooking and baking. I've always loved to cook, but lately, I've become slightly obsessed with it. It may have something to do with the fact that I have a legit kitchen in Guatemala now, where before I had an apartment kitchen with just a stove top and a toaster oven. In any case, people started asking me for recipes, and then it hit me - I should just combine my travel blogging with some food blogging. The best of both worlds!

One of the things I really miss about the States is experiencing a true Fall season. We get cooler weather and stronger winds around this time in Guatemala, but it's just not quite the same. I have found myself searching for pumpkin-scented candles and pumpkin-infused baked goods to help replicate the season in our home. The best recipe I've made so far? Pumpkin Spice bread...a la Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade style (minus her ubiquitous cocktail hour...seriously, does she have a problem?)

I'm usually a from-scratch type of baker, but occasionally, a boxed mix will catch my attention. Enter my new favorite brand of boxed mixes - Krusteaz. I spied a box of their Pumpkin Spice Bread Mix at the store and had to try it, because pumpkin is fleeting in these parts. So I whipped up a batch, but added my own twist on the box recipe by adding Earth Lodge's Crumb Cake topping to the bread. It. was. amazing. We picked up 3 more boxes of the mix next time we were at the store. So easy, and well worth it. Here's how it goes:

Prepare the Krusteaz Pumpkin Spice Bread Mix according to package directions. (Guatemala City is a mile high city, so I'm now that person that has to follow the "High Altitude" directions...ugh.)

Earth Lodge's Crumb cake topping:
4Tbsp margarine/butter, melted
1/3 cup sugar (I do half white, and half brown sugar)
1/2 tsp honey or maple syrup
1 tsp cinnamon
pinch of salt

Whisk all the above ingredients together, then stir in 1 cup of flour. (Mix in 1/3 at a time, only adding enough flour until the dough starts to get crumbly and turn into little balls of dough.)

Then add the crumb topping on top of the bread. Don't over do it, just an even layer on top. You will have to up the baking time from the box because of the topping. For me, it takes about hour and five minutes. Make sure you use a toothpick to make sure the batter has cooked all the way through. Enjoy!

Now, if only I could locate some Apple Cider to go with this...

Guatemalan Beaches - Monterrico

2011-07-13T11:12:00.006-04:00

As an ode to summertime, I thought it was time to talk about the beach situation in Guatemala. I'm the first to admit that when I moved to Guatemala, my first thought wasn't, "Oh, they have great beaches there!" And there is a reason for that....they don't. Overall, the Pacific Coast of Guatemala is underdeveloped, boasts black, volcanic sand that is like walking on hot coals, and has rip tides that could swallow even a skilled swimmer. That aside, there are certain places along the beach that are simply - magical. I found one of those places in Monterrico.

The city of Monterrico sits on the Pacific Coast, about 2 1/2 hours south of Guatemala City. The town itself has very little to offer - one ATM that was out of money when I was there, no taxis, and a very limited restaurant scene. Needless to say, I was a little underwhelmed when we first arrived. But then the car turned, went outside of the center of town, and pulled up at our hotel, Dos Mundos. A full-blown resort of this variety would probably be about $400-$500/night AT LEAST in Florida. In Guatemala, try $80/night for a private bungalow with two queen-sized beds, air-conditioning, and private bath. Sold!

I could have lived in that infinity pool that spilled right onto the beach, especially when I ordered a pina colada and it came in a carved-out pineapple. The restaurant was incredible with Guatemalan-Italian fused fare, and at sunset, when the sand was cool enough to walk on, we happened upon a group of baby sea turtles, running into the ocean for the first time. There's no internet, no tv, and you don't need it.

This is the official open invitation to all my friends and family to come visit me in Guatemala! My best friend has been, my mom is coming this fall, and I'm anxious for more people to visit. I'll take you to Dos Mundos. And buy you a pina colada. Or three.

10 Thoughts on Being Back in the USA (for the summer)

2011-06-21T11:01:00.004-04:00

I'm baa-aack! I've returned to the good ole U.S. of A. for a summer vacation, and I'm happy to be here. Between visiting friends and family and indulging myself in my favorite treats that can't be found abroad (Chick-fil-a!), I have kept pretty busy. But, without fail, I always get this question, "How does it feel to be home?" The truth is...I feel like a visitor. My home is in Guatemala. Maybe it's because I moved a lot as a kid, but I think of my "home" as being where I live. And my house (and the vast majority of my belongings) is in Guatemala. That semantic issue aside, I do have several thoughts on being back in Georgia.

1. The heat. It's hotter here than it is in Guatemala. That is a fact.
2. Air conditioning. Has it always been this cold?
3. Toilet paper. You can't flush toilet paper in Central America. That took some re-adjusting to.
4. Water. It sure is nice to drink tap water without getting a bacterial infection.
5. Driving. I've missed driving around because I'm too scared to attempt driving in Guatemala City.
6. TV. All the channels are in English! (Well, except for 2)
7. Crickets. My mom's house is outside of the city. I forgot what crickets sounded like. Although, they did keep me awake the first 2 nights.
8. Accents. Have southern accents always been so strong?
9. Dr. Pepper. Mmmmmmm.
10. Who is Casey Anthony?

The Good, the Bad, and the Goodbyes of Teaching Abroad

2011-06-04T10:34:00.004-04:00

Two weeks ago, I marked my one-year anniversary with Guatemala. And as the end of my contract is rapidly approaching (last day of school is next Friday..woo!), it has set me in a reflective mood. This year has brought a lot of changes for me, both professionally and personally, but it has also brought a lot of changes for Guatemala and this part of the world.

I already announced here that I would be staying in Guatemala for two more years, but that decision was not made without a certain amount of trepidation in regards to the regional political situation. This is a topic that I have mainly refrained from addressing on my blog because I know my family and friends read this, and I don't want them to worry. But, I now feel that with some of Guatemala's troubles making big news back home, the time has come. These fragile democracies (which were built on the backs of CIA-backed coups) have created a volatile situation that has certainly impacted my stay here. I had originally planned a trip for next weekend to the Guatemalan Mayan mecca of Tikal, but had to cancel those plans after a Mexican drug cartel invaded and started conducting some rather horrifying business (I'll spare those details on my blog). And with the Presidential election right around the corner in September, many schools have planned closures for that week anticipating a wave of protests and turmoil.

That has served as a reminder to me that, although we have disagreements between political parties that run very deep in the USA, we would never have to close our school system for days or a week for fear of violence. I, for one, have become very aware and thankful for that fact. (If you are interested in reading more about the Guatemala-Mexico situation, I highly recommend a 3-part series that aired on NPR this past week. You can check that out online here.)

Guatemala is a strange and wonderful place. An odd juxtaposition of some of the world's most beautiful wonders and violent crimes. I love it. I really do. And although I am looking forward to spending a month back in the States this summer, I can't wait to come back to Guatemala in August for some new adventures.

Guatemala has brought me the good, the bad, and the sad. Tonight, I am heading to Antigua to say farewell to one of my dear friends that I have made while teaching here. This is the tough part of teaching abroad. You meet these amazing people and personalities, only to have them for a short time. And while I am sad to send my friend off back to The Netherlands, I am also stoked that I now have a good friend in The Netherlands. And Canada. And Ecuador. And Jordan. And Bangladesh....

Oh yea, I have a blog

2011-05-15T20:57:00.005-04:00

Well hi there. So, somewhere between the start of a new school year and Spring Break, I let my blogging duties fall through the cracks. Sorry. But, let me take this opportunity to bring you up to speed.

Today marks exactly one year since I made the move to Guatemala. With that milestone also came the time to make a decision about my career. I only signed a one-year teaching contract with my school here, so that essentially made me a free agent after my contract expires on June 10. I considered holding a Lebron-style press conference chronicling my free-agency and officially declaring my interest in certain teams, er...I mean schools, but decided against it. (Because that PR move really backfired for him.) In early April, after carefully weighing a couple of different job offers, I ultimately decided to stay in Guatemala and signed a 2-year contract at a new international school in Guatemala City.

It was a tough decision to make, but I can confidently say today that I am thrilled with the decision I made. So that means 2 more years of Cocktails on Peachtree - Guate edition. After that, who knows. I have the feeling that I'll be on the road for a while, though.

Since I last posted an update, I traveled back to my favorite beach in Costa Rica and ventured to Nicaragua for the first time ever. Look for posts on that journey soon, along with posts about the upcoming Guatemalan elections, a trip to the Guatemalan coast, and a border-crossing experience to end all border-crossing experiences.

"Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life." -Jack Kerouac

Lake Atitlan/Panajachel

2011-01-18T19:34:00.006-05:00

Sunrise over Lake Atitlan.

Panajachel is a sleepy, hippie village located on the shores of Guatemala's most famous and beautiful lake, Lago de Atitlan. Almost immediately after pulling into town, I was smitten. The chilled-out vibe was intoxicating for a teacher who was long overdue for a vacation.

The lake itself is surrounded by volcanoes and sports the most spectacular sunrises I've ever seen. When my best friend from home and I ventured there in late November, the weather was flawless. We spent most of our time there perusing the stores and bargaining with locals who were quick to mistake us for their average tourist. (My Spanish combined with my now-experienced-Guatemalan-haggling skills soon make them aware of their mistake.) The other options for activities are limited to exploring the smaller villages that surround the lake or the nature preserve that sits above the area's only "resort."

One of the quirky modes of transportation in Panajachel...the Tuk Tuk.

We opted to explore the nature preserve one day and found ourselves hiking and ziplining through the woods. The area's resident Spider Monkeys seemed downright delighted to have the company, making sure to put on a show for us by swinging around from tree to tree with their curled-up little tails. Needless to say, the trail's altitude above the lake provided the most breathtaking views of the lake. (I actually almost missed my signal to stop and almost hit a tree because I was too busy staring at my surroundings.)

Well hello, Mr. Monkey. I hope you're not the one from "Outbreak."

If the hiking and ziplining isn't your speed, there are also a number of excellent restaurants and bars located in the area. And when we arrived a new import grocery store had opened...I may or may not have audibly shrieked when I spotted a Dr. Pepper in there. Overall, the residents are friendly, the food is fantastic, and the lake is, well, awe-inspiring. It's the perfect place to kick back and relax for a day or two, and if you are a tourist, this is the place to buy your souvenirs. The prices are way cheaper than in Antigua, even on the Jade.

The feeling of renewal and relaxation that I felt when exiting Panajachel made the 3-hour trek there from the city worth it. I can't wait to go back. It was almost more beautiful than Semuc Champey. Almost.

Feliz Ano Nuevo!

2011-01-03T10:55:00.014-05:00

So, some of you probably noticed that I decided to go on hiatus for the month of December. I decided at the very last minute to go home for the holidays, and I loved every minute of time spent with family and friends. But, I've just arrived back in Guatemala, geared up for a new year and new adventures!

Let's rewind to the end of 2009 when I said this about New Year's Resolutions. The goal I set for myself in 2010 was simple....travel. And as I sit here today, living in a foreign country, I feel confident that for the first time in my life I made very good on a resolution. And I hope those of you who read my blog from time to time would agree. I certainly could not have predicted a year ago that I would be living in Guatemala, and I think that a lack of predictability probably means that I am living life right.

And once again, I have no idea what 2011 will bring. 2010 ended in a different way and place than I had planned, so maybe that's a sign that it is time for me to stop trying to plan out every aspect of my future and just ride this wave. My big question for this new year: "Where in the world will I be after June?" Guatemala? Brazil? Ecuador? Atlanta? Who knows. The job search is under way...I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, here are my favorite shots of 2010:

Colorful textiles at the market in Chichicastenango, Guatemala.

The deliciously cool limestone pools of Semuc Champey, Guatemala.

Sunset in San Pedro, Belize.

Local kid getting ready to jump off the pier in Roatan, Honduras.

Stunning sunrise over Lake Atitlan, Guatemala.

Sunset view of the volcanoes from my apartment. Volcan Fuego is saying hello.

A red sunset over the beach in Playa Conchal, Costa Rica.

Volcan Agua looming over the colonial town of Antigua, Guatemala.

Releasing sea turtles on the beach - Playa San Blas, El Salvador.

Marshmallows roasting on an open...lava pit?

2010-12-05T21:41:00.012-05:00

Katie Jones and the Deathly Hallows...of Pacaya??

Remember way back about 7 months ago when I first moved to Guatemala and I talked about Volcan Pacaya erupting here, here and here? Well, I finally had a chance to give Pacaya a piece of my mind when I hiked its slopes all the way to its eerily quiet summit last weekend. Yes, I hiked 2 hours up the side of an active volcano...no big deal.

The crater. Or as our guide said, "This is where the magic happens." Uh...ok. If "magic" is code for explosions.

In reading up on what to expect while climbing this volcano, I came across several guide books and web sites that describe the climb as an easy one. To those people: You are liars. Maybe they hiked it pre-eruption, I'm not sure, but the new path that was forged after the volcano blew its lid in May is considerably more difficult. And the thick, powdery ash that covers the entire trail does not help. You have to make twice the effort to pick your feet up on each step because with each foot forward you sink into the ash. I made a decent showing before caving and paying Q100 ($12) to ride a horse the rest of the way up.

I'm sorry, but this was NOT an easy hike. I don't care how experienced you are.

The weather the morning we went up was very strange Guatemalan weather. With thick fog and bone-chilling winds, the scenery resembled Harry Potter's Deathly Hallows more than a Guatemalan volcano. Something about the setting just gave me a creepy vibe for most of the trip. Maybe it was also the fact that its eruption is still pretty fresh in my mind.

Taking in the awesome views at the top. That's Volcan Agua and Fuego in the background.

When we finally reached the top, we were instantly rewarded with warmer temperatures that quickly turned into blazing hot temperatures. We made our way across the ash/rock-covered summit by slipping and sliding (and sometimes falling). But it was all worth it because at the top we were greeted with breathtaking views of the surrounding area (including other volcanoes), walked into a cave in the side of the volcano which was basically a free sauna treatment, and toasted marshmallows over an open lava pit. Not. too. shabby.

Nothing like a toasted marshmallow with a hint of lava.

And I feel like Pacaya and I have come to an understanding. And by understanding I mean that I said, "Hey, no more eruptions while I am here, por favor," and we haven't had one...in the 7 days since.

Battle of the Baristas

2010-11-23T14:31:00.008-05:00

The backdrop for the barista competition.

One of the things I miss from back home is Fall. Occasionally there will be a day here when the air is crisp and the wind is blowing, but it's just not the same without the changing leaves and pumpkin spice lattes. It's also the time of year that seems to host the best outdoor festivals that a city has to offer. And as an Atlantan, I was spoiled with events like Taste of Atlanta and Inman Park Festival. So, when I heard 2 weeks ago that there was a big outdoor festival coming up in Guatemala City, I didn't even care what the theme was, I was in. But the unexpectedly awesome theme?? It was a coffee festival. Jack.pot.

I have mentioned on here before how I am slightly obsessed (ok, majorly obsessed) with the coffee here, so there was no way I was going to miss out on an entire festival dedicated to it. We made our way down the street to the entrance of the festival, which was impressive. The street was lined with flags from around the world, so naturally I couldn't resist the urge to strike a pose with the US flag.

Still don't know what the US contribution to coffee is....Starbucks?? (Shudder)

Once inside, we grabbed a cup of coffee (obviously) and scoped out the schedule of activities. Turns out we had arrived just in time to watch the Guatemala National Barista Championship, an event sponsored by the World Barista Championship. We grabbed our seats and watched these guys battle it out for the chance to represent Guatemala in the world competition, coming up next year in Colombia.

The judges and camera equipment surrounding the first competitor as he serves up espresso.

It was entertaining and very official-looking with judges flown in from around the world and some impressive camera equipment on-site. Prior to sipping the drinks, the judges would swoosh the cafe around in their glasses like a fine Pinot Noir. (No, seriously.) The unusual level of fascination and intensity with which these people regarded their espresso creations made me feel much better about my slight-by-comparison coffee addiction. In the end, a young fellow named Jose de la Pena won the trip to Colombia by creating his own flavored syrups over an open flame and combining them with the best espresso Guatemala has to offer. Congrats!

Christmas with the Guac-ettes

2010-11-17T16:45:00.006-05:00

It may not be Christmas yet, but Guatemala City thought it was time to light the Gallo Christmas Tree. Gallo is the national beer of Guatemala. Yep, that's right, this fun-loving, music-filled event was sponsored by a beer company. And, the Gallo chicken was the tree-topper. What.....a family-friendly fiesta.

I've seen tree lightings before, but nothing even comes close to the show they put on in Guatemala. I wish I had a crowd estimate to share, but I honestly can't guess that kind of thing accurately. All I know is that it was so crowded that at one point, we were moving without putting forth any effort. It was one of those crowds that no one enjoys being in where you literally can't move unless the people around you move as well. And, as is seemingly always the case in Central America, a crowd that size can't get together without snipers promptly stationed on the billboards and high-rises around the square. Nothing says "Feliz Navidad" like watching the fireworks display illuminate their rifles' silhouettes.

Christmas tree at the Obelisco at sunset.

The massive, uncomfortable crowd aside, it was a really fun evening for a bunch of gringas. The tree lighting itself lasted about 20 minutes with the lights moving in patterns to the tune of some Christmas classics. And there was a stage with live music and Guatemala's version of The Rockettes, which Steph and I promptly named "The Guac-ettes." The whole evening was capped off with a fireworks display that was so big, I think in my lifetime it ranks 2nd only to the fireworks display at the '96....Olympics.

We walked home feeling appropriately holiday-ish in spite of the vendors creating a carnival-like atmosphere by selling goods such as cotton-candy and hot dogs. Although, to be fair, the hot dogs were the Guatemalan version known as "shucos." They come with guacamole, ketchup, mayo, and.....well, Guatemalan cuisine just needs a post of its own. Let's just say that the Guatemalan shuco puts the Columbus, GA "scramble dog" to shame. Sorry, Lieutenant.

Chichicastenango

2010-11-10T17:28:00.007-05:00

Mayans gathered on the steps of the cathedral.

Last week, HuffPost ran an article titled "21 Marvelous Markets Around the World," and number 19 on the list (#4 on the reader's choice column) was a little town in Guatemala called Chichicastenango. I had heard other folks around here rave about it on occasion, but there is truly no way to appreciate this place without going there in person. A group of us went on Sunday, and all I can say is....wow.

Standing on the steps of the Catholic church in the middle of town is a bit of an overwhelming experience. On the one hand, you're looking out on street after street of vendors selling brightly colored tapestries, paintings, t-shirts, handbags, carvings, jewelry, food....you name it, they've got it, basically.

A wall of colorful Guatemalan fabrics.

And on the other hand, you can't help but be moved by the sight of indigenous Guatemalans worshiping and leaving offerings on the steps on the Catholic church you're standing on. They're not Catholic, no, rather they come here to worship at a sacred Mayan site, which the Spanish promptly plopped down a massive Catholic church on top of. For me, personally, it was by far the most striking and ironic example of the consequences of conquest. Ironic because in order to practice the Catholic faith, a religion which supposedly promotes peace and understanding of your neighbor, the Spanish demolished an ancient Mayan site. The juxtaposition of simple, humble worshiping on the steps of the monstrosity of a Catholic church really says a lot.

After leaving the church, we walked down the jam-packed streets of Central America's largest outdoor market. Aisle after aisle is packed with merchandise boasting the most vibrant colors, causing one to stop from time to time simply to appreciate the material landscape. I certainly did my fair share of shopping (I'm certain this is the earliest I've ever been done with Christmas shopping), but there were also a couple of other noteworthy things happening here:

One of the aisles at Chichicastenango.

1. The innocent-looking pickpockets. I had been warned prior to my visit that because this market is SO crowded, with Guatemalans and tourists alike, that it is a prime spot to be pickpocketed. And sure enough, there was a moment when I most definitely felt someone looking for money in my back pocket. So when I turned around I was STUNNED to find this innocent looking elderly Mayan woman. I get it, maybe she thinks I'm Catholic.

2. The insistent children. I'm used to seeing kids asking for money throughout Central America, but the kids trying to sell things at Chichicastenango were relentless. I finally told one kid trying to sell me Christmas ornamants that I was Jewish. He didn't seem to know what that meant, but he left nonetheless.

3. The negotiating. Before moving here, I never consisdered myself to be much of a haggler, but I managed to negotiate some serious deals on some sweet Guatemalan merch, and I left extremely proud of myself....and my Spanish.

Guatemala, a.k.a. Mecca for coffee lovers

2010-11-03T18:20:00.006-04:00

How have I managed to live in Guatemala for almost 6 months now (already?? yikes!) and not write about this? I, a self-professed coffee addict, have hit the jackpot in Guatemala. I had known for some time that Guatemala was famous for its coffee, but whenever I picked the "Guatemala" blend at Starbucks, I wasn't that impressed. The red flag should have been the week before I left the States and I noticed a map in my local Starbucks with Guatemala marked as....Costa Rica. (And yes, I did alert the store manager to the gaffe.)

Anyways, shame on me for ever questioning Guatemala's cafe credentials. Since I moved here, I have had the best coffee in the world. Quite literally. And after you've been here long enough, you start to differentiate between beans produced in different regions of the country. My personal favorite is a brew from the Coban region of Guatemala. But there must be dozens of different coffee fincas scattered throughout Guate's verdant countryside, and I feel like it's my personal mission to try them all.

The one thing I don't understand, however, is the way Guatemalans drink their coffee. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy milk and sugar in my coffee, but these folks pour sugar into their coffee. In fact, they usually forgo the milk, as I always have to request "Cafe CON leche, por favor." The waiters here don't usually bring it to the table unless it's specifically solicited. But it just seems wrong to weigh down such a naturally decadent and rich brew. In any case, I'm hooked. And I don't know what I will do when I leave Guatemala to get my coffee fix. I feel like ridiculous shipping & handling charges are in my future...

More pushpins for my travel map

2010-10-26T21:45:00.010-04:00

With nothing but faculty meetings and paperwork filling my time since the kids have left school for the "summer," I have been spending most of my days daydreaming about the upcoming trips that I am planning to take. Here are a few spots on the upcoming agenda. If you have been to any of these places and have any recommendations, please feel free to post! Also, a quick shout out to my Spanish tutor, Juan, who has gotten me to a point with my Spanish that I feel confident traveling around these new, Spanish-speaking destinations. Espero que mi Espanol es mejor cuando regrese a Guatemala!

Photo courtesy of travelerstipsnpics.com

1. San Blas Islands, Panama - Sun, sand, pristine turquoise waters, and mingling with the indigenous Kuna Indians will make for a fine Christmas.

Photo courtesy of destination360.com

2. Lake Atitlan, Guatemala - It's only 3 hours away from the city, but so far I haven't had the chance to venture over to this beautiful area of Guatemala. I'll be going here when my best friend from the States visits at the end of the month. (More on that, later!)

Photo courtesy of latindiscover.com

3. Panama City, Panama - No Central American city exempifies the juxtaposition of ancient and modern architecture more than Panama City. You can wake up in the morning in a modern, high-rise luxury hotel, explore the ruins of Viejo Panama, and swing by the symbol of modern commerce and trade, the Panama Canal. The history buff in me is not-so-secretly stoked.

Photo courtesy of trekearth.com

4. Lago de Coatepeque, El Salvador - Another hidden paradise of Central America, this picturesque lake is actually a volcanic caldera surrounded by hot springs.

Splitting hairs, not the ground....hopefully.

2010-10-20T11:26:00.005-04:00

Last Friday, I was sitting on my couch after a long day at school, downloading the latest "Dexter" episode when it happened. I was suddenly jolted up to the edge of the couch. What the what?? And it took me a second to realize what was happening...the room was swaying, I was swaying. I felt like I was standing on a boat. I heard this strange splashing noise, and looked over to find that small tsunamis had formed inside my giant water container. It was an earthquake.

When you live the first 25 years of your life in Georgia, you become well acquainted with your fair share of natural disasters. I remember watching a tornado shoot shopping carts out of the Wal-Mart parking lot in Columbus, GA when I was about 6 years old, and the floods last year in Atlanta that scored a day or two off from school. And then there is hurricane season. Hurricane Opal came through when I was in middle school and it was one of the scariest nights I can remember. We even had a blizzard in 1994. But one event that I have remained blissfully unexposed to is the earthquake. That is, until I moved to Guatemala.

I can remember one earthquake in Columbus, GA when I was in high school. It was a very small event, and truth be told we didn't even realize what it was until we saw the news the next morning. (I grew up next to the largest military base in the country, and the ground beneath our house often rumbled from training exercises.) But in the 5 short months I have lived in Guatemala, I have experienced no less than 3 earthquakes, or as they refer to them here, earth "tremors."

Guatemalans like to differentiate between an earth "quake" and an earth "tremor." The former being of the Haitian and Chilean variety, and the latter being of my last Friday night variety. Look, Guatemala, I've got to be honest, I'm not interested in the semantic splitting of hairs between a "tremor" and a "quake." If it jolts me to the edge of my couch and I can feel my entire apartment building swaying back and forth, it's an earthquake. And that one on Friday was the largest one I have ever experienced. I know I need to get used to them because they happen here all the time, but I just don't think I ever will.

March of the Sea Turtles

2010-10-09T10:54:00.008-04:00

Go turtles, go!

With the end of the school year fast approaching in Guatemala (we're on the Southern Hemisphere calendar), Kara and I decided that a long weekend away was in order to recharge our batteries to get us through the last 2 weeks of school. So last weekend we took off for El Salvador. I love it there. San Salvador is like a smaller, cleaner version of Guatemala City (although the crime rate there is worse...supposedly). And the volcanic-sand beaches are amazing.

Not a bad place to spend weekends...

I returned to a beach that I first visited last December, and I am happy to report that it's just as beautiful and serene as ever. Instantly upon arrival, I parked it on hammock, ordered a fruity beverage, and just listened to the waves. And I probably would have spent the whole weekend in that spot if we didn't have a prior engagement scheduled for a little further down the beach...releasing sea turtles.

Virtually every Central American country has a "season" for sea turtle releases, as this region is the focus of a major conservation effort to save this adorable, yet endangered, species. Volunteers collect the sea turtle eggs from the beach and bury them in a protected area, safe from predators and humans. Then, after about a 45-day gestational period, the eggs hatch and the workers hand deliver the little guys to the sea. And I was lucky enough to be one of those volunteers on this particular occasion.

As we picked the turtles up one by one and set them down into the soft, midnight-black sand, they waved their tiny flippers, almost as a farewell gesture to their comrades. It was like they already knew that once you get to the ocean, it's every man, er, turtle, for himself. But the best part was watching them make the epic 2-meter journey to the sea. They took off for the water leaving paths of determination behind them. And just when the turtle you had picked out and named (mine was Chipper, obviously) had reached the first suds of a broken wave, it happened.....another, bigger wave would come along and push them all the way back to the start line. What......a party crasher. Still, you couldn't help but admire their resiliance as the tried and tried again to reach the ocean. And we were left there wondering 2 things...how many of them would make it to their full size of up to 2 meters long, and why hasn't Disney turned this into an animated movie yet?

Guatema-tlanta? Maybe.

2010-09-29T23:35:00.004-04:00

Wait...is that Peachtree Street??

Sometimes, it's easy to forget I live in Guatemala. Like tonight, for instance. The rain is pounding down outside, and as I look out over my balcony all I can see is a massive constellation of lights. Lights from the buildings and lights from the traffic still stalled on Avenida Reforma. But those lights could just as easily be glowing from the Bank of America building, or from the traffic on the Downtown Connector. In a city of more than 4 million people, sometimes I find myself suddenly realizing that I'm not in that other city of 4 million, Atlanta.

There's a Coca-Cola sign on Roosevelt that I pass everyday on my way home from school. It's a huge, bright red sign that looms over the Avenida, lighting up in that familiar clockwise pattern. It's a total knock-off for the Coke sign that hangs at the corner of Decatur Street and Woodruff Park in Downtown Atlanta. And maybe, just maybe, it's the reason why I haven't gotten homesick. Certainly there are things that I miss but, really, Guatemala City and Atlanta aren't so different. On one street you're passing the ramshackle houses terrorized by local gangs and the next you're driving past multi-million dollar McMansions that overlook the city. Reading that last sentence I realize now that I could easily be talking about either city. It's College Park and West Paces Ferry vs. Zone 2 and Vista Hermosa. Different countries, same glaring inequalities.

In just about any section of Guatemala City, I can think of a parallel area back home. Zona 2 - College Park, Oakland Mall - Phipps Plaza, Zona Viva - Buckhead. And so I really think that's my answer to those who have been baffled by my lack of homesickness. For a girl who had never left the States before December 2009, moving to Guatemala City in May 2010 probably seemed like a drastic move to many people. And it was. But I have come to realize, that no matter where you go, if you look hard enough, you will find that pieces of your past follow you. The pieces that made you. And so with each day that I ride past that Coca-Cola sign, I feel a little more at home.

Vive Guatemala!

2010-09-16T19:04:00.002-04:00

A country younger than America, yet bares the marks of ancient civilizations. Yesterday, Guatemala marked 189 years since they gained their independence from Spain. For those of you who visit my blog from time to time, you have seen my photos, so you know just how beautiful Guatemala is. But it is a somewhat deceptive beauty, hiding the continuing troubles of a country eager to leave its violent history in the past.

A while back, I was treated to a tour of Guatemala City by a friend that I first met on my trip to El Salvador last December. While touring the National Cathedral in Zona 1, he shared with us his personal experiences during the 36-year civil war, which only ended in 1996. He began telling us his story while pointing out the names etched into the columns surrounding the cathedral. The names commemorate the victims of the war, and if you look at the surnames closely, it is easy to see that the victims were by and large indigenous Guatemalans.

The '96 peace accords were signed to end more than 30-years of conflict within Guatemala's borders. And while much of the extreme violence that ravaged the country during the war has ended, Guatemala isn't without its issues. Take yesterday, for instance.

I was headed out the door with a group of teachers to check out some of the Independence Day celebrations when our doorman stopped us and said, "Hey, if you want to see some of the festivities, you should go over to Tikal Futura." Tikal Futura is a big, modern shopping complex/luxury hotel that Kara and I had been to once before to partake in some very intimidating salsa dancing. We considered his suggestion for a while as we walked down Avenida Reforma looking for some live music.

About 2 hours later Kara's phone rang. It was a friend of ours checking to make sure we were NOT at Tikal Futura. Apparently while we had been strolling, enjoying the Fall-like weather, a major player in the Central America-USA drug war decided to lead police on a chase which culminated in a major Hollywood-style shootout in the middle of the Independence Day crowd

And that incident really highlights the paradox that is Guatemala. On the one hand, many Guatemalans I have met are very pessimistic about their country's current state of affairs. In fact, I would go so far as to say that I've met several people who have just downright bad-mouthed their homeland. But then, on the other hand, Guatemalans turn out on their Independence Day in a way that I have never seen Americans turn out for the 4th of July. People were running up and down Reforma for 5 or 6 hours Tuesday night, waving torches and flags, yelling "Viva Guatemala!"

Guatemalans seem to have found the ideal middle-ground of true patriotism, loving your country and respecting its history while remaining realistic of the present. This is something I think the United States could learn from...just because someone is realistic about the current state of affairs in their country does NOT make them...unpatriotic. And that's a note for both sides of the aisle, Washington.

September 11th Abroad

2010-09-11T12:40:00.003-04:00

September 11. It's surely a day that people, not only in the United States but around the world, will never forget. If for no other reason, than because it sparked a series of events that would irrevocably change the path the world was on.

I was in Antigua a couple of months ago, just having a lovely night on the town with friends, when I met the most infuriating person I've ever met in my life. Upon hearing that I was from the United States, he decidedly exclaimed to my face, "You know, the world would be a better place if your country never existed." Now let's pause here for a minute. I am not one of those blindly patriotic individuals who proclaims my nation's superior, can-do-no-wrong status. Mainly because I know that couldn't be further from the truth. But at the end of the day, I'm an American, and I won't take anyone's ignorant trash talk about my home sitting down.

So, I was off. I tore into this guy's ignorance like a kid opening their first present on Christmas morning. I brought out the big guns...international aid, advances in science and medicine, etc. Basically, I was dancing around what I knew he was preparing to be his counter-argument...our involvement in conflicts around the world. Especially those in which our involvement was not explicitly requested....or warranted. And ok, I give him that. But I hit back with the only thing I know to say to people like this, "You tell me one country that has never done some sketchy things at some point in their existence." Every country he names, I give him an example of bad judgment made on that country's part.

You see, getting into an argument like this with any half-educated person from any country, is a no-win situation. You can't bad mouth someone's home and expect them to say, "Yea, you're right. My country really should never have existed." What.....an idiot.

Although he was definitely the worst person I've ever encountered with regards to his anti-American sentiments, he's not the only one. Especially now that I live abroad. But there is one point that I concede whenever someone mentions it, and it has to do with September 11, 2001. And the comment usually goes something like this, "The entire world stopped in total horror and disbelief that day. And it was terrible, I get it. But, it was 3,000 people compared to tens, hundreds of thousands of people who are murdered in genocidal activities all over the world. Why the suddenly immediate response to tragedy?"

On this point, I have no comeback. Although 9/11 was a horrible day that I will remember and carry with me forever, particularly as an American, I can't deny the hypocritical reactionary response to our tragedy, when so many tragedies all over the world go un-responded-to, unreported even.

So on this 9/11, as I certainly feel pangs of sadness for that day in my country's history, I am trying to keep it in perspective. While my country was, quite frankly, lucky that for a very long time, we hadn't experienced that kind of tragedy, there are many other countries in the world where loss of life on that scale has been, or is, a daily occurrence. So I leave you with a line from a British musician, Dan le Sac, a message that doesn't diminish the tragedy of September 11th, but elevates other tragedies around the world to a level of equal importance, as they should be....

"Thou shalt give equal worth to tragedies that occur in non-English speaking countries as to those that occur in English speaking countries."

Almost Famous

2010-09-05T21:41:00.005-04:00

Charlotte, Samantha, Miranda, and Carrie....or at least, that's what we might start telling people.

Part of the reason people move to a foreign country is for the opportunity to experience life in another culture. I have certainly had my fair share of interesting experiences so far in Guatemala (volcanic eruption, tropical disease, tearing my rotator cuff whilst leaping from a Mayan ruin, riding a boat through a tropical storm, watching Honduran border patrol drive off with my passport....ok, I think you get the picture). And while those were all interesting experiences, there is one that I have failed to mention thus far. The experience of going out in Guatemala City.

Yes, by "going out" I mean a night on the town with friends that usually includes live music and dancing. This is the story of my first night out on the town in Guatemala City from a while back...

My friend and I headed out with two of her friends visiting from Canada to Zona Viva. Zona Viva is the nicest part of Guatemala City with the best restaurants and bars. For all my friends back in A-town, think Buckhead....without the obnoxious, preppy guys. Anyway, we walk into the bar/restaurant, and I can immediately feel them - the eyes of every person in that place beating down on us. Thoughts that immediately ran through my head:

1. Did I accidentally tuck my skirt into my underwear?
2. Is there something on my face?
3. Did Kara put a sign on my back when I wasn't looking?
4. Great...we've already been spotted as the weakest Salsa dancers in the joint and everyone's waiting for a hearty laugh.

I couldn't have been more wrong. You see, we had blond hair...and blue eyes....and apparently no one else in Guatemala has those features. You know how when someone catches you looking at them you automatically look away, embarrassed that they caught you? Well, not here. These guys couldn't care less if you see them staring at you. And they just keep right on doing it.

Almost instantly upon entering the place, the four of us were asked to dance. One of us said yes, and that one was not me. I was too uncomfortable with all the attention being placed on us to dance. According to Kara, the guy I turned down walked away "with a look of shock and hurt on his face like you just kicked his puppy." Whoops. Apparently it's a social faux pas here to turn down an offer to dance. But nothing prepared me for what the next guy who approached us asked..."Excuse me, can I take a picture with you?" Pardon me? Yes, that's right....apparently we are such freaks in Guatemala that people (guys, really) ask to take pictures with us all the time. It even happened when we were at Iximche. Definitely one of the most bizarre experiences of my life.

On the way home that night, I turned to the girls and said, "You think that's what it feels like to be a celebrity?" As we pondered on that for a moment, it occurred to me that this might be fun. Maybe I'll start replying to the awkward looks with a, "Yes, it's me....I am Sarah Jessica Parker."

Ziplining In Antigua

2010-08-22T20:09:00.007-04:00

The view mid-zipline.

When I was in the 3rd grade, I had to write a paragraph answering the question, "If you could have any superhero power, what would it be?" My response was flying. I actually severely sprained my ankle one time as a kid because I jumped off the roof of my friend's playhouse. Oops.

Fast-forward about 18 years to last weekend. Some friends and I headed out to Antigua to do the closest thing to flying that I can think of.....ziplining. Our shuttle picked us up in Antigua around 11am, and I should have known from the sight of the vehicle that we were in for a good time. It looked like something straight off an African safari.

A Toto sing-a-long, anyone?

We arrived at our launching point, which was just outside of Antigua, a place called Finca Filadelphia. Also known as mecca for coffee drinkers. "Finca" means "estate" or "farm" in Spanish, and in Guatemala you can bet that most fincas are producing some of that delicious and world-famous Guatemalan coffee. From there, our guide took us up the mountain to the location of our first zipline. But first, we had to get in the gear.

At least the gear matched my Braves jersey, which I intentionally wore so as a took off on a zipline everyone would see the back of it, which said "Jones."

For those of you who have never ziplined, zipline gear is quite possibly the most uncomfortable experience in the world. It's tight is all the wrong places and subsequently makes you walk a bit like an orangutan. Nevertheless, I was the first one up to go on the first line, construction worker gear and all.

Our guide hooked me up and gave me the green light. The first line was short, but in that 5 seconds I. was. hooked. Flying between the trees and taking in the surroundings was exhilerating, and I gleefully volunteered to keep going first on the next several ziplines. But with this tour, they saved the best for last.

1706 feet in length and nearly 400 feet above the ground, the longest and final zipline also boasted the most spectacular views of the day...nothing but Guatemalan mountains and valleys nestled between three massive volcanoes. Here's the video that recaps the entire experience:

All in all, I'm a big fan of the ziplining and hope to do it again when I visit Panajachel (Lago de Atitlan) in a few weeks. And for the record, I still stand by the choice made by my 3rd grade self.

Idiotic Jones and the (Mayan) Temple of Doom

2010-08-14T15:09:00.012-04:00

One of the larger ruins at Iximche.

One of the unbelievable perks of living in a part of the world like Central America is having ample opportunities to indulge my inner Indiana Jones. Mayan ruins, caves, waterfalls, ancient churches and rituals, I just can't get enough. So it somewhat surprised me a couple of weeks ago when I realized that in the 3 months (already? whoa...) that I've lived in Guatemala, I had yet to explore any ruins. In fact, the only ruins I had ever seen were back in December on my trip to El Salvador. So when the family of one of the students at school offered to take me and Kara to some ruins about 2 hours outside of Guatemala City, I jumped at the chance. Literally.

Me pre-epic fail standing in front of some ruins.

The ruins at Iximche are located in Tecpan, which was long ago the first permanent Spanish military base in Guatemala. The Spanish settled their military operations here because of the difficulty they had defeating the Kaqchikel Maya, who lived in Iximche. And when you stand in the midst of this once flourishing Mayan town, it's easy to see why the Spanish had some issues.

Located in the midst of Guatemala's famously verdant countryside, Iximche is surrounded by deep, lush ravines. For the Spanish, conquering Iximche must have seemed like an impossible task, climbing and climbing while your enemy sits perched atop their stone tower just casually lolling rocks and arrows your way. Alas, the Spanish were relentless conquerors and eventually managed to penetrate Iximche, burning it to the ground in 1524.

Some locals checking out Iximche.

What remains of Iximche is beautiful and oddly serene considering it is the site of what was undoubtedly a bloody battle, that's just how the Spanish used to roll. And again, I ask...WHY did everyone in Guatemala cheer for Spain during the World Cup?? But, I digress. We arrived at Iximche after stopping for a traditional Guatemalan breakfast of eggs, beans, fried plantains, and the BEST coffee I have found in Guatemala so far. Driving through Tecpan to reach the ruins was also an experience. The town is occupied almost exclusively by indigenous Maya, almost 90% of the population, to be more exact, and they don't speak Spanish but, rather, one of the 100+ indigenous languages still in use in Guatemala today.

There are four alters at the site that are still used for sacrifices and offerings by locals. On the day we arrived there was a small group who had decorated one of the alters with flowers, candles, and incense. A Mayan priest was praying over a fire that had been built in front of the alter. It was a really beautiful and fascinating thing to experience, and although I wish I had a photo to share with you, it's really disrespectful to take a photo in that kind of situation.

One of the four alters still used at Iximche.

But the other photos of the site speak for themselves. It's really remarkable to imagine the extent and complexity of a city built 600 years ago. And as we climbed up to the top of one of the ruins, we just stood there and tried to imagine the area as a busy marketplace inhabited by the most important members of this particular Mayan tribe. And then, making our way back down, we all took turns leaping over a gap in the ruins. It wasn't a huge ravine or anything, but it was a leap that required one to back up and get a bit of momentum going to make it. And with my jumping-waterfalls attitude that I've adopted down here, I didn't hesitate to make the leap myself. Maybe I should have. I landed, my legs wobbled, and then they gave. I crashed down on top of my left arm in what was undoubtedly an extremely hilarious sight. Kara later described the moment when I landed by saying, "It was like watching a baby giraffe try to find its legs for the first time." Too bad I tore my rotator cuff in the process. One week with my arm in a sling later, I can finally type out the whole story on my computer....and laugh about it. This will be one for the grandkids, definitely.

Top 10 Things I Miss from the States

2010-08-10T19:18:00.006-04:00

Turner Field on Opening Day, my favorite holiday.

Most common question from people back home, "What do you miss the most?" These days, I can usually respond quickly, but when I first got here, it took me a while to decide what, if much of anything, that I truly missed from back home. So, to satisfy that question for everyone who has asked it, here is my Top 10 List (Letterman style) of things I miss from Atlanta/the States:

10. Chick-fil-a - Not from the South? You wouldn't understand.
9. Sweet tea - Ditto.
8. Diet Dr. Pepper - I hear a rumor there's a store here that carries it....I'll keep you posted.
7. Jon Stewart - My nightly routine has been out of whack for 3 months now.
6. Driving - I'm still surprised that I miss this considering I lived in Atlanta.
5. Highland Bakery - Actually, I miss everything about my old 'hood, Inman Park.
4. Fall - Ok, I know I haven't actually missed this yet, but it's coming, and I know I will.
3. The New Yorker - Truthfully, I miss all of my US magazines, but this is my fave.
2. Seeing shows when they originally air! - Being a week behind on True Blood is torture.

And the #1 thing I miss from the United States....drum roll, please......

1. Braves games - Although they seem to be doing alright without me...hmph.

I miss family and friends too, but I figured that was a gimme.

Happy Blog-iversary!

2010-08-10T18:48:00.003-04:00

Guatemala Sunrise

Happy anniversary to.....my blog. I started this blog a year ago, mostly because I missed the writing that came along with my old PR job, but I wasn't totally convinced that it was something I could maintain or keep up with. I have a terrible habit of being really enthusiastic about something in the beginning, but then letting that enthusiasm go by the wayside and any subsequent projects along with it. It's when I don't lose that enthusiasm for something that I know it's really something I love (i.e., the Braves, traveling, teaching).

A year later here I am...still writing my humble little blog. It's purpose has changed a bit though, since I moved to Guatemala it has become a way that I stay in touch with friends and family back home, updating them on my travels. And then there are times when I write on the blog to help sort out my own thoughts. I am 25 years old with two careers under my belt, two degrees, and increasing travel experience, but there are times when I still have trouble finding my own voice, my own original thoughts and opinions on things.

I have been reading non-stop lately because the more I see and do, the more questions I have. I figure the best way to figure out where you stand on things is by reading, and in my case, writing. Some people think that blogs are nothing more than self-indulgent diatribes. And in some ways, this is true, I suppose. But really I think it's about putting your voice out to be heard in the world, even if only two other people hear/read it. Because shouldn't it be everyone's goal in life to contribute an original thought or idea to the world?

So anyways, it's been a fun year, and I certainly did not imagine a year ago that I'd still be writing this blog, much less from Guatemala City. After telling someone back home about my recent illness and injury (I tore my Rotator Cuff jumping off a 600-year old ruin in Iximche...I know...who am I, Indiana Jones?), they asked me, somewhat jokingly, "What are you doing down there?" My response..."Living." I've come to the opinion that one who goes through life without getting injuries hasn't really had much of an adventure.

Reality Check.....I live in Guatemala now.

2010-08-08T12:02:00.004-04:00

In case my adventures here had lulled me into a sense of worry-free security, the last week has provided a couple of eye-opening reminders that I live in a country that is riddled with some major issues.

Last Friday I left school before the end of the day to go over to the bank with someone from the school. (Although I have made some serious improvements in my Spanish, I still require the assistance of a translator when dealing with the bank...that's one place where I don't want to accidentally say the wrong thing.) After returning back at school, the person who had accompanied me realized that they still had some business to take care of and returned to the bank. Upon exiting the bank for the second time that day, this person was followed by a couple of armed men and held at gunpoint while being robbed. This was the exact same bank I had been in just an hour earlier. Crimes like that occur in broad daylight here...serious reality check. Thankfully everyone was ok, but majorly shaken up by the experience.

And then there was yesterday. I woke up early to explore the 600-year old Mayan ruins at Iximche (more to come on that later). We had a great time, but towards the end of the day I started to feel bad. I was freezing (I wrote that off as being due to the rain we encountered), my right leg and knee had been killing me all day (I wrote that off to my ill-advised leap from the top of one of the ruins), and I was really dizzy. After I got home I had a headache (nothing unusual) and it hurt when I moved my eyes (I wrote that off to my contacts). It wasn't until I spiked a raging fever that I began to think that all these things I had been writing off all day long might be related somehow. And I was right. I have Dengue. A tropical disease transmitted by mosquitos....and there is certainly no shortage of them here.

Every 4-6 hours I take some tylenol to bring the fever down, which is followed by about an hour where I actually feel ok, and then it goes downhill from there until I can take some more tylenol. Because that's all they can do for it....tylenol. It's a viral infection so there is no antibiotic to help and no vaccine yet. And bonus...it usually lasts at least a week.

So I though I'd update the blog while enjoying one of those fleeting moments where the tylenol has worked its magic.

Semuc Champey, Just a pushpin on a map

2010-07-29T21:23:00.008-04:00

Over the past few months I have discovered one of the most exhilarating, liberating feelings in the world - that feeling that no one knows exactly where I am...being somewhere so remote that no matter how hard the cell phone, Facebook, Gmail, CNN, and The New York Times may try, it's words, friend requests, tagged photos, breaking news alerts, and variable news feeds can not reach me. It's a feeling that is fleeting in our Blackberry/iPhone world.

Sometimes when I travel I like to imagine myself as just a pushpin on a map, a blip so small that it's invisible to most, but it's there no less. It's an image that I find humbling; It gives me perspective. Personally, I don't think that it's our lot in life to see every place, to hear every story, to discover every thing. But I do think that it's our job to try.

The last place where I really took a moment to just really appreciate my surroundings was Semuc Champey. "Semuc Champey," or "Hidden Rock" in Mayan, really is a hidden little Guatemalan gem of a place. It's a series of crystal-clear limestone pools that sit above the Rio Cahabon. Just as the name implies, the Rio Cahabon dives underwater at one point beneath a massive 300-meter slab of limestone. The pools lie above the limestone.

We began our trip to Semuc by hiking a grueling hour-and-a-half journey up a mountain to get a view of the pools from above. That was the steepest, hottest climb of my life, but the view was worth it. Of course, it's always worth it to get that National Geographic shot. But it was REALLY worth it when we climbed back down and proceeded to jump in the pools.

We started at the top pool and worked our way down, sliding down rocks or jumping the waterfalls that connect one pool to the next. Climbing around on those massive slippery boulders was a rather dodgy endeavor unless, of course, you were a forward-thinking type of traveler who threw water shoes in their pack at the last minute....I was not that traveler. On the last climb up I sliced my right foot open pretty good, and I'm pretty sure it's going to leave a scar, but I'm alright with that. Good story, at least.

After leaping from the bigger waterfall (which I'm still proud that I did, just fyi, because I almost didn't) I looked around at the jungle around me. It was probably the most remote place I'd ever been in my life. And the most beautiful. The dark green trees, the howls of the howler monkeys, the thunderous sound of water rushing off the last pool in giant waterfalls to greet its creator, the Rio Cahabon, once more...it was a very surreal moment that seemed to seal my fate as a travel junkie for the next few years because I just can't see stopping after just one year in Guatemala. Sorry, mom.

“[T]he moment one of the people took one of the truths to himself, called it his truth, and tried to live his life by it, he became a grotesque and the truth he embraced became a falsehood.”
~Sherwood Anderson, Winesburg Ohio

A weekend in Roatan, Honduras

2010-07-25T19:16:00.009-04:00

A local getting ready to dive from the top of a 2-story deck at sunset.

I was 9 years old when my family was forced to abandon our beach rental in Florida to flee Hurricane Jorge. It was 1994, and the entire world was preoccupied with the O.J. Simpson Trial, so somehow we managed to miss the news that a hurricane was heading for the beach house we were in until Jorge was nearly upon us. The huge waves, the heavy winds, the middle-of-the-night car ride back to Georgia through the rain…it was definitely an experience that left me a bit wary of hurricanes.

That ordeal, combined with my hereditary fear of severe weather (thanks, dad) have combined to make me somewhat obsessed with tracking severe weather situations, a trait that Weather Channel anchor Jim Cantore once told me was a healthy respect for the weather. All of that being said, it’s probably a good thing that I didn’t know about Tropical Storm Alex churning off the coast of Honduras when I boarded the boat to Roatan the next morning. (You can catch up on my journey so far by reading this, this, and this.)

I did find it a bit odd that the crew of the boat was giving EVERYONE a motion-sickness bag upon boarding the boat. They usually just have them in case you request one. But about 10 minutes into the 2-hour boat ride I realized the reason for the motion-sickness bags…..we were going straight on through Tropical Storm Alex. In retrospect, it really is quite a miracle that I didn’t get sick on that boat ride as those waves were like a roller coaster ride, a 2-hour roller coaster ride.

The inside of our jungle cabin.

Sufficiently annoyed that no one told us about the Tropical Storm before boarding the boat, I huffily (and somewhat queasily) exited the boat upon arrival in Roatan. We grabbed a taxi and headed straight for our hotel, which turned out to be a very cool collection of cabins set back from the beach in the Honduran jungle. The first order of business? Watching the USA vs. Ghana World Cup match....Ugh.

My travel mate, Kara, walking the steps up to our cabin.

After watching the US lose, the only other thing on the agenda in Roatan was hitting up its famous beaches. And it was well worth the Tropical Storm boat ride.....the West End of Roatan is without a doubt the most beautiful beach I have ever seen in my life. The aquamarine waters, perfectly subdue waves, and sugary white sand were the perfect place for us to spend the last few days of our whirlwind journey.

Mmmm....my favorite beach.

The only downsides of Roatan were the heat and the ubiquitous presence of members of the self-righteous diver community. The first and only thing these people were interested in knowing about you is where you've been diving and if you are planning on diving there. And if you say that you have no intention of diving while on Roatan, they just kind of give you this dirty look. We finally got tired of this exchange and just started saying, "Well, we were planning on it, but due to the Tropical Storm, it doesn't look like we'll have time on this trip." As for the heat....my advice to travelers planning to visit Roatan is to splurge on a room with AC. The last night we spent in Roatan was the most hot, humid, and miserable night of my life. At one point during the night, I pulled bags of ice out of the freezer and cuddled up with them in my bed.

Nevertheless, Roatan is absolutely breathtaking. It's very inexpensive and the food on the island was primo. In fact, with the exception of La Ceiba, Honduras was more beautiful than I had expected. On our 17-hour bus ride back to Guatemala City from La Ceiba, Honduras (yes, that's not a typo...17 hours) we really enjoyed the Honduran scenery, which included loads of banana fields. Guess that's why they call it the Banana Republic.

Banana Republic

2010-07-18T20:54:00.007-04:00

There were about 35 of us waiting to get off the boat as we pulled into Puerto Cortes, Honduras. We waited as a big, somewhat terrifying, Honduran official called our names one by one. When my name was called, I lifted myself out of the boat and onto the dock where the official just looked at me with a blank stare. What was he waiting for?? "Passaporte, por favor. Passporte!" Oh, duh. I handed him my passport and watched as he tossed it into a small garbage bag, along with everyone else's. And then, when the last person had set foot on Hondruan soil, the man with the bag o' passports....disappeared.

The Belize border wasn't much better...it was one man, a stamp, and a Volkswagon.

Kara and I exchanged confused and nervous glances as we watched the man get into a car and drive away. No word on where our passports were headed, he just took off. Almost instantly we were bombarded by taxi drivers who informed us that if we wanted to get our passports back we would have to hire one of them to drive us to the immigration office downtown. And what choice did we have? So, we agreed on a rate with one cab driver (not knowing how far of a drive this would be) and he promptly took us to the immigration office, which incidently was a room in a worn down building with a fan and a filing cabinet. We waited in line to claim our passports all the while thinking that our visit to Honduras was off to a rather dodgy start.

After scooping up our passports, we asked our driver to take us to the nearest fast food restaurant as we were starving. He pulled up to a Burger King and said he would wait for us while we ate inside. Burger King wasn't exactly what I was hoping for upon arriving in Honduras, but hey, it was food. We opened the doors to the King and covered our ears as the massive standing-room-only crowd was screaming and hollering. But at what? We looked around, convinced this must be the most popular Burger King in the world, and then we realized what was going on.....we had gotten to Honduras just in time to watch their World Cup match....on flat screen tvs....in a Burger King. That 30 minutes spent in that BK was the most intense half hour of my life. These folks down here don't play around when it comes to their futbol. Too bad Honduras lost.

Honduran countryside....stunningly beautiful.

Back in the taxi, our driver took us 90 minutes away to the small port town of La Ceiba, Honduras, the jumping off point for boats to the islands of Roatan and Utila. By the time we arrived in La Ceiba it was about 9:30 at night, too late to get a boat to Roatan. So we asked our cab driver to take us to a hostel that we read about in our almost always reliable Lonely Planet guide book. We arrived at the hostel and upon seeing the place we instantly asked the driver to take us somewhere else....ANYWHERE else! He refused by telling us that this was the nicest place we'd be able to find. So, not thinking it would be a safe idea for us to wander around alone, we sucked it up and spent the night in a 4-bed dorm room. The other two beds were occupied by some guys from the UK, one of whom had been traveling for 40 months (?!?!). Roaches scampered across the floor, the sheets on the bed were dirty, and it was an all-around disgusting experience. Kara and I wrapped ourselves up in our beach towels and waited for sunrise...and the boat out of that armpit of a town and to the magnificent island of Roatan. Lonely Planet, massive fail.

Coming up next....a boat ride through Tropical Storm Alex, a cabin in the Honduran jungle, the most excruciatingly hot and humid night of my life, and the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen.

Keep on Beliezin'......

2010-07-10T17:38:00.006-04:00

When I last wrote of my 2-week adventure through Central America, Kara and I had left San Pedro and were heading to Placencia, Belize. We were quickly rushed by a taxi driver as soon as we arrived back in Belize City, and before we knew it, we were on our way to Placencia....via one of Central America's infamous chicken buses.

The chicken bus. Yes, sometimes it literally has livestock on it, but it's mainly known for being the regular mode of transportation for many locals, and a dodgy and sometimes dangerous transport for tourists. It wasn't what we had originally planned to do, but the taxi drivers down here can talk circles around you until you're not really sure how you ended up going where they said you should go instead of where you told them you should go. Thankfully, we ended up traveling with some nice guys that we met in San Pedro, which made us feel a little better. You always have to keep your guard up when you travel, but especially if you're a gal.

Placencia sits at the end of a long mansion-lined peninsula. It had a laid back and relaxed vibe, a welcomed change of pace from the non-stop party known as San Pedro. We found a great little cheap hotel right on the beach, and spend our two days there just soaking up the sun. Or at least we tried to just sit on the beach and read, but you can't just sit undisturbed on the beach in Placencia. No, a steady stream of rasta men and Maya women will come by trying to sell you things. And although I really began to find it quite annoying, I was particularly interested in one woman's story. She was from Colombia and had left her home with a bag and some jewelry-making supplies and had made her way all the way up Central America, selling her beautiful creations along the way. I thought that was pretty cool, so I bought a bracelet from her.

There are only a few restaurants and bars in Placencia, and it seems that they take turns hosting everyone. One night this place would be packed, the next night another. We found ourselves at a place called The Tipsy Tuna one evening....just in time for karaoke night. And after a rum and punch...or two...we were more than happy to grab the mike and belt out some tunes. We ended up singing 5 or 6 songs that night, but the first song we chose, you ask? La Isla Bonita, naturally.

The morning after our karaoke marathon, we hopped a boat and headed towards Honduras and the shadiest border crossing ever. Stay tuned....

Happy 4th of July!

2010-07-04T14:37:00.002-04:00

The more I travel, the more I receive the brunt of people's complaints about the United States. And....I've had enough, quite frankly. On this 4th of July in Guatemala, I thought I would take a moment to defend my country, as I often find myself doing these days.

Yes, the United States has made some outrageous mistakes in the past. We've exercised poor judgment and made decisions based on flawed reasoning, as all nations have. A nation is run by people, imperfect, flawed humans with not-always-pristine motives. As such, a country is bound to do things that will land them on the wrong side of history occasionally, a cycle repeated throughout history by many countries.

A stranger said to me this weekend, "The world would be a better place if the United States did not exist." I, obviously, disagree. It's human nature to focus on the information that supports our pre-existing beliefs, a habit that inhibits our growth as a global community and as individuals. I understand that many in the world have been negatively impacted by actions taken by my home country...I especially understand Central America's issues with the States as we've definitely partaken in some shady business down here over the past several decades. But it would wrong to ignore all the good that the United States has done. We give a tremendous amount in humanitarian aid each year, are often one of the first countries to respond to disasters around the world (as Guatemala just experienced with the American response to Tropical Storm Agatha), and we are a diverse nation. Although we are flawed, our basic principles of freedom and democracy are strong.

Since I arrived in Central America, I have made a concious effort to refer to myself as being "from the States" instead as an "American," because I quickly learned that many people in Central America are offended by that term. But I've decided that I don't necessarily agree with the political correctness of this. "America" is in my country's name. We are the United States of America. It's not my fault that it's in our name. What am I supposed to refer to my nationality as? There are Mexicans, Guatemalans, Hondurans...I am an American. And for all we've done wrong, I think we've done a lot right. On this 4th of July abroad, I'm proud to say that I'm an American. Happy 4th, everyone! And Obama, if you could help restore our international reputation, that would really help me out. Gracias.

Don't Stop Beliezin'

2010-06-29T23:02:00.006-04:00

Well, 1 plane ride, 9 taxis, 7 boats and 6 bus rides later...the first part of my vacation has sadly come to an end. There is so much to share that I honestly find it a bit challenging deciding exactly where to start. So I'll just blog about one leg of the trip at a time.

We left Guatemala City early on a Saturday morning and boarded a plane to Belize City. I was expecting it to be a plane with just a few people on it, but I wasn't expecting a few people on a plane that could seat about 80 people. What? How can an airline possibly make a profit on a flight like that? There were literally 4 people on the entire plane. Kara and I each took our own row.

Hmm...how are they making money on this flight, again?

Anyways, once we landed in Belize City we went straight to the water taxi terminal to catch a boat out to the island of San Pedro. And once we saw Belize City, the water taxi couldn't come soon enough. Definitely skip that city if you're ever there. An hour-and-a-half boat ride later we were finally there...San Pedro, Belize. Also known as "La Isla Bonita." Yes, just like the Madonna song. Unfamiliar? Here is the chorus and a verse for you:

Tropical the island breeze
All of nature wild and free
This is where I long to be
La isla bonita
And when the samba played
The sun would set so high
Ring through my ears and sting my eyes
Your Spanish lullaby

I fell in love with San Pedro
Warm wind carried on the sea, he called to me
Te dijo te amo
I prayed that the days would last
They went so fast

Last night I dreamed of San Pedro....

Indeed, the days on San Pedro went way too fast. We stayed at a hostel and met some really fantastic backpackers who were also traveling through. Although, we found that several of them said things like, "Well, we were supposed to leave last week, but..." San Pedro is truly that kind of place. You forget your life back home and just give in to the island. It sucks you in with lazy days spent swimming in the turquoise Caribbean waters and napping in hammocks on the beach, and nights spend salsa dancing with strangers. I think it's a bit impossible to feel insecure here, the people won't let you. If you're not normally a dancer, you forget you know that about yourself in San Pedro.

We arrived on the island just in time for Lobsterfest...yum! The town square was packed with people that night, and we were treated to the musical stylings of Belize's biggest music star...Super G. Think Jay-Z meets Bob Marley. It was kind of a reggae rap.

The hostel, run by a wickedly funny middle-aged British man with a somewhat twisted sense of humor (although, don't all Brits have a humour like that?), left a bit to be desired in the accommodation department, but the pool and restaurant on site more than made up for the rooms. The only downsides to our stay there? The heat and the mosquitoes. At one point I had 45 mosquito bites...gross.

Hammock-time.

If you're ever in San Pedro, definitely take the time to go snorkeling. Belize is home to the second largest reef in the world (after Australia's Great Barrier). We booked a half-day snorkeling tour with a couple of our new hostel friends, and the guide took us out to Hol Chan and Ray and Shark Alley. Yes, this gal, who was but 6 months ago terrified of the ocean because of sharks, swam with sharks....without a cage. Well. done. me. The snorkeling was by far better than the snorkeling I did a few months ago in Costa Rica.

We were in San Pedro for 5 days, 4 nights and it was just not enough. I would go back there anytime without hesitation. One thing that was difficult to adjust to was the prices. Belize is expensive! Ok, maybe not compared to the States, but I live in Guatemala City now where you can get a 4-star dinner for $35 USD. Culture shock can be a fun experience, sticker shock not so much.

With an exhausted but relaxed feeling, we departed San Pedro on Wednesday morning headed towards the next destination on our journey...Placencia!

Central America and a little thing called the World Cup

2010-06-16T23:45:00.011-04:00

Seldom does a post go by on this blog that fails to mention the Atlanta Braves. I am a girl who loves to watch sports, especially baseball, but I will go to just about any sporting event. The one exception to this rule has always been...soccer. In the nurture vs. nature argument, I blame nurture for this aversion to the most popular sport in the world. But once every four years, something strange happens in the States...we watch soccer. This is a time known as the World Cup.

Because the US isn't traditionally a soccer-loving nation, I was somewhat unprepared for how the rest of the world views this sporting event...correction, THE sporting event. I ventured to El Salvador last weekend to watch the USA v. England match-up, and I must confess that I got pretty into the game, which was hard to do considering I was watching it with a bunch of Brits. And when I say they love their futbol, I mean they LOVE their futbol. The other US native and I came up with our line if we lost, "Well, we're glad you won because you actually care." And when we earned a draw?? My side of the table was ecstatic...the other, not so much.

As a teacher in a Central American country, you can forget trying to teach anything while the tournament is going on. Instead of notes, students are passing World Cup playing cards back and forth during class. And recess? Fuhgetaboutit. The jump-ropes and hula-hoops sit idly by as the students gather around the BIG SCREEN TV the school has set up outside that broadcasts nothing by soccer matches all day. You can even see the various World Cup jerseys poking out from underneath the short sleeved school uniforms.

Guatemala doesn't have a team in the World Cup, but they love it just the same. As a US-ian I feel like I've been somewhat robbed of this experience growing up. It's the same excitement and sense of friendly international competition that comes around with the Olympics...which I love. The first thing people ask you in Guatemala these days is, "Who is your team?" And I love/am-slightly-offended-by the look I get back when I say, "the US, of course." That's usually followed by, "Well, of course you are cheering for your home team, but which team that actually has a chance to win are you rooting for?" Burn.

Anyways, the point here is that this soccer sport is starting to grow on me. I think that the rest of the world is on to something, and it's time that US fans stepped our support up to at least a notch or two above "Fair-weather." And as a final note, I will be in Honduras next week when they play their next match. Now that should make for some fun times. I'm off on a two-week trip through Belize and Honduras, so check back in July for some new pictures and adventures. Adios!

Ch-ch-ch-changes

2010-06-14T22:24:00.007-04:00

People often ask me why I came to Guatemala. There are many reasons (most of which you can read about here) but there are some reasons that I fail to mention on a regular basis. Mainly, my inherent need for change. I suppose I don't mention it because to some, the constant need for change is a less-than-desirable character trait. They may see it as a sign of weakness, an inability to find contentment in everyday life. But, for me, change is what pushes me forward.

I saw a cartoon over the weekend that raised a good point (as they often do, especially those in The New Yorker). The question was this: After graduating from our highest level of education, who is there to remind us to learn something new? Read a new book? Try something new? Of course, I took the question a bit further, whose responsibility is it?

I always try to help my students differentiate between having the ability to do something and having the desire to do something, a distinction that grows more and more apparent the older I get. Everyone is capable of moving to a foreign country for a bit, but not many have the desire to do so. And that's what I always think when I hear the ubiquitous reaction to my moving-to-Guatemala story, "Oh, that's wonderful! I wish I could do something like that." Well...you could, actually, but you just don't really want to. It's a good-in-theory idea for you, but as soon as the "complete purchase" screen pops up on the Delta web-site you choke like the Braves in a post-season game (yea, I said it).

My point tonight on this semi-random blog post is this, if the pinnacle of Maslow's hierarchy of human needs is Self-Actualization, doesn't that say it all? At the end of the day, it is our responsibility to push ourselves into a new direction, not someone else's. So if you find that you're not growing or changing or doing things that you like to do, I'm afraid that's on your shoulders, friends.

72 Hours in Guatemala

2010-05-30T15:17:00.003-04:00

Photo Courtesy of Prense Libre

Alrighty, folks. It has been quite a weekend in Guatemala....to say the least. What began with an earthquake and volcanic eruption (the latter of which covered the capitol with 3 inches of ash), continued with the arrival of Tropical Storm Agatha.

The rains came Saturday morning, and didn't cease until Sunday morning. Literally. In 24 hours, more than 20 inches of rain fell in Guatemala. By the time Saturday night rolled around, my friends and I assumed that since the biggest flooding threat was outside of the city, that it would be safe to go to a friend's house for dinner. We. were. wrong.

Shortly after arriving at our friend's house in Zona 16, we received a phone call from our school coordinator saying that all the rain had triggered serious land and mud-slides throughout the city. The Zona most affected? 16. Where is our friend's house? On a giant hill. After informing our school coordinator of where we were, she said, "You three need to make a decision now. You either stay at that house or go back to your place in the city."

Let me translate that decision...So, there are mudslides happening all around us. Do we A) Stay in a house that is located on top of a hill in the middle of mud-slide central, or B) Risk driving DOWN a mountain in the middle of mud-slide central. What would you do??

We turned on the tv and, at the time, the forecast was for things to be significantly worse on Sunday. So, we made the decision as a group to get in the car and attempt to drive down the mountain and back into the city...the flat, hill-less city.

Friends, I can honestly sit here and say, that the car ride down that mountain was the most terrifying exprience of my life. Looking out my window, I could see where mud and rocks had fallen off the side of the mountain onto the very streets we were crossing. And, to make matters worse, the main road off the mountain had been taken out by a landslide, so we were forced to take back roads down....very dark back roads. As we drove we could see where trees had been falling left and right, in addition to the mud and rocks.

We clearly made it home safely, but once we began to descend the mountain in that car, I don't think I exhaled until I opened my apartment door. It was truly a Saturday night to remember, and one that I very sincerely hope to never experience again.

To sum up, the last 72 hours of life in Guatemala has looked like this:

Thursday, 3pm - earthquake (or earth tremble, as they say in Guate)
Thursday, 7pm - Volcan Pacaya erupts, sending ash all over the city
Friday, 2pm - Pacaya erupts for a second time, sending a new wave of ash into the city
Saturday, 12noon - Tropical Storm Agatha makes landfall
Saturday, 6pm (or so) - Massive amounts of rain trigger landslides and flooding throughout the country
Sunday, 10am - I finally declare this the most eventful weekend of my life. And acknowledge that there might be something to this whole global warming thing.

As it stands now, the country is in the midst of a massive clean-up effort. When ash mixes with water, it creates a cement-like substance that has left the streets a very dirty, heavy mess to clean up. The airport will remain closed through Wednesday, and the government has closed all schools for the week - public and private.

For more info on what is happening in Guatemala, check out http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/05/29/guatemala.agatha/index.html

Pacaya Shmacaya

2010-05-28T15:14:00.008-04:00

Kara and Andrea walking down the ash-covered sidewalks of Reforma.

Volcano update....Kara, Andrea, and I ventured out into the streets this morning to grab some coffee and see what volcanic ash was all about. Basically, it's like walking through snow...really ugly, black snow. The problem at this point is two-fold.

The cover of today's local paper. "Lava of Fire"

First, unlike snow, ash doesn't melt. So where does it go? As we walked about, people were working feverishly to shovel all of the ash off the streets and buildings and into giant sandbags, truck beds, whatever was around. The reason for the hurried work is an impending tropical storm about to make landfall. That's right...an earthquake, a volcanic eruption, and now a tropical cyclone. I like to call it the Holy Trinity of Natural Disasters.

All kidding aside, the massive amount of rainfall predicted for this weekend could pose a serious risk in the city. If the ash is washed into the sewer system, it will clog the system, creating a potentially dangerous flooding scenario.

Andrea took a moment to send a volcanic shout out to her friends and fam back home in Canada.

Then, there's Pacaya itself. Latest reports suggest that it may erupt again today, as continuous explosions have been occurring inside the volcano since this began yesterday. To all my friends and family...fear not. Even though I have a direct view of the volcano from my apartment window, I am in a good part of the city in a very solid building. The people who are really in danger are those who live at the base of Pacaya. Several people, including several children, are missing.

So, that's the latest. I tried to go to El Salvador today in an attempt to ride this situation out from a distance, but all the buses out of town are booked. And the airport is set to remain closed at least through Saturday. In an attempt to make the best of a crazy and slightly scary situation, we are headed out to do a little shopping.

More updates to come...now I need to go wash my hair...because there is volcanic ash in it, naturally.

Guate's Peak

2010-05-28T06:39:00.002-04:00

It's now 4:42am local time, and I am wide awake, still somewhat nervous about the volcanic eruption happening 25km away. I managed to dose off for a few hours, but was awakened by the sound of rain falling outside...I thought it was more ash from Volcan Pacaya. Ash sounds like rain. And the actual eruption that happened at 7pm, well, it turns out that a volcanic eruption sounds like thunder. Who knew?

I spent several hours with my new friends, a couple of teachers from Canada, and we finally decided to call it a night around midnight since we had all been up since 5am Thursday morning. We learned a lot about how we each operate during an emergency...it turns out that Andrea is the only responsible one - she showed up with her emergency bag containing, among other items, a flashlight, water, and granola bars. I brought a 6-pack. So you can see where my head was when I was told, "Katie, school is canceled tomorrow because the volcano is erupting and 3 inches of ash have fallen on the city."

They have closed the airport, and the reporter who went missing while reporting from the base of the volcano has been found dead. The president has declared a state of emergency, or actually, here, it is a "State of Calamity." 4 others are still missing at this time. I'm not sure what to expect when the sun rises in about 45 minutes. At one point during the night I could make out the giant plume of ash rising from the volcano. Lava began shooting into the air a while ago, but I have not been able to see that from here due to the dense ash cloud.

Oh, and add to this that a tropical cyclone is set to come ashore tomorrow or Saturday, and you see why this weekend may prove to be a challenging one. In my school career, classes have been canceled due to snow storms, ice storms, flooding, hurricanes, and tornadoes. Add volcanic eruption to that list. So I went from snow days to volcano days. Bizarre.

One of the positives in all of this came with the closing of the airport. No flights means no loud, noisy plane take-offs and landings waking me up during the night. Too bad I couldn't sleep tonight. The silence of the city right now is eerie. I had gotten used to the ubiquitous horn-blaring that echos through the city at all hours of the day and night. The traffic never really seems to fully sleep. But tonight, the city is silent. A silence created by one of the world's most violent, unpredictable, and fascinating natural disasters.

Click here for the latest on the eruption from CNN.com.

Blogging during a volcanic eruption...definitely a first.

2010-05-28T00:21:00.004-04:00

Specks of volcanic ash on my hand.

Hola friends!

So, just a few hours ago I updated this very blog with an entry about 2 firsts that I experienced today. Well, let's make that 3. About two hours ago, I was alerted to the fact that ash was falling down on Guatemala City. I instantly went out on the balcony and, sure enough, my hand was quickly spotted with volcanic ash. Hold. the. phone.

Let's rewind to a couple of days ago when I posted this entry featuring a picture with smoke rising from Volcan Pacaya. Then today's post was about my very first earthquake, which happened around 3pm today. And now it appears that Volcan Pacaya, known for its continuous lava flow, is now spewing rocks and ash for the first time since 1998.

Here's the latest on my volcano drama...

- Today's earlier earthquake was 3.4 magnitude.
- A more recent quake came in at 4.7 magnitude.
- The entire city is currently covered in a light layer of black ash, with a constant stream still raining down on the city.
- There have been deaths reported as a result of this event, all people who were on or near the volcano at the time.
- One local reporter is currently missing after reporting from the volcano.
- Several towns around the volcano have been evacuated.

Ok. Officially freaked out a bit. This is my first experience with a volcanic eruption. We are being advised to have a packed bag ready to go but to stay inside, as volcanic ash is extremely dangerous to inhale. Schools have been closed for tomorrow.

Currently, me and two of my fellow teachers are having some Guatemalan beers, because, when there's a volcano erupting outside your door, what else can you do? Maybe there is something to that Black Butterfly myth...hmm...Stay tuned for updates....

Just in case I forgot I was in Guatemala...

2010-05-27T21:44:00.006-04:00

Posing with a statue on Avenida La Reforma

It's 5:15am, my alarm goes off. I turn on my lamp and groggily make my way to my windows to open the curtains. I'm pulling the curtains open when it happens....swooosh. Something bops me on the head as it flies past me. My first thought?

O...M...G. There's a freaking bat in my apartment. (Ok, not-so-lady-like language was involved in the words that I actually said at this moment.)

I scream, turn around (now FULLY awake), and I see it. A big black critter hanging on my overhead lamp. My mind is racing. What the heck does one do in this situation exactly? As I carefully inch closer to inspect my uninvited guest, I realize that it's not a bat, but something that looks like a moth on steroids. So again, what to do?? I clearly cannot continue getting ready for my day with this ugly critter in my midst. And then it dawns on me...Dwight. As in Dwight Shrute. Yes, my mind instantly drifted to the Bat-in-the-Office episode of The Office. I grab a kitchen bag and begin frantically chasing this flying creature all over my apartment until I finally capture it. What.....a wake up call.

Even after I caught it, I still couldn't believe it got in my apartment. I sleep with my windows open since I don't have air conditioning, but how the heck did this thing fly in here on the 11th floor of this building?? I later found out that the flying menace was what they in Guatemala refer to as "The Black Butterfly." Apparently it really is just a harmless, ugly, freakishly big butterfly. But the Guatemalan legend that accompanies it goes like this: If one shows up at your house, then someone you know will die. Soooo...that's a nice little folktale.

And then, as if my day couldn't get more bizarre, another first: My first Guatemalan earthquake. Today, at about 3:00pm Guatemala time, there was an earthquake. It was minor, in fact, the Guatemalans called it an "Earth Tremor." And for all the anxiety I have had about the earthquakes here, I didn't even realize that's what it was until 10 minutes later when I was talking to someone in the hallway at school.

With such an eventful day behind me, I'm thankful for a nice weekend getaway to Antigua. To my friends back in the States, Happy Memorial Day Weekend! And if anyone dares to spoil Sex and the City 2 for me, I will fly back and smack you. (The movie opens here next week.)

Adios!

Meet Zona 9

2010-05-23T22:29:00.006-04:00

Smoke plumes from Volcan Pacaya.

I think it's time for a more formal introduction. Cocktails-on-Peachtree Readers, Guatemala City. Guatemala City, Cocktails-on-Peachtree Readers. With a population nearing 3 million people, Guatemala City is the largest city in Central America.....and my new home. And just in case I forgot that I was in a new country...there's nothing like waking up, looking out your window, and seeing clouds of smoke and ash coming out of a volcano in the distance. (Don't worry, mom...that volcano does that all the time apparently, and it is actually far away in the distance.)

I've learned a lot about this place my first week here. The city is divided into different "zonas," sectioned accordingly as we in Atlanta have different zip codes for different parts of the city. Each Zona has its own character, its own story. I live in Zona 9, which is, admittedly, a nicer part of the city. I can walk to many restaurants, bars, and shops from where I am, but only during the day.

The gritty underbelly of this Central American metropolis is not lost on me. In fact, I'm reminded of it everyday. I can only call certain taxi companies, others are known to rob and lead naive tourists far from their intended destination. I was at dinner this past week when one of my friends noted, "Well, we better go ahead and leave before it gets much darker." There is a good direction to walk from my condo...and a bad direction. There are armed guards everywhere. Even right outside of my condo.

But let's not forget this: there are parts of Atlanta that I wouldn't dare venture to, day or night, for similar reasons. And, just like Atlanta, there are parts of Guatemala City that are charming and inviting. Today I walked down my street for many blocks. The wide, tree-lined Avenida La Reforma is a lovely place to spend a Sunday afternoon. Between the joggers, bike riders, and dog-walkers, I almost forgot I was in Guatemala.

I am discovering a lot of things that I like (a local bakery named San Martin...de-lish!) and some things that I don't like (Atlanta, I no longer deem you as home to the worst traffic on earth). So I hope you will check back often as I will try to post at least once a week, if not more. I will share all of my adventures and discoveries. Next up: a trip to Antigua, Guatemala next weekend. Try googling images of it.

The Land of Eternal Spring

2010-05-16T19:13:00.008-04:00

View from my room!

Well, I made it! After a relatively short plane ride or two, I arrived in Guatemala City yesterday afternoon. I was greeted at the airport by a few people from the my new school and was immediately whisked away for lunch....at an American burger joint. Ha! Immediately I noticed that the weather was far more temperate than I thought it would be. Now I understand why Guatemala has the nickname "Land of Eternal Spring." That's literally what the weather is like here....warm in the day, cool at night. No humidity though, so Atlanta can keep that part of its Spring.

After lunch, they took me to my condo which is fantastic. When I signed up to teach in Guatemala, I didn't know what to expect. My condo is in a great building, very safe, and the school has provided me with just about everything...even stocking my fridge with some items before I arrived. The best part of my new home...the view. The volcano that I can see from my condo (thanks to the lovely floor to ceiling windows) is particularly spectacular first thing in the morning. And at night, the Torre de Reformador (Guate's version of the Eiffel Tower) lights up.

View from my living room. La Torre del Reformer at night.

Not long after I arrived, a couple of girls from the school, who also live in the building, knocked on my door and invited me to dinner. We went to a great Mexican restaurant and had some really delicious food - much more along the lines of what I was hoping to taste in Guatemala.

Sunday was spent shopping and getting a few final things my apartment needed. You know, I honestly didn't know how I would do without air conditioning. I'm beginning to realize that we're quite spoiled in the States. So far, the lack of air conditioning hasn't been a problem. It gets quite chilly at night here, to the point where I wished I brought a light sweater to dinner on Saturday night.

My only complaint thus far is the noise. You see, although I'm not right next to the airport, apparently I am right in line with the end of the runway. Planes are only mid-air when they fly past my window...and it is loud. Very loud. I guess I will get used to it. It's mostly noticeable during the afternoon, so I guess it won't bother me during the week when I will be at school.

Anyways, that's just a little update from Guatemala. I will hopefully have more pictures and stories as the weeks go on. I meet my students and begin my one-week orientation at the school tomorrow. School starts very early here, but then again, the sun does come up at 5:15am.

T-minus 4 days and counting...

2010-05-11T10:21:00.006-04:00

Well, I've been busy since my last post. This time I'm posting from my mother's house as I have officially vacated the Atlanta area, including my beloved Inman Park studio apartment. But before leaving the city that I've called home for nearly 7 years, I had one last night out with great friends.

We started with dinner at P'Cheen, a great restaurant and bar located in my old apartment building. It seemed like the perfect choice since it was the place I went on my very first night as a resident of Inman Park - full circle, indeed. Then, with several of my favorite friends, we headed over to Smith's Olde Bar for some great live music courtesy of 500 Songs for Kids - a fantastic fundraiser employing the talents of local musicians to raise money for kids in need. It was a great night of great music and great friends.

So, here I am...counting down the days til liftoff. I'm spending time with family this week and taking care of some last minute things (adios, Comcast). I'm also starting to panic about the fact that I have yet to fit everything I want to take to Guatemala into my allotted baggage space. It's getting there, but many things have been tossed that I thought would fit...mainly, many outfits.

The other thing I've been doing this week is planning trips! I've been googling and reading and planning, oh my! While I am planning to return to the States for Christmas, I'm going to spend New Years Eve somewhere in Central/South America...the search is on! Here are a couple of places that I've already got on my radar to visit this year:

Photo courtesy of Lonely Planet
Tulum, Mexico - Mayan ruins + crystal clear waters of the Caribbean = uhh-mazing.

Photo courtesy of Lonely Planet
Lake Atitlan, Guatemala - Just an hour and a half from my new home :)

Photo courtesy of TripAdvisor
Antigua, Guatemala - Just 40 minutes from my new home in Guatemala City, this charming town combines classic colonial architecture with dramatic scenery. I think I'll be spending many weekends here.

I can't wait to get down there and start sharing my adventures with everyone on the blog! These are just a few places I will visit this year. I didn't even get into Belize yet! First up will be Antigua, followed by some time in El Salvador in June. If you missed reading about my first trip through El Salvador, you can catch up on that here. I will update the blog again next week...from Guatemala!! Adios!

A Precarious Packing Problem...

2010-04-27T13:16:00.005-04:00

It's a classic quandary, right up there with "If you were on a deserted island and could only take two things, what would you take?" and I've been pondering it a lot these days. The question - If your house were on fire, and you could only grab one thing, what would it be? I know, why would I be pondering such a hypothetical question, right? Well, as I am preparing for the big move (which you can read about here), I am finding myself wondering what I should take with me.

With only two checked suitcases and two carry-on bags, the competition among my most personal and prized possessions is getting pretty cut-throat. I'm obviously taking pictures and my favorite pillow and blanket. But I also want to take some things that remind me of Atlanta. Seeing as how I can't take the entire Atlanta Braves baseball team and a Chick-Fil-A franchise, I'm stuck thinking of small, practical things that I can easily transport. So, my fellow Atlantans...today's blog is soliciting advice. What would you take?

Spring Cleaning

2010-04-19T12:12:00.003-04:00

Bubblewrap - Image via Getty Images

It's a task no one really seems to enjoy - moving. While the prospect of relocating to a whole new city, er...country, is an exciting one, the reality of fighting that epic battle with packing tape and bubble wrap (which always ends with a cocktail) often causes one to stop and reconsider. Thus begins the process of moving to Guatemala.

In almost 7 years of being an Atlanta resident, I've lived in no fewer than 5 different apartments, and while I loathe the moving process like everyone else, I do enjoy the cathartic experience that comes with cleaning out your life. No doubt that those 5 moves in 7 years prevented me from becoming an episode of "Hoarders." I have three weeks until I have to be out of my apartment, which is plenty of time to pack my little studio up, but this move is different.

Usually, I just pack up everything I own, only tossing things that bring an obvious "Why did I keep this?" reaction. My mom will be housing some of my belongings for me while I'm away, but she's put a limit on what I can store at her place. So this move begins with sorting and selling or donating a LOT of things. Whatever survives will be packed either into my suitcase for the long journey to Guatemala or into one of 4 boxes being permitted into my mother's attic. Let the elimination rounds begin...

Pura Vida, Costa Rica!

2010-04-15T10:14:00.009-04:00

Sunset at Playa Brasilito.

Costa Rican sunsets are like nothing I had ever seen before. The sky, all at once, became this captivating painting, its canvas covered with strokes of red and burnt orange that I had never seen in nature before. Watching the sunset on that very first night, I knew...I was going to love Costa Rica.

Over the past decade, Costa Rica has established itself as the touristy country in Central America. The government has succeeded in developing a reputation of "economic and exotic luxury" for the country, and tourists flock there in droves to experience the verdant rainforests, pristine beaches, proper volcanoes, endearing critters, and beautifully interesting landscape. All that being said, one of the most difficult decisions was deciding just exactly where we should spend our time in Costa Rica.

Quirky tree atop Cameron Cove, where we kayaked and snorkeled.

We settled on making it a beach trip, saving the rainforests and volcanoes for another time. The next debate was Carribean vs. Pacific. We eventually decided on the Nicoya Peninsula (Pacific side) as it is known for its amazing beaches and its decidedly less-touristy feel from the Carribean. Brasilito (Playa Conchal) was the beach we ended up choosing, and we could not have done better, in my opinion.

Taking in the spectacular view on top of Punta Viejo after a 2-hour hike to get there.

We hiked, biked, snorkeled, and kayaked our way through our 8 day vacation, waking early with the sun (about 5:30am), spending several hours on the beach, napping in the afternoon, and going back out for one of those brilliant sunsets. That's a schedule I could get used to, as is the sight of a howler monkey sitting in the tree next to our hotel. I think I literally squealed with delight when I saw the monkey; there was something so delightful about seeing an animal like that outside of a zoo, free to roam and howl as he sees fit.

Cathedral in Downtown San Jose, Costa Rica.

One thing I did at the end of the trip, which I gather few people do, is take a day to walk through Downtown San Jose. Most people use San Jose as the landing space for their international flight and little else, but upon further inspection, it's a charming Central American capital, filled with beautiful architecture and delicious local restaurants. I would definitely recommend taking at least an afternoon to do this - and make sure to hit up one of the local museums - they are quite good.

Stopping for a dip in the ocean at Playa Flamingo on our bike ride.

There were a couple of things that surprised me about Costa Rica. First of all, the heat. Being on the beach in Costa Rica is like standing on the surface of the sun. Bring sunscreen...buckets of it. And reapply...hourly. Also, and this was a far less pleasant surprise than the sun, it's expensive! The shock of the trip was most certainly the cost of dining out. I'm sure the prices have been jacked up because of the aforementioned tourist boom, but it was still shocking to me because it's still a Central American country. Even dining out in the heart of San Jose, likely the least-touristy spot on the entire trip, I was left wondering, "Where and what do local people eat?!" I think my sticker shock was enhanced, too, after my trip to El Salvador in December. While I knew Costa Rica would certainly be more expensive than El Salvador, I really just had no idea how much more expensive it would be.

Iguana!

Finally, if we had it to do over again, I think we would have gone somewhere else mid-trip, possible Arenal or somewhere else in the mountains. The beach was wonderful, but 4 days on a remote Costa Rican beach and you have pretty much done all there is to do. I suppose that just means that we have to go back...darn. Tough job, but someone has to do it :)

Confessions of a Bad Blogger

2010-04-13T10:07:00.003-04:00

Whoopsie. It's been a crazy month since my last post, to say the least. Before I catch everyone up to speed, let me just apologize for being a bad blogger over the past 4 weeks, and promise that I will do much better.

Let me start with the big news. I have a teaching job!! And in keeping with my campaign slogan for 2010, which I declared here, I'm definitely "Going with the wind in 2010." I have accepted a position teaching 2nd grade at a private American school...in Guatemala. That's right, I am moving to a small suburb of Guatemala City on May 15th, and I couldn't be more ecstatic about my decision. While I'm sure that living abroad will bring its challenges, I'm also quite certain that this will be the most rewarding, exciting year of my life.

As I shared this news with people, the response was overwhelmingly positive and supportive, with a few people (women, especially) saying something along the lines of "I really wish that I had done something like that when I had the chance" (read...'before I had kids and a family'). There were a few people though who gave me the response I expected, "Guatemala?? Whhhhyyy???" Well, let me address those why's in one place on this blog:

Guatemala is one of the most beautiful and interesting countries in the world with Mayan ruins, colonial architecture, beaches, volcanoes, and more.
Incredible travel opportunities - hello long weekends on the beach in Belize.
Learning about a new culture and (hopefully) becoming fluent in Spanish.
Stepping outside of my comfort zone a bit, which is almost always a rewarding experience.
It's a fantastic school.

Of course, there are also the more practical reasons like:

There are no teaching jobs in Atlanta, all of the major school districts here are facing $100 million+ deficits.
Health insurance - I've been paying for it out of pocket during graduate school...now I won't have to do that anymore.
So far, I'm the only person that I'm aware of from my teacher education program who has found a job for next year.
Oh, this Guatemala job is the only job offer that was out there...anywhere.

So, take the combination of those reasons for what they're worth, and just know that I could not be more enthusiastic and pumped about this new adventure. Also, just a note about this blog, I will keep writing from Guatemala, in fact, I will update it much more frequently to keep everyone posted on the experience. And the blog will undergo a small makeover in the coming weeks...it will still be "Cocktails on Peachtree," but I think it needs an update befitting of a move to Central America.

Stay tuned for more updates this week...I just returned from 9 days in Costa Rica...pictures and stories coming soon...as well as all the info about the happenings leading up to my move, including my humble attempt to introduce everyone to the very cool country that I'm moving to. For now, Adios!

And, finally, for those of you keeping score, that would be one resolution and two bucket list goals, (ok, so I'm going to be fluent in Spanish, not French, but it still counts) that I've marked off or taken a step towards marking off since I last posted. Not too shabby.

Oscar Wishes and Movie Star Dreams

2010-03-07T18:21:00.003-05:00

It's Oscar night...sigh. Long gone are the days when I dreamed of moving to New York and becoming a Broadway star. Of course, I would eventually move to LA and become the next Audrey Hepburn. As a kid, Oscar night was a big deal for me. From the ages of about 5-9, I would dress up in my fanciest dress to watch all of Hollywood strut down the red carpet.

My parents thought it was cute; my siblings thought it was annoying. Nonetheless, until I was about 18, I dreamed of becoming a movie star. Even though I've outgrown that fantasy, there is still something about the Academy Awards that gets me. Whatever the reason, I can't help but indulge in the frivolity of it all. And, I can't help but steal a glance at the "Oscar" that my dad gave me many years ago...so I didn't have to practice my acceptance speech with my hair brush anymore. I promise you've never seen an 8-year old smile any bigger than I did the day he gave that to me.

Years later, I still love the Oscars, and I plan on watching it while cozied up on my couch...in my PJs. And, last weekend I saw all 5 of the animated shorts nominated for Academy Awards this year, which was possibly the coolest thing I've done in a while. I highly recommend doing that next year if you get the chance. I'll leave you with my Oscar predictions:

Best Picture - The Hurt Locker
Best Actor - "The Dude"...a.k.a. Jeff Bridges
Best Actress - Sandra Bullock
Best Supporting Actor - Christophe Waltz
Best Supporting Actress - Mo'Nique...seriously can't believe I just typed that

And...since I have a vested interest this time around...

Best Animated Short - French Toast

Travel Challenge - Costa Rica

2010-03-04T17:42:00.003-05:00

So, it took me a little longer than I originally planned, but I stuck to my New Year's Resolution and booked a plane ticket this week for an exotic Spring Break trip. Destination: Costa Rica. I've wanted to go there for years. It seems to me to have the perfect combination of the elements - pristine beaches, wildlife-rich jungles, jaw-dropping waterfalls, proper volcanoes, hot springs, etc.

I was busy doing research and planning for my April 3rd voyage when I hit a snafu...my travel partner has asked me to only bring 2 bags, one big backpack, and one little backpack...for an 8-day trip. WTF? How am I going to do this?! It's time to seriously think about what my priorities will be in packing for this trip. What to bring? What to leave? The old me, circa 2008, probably would have said, "Well, you can forget that plan, buddy." But, in the spirit of adventure and spontaneity, I accept the challenge. I will make it happen. Now, where does one buy a backpack the size of a suitcase?

The Big 2-5!

2010-02-26T22:03:00.002-05:00

My 25th birthday celebration was awesome, no thanks to the efforts of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia (read that lovely story here). The day that started with a giant "Happy B-day Miss Jones" sign on the white board in my classroom (signed by all 100 of my students), continued with a rousing lunchtime performance of "Happy Birthday" by all of my students, and ended with dinner with 8 of my best girl friends at one of my favorite tapas restaurants in Atlanta, Pura Vida. I couldn't ask for a better group of students, friends, or a better beginning to 25. I have a very good feeling about this year.

Oh, you're turning 25?? Pay up.

2010-02-18T20:50:00.005-05:00

First, let me start by apologizing for not updating the blog lately. Life has been a bit crazy, to say the least...full-time teaching, 2 part-time jobs, and graduate school. Yikes. I have since let one of the part-time jobs go. Phew. Anyways, now that is out of the way, the real point of this post - my upcoming 25th birthday. What...a quarter-life milestone.

When I asked people older than me how they felt about their 25th birthdays, I got very mixed reactions. Some thought it was a really big deal while others, eh, not so much. These days, I tend to find myself agreeing with the former. Although I am not sure why, my 25th birthday feels like a big deal. Mostly, I suspect, because it happens to be coinciding with a lot of other milestones and changes that are looming in the coming months.

I will graduate with my Masters Degree in Teaching in May. This journey into a teaching career began just over 2 years ago with my fateful decision to leave my career as a publicist. Graduation also means that it is time to find a job...in an economy that certainly looks very different from 2 years ago. The number of teaching jobs in the greater Atlanta area?? About zero, give or take. This most likely means that I will also be moving somewhere new in the next few months. I am actually pretty excited about that possibility, actually. So, just in case I was not aware of the milestone birthday coming up, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia decided to remind me.

About 2 weeks ago, I opened a letter from my longtime insurance company that read something like this,

"Dear valued BCBS member,

We noticed that you have a birthday coming up. First let us say, Happy Birthday! Secondly, this will move you into the next age bracket (25-34) on our plan and beginning next month, your premium will increase $40 per month.

Sincerely,
BCBS of GA"

So, in retrospect, maybe I am feeling that this birthday is a big deal because apparently when I go to sleep tonight I will be 24, and when I wake up tomorrow, I will be....34. I am not Tom Hanks, this is not Big, I am not ready to be 34. Thanks a lot, BCBS of GA - good job putting the "BS" in "BCBS."

Words of Wisdom

2010-02-03T20:45:00.001-05:00

Someone quoted part of this poem to me the other day, and I really liked it. For someone who doesn't like poetry, I sure have been inadvertently reading a lot of it lately. Maybe the universe is trying to tell me something, as all the poems have been about embracing the unknown. I particularly loved this poem, and think that it provides anyone with much to consider. Enjoy!

"Letter to a Young Poet"

Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart.
Try to love the questions themselves,
like locked rooms and like books written in a foreign language.
Do not now look for the answers.
They cannot now be given to you
because you could not live them.
It is a question of experiencing everything.
At present you need to live the question.
Perhaps you will gradually, without even noticing it,
find yourself experiencing the answer, some distant day.

~ Rainer Maria Rilke, German poet

Dream Weaver

2010-02-01T22:05:00.003-05:00

I don't know what it is, but I have been having very vivid and memorable dreams lately. It used to be that I could never recall anything that crossed my mind when I was asleep, but these days I feel like every day I wake up pondering some curious image from the night before. Although they're usually pretty benign, this morning I woke up completely freaked out by my dream. I had a dream that my teeth were falling out! It was dramatic and traumatizing, one of those dreams that you swear is actually happening as the dream progresses, and you wake up in the morning thanking your lucky stars that it was only a dream.

Sufficiently freaked out, and furiously checking all my teeth, I decided to do something that I have never done before...google the meaning of my dream. How could I not? And the overwhelming consensus of the Internets...a dream about tooth loss (which incidentally is a very common dream) represents a time of uncertainty and/or a fear of change. I'm trying to decide if it's a coincidence that this was my last blog post. At any rate, the whole thing freaked me out, and while I take things like dream interpretation with a grain of salt, there is no denying that I have been having some kind of a quarter-life crisis with my 25th birthday right around the corner. Hmm...maybe dreams really are the visual embodiment of our fears. Something to think about. Now, I think I'm going to go floss....

State of Life

2010-01-28T06:00:00.001-05:00

As I watched the President's annual State of the Union Address last night, I couldn't help but think how therapeutic such a speech must be. It is a moment for all Americans to take stock of the people and country around them and note things that have gone well over the past year, and the things that have not. It got me thinking about my own life, and prompted a sort of "State of Life" soliloquy in my head.

I spent time thinking about how far I have come over the past year. Specifically, I focused on the fact that I'm not only considering, but actively pursuing a job overseas. This is surely a sign that I've let go of my fear of change.

My dad's death three years ago was the beginning of a period in my life that would be marked by constant change...career limbo, going back to graduate school, getting my own place, relationships beginning and ending, family turmoil, etc. It wasn't until this past Christmas (Christmas Day, to be exact) that I finally broke down under the weight of all, a moment that shocked the only witness to this control freak's rare moment of total and utter loss of control - my mom.

You see, I'm the dependable one. The cheerful one. I've had people say things to me like, "You're just walking optimism, aren't you?" "Does anything bother you?" "Being the bigger person and swallowing your pride...that's such a Katie thing to do." In fact, one of the most memorable things my dad ever said to me came just after he received his grim cancer diagnosis, "Katie, I don't worry about you. I know you'll be ok, you always are. I worry about everyone else."

And it's true, I suppose, that I really try not to let things get to me. My general attitude is one of "everything works out the way it's supposed to, no matter what I do." I don't stress about the massive pile of work that I have between 2 part-time jobs, full-time student teaching, and graduate school. No, I know that I'll get it done. I always do. But in my effort to not let little things bother me, I somehow managed to deny myself proper responses to things that should bother me. And it all came out on Christmas Day. Too much change, too soon. So, in my State of Life Soliloquy, I commended the progress I made over the past year regarding change. I've confronted the scary side of change head on, and now I'm focused on embracing the potential change can bring, the adventures. I've cast such a wide net during my current job search that I literally have no idea what city, state, country, or even continent that I'll be living in come August. I've accepted the fact that I have no control over what happens next, and I'm finally happy with that feeling. If I had a campaign slogan for this next year of my life, it'd be - "Going with the wind in 2010."

Olympic Dreams

2010-01-26T06:01:00.001-05:00

My students are reading non-fiction books right now for their next book report, and one girl is reading a book about famous ice skaters. When she got to Nancy Kerrigan, she asked, "Ms. Jones, who is Nancy Kerrigan?" Oh. my. It's hard to believe that it was almost 15 years ago that Tonya Harding made U.S. Figure Skating resemble a WWE cage match.

Growing up in the south, I always daydreamed about being an amazing ice skater. (You can read more about my obsession with snow, here.) I loved Nancy Kerrigan. My dad met her on a business trip to Orlando when she was at the height of her fame and managed to snag an autograph for me. I'm not sure what happened to it, er, I was just 10 years old at the time, so I'm sure it's in a box somewhere with my New Kids on the Block cassette tapes. Anyways, I used to put on a pair of socks and glide around on the hardwood floors pretending that I was Nancy Kerrigan. I will never forget that video footage of her on the floor of the U.S. skating championships crying and screaming, "Whyyyyyyy??" Tonya Harding will forever remain a villain to most Americans. And rightfully so.

Here's to those days as a 10-year old girl, sliding around on the hardwood floors, performing faux-triple axles. And, here's to the upcoming Winter Olympics...not my favorite of the two olympic seasons, but I still watch the figure skating.

**Note: After I typed this up, I read a story online about the bizarre incident at Nancy Kerrigan's family home today, resulting in her father's death. So sad.

Rainy Day Inspiration

2010-01-25T06:00:00.002-05:00

There's something about a rainy day that usually inspires me...to take a nap. Usually. But yesterday I had a pile of work that was stacked to the roof, and the rain actually made being stuck indoors all day suck a little bit less. There's nothing more frustrating than working away inside while it's 65 degrees and sunny outside. If I couldn't be lounging on a patio with a drink somewhere, at least no one else in this city could be either. Rain aside, there are a few things that always make a day of work a little more bearable, even...enjoyable. My must haves for a productive day at the home office include:

An endless supply of delish coffee. I'm currently still sipping on my El Salvador coffee and still obsessed with my keurig.

A killer playlist. The replay button is currently being held on Snow Patrol's Just Say Yes. This song makes me want to do something really spontaneous....great for the creativity.

Can't work all day without yummie snacks. My snack du jour yesterday was hummus with pretzels and veggies.

It's the most wonderful time of the year!!

2010-01-22T06:00:00.001-05:00

No, I'm not talking about Christmas. I'm obviously talking about Girl Scout Cookie season. I saw one of my students flash her order form in the hallway today, and I obviously told her that if she wanted her daily grade, she was going to need to hand it over...immediately. The cookies always come in around my birthday, which I know isn't a coincidence. Back in the days when I was a Girl Scout I was solely a Thin Mints gal. But just as I have learned to love tomatoes and avocado, so too have I learned to expand my cookie taste. I can hardly wait to get my box (or 3) of samoas. (Side note - when I was in the troop, we called them Caramel DeLites. And Do-si-dos were just called Peanut Butter Sandwiches....does anyone else remember this?? And what's with the name redo?)

Of course, I'm also always reminded of one of my favorite ridiculous movies from my childhood...Troop Beverly Hills. "Beverly Hills, what a thrill....And shopping is our greatest skill...1, 2, 3, 4...."

Celebrity Pet Peeve

2010-01-21T05:00:00.000-05:00

It's no secret that my guilty pleasure is celebrity gossip. I'm aware that People Magazine and Perez Hilton don't exactly qualify as legitimate news sources, but sometimes I need a break from the real world, so I set down my New Yorker Magazine and find out what Jennifer Aniston wore to the Golden Globes. Quite frankly, I think this makes me a little more well-rounded. Now, if it were all I read.....that would be a different story.

Anyways, my celebrity pet peeve has surfaced again in the wake of the earthquake in Haiti - celebrities who travel to devastated areas or third-world countries to do good...and take a camera crew. Appearing on a telethon is one thing, but I was annoyed when Sean Penn took a camera crew on a boat and traveled around New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and I find it annoying that celebrities are now doing that in Haiti. It's distracting, gets in the way of officials doing real work, and even if they mean well, it comes across as an insincere form of self-promotion. It's like saying, "Hey, look at me. I'm rich, famous, and I'm doing good. So you should like me and see my movies." Annoying.

Want to Invade Your Significant Other's Privacy?? There's an App for that!!

2010-01-20T06:08:00.001-05:00

I don't have an iPhone. I am a confessed Blackberry devotee. That being said, anytime that I am around someone with an iPhone, I feel the need to play with all the different applications, or "apps." I thought I had seen everything when a friend of mine pulled out her iPhone and showed us the "cricket sound" app. Try pushing that app in a bar after someone tells a lame joke....hysterical. But when I came across this article about iPhone's latest app, I couldn't believe it.

"iTrust" is an app that allows users to know if someone other than themselves has been trying to access data on their phones. It sounds harmless enough until you watch the ad for it and realize that Apple is targeting this application at men. To protect their phones...from their girlfriends. Pump. the. breaks. I don't even know where to start with how many issues I have with this.

First of all, if you find yourself downloading the "iTrust" app, why don't you save the $0.99 and just break-up with your significant other. Clearly the app should have been called, "iDontTrust." Secondly, what is with the ad assuming that women are the only culprits of cell-snooping? I caught an ex-boyfriend of mine going through my phone once. And I busted him the old-fashioned way...red-handed. So take that iTrust.

As a woman, I'm quite offended by the noticable absense of a politcally correct girl/BOYfriend in this ad. And second, I'm just sad that this is what it's come down to...downloading an app to our cell phones so we can make sure that our boyfriend/girlfriend has no access to my texts/call history because I'm doing something wrong and I don't trust them to believe my lies. Sigh.

America's Newest Celeb - "Pants on the Ground"

2010-01-18T09:23:00.000-05:00

I think most people would agree with me when I say that the best part of American Idol is the first few weeks of auditions. This past week the show aired the Atlanta auditions, and we gave the world...General Larry Platt. If you missed the show, please check out the video below for his original hit, "Pants on the Ground." It's worth the 2 minutes...trust me.

HAHA! This song has quickly become the latest YouTube hit, and the General has been making the rounds on daytime talk shows. At school this week, teachers were singing it in the Faculty Lounge, students were singing it in the hallways, and I'm pretty sure one of the janitors was humming the tune down the hallway. The thing about this song is that he has a point!! Sagging pants has long been a dress code issue for middle schools in America, and the fact that the kids are singing a song about pulling their pants off the ground because they look like a fool is BRILLIANT! I think this guys should tour middle schools across America. Speaking of General Larry Platt...he's no ordinary man.

September 4, 2001 was officially declared "Larry Platt Day" by the Georgia General Assembly. Platt was a student of Martin Luther King, Jr. during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement in Georgia. Just a teenager at the time, Platt participated in the now-famous "Bloody Sunday" march in Alabama, where he was beaten for his activism.

In the 40s years since, he has continued to play on active role in Georgia, regularly appearing at the Capitol building downtown to fight for a new cause or initiative. His latest plea to get young men to get their pants off the ground is bringing him national media attention, which seems well deserved. Let's hope he isn't forever known as "Pants on the Ground" man, though. Today, coincidentally enough, is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the States, and I thought this post was especially appropriate. Interesting final fact...Larry Platt picked up his "General" nickname during the Civil Rights Movement from none other than Hosea Williams. Here's hoping young men everywhere pull their pants off the ground today, General.

Coffee Conveniences

2010-01-15T06:15:00.002-05:00

I received a Keurig coffee maker for Christmas. And I love it. Every morning I pop in a little coffee pod and press a button. 3 minutes later I have the perfect cup of coffee. No clean up, no coffee grounds (although I have an attachment to use my own coffee if I want), no wasted coffee. It's a single gal's dream come true! In related news, the Starbucks down the street reports profits are down so far in 2010.

Short post today...just focusing on one of those silly little conveniences that make every day just a tad better. Be back Monday, Happy Weekend!

Perspective

2010-01-14T06:30:00.000-05:00

Today's post is dedicated to the people of Haiti. It's very difficult to imagine the kind of devastation that Haitians are experiencing in the wake of the absolutely enormous 7.0 earthquake on Tuesday. I was watching the news and preparing to post a different article, but I literally could not turn away from the unbelievable scene unfolding in the western hemisphere's poorest nation. This photo of the Presidential palace especially made my jaw drop:

CNN has compiled a list of reputable relief organizations for those interested in helping: http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/01/13/haiti.earthquake.how.to.help/index.html

And as a final note, I would like to call out Dave FM's morning host Jimmy Baron. The local Atlanta radio host made a tasteless and extremely inappropriate attempt at a joke this morning. After the news reporter updated the listening audience on the situation in Haiti, Baron quipped, "There's no word yet on how this will affect taxi service in Atlanta," referring to Atlanta's Haitian community, a portion of which operate taxis in the area. A very uncomfortable and awkward silence followed as no one else in the studio laughed. With estimates coming in that more than 100,000 people may have died, I certainly hope Jimmy regrets his ill-timed attempt at humor.

Flying the Un-Friendly Skies

2010-01-13T06:23:00.002-05:00

For those of you who haven't read my post about my trip to El Salvador, please do here. It may have turned out to be the most amazing two weeks of my life, but it didn't start out that way. No, thanks to the chefs over at Continental Airlines I started my vacation with the most serious case of food poisoning I've ever had in my life. I won't go into the gory details here, but let's just say that it was three days until I could eat and keep down solid food. I eventually recovered, and my trip was great after that, splendid, in fact. In an effort to not let the incident ruin my trip, I decided to wait until the flight home to talk to Continental Airlines about what happened. That.....could have gone better.

The customer service representatives for CA at two DIFFERENT airports gave me the same response, "Here's a card with our web site on it. If you look on there, you will be able to find an email address for someone that you can send your concern too." Wow. I knew the airline industry had cut back, but geez. Not even an "I'm sorry you pretty much lost three days of your vacation." I obviously e-mailed someone as soon as I got back. That.....also could have gone better.

The response I received 2 WEEKS later was this: "We are sorry to hear about your ordeal. Your concerns will be included on a memo to our catering company. Thanks for the e-mail." Again, that's it?? At this point, I was getting downright angry that no one seemed to be sincerely horrified and grossed out by my story (I did, in fact, give them all the gory details). This was turning into a big deal for me, so I got a hold of a risk management person over at CA, who assigned me a "case worker," and I then proceeded to unleash my best Public Relations skills on them. And it went something like this:

"You know, your abhorrent customer service issues aside, I saw in the news last week where a food processing plant that services airlines across the country was shut down because of the disgusting conditions inspectors found. If I were you, I would start acting like I cared about the fact that your airline made me sick for three days, because I really don't think you want me to go to find out if that food processing plant was yours. Then, you'll really have a problem."

I received a free round trip airline ticket anywhere in the world from Continental Airlines yesterday. The lesson here? Always, always, stick up for yourself.

Now, the question is...where to go for Spring Break in April??

Facing the Facebook Consequences

2010-01-12T07:05:00.000-05:00

Many of you know that I am currently in the process of applying for teaching jobs...everywhere. And when I say "everywhere," I mean Atlanta, California, Colorado, Ecuador, Peru...every.where. I was looking over some information from a school in Ecuador over the weekend, and came across something that made me both laugh and get mad.

In an effort to give prospective teachers from all over the globe an idea about the cost of living in Ecuador, they provide a sample expense sheet for one month. Included on the list of anticipated expenses for their teachers? 6-8 bottles of nice Chilean wine each month. Niiiice. My first reaction was one of surprise, my second "Where do I sign?" and my third "This is ridiculous, America."

A while back a story ran on the news about a Georgia woman who was fired from her teaching job at a high school for a photo that appeared on her Facebook page. (You can read that story here.) The photo in question featured the teacher holding a glass of Guinness in Ireland. A second picture showed her holding a glass of wine in a vineyard in Italy. These PICTURES on her private Facebook page cost her her job. What.....a bunch of B.S. It's not like she was doing kegstands and earning some Mardi Gras beads! She didn't have a koozi on her desk! GAH!

What that school board is essentially saying is that the person in the classroom gets no personal life. In any other profession, when you walk out of the office, you have left your job for the day. According to this district, teachers are on the clock 24/7. If that's the case, we need to talk about some serious pay raises. This is not 1908. Teachers are entitled to a social life just like everyone else. I'm glad that they've figured that out in some parts of the world. Aaaand...I'm off the soapbox.

The Ultimate Case of "The Mondays"

2010-01-11T06:35:00.000-05:00

After a glorious 6-week vacation that included 2 weeks exploring El Salvador, 1 week with family, Christmas, New Years, a bout of snow, and amazing times with some of my favorite people, I am finally returning to the real world today. Alarm-less mornings have now been replaced with a 6am rising, a double dose of coffee, and fighting traffic on I-285. So as I struggle to make it out the door for my first day back in the classroom in a long time, I thought I would post a couple of my all-time favorite quotes from some of my 6th graders. These are the moments when I think, "I freaking love my job." Keep in mind, these students are 12...

Me: "Ok, who knows who the mayor of Atlanta is?"
Student: (while thrashing arm about wildly in the air and stating his answer with absolute authority) "Oo, Oo, I know! It's Shirley....Temple."
(For you non-Atlantans, the correct answer is Shirley Franklin.)

Student: "Why do we have to study grammar? This stuff don't matter if we do it good or not."

Me: "Someone give me a random noun, just the first thing that pops in your head."
Student: "Keg."
Another Student: "Ms. Jones, what's a keg?"

Student: "Ms. Jones, why aren't you married? I thought all teachers were supposed to be married?"
Me: "Why aren't you married?"
Student: "Are you serious? I'm 12!"
Me: "There you have it, I'm too young too."
Student: (turning to another student and mumbling) "Somebody's in denial."

This last one was during an assignment about the British, when I told the students they could speak in British accents all day, which was brilliant. One student was getting annoyed with another, so he turned and yelled, "Would you not get your knickers in a bunch, please?!"

The Good Old Days

2010-01-08T23:34:00.011-05:00

I love The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. I think he is hilarious and is very good at calling the media out on issues from time to time. A story ran on his show this week that I found to have an unusually poignant message. He sent correspondent John Oliver out into the field to find "the good old days" that so many people speak of, and Oliver returned with this video. Although the story is meant to take aim at Fox News, I took away a decidedly non-political message from it. So if you don't like Jon Stewart because you think he is too liberal, keep reading anyways...please :)

During the report, Oliver discovers that there really are no decades that were "better" than the others. Each decade of the past 100 years or so had its own serious problems. So what is it that people are talking about? Oliver eventually realizes that the days we all refer too as the "good old days" are the days of our childhood. The magic of blissful ignorance.

I thought about that video clip when I was sitting in front of my apartment window watching the snow fall with the same fascination as I did when I was 7-years old. There is something so wonderful about being a kid, when the biggest dilemma you had was deciding which cereal to match with your Saturday morning cartoons. I was alive during The Cold War, The First Gulf War, The Challenger disaster, and the 1980s Atlanta Braves (yuck!). Did I know about any of this at the time? Nope. Not in any real way, at least. And how many of us exclaimed with absolute authority, "They just don't make movies like this anymore" the last time we watched an old Disney movie?

Every time I need to buy a gift for one of my adorable little nieces, I find myself giving them games, books, and toys that I loved as a child. Here are a few things that I've given to the girls, all as retro as getting excited about a snow-day from school:

I had a serious debate one year over whether to give them this or "Chutes and Ladders"...can't go wrong either way.

"Somewhere out theeeeeeeere..." PS - I didn't realize until I was writing this that Steven Spielberg directed this...wow. This must be the only animated movie he ever did.

This was before the government cared about small children playing with teeny-tiny miniature lightbulb-like toys.

"A told B and B told C..." What.....a gossipy alphabet.

Resolution Re-do...Kinda

2010-01-08T12:56:00.007-05:00

Well, we got the snow I had wished for all week. And now, with the day off, what better use of my time than to research places I want to visit. I didn't realize that I would end up altering my New Years resolution a bit, but in the spirit of embracing change this year, I am changing my resolution...a little.

I was having a discussion with a friend this morning about our resolutions, and we came up with a new way of doing ours...monthly resolutions. This is probably the result of living in a society built on instant gratification, but I think I like the idea. Instead of making one or two resolutions for the whole year, how about making yourself monthly resolutions, presumably working towards a bigger goal. I like this idea because you get the satisfaction of accomplishing more, maybe smaller goals throughout the year.

So I guess that means I need to start posting my monthly resolutions on the blog. I find that when I say I am going to do something on here, I am much more likely to follow through because I have announced it to everyone. The goal for January: book a plane ticket, a.k.a. get a trip for 2010 on the books. Woo! Here is a list of specific places that I would like to visit this year:

Uvita, Costa Rica

Granada, Nicaragua

San Rafael Falls, Amazon, Ecuador

** I would just like to say that this time last year my list would have been something like: San Francisco, Paris, and Italy. Not that I don't still want to visit those places, but I feel like I'm headed towards a period of my life that will be a bit off the beaten path. And I love it. Carpe Diem my friends :)

"It's not me, it's you"

2010-01-06T10:46:00.002-05:00

The truth behind those break-up clichés.

Let’s just go ahead and call this a case of the pot calling the kettle black because, I, a woman, am about to complain about men using too many excuses. It’s my personal belief, and I think the belief of every male in America, that the “excuse” was probably invented by a woman, i.e. “Not tonight, I have a headache” or “I have to wash my hair.” However, while we may be infamous for coming up with some doozies for getting out of certain activities, men have taken it to a whole new level – making up excuses for getting out of an entire relationship.
Where the fairer gender tends to prefer to have an entire 2-hour conversation dedicated to “these are all the reasons why this is not going to work; I really did like you; I’m sorry,” I’ve discovered through convos with my girlfriends that men tend to throw out these one-liners as their get-out-of-a-relationship-free card.

“I just don’t want to be in a serious relationship right now.”
Translation: “Yes I do, just not with you.”
I dated a guy for a few months, and this was the line he carefully selected as the one to end our relationship. What absolutely kills me about this one is that it totally forces them to maintain the single life, at least in public or when the ex is around, for a certain period of time after the break up to preserve its authenticity. In the case of my ex, he started dating another girl about a month later and as I sit here typing this they are getting ready to celebrate their three-year anniversary. Womp womp.

“I’m not a good guy, you are too good for me and would be better off avoiding me.”
Translation: “The chase is over, and I’m bored.”
I will admit that there is about a 3% chance that this one might be true. But, in my experience, if a guy really is a jackass, he is never this self-aware. I find this to be one of the most infuriating lines that a man can give you because shouldn’t it be up to us to decide whether or not we want to waste our time with them? Nevertheless, it’s an excuse they’re throwing at us because they don’t want to see us anymore, and that makes them an instant waste of time because we do deserve better.

“I don’t have a good track record with women.”
Translation: “I’ve ended every relationship I’ve ever had for no good reason.”
Ah, yes…the mantra of commitment-phobe meetings everywhere. I knew a guy who followed this line up with “I’m 0-for-20, so that’s not a good sign.” I’m a baseball fan, so I understand how an “0-for” slump works, and when one of my favorite players is in an 0-for-20 slump it automatically means, in my book anyways, that they are lazy, not putting in any effort during batting practice, and should be cut from the team. In relationship speak, he is 0-for-20 because he has not felt the need to go the extra mile for any girl he has ever dated, probably because he’s a commitment-phobe (see how that comes back around nicely). He was a nice guy though, who really did seem somewhat sincerely discouraged by his own track record. I would like to remind him here that it only takes one hit to end an “0-for.”

“It’s not you, it’s me.”
Translation: “It’s you.”
Quite frankly, I didn’t really think that people actually said this anymore, as it has become the poster child for insincerity. And that is exactly what I was thinking as my friend told me her latest break-up story over the phone. I felt like she was the clichéd leading lady in her own personal chick flick. After that she would have a crazy girl’s night out, get drunk and act a fool in front of a man who would obviously turn out to be prince charming. Riiight. All I really have to say here is that anyone who has ever believed this was true is in serious denial. Of course it’s you. If he really liked you that much, he wouldn’t be using this line to dump you.

“I just can’t give you what you deserve right now.”
Translation: “I could, but I don’t want to.”
I have always been a firm believer in differentiating between having the ability to do something and having the desire. Those are two very different things. Men are perfectly capable of putting in a little effort. They’ve surely been subjected to a Matthew McConaughey movie at some point, and are therefore perfectly aware of what women want. The key factor for a man is finding a woman that they actually feel motivated to do something nice for. If they tell you this one, it’s time to “peace out dude,” as Matthew would say.

The reason these lines are so especially tricky is because we, as women, inevitably think that we can convince men otherwise. We convince ourselves we could have a casual relationship, pump up their ego and make them believe they’re a good guy, disregard their past, lower our expectations or, worse yet, offer to change ourselves. None of these options are viable. If you find that you have to talk them into staying with you…that is no bueno, my friends. Never settle for anything less than what you deserve. You will strike out a bit, but just remember that every single person has an “0-for” until, one day, they don’t.

Snow Way

2010-01-03T23:28:00.007-05:00

I'm pretty sure that this is something that comes as a direct result of being born and raised a Georgia girl...my obsession with snow. Ask any Georgia native what happened in the Spring of 1993 and they will reply, "The blizzard." I was 8 years old when Columbus, GA received 7 inches of snow. I'm pretty sure we still refer to it as "The Storm of the Century." Yea, it's that big of a deal. For you non-southerners out there, let me explain. Atlanta doesn't just slow down when it snows, no, it comes to a complete halt. As does every other city south of the Tennessee border.

There are few things in life that make me as happy as a snow day - a Braves win, sleeping past 10am, and weekend mornings browsing the book store are close runners-up. So when I looked today and saw that The Weather Channel is predicting 2-3 inches of snow at the end of this week, one would think that I would have started doing cartwheels. But not this time. That's right Weather Channel, I'm calling your bluff. You nonchalantly put a chance of snow in the 10-day forecast all the time. Do we get snow all the time? Obviously not. In fact, one year our school superintendent made the decision to cancel school because snow was in the forecast for the next day. It. never. snowed.

To sum up, I REALLY hope it snows this week. And as for you, Weather Channel, I have learned my lesson. You have fooled me into buying a new pair of gloves and rain/snow boots for the last time! If you really cared you would wait until 24-48 hours before to put a chance of snow in the forecast because when you put "Snow showers" in the forecast 9 days out, and it disappears less than 24 hours later, it makes me mad. You get my hopes up that I'll not only be able to see some snow flakes, but "snow showers" implies that I can go ahead and mark "no work" on my calendar. So really, is it gonna snow Thursday or what?

Bookie Recommendation for January

2010-01-02T00:36:00.007-05:00

“These were the lovely bones that had grown around my absence: the connections - sometimes tenuous, sometimes made at great cost, but often magnificent - that happened after I was gone. And I began to see things in a way that let me hold the world without me in it. The events that my death wrought were merely the bones of a body that would become whole at some unpredictable time in the future. The price of what I came to see as this miraculous body had been my life.”

It was one of those magical literary moments when the thought of setting the book down felt like the heaviest task I had to do in a day. I literally raced through this book with curiosity, hope, and fear of its outcome. And in the end, the end felt like an incomplete journey, a relationship still in need of closure. At first I couldn't decide how I felt about the ending, but I think I'm pretty disappointed and a bit mad about it. Either way...keep reading because it is a good book, despite my two major issues with it.

The Lovely Bones is set in 1970s suburban America and revolves around the unthinkable - the brutal murder of a 14-year old girl. She narrates the fragile and revealing unraveling of the people she leaves behind, as seen from "her" Heaven. At its best, the book is an almost painfully candid look at how a family attempts to cope with the grief of losing a loved one. At its worst, it dapples in the cheesy world of supernatural phenomenon a la Patrick Swayze in Ghost.

I did enjoy reading this book, but if I'm being totally honest, it lost me a bit when Susie, the narrator, has a ghostly rendezvous with her high school crush. You'll see what I mean. I won't tell you my other HUGE issue with the book because it would spoil the ending, but if you want to know anyway, feel free to ask. Overall, it really is an incredibly moving book...I may or may not have gone through an entire box of kleenex...and it's a book full of great one-liners, those sentences that really make you pause and think. Despite my issues with the last 1/3 of the book, it really is well worth the read.

PS - On second thought, maybe the ending is rather brilliant. We've been conditioned as readers to expect certain things to happen. Could it be that the best authors are those who deny us this predictability? Hmm....

Auld Lang Syne

2009-12-31T11:52:00.004-05:00

"Ring out the old, ring in the new,Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true"
~Tennyson

It's that time of year again...time to make promises to ourselves and others that we may or may not keep. But it's the thought that counts, right? I always have mixed feelings on New Year's Eve - happy to be partying with friends and ushering in a new year, concern that another year has gone by and very little has actually changed. I usually find myself looking back on the previous year thinking that there were opportunities I should have taken, more I should have done, etc. This year is different, though.

I don't think it's fair to make resolutions without giving yourself some credit for things accomplished the year before. And for me, personally, 2009 will go down as an epic year. Here are my highlights:

1. I used my passport!!! It was 24 years in the making, but I finally left the friendly confines of the United States and went to El Salvador. Woo!
2. I met Mr. Big! (Chris Noth) Ok, the guys may not appreciate the magnitude of this one, but the ladies certainly do.
3. I traveled to the west coast for the first time, exploring Los Angeles and Santa Monica. I loved it!
4. I got my own place. I've had a roommate my entire life, so this was an especially scary/exciting step this year.
5. I started student teaching and am just 1 semester shy of getting my Masters degree...at 25. Not. too. shabby.

With a lot of firsts crossed of my list in '09, the bar for 2010 has been set even higher. The goal for 2010...travel. And lots of it. The tentative plan is to leave Atlanta in the late Spring/early Summer. I'm applying for jobs all over the country and the world, and will go where the winds take me. It's exciting! So, my resolution for 2010 is to keep an open mind and an adventurous spirit. Happy New Year, folks! Cheers!

The Giving Tree

2009-12-22T20:13:00.004-05:00

I love this time of year. I am a professed Christmas-junkie; I can't get enough of the lights, music, movies, and cozy winter nights with hot cocoa. But without a doubt, my favorite part of Christmas is the tree. As a kid, the Christmas tree was always an event in my house. We would trek over to the local Christmas tree farm as a family, pick out the perfect one, and bring it home. That was the easy part.

From there was the ordeal of bringing the massive tree inside, setting it up, watching my father's comedic fight with box after box of tangled lights, and then watching my mother get misty-eyed as she painstakingly unwrapped ornaments all 4 of her children had made at various points in our elementary school careers...the clothes-pin reindeer will always be a classic.

For all the trouble that went into setting up our tree, you would think that it would have been up for weeks. But no, we would inevitably wait until a week or less before Christmas to set it up, leaving me with a very short time to indulge in its presence. I'm not sure what it is about the Christmas tree that makes me so happy...it could be the lights, the ornaments, the stories that go with the ornaments, or the fact that it was always the first thing in my line of sight as a ran down the stairs on Christmas morning. Or, it could be that it reminds me of my dad, who loved Christmas as much as, if not more than, the kids. This time of year always makes me think of him and smile. Whatever it was, the family Christmas tree always makes me happy and gives so much more than a place to store presents.

I was reminded of my favorite children's book recently, The Giving Tree by Shell Silverstein. I bet that tree would have loved being a Christmas tree. Although it's not a Christmas book, I find that it does take on a special meaning this time of year, reminding us all that the spirit of the holidays is about giving and loving. If my nieces were in town this holiday season, I would definitely read it to them. And if you've never read it, you need to.

Happy Holidays!

"If this place was in Costa Rica, It Would be Famous." - 2 Weeks in El Salvador

2009-12-20T11:02:00.010-05:00

El Salvador. Probably not the first place I thought I'd use my passport for the first time, and possibly the Central American country that I knew the least about prior to my trip. It's difficult to articulate your expectations of a country when the only one you have ever seen is the United States. Whatever my expectations may have been of Central America or El Salvador, I was completely blown away.

The two weeks I spent there were undoubtedly the most amazing, eye-opening two weeks of my life, and writing a blog post about everything is a little daunting. So, I'm going to try to do a "Best of" post, highlighting the top moments of the trip.

Volcanoes! Actually, the country's landscape in general, but the volcanoes certainly take center stage. My fascination with volcanoes goes back to when I was just a small little kid flipping through the pages of National Geographic with my dad. We climbed to the top of the San Salvador Volcano, and the view was nothing short of breathtaking. It was very difficult to really grasp the enormous size of the crater, El Boqueron, which some people hike down into if for no other reason than to rearrange the pile of rocks at the bottom to show support for their preferred soccer/football team. Love that.

El Zonte Beach - My friend said it best, "If this beach were in Costa Rica, it would be famous." With powder-like black sand, an imposing and dramatic coast line, massive caves, and waves made for a surfer, this was hands down the most beautiful beach I have ever seen in my life. I have been to the beach on the East and West Coast in the States and have yet to see anything even comparable to El Zonte. Top it off with the fact that one day we were the only people there, and it truly was paradise.

Ataco - We decided to take a little road trip through Western El Salvador one weekend, and we came across the colorful and charming little town of Ataco. This town embodies whatever ideas I had about what I wanted to see in Central America complete with a religious processional through town. The kids were delightful, the people friendly, and the buildings told the stories. The buildings in this town are colorful with amazing murals and patterns that literally light up the cobblestone streets, but they are also worn. A cracked facade on a building in the States means that it's time to tear it down and put up a new one, and that's usually what happens. But in Ataco, the buildings are wearing the town's history. You get the feeling that everyone in town had an ancestor responsible for laying the foundation of one of the buildings, and that the cracks are not signs of weakness, but of character. And Ataco certainly has an abundance of that.

Geothermal Activity - Say what? On a random street in the rather unassuming town of Ahuachapan, we discovered a place called "Los Ausoles." The ground is stained red and yellow from the sulfer being expelled from pockets of steam shooting out from the earth below. (Think Yellowstone) In one area, the ground was so hot that the mud was boiling and shooting into the air. The coolest part about this place is that the nearby power plant harnesses the energy from the site and turns it into electricity that powers 10% of the entire country! Pretty cool, huh? Take notes, Washington.

The people - Finally, the element that truly made this a wonderful experience is the people. Salvadorians are the friendliest, most helpful people, who truly just appreciate an effort to speak Spanish....or Spanglish as I spoke most of the time. The kids here just may be the cutest in the world. And I also made a lot of new British friends, who certainly helped to make this trip "ace."

Google "El Salvador" and you will find the country's sketchy history, ripe with violence and civil war. But don't let that stop you from giving it, and the people there, a chance. They have come a long way and, after all, there are plenty of places in Atlanta I wouldn't go after dark, either.

Adios El Salvador, Hola World

2009-12-15T09:58:00.003-05:00

With bags packed and passport in hand, I thought the best use of these last hours in El Salvador was to jot down how I feel about these last hours. For the past two weeks, I have been visiting a friend in this oft-forgotten about Central American country. I came here expecting pristine beaches and intimidating volcanoes, but I found, and was given, so much more by this amazing country.

Most would say that El Salvador was an unusual choice for my first passport stamp, and I would have to agree. But things happen for a reason. Had my friend not accepted a teaching job at an international school here and moved down about 4 months ago, there is surely no way I would be here now. But he did, and I am. Immediately after I booked my flight back in September, I thought, "Oh geez, 2 weeks is a long time. I'm going to be ready to come back after one." Sitting here now, I can honestly say that I'm sad to leave. I would stay longer if I could. And that brings me to my life-path-altering "A-ha!" moment of the trip...I want to teach abroad next year.

I think for the past couple of years I have been guilty of laziness, or worse yet, complacency. Confession time: I went to graduate school because I was bored. All I knew was that I didn't want to work in Public Relations anymore. So I decided to get my Masters Degree because I thought that it would buy me some time. I lucked out in that it turns out...I love teaching. Was I sure that would be the outcome when I started down the teaching path? Uhm, no.

This trip opened my eyes to what I have been missing out on - the world. These international teaching communities are amazing; The people that I've met on this trip are some of the most adventurous, intelligent, and spirited people I've ever met. They all took a giant leap of faith, packed their bags, and moved to a foreign country to teach, truly the embodiment of Carpe Diem! One evening, as I listened in awe to a woman (not much older than myself) recall stories about places she'd been and things she had seen, I said to her: "You have lived about 5 more lives than I have. I wish I could do what you have done." And then she said it, "Well, why don't you?" Indeed, why don't I?

If you recall, I talked about the amazing opportunity presented to single people in their mid to late 20s in a previous post about my bucket list. (You can read that here.) So once again, with no one to answer to but myself, I'm ready to tackle life in a foreign country...stay tuned.

**Be sure to check back in a few days when I post some pictures and stories from my amazing trip!

Bookie Recommendation for November/December

2009-12-01T11:33:00.009-05:00

November was an epically busy month. As such, it occurred to me today that I neglected to post my monthly book review/recommendation. So this month's bookie recommendation is going to be a little different.

As I type, I am getting ready to venture to Central America, my first trip outside of the U.S. I am absolutely ecstatic about this trip because I don't really think I can go wrong with volcanoes, surfing, and Mayan ruin exploration. One of the things I am looking forward to the most is some quality time with some of the books on my reading list - I keep a list going on my Blackberry of books I hear about in the news or from friends. I often tell people that if they really want to get a sense of how diverse my taste is that they should take a look at my iPod where one will find everything from Frank Sinatra to The Killers to the occasional Miley Cyrus song (look, I'm sorry but I challenge any one to listen to "Party in the U.S.A." and not start singing and dancing). Well, I realized the same thing could be said about my book list which includes fun girlie books, biographies, and lots of historical fiction.

So for this dos-month book review, I am going to share the titles that I will be bringing with me south of the border. Expect book reviews in the coming months about some of these.

A Force More Powerful by Peter Ackerman and Jack Duvall - I received this book at a Social Studies conference and the more I've found out about this book, the more intrigued I have become. This book chronicles the nonviolent conflicts around the world over the past 100 years; Everything from the Civil Rights Movement to the Danish peoples' resistance of the Nazis. The book was also turned into a series for PBS and has received praise from both sides of the political aisle from Jimmy Carter to John McCain. The purpose of the book, as stated by the authors, is to "show how people can achieve freedom and justice without using violence."

The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman - I realize that I am a bit late jumping on the Thomas Friedman train. His books always land on the Times' Bestseller list and seem to ruffle some feathers, too. I'm taking two of his books with me, this is the first. The World is Flat explores the effects of globalization, both positive and negative, on society as a whole.

Hot, Flat, and Crowded by Thomas L. Friedman - It was a toss-up which of his other books to take between this and From Beirut to Jerusalem. I chose this book because I really have a lot of questions about this global warming business. I tend to come from the school of thought that the Earth goes through warming and cooling cycles naturally (umm...can we say Ice Age?). So I have been pretty skeptical of the Al Gore-led green revolution. I'm hoping this book will explain the issues and answer some of my questions, because Al Gore is "super serial" about this.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold - I have a lot of nonfiction on my book list, but I am going on vacay, so I don't want to spend too much time reading about the world's problems. I have heard rave reviews about this book for over a year now, so I'm very anxious to read this before the movie comes out next month.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer - I. give. in. I have specifically avoided reading these books for over a year, and it has gotten to the point where I really feel like I'm missing out on some cultural phenomenon. My students love these freaking vampire books, so I guess I'd better read them. I figure it's a good vacay read....little thinking required on my part. And surely the Friedman books redeem my literary cred, right? Right?

With my two-week trip starting tomorrow I won't be posting anything new for a couple of weeks. Happy Holiday shopping and decorating! Adios amigos!

The time I met....Jane Fonda.

2009-11-29T12:20:00.004-05:00

When my former boss sat me down in the Spring of 2007 and said to me, "Katie, I need you to take Jane Fonda around town tomorrow for the media tour to promote G-CAPP," my immediate response was nothing by a stunned look on my face. You see, no one...no one...but my boss had done that before. But this particular year she needed someone else to do it, and she picked me, a wide-eyed 22-year old Publicity Assistant who used to get dressed up as a 6-year old to watch the Academy Awards. I was going to spend the day with Oscar winner Jane Fonda, and I. was. ecstatic. And slightly terrified. If I messed this up, there was no doubt in my mind that I was fired.

"You need to know your information inside and out," my boss continued. "She will ask you questions and expect you to know the answer. You need to stay one step ahead of her. She will call you out if you're not." O.M.G. Nevertheless, my excitement pretty much overtook my fear, and the day went well, almost totally uneventful. Almost.

Ms. Fonda takes her little dog, Tulea, everywhere with her. A fact that I was not aware of beforehand. Tulea is an adorable and very small dog. I am petrified of dogs, or at least I was back in 2004. In fact, I had a debilitating fear of dogs going back to an incident when I was bitten in the face by a dog when I was 3. Anyways, Jane and I were sitting in the green room at Star 94 in Atlanta, and she noticed that every time Tulea came near me, I completely recoiled into my seat. "Are you afraid of dogs?" she asked me.

"Yes, ma'am. I had a bad experience when I was little."

"I see. Well what happened?" she asked.

I went on to tell her the entire story, and I could not believe that Jane Fonda was sitting here listening to my stupid dog story from 19 years ago, and was listening pretty intently. She nodded her head, and the day continued. I thought the dog convo was over...and it was...until we reached the tv studio.

We were standing next to the stage at WAGA in Atlanta, and just before Jane went on to do her interview on the morning show, she turned to me, held out Tulea, and waited for me to take the dog from her. I was trapped; She knew I had to take her dog. So there I was. I was sweating, shaking, and starting to feel a little light-headed. It was over. My career as a Publicist was over. I was going to faint on top of Jane Fonda's dog, probably killing the little guy, and I was gonna be canned faster than that Secret Service agent who let those party crashers into the White House state dinner.

What felt like 5 hours of my life must have really been only about 5 minutes, because before I knew it, Jane was walking towards me. It was over. I hadn't killed an Oscar-winner's dog. She walked over to me, took Tulea, looked me square in the face and said, "See, we are going to cure your fear of dogs today." What?! You have got to be kidding me, she did that on purpose?? Brilliant.

Little 5 Points - Your Own Drum Required

2009-11-21T14:30:00.006-05:00

I woke up this morning craving an Americano from Starbucks, but decided to run to the Starbucks that is in Little 5 Points instead of driving. After I picked up my drink, and in a holiday cup no less, I walked back home through Little Five Points and Inman Park. Although I have been to Little 5 many times in the 6 years I've lived in Atlanta, I really took the time to observe what was going on around me today.

Try to describe Little 5 Points to a non-Atlantan, and it might come out sounding like this, "umm....well, it's a very eclectic part of town, umm..." So that was the question I decided to answer on my walk back today, "How would I describe Little 5?" This is what I came up with.

In many ways, Little 5 Points reminds me of Venice Beach in California. (You can read about that trip, here.) The first thing I noted about Venice Beach was that everyone there flies their freak flag with pride. And I thought it was awesome. Same thing in L5P.

Little 5 Points is without question the most diverse, eclectic part of Atlanta. It is a part of town that prides itself on being different. Just when you've accostomed yourself to seeing stores and restaurants like "Psycho Sisters," "The Junkman's Daughter," and "The Vortex," you turn the corner and bam...there's a high-end boutique like Bill Hallman.

Here you will find street performers painted in all white miming, artists sketching, musicians playing, chess players checking, and protestors protesting. Graffitti is a respected art. A passerby can only chuckle at the strange juxtaposition of an "American Apparel" store next to a raggae shop where the owner probably uses a Ouji board (among other things) to channel Bob Marley himself. And next to that you'll find a store that sells nothing but juice, organic juice...the entire store.

But what you really notice in this part of town is the people. Hippies, Buckhead Betties, frat boys, punk kids, raggae dudes, homeless dudes, emo folks, and so on, walking about in total harmony. No one moves towards the edge of the sidewalk to avoid someone. No one looks at each other in disapproval. No one even blinks at someone wearing a tutu and knee-high boots at 1 in the afternoon. It's a pretty beautiful thing. The homeless person here doesn't beg, but offers pirate jokes to patrons, "2 for $1." As I walked through there today, watching as two businessmen in suits listened to an artist with dreads down to his knees talk about his Jamaican-inspired paintings, I got the feeling that all the participants are very protective of this little area that they've carved out where all are welcome. And if some person dared to come here and threaten this delicate harmony that has been reached by committing a crime or harrassing people, I really think that this entire little community would collectively tell that person to "Shut the front door."

If Little 5 Points had a slogan, I think it would be "Come to Little 5 and beat your drum, loudly and proudly."

Letters from Vietnam

2009-11-11T17:50:00.006-05:00

Those who know me know that I am many things, but before all else I am my daddy's little girl. My father was a proud veteran of the U.S. Air Force, and I thought that on this Veteran's Day, I would pay tribute to a man to whom I owe so much.

On a recent trip back home, I had the chance to visit the brand new National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning. It is truly a remarkable facility, filled with exhibits and touching remembrances of so many hometown heroes. The reason for my visit was to view the pavers on display outside the museum. The pavers bear the names of soldiers both past and present who have sacrificed so much to preserve our freedoms. There is a paver for both my father and grandfather.

Seeing my father's paver brought back so many memories of him, most notably his undying love for his country. I have yet to meet a person who was a greater patriot than my father. He often spoke of his time serving during the Vietnam War, occasionally even pulling out his scrapbook of photos, papers, matchbooks, etc. from Vietnam. On the eve of my 21st birthday, my dad sat me down and told me his 21st birthday story, which took place in the midst of the Vietnam War. Let's just say 21 screwdrivers (the cocktail) were involved and the strength of two servicemen to help my dad out of the bar in Saigon. While he certainly made his point with the cautionary tale, I could not help but notice that he recalled his days at war, and the people he knew there, with an almost wistful tone to his voice. It was then that I realized why father went to Vietnam in the first place. He didn't go via draft, he enlisted, much to the chagrin of my grandmother, and he did it for the love of his country.

On that same visit home, my aunt (dad's sister), discovered some letters that she didn't realize she had - from my dad, from Vietnam. I reveled in having the chance to meet the 21-year old version of my dad. He was funny. Only my dad would be sitting in the middle of Saigon reading documents from various Senate sub-committees....for fun. He spoke of seeing "Romeo and Juliet" at the theater, "Sad ending," he noted. And in a passing sentence or two, I could feel his pain at losing a friend in war.

As I watched the service for the Fort Hood victims on the news yesterday, I couldn't help but think of my father. The lone trumpeter playing "Taps" is a trademark of a military memorial or funeral, and it was my dad's sole request for his. It is a haunting and somber melody, one that will always make me tearful, but will always make me proud.

Thank you to all our service men and women.

Makin' a List, and Checkin' it Twice

2009-11-07T19:36:00.004-05:00

I've been thinking a lot about my "bucket list" lately. You know, the ultimate to-do list for your life containing all things far-fetched and long-dreamed about. I recently came to the decision that now is the time to start going after some of these things. You know, I used to spend a lot of time envying my young friends who had already gotten married and settled down, but I have come to realize that, for women especially, to be single during these mid-20 years is an amazing opportunity. I can do what I want, when I want. So, with only myself to answer to these days, here are 12 things on my Bucket List:

1. Write a book.
2. Go to a baseball game in every MLB park in America.
3. Climb a volcano.
4. Go on an African safari.
5. Read all 100 books on Time Magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Novels.
6. Finish what I started in high school...become fluent in French.
7. Explore the Great Barrier Reef on a deep-sea diving adventure.
8. Be there when one of my home-town teams wins a major championship (preferably the Braves winning the World Series, but the Falcons in the Super Bowl would rock, too).
9. Visit my family's homeland - Denmark.
10. Live in another country for at least a year.
11. Visit the pyramids in Egypt (I've been fascinated by them since my dad first sat me down as a little girl and showed me pictures in a National Geographic).
12. Take a cross-country road trip.

I'm happy to report that I'm off to a good start - I've started on #1, and I will be scratching #3 off the list this December when I visit El Salvador.

And of course, there are things that I've already accomplished...I'll have my Master's Degree in May, and in 2006 I appeared on a Broadway stage. Ok, I didn't "appear" so much as get to stand on the stage after a performance of "Phantom of the Opera"....I'm still counting it. What's on your Bucket List?

Bookie Recommendation for October

2009-10-25T12:37:00.003-04:00

It's one of my all-time favorites, and currently the inspiration behind this year's Halloween costume - a Fitzgerald Flapper. Every now and then I pick up one of my favorite books and re-read it. Considering the fact that the last time I read many of these classic novels was high school, I find that I notice things as an adult that I completely missed at 15. Such is the case with "The Great Gatsby."

Re-reading 'Gatsby' has been an especially poignant experience in these troubled economic times. The book takes place in the roaring '20s, a time of opulence and excess that came to a screeching halt with the stock market crash of '29, launching the country into the Great Depression. The book is a tale of wealth, envy, intrigue, and the desire to live beyond your means. In many ways, "The Great Gatsby" is a tale of the end of the American Dream - or the failure of it. There are many moments in the book where the words so accurately reflect the climate of America circa 2009 that I had goosebumps. Definitely worth the re-read.

"They were careless people, Tom and Daisy -- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made." ~Nick, "The Great Gatsby"
(um...can you say 'hello AIG and Citi Group executives'...)

It's beginning to look a lot like......Halloween!

2009-10-18T12:29:00.003-04:00

As I previously mentioned, I absolutely adore this time of year. From holidays to football, I am a colder-months type of gal. Once Halloween is near, I always feel like it is just a slippery slope into New Years. We've had a crazy cold-snap in Atlanta this weekend, so I could think of no better time to go pumpkin shopping. I personally think Trader Joes has the best pumpkins in town, and once I brought it home there was one thing left to do....carve it!

This year I decided to get creative and do something other than my usual jack-o-lantern. I looked online for a stencil I liked, and then I found it...an Atlanta Braves pumpkin stencil. Decision, made. Here is the end result:

And then, with my pumpkin happily perched on my porch, I toasted the pumpkin seeds. I found great seasoning suggestions here. I still haven't decided on a costume yet, eek...Happy Pumpkin Carving!

Great Expectations - The time I met...

2009-10-06T20:24:00.005-04:00

Meeting a famous person is a funny thing. I can never decide what route to take - Pretend I do not know who they are? Pretend I do know who they are but act unimpressed? Admit that I am a fan and calmly tell them that I admire their work? Either way, the only sure thing to not do is act a fool. In any case, I am always interested to find out if a celebrity acts the way I think they will..or should based on my expectations. There is surely nothing more disappointing than meeting someone that you are a big fan of only to find out that they are a big jerk-face.

I have been very lucky, I suppose, to meet some interesting actors and musicians during my six years in Atlanta, and have a plethora of stories...some funny, some ridiculous, some grossly disappointing. So I thought it would be fun to share some of those on the blog in a new monthly feature called, "The time I met..." (Ok, so friends and family thought it would be funny and I agreed.) Here goes the first...

...the time I met Kevin Dillon.

I chose to begin here because it was the most recent celeb spotting. And yes, I am very aware of how unbelievably unflattering this photo is of me. Thanks for noticing...moving on...

As I have mentioned on here before, I used to work in Public Relations in Atlanta. I have since left that profession to become a teacher, but I still have awesome friends in the industry who are so kind as to invite me to fun events. There is nothing quite as funny, and awkward, as attending an event full of industry/socialite types and answering the ubiquitous ice breaker "So, what do you do for a living?" with the not-so-ubiquitous answer, "I'm a middle school teacher." The inevitable cricket-sound and baffling expression that follows is really quite priceless.

A couple of weeks ago I was attending the launch of a new publication, Buzz Magazine, when who shows up but Mr. Johnny Drama himself, Kevin Dillon. For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, he is one of the main characters on the HBO hit Entourage. If you have never seen the show, then you probably won't get this, but if you have....Kevin Dillon IS Johnny Drama. As my friend Kate so eloquently observed at said party, "I mean he plays the barely famous brother of a somewhat famous actor on the show, and in real life he is the barely famous brother of a somewhat famous actor (Matt Dillon of "There's Something About Mary" fame)." So when Kevin Dillon entered the party and started pointing to pictures of himself around the room...all I could think was "typecasting genius."

He didn't stay at the party long, just long enough for my friends and I to grab this quick pic, and for my friend Chesley to tell him that she'd never seen the show, but to "keep up the good work." Hilarious.

Next month...The time I met Jane Fonda and she cured my fear of dogs.

A day that Ferris would be proud of

2009-09-22T12:35:00.007-04:00

Growing up in Georgia, you could always count on having school canceled at least once a year due to: a hurricane, tornado, or an inch of snow. Now, as a teacher, I still look forward to that day. You start watching the news the night before you suspect a closure will be announced and keep your fingers crossed that your school's name will go by on the crawl at the bottom of the screen. And then, there it is...victory! A surprise day off to do whatever you want, a la Ferris Bueller. First step...alarm clock...off.
And now, as I sit and have a cup of coffee on my surprise day off (due to these incredible and unbelievable floods in the Atlanta area), I give you my list of best things to do on a Snow/Rain/Hurricane/Just-playing-hookey day off:

TV/Movie marathon - Catching up on the DVR and watching my fave movies, like Sex and the City. Nothing too serious, obvi. In fact, bad reality programming from E! is perfect for a day like this.

Eat weekend food - My current vice is the Halloween candy aisle at Target. I just picked up a bag of Candy Corn...the little pumpkins are my fave!

Attend a sporting event. If only the Braves were in town today, it would be perfect!
Spend some QT with your couch. Stay in your PJs as long as possible, and you should probably skip that yoga class.

**And please note, this post is certainly not meant to minimize the incredible loss of life and suffering that happens as a result of these natural disasters. My thoughts are with my fellow Atlantans, and I hope everyone who is working so hard to repair the damage today will be able to enjoy a day like this very soon!

I Love the 80s....Movies

2009-09-15T23:04:00.009-04:00

There are certain people, movies, songs, bands, etc. that we associate with specific times in our lives. As a child of the 80s, my list of nostalgic childhood memories inevitably includes some classic 80s movies, some good, some cult-classically terrible. When I heard that Patrick Swayze passed away yesterday, I felt a little sad, not because I knew him or ever met him, but because I associate him with some of my favorite moments as a child (namely trying to re-enact various scenes from Dirty Dancing in my sister's pink ballet recital costume).

As a tribute to him and my childhood, here is a list of my fave 80s movies. Johnny Castle, you will be missed.

Dirty Dancing - "I carried a watermelon." Oh, and the soundtrack is pretty killer.

The Breakfast Club - Any girl who watched this movie and claims to have never attempted to apply lipstick and/or lipgloss while it's propped up in her cleavage....is a liar.

Beetlejuice - Hard to believe that's Michael Keaton and Gena Davis. Beetlejuice, beetlejuice, beet....eh, I still can't say it.

Ghostbusters - The scene in the museum still freaks me out. Who ya gonna call?? PS - none of those people have careers anymore...coincidence? or no?

The Neverending Story -I may or may not still cry when Falkor dies....

The Princess Bride - As you wish. PS - pretty unfortunate that Princess Buttercup and Sean Penn are getting a divorce. And that Wesley was killed while trying to steal Bill Paxton's tornado-predicting contraption in Twister.

Bookie Recommendation for September

2009-09-06T12:41:00.004-04:00

I was familiar with the name Malcolm Gladwell before this summer, and the name of his #1 bestseller The Tipping Point. Several of my friends had raved to me about his books, but until recently I didn't have time to read them. Enter my graduate school professor. She included Gladwell's latest bestseller Outliers on our required reading list for Fall semester - thank you.
I'm now adding it to your must-read list as my September book recommendation.

The premise of the book is this: To all those successful people in the world who have attributed their success solely to hard work and determination (Bill Gates, for example), Gladwell is calling your bluff. His position is that hard work and determination would not have gotten you anywhere if you hadn't been born in certain places, at certain times. This book sets out to answer the question of why certain people have certain opportunities. Gladwell answers this by presenting a fascinating series of remarkable real-life examples and stats, for example, the majority of professional hockey players in Canada were born in January, February and March....by a long shot. The computer billionaires of Bill Gates' era were all born in the same month in 1955. The patterns Gladwell finds and presents in this book are positively freaky.

The thing that I love about this book is that it is applicable to everyone, in every profession. I literally could not put this book down. For people in education, his theory explaining how the cut-off dates for school enrollment determine how successful students are for the rest of their academic careers is the "ah-ha! I knew it!" moment of the book. It also made every girl I know sit down and calculate exactly which month they should have a baby. (FYI-for academic success, the ideal birthday falls in November.)

Happy reading!!

PS - He says some lovely things about Denmark and their people (I'm Danish), so a big thank you to Mr. Gladwell for giving my people some mad props :)

Adios, Summertime!

2009-09-02T21:50:00.010-04:00

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I've lived in Georgia for 24 years; maybe it's because I have a February birthday, making me a winter baby. I'm not sure why, but I LOVE the colder months. Although lounging by the pool is nice, and I do love the beach, they still rank below the blustery delightfulness of Fall. As I opened my front door this morning, I was greeted with a chilly blast of wind that sent me back into the closet to pull out a cardigan, which I did with an almost giddy pep in my step. In addition to busting out the cute coats and boots, here are my favorite things about Fall:

College Football - GO BULLDOGS!! There is nothing quite like a Saturday afternoon in October spent on the couch watching some football and having a brewski...or two. (This should probably just say football...it's also Falcons season...yay!)

The smell of Fall...those cinnamon/spice/pumpkin candles are the best. They instantly make me think of autumn weather.

Hot drinks. Specifically chai tea lattes (which taste like the aforementioned candles smell) and hot cocoa.

Any and all things outdoors. I love to run outside and go for walks. In the Fall, it's so nice outside that it doesn't even feel like exercise. Plus, the scenery is a lot better than those other sweaty people at the gym. Love that.

Karma Chameleon

2009-08-22T10:39:00.007-04:00

Do you ever feel like you need to CTRL-ALT-DEL your karma? After a couple of bleh days in a row, I start to get the feeling that my karma is shot and needs a reboot. Last week I spilled coffee on my white pants, my car broke down, and my computer crashed. Yikes. That's when I knew it was time to get out the karma jumper cables. Here are some things that I should do anyways, but especially make an effort to do when I need to get some good mojo going:

Pay someone else's toll. The GA 400 highway in Atlanta has a $0.50 toll. I like to go through the cashier's lane, hand the toll worker $1, and say "that's for me and the next person." It's a little thing, but the one time that I was a beneficiary of someone else doing that...it made my day.

Put $1 in the tip jar at the coffee shop. I really try to always do this, and everyone should. Think about it like this, if you get a beer at a bar, you tip the bartender. Why wouldn't you do the same for someone who makes your uber-complicated "tall-no-whip-mocha-frappuccino-with-skim?" Those coffee drinks are actually more difficult to make than cocktails, too.

Compliment someone. We think nice things about other people in our head all the time. Especially women. We'll notice someone's dress or shoes and think, "wow, that is really cute. Wonder where she got that?" But we don't actually say them out loud enough. Especially women. For most women I know, receiving a compliment from another women is way more meaningful than one from a man. Because you know that there was no ulterior motive there.

Procrastination Polly Strikes Again

2009-08-19T16:41:00.005-04:00

I am usually a very motivated person, especially if I have had my coffee. Every now and then there will come a day when I literally can't force myself to get my shite together and get some work done. These days, when every thing seems to be negotiable, I refer to as my "Procrastination Polly" days. I think the act of procrastinating in and of itself is somewhat of a phenomenon. There is no rhyme or rhythm to which days Polly shows up, no explanation for why a normally motivated person all of a sudden can't get past the Yahoo! homepage on their computer. Maybe it's just me, but I definitely have my go-to activities when I feel like putting off my real work. These are my faves:

Planning trips I can't afford to go on...at least until Grad school is over. I look up flights, hotels, things to do, even throw out some hypothetical dates I could travel. Occassionally, this turns into a real trip, a la LA. Current country I'm dying to visit - Costa Rica. I have a friend that just moved to El Salvador, Costa Rica's friendly neighbor to the left. Now I have an excuse to go :)

Cleaning - I convince myself that I'm not procrastinating, but doing something that needs to be done anyway.

Two Words - On. Demand. The entire On Demand concept is either the greatest gift to busy-bodies or procrastinators in the world. I can't decide. Either way, it definitely has enabled my obsession with "Mad Men."

Blogging about being a procrastinator. Uh, I think this one is self-explanatory.

Yes, I'm from Atlanta...No, I don't live on Peachtree Street

2009-08-13T12:48:00.012-04:00

When I was in Los Angeles last month, I had the chance to meet a lot of interesting people. From celebrities like Chris Noth (Mr. Big) and Chris Pine (the new Capt. Kirk) to tourists (incidentally, Austrians don’t like air conditioning), we met all sorts of personalities. As soon as my friend and I told some of them that we were from Atlanta, at least four people responded by saying, “Do you live on Peachtree Street?”
I know that Peachtree Street is an iconic marker of the city; in fact, I think it’s on the new Monopoly board. But what I didn’t know was that people outside of Atlanta knew of our ubiquitous Peachtree problem. So this got me thinking about what I consider to be the coolest things about this city. Here is my list of things that I consider to be truly Atlanta, a list of things that I would introduce a visitor to:

· Turner Field – Few things say “You’re in Atlanta” like taking in a Braves game with a $7 beer and hot dog. It’s also a chance to check out the rings and flame from the ’96 Olympic Games.

· Virginia-Highlands – I think this could be a day-long venture. An afternoon spent hitting the areas boutiques, followed by tapas at Pura Vida or Noche. Then follow that up with a bar-hop to some of my fave spots like Neighbors, Hand-in-Hand, Atkins Park, Dark Horse Tavern, etc. And if it’s a Thursday night, I would definitely introduce someone to the nostalgic awesomeness that is Yacht Rock.

· Chick-fil-a – Ok, I know they have Chick-fil-a elsewhere, but it started in Atlanta, and I feel like it would be wrong for someone to come to Atlanta and not have a Chick-fil-a chicken sandwich and sweet tea.

· The Varsity – Confession: I’m not really a fan of the Varsity. That being said, it is an institution in Atlanta and worthy of a lunch-stop. Whatdya like?

· Piedmont Park – Maybe plan a picnic, or maybe stop by Park Tavern on a Sunday evening for some live music and drinks overlooking the park. Either way, Piedmont Park is our own little Central Park, and I think it provides some of the best views of the city.

· The Downtown Connector…at 5:00pm on a Tuesday – Yep, you want to truly get the Atlanta experience? Then you’re going to need to spend at least an hour sitting in rush-hour traffic.

· World of Coca-Cola – Every soda is affectionately referred to as a “Coke” in the South. What better way to explain this quirk in our vernacular than by a trip to the World of Coca-Cola? While you’re there, I would also stop by the Aquarium and take a walk around Centennial Olympic Park.

· Sweetwater – We have an awesome brewery in this town. No reason not to partake and grab a 420 while you’re at it.

There are a lot of other things that I associate with the city, but this is my list of essential Atlanta things. Anything you would add?...and don’t say “Six Flags.”

A few reasons why I think my 'hood is the best in Hotlanta

2009-08-11T10:51:00.006-04:00

One of the things I love most about this city is its ability to always surprise you with a new neighborhood, restaurant, shop or park that you’ve never noticed before. Atlanta is a city of constant transformation, and I often find myself saying, “When did that building go up?” or “How long has that been there?”
About a year ago, I was introduced to the Inman Park area of Atlanta. Having lived in Atlanta for 5 years at that point, I could not believe that I was just then being introduced to this wonderfully eclectic part of town. I instantly knew that I wanted to relocate. I moved to Inman Park in April, and here are just a few reasons why I absolutely adore my new ‘hood:

Highland Bakery – Ok, living within walking distance of Highland Bakery is a dangerous thing. It’s a fab place for brunch or lunch, but one of my favorite things to do in the morning is walk down the street to HB and pick up a fresh cup of coffee and a bagel, both of which are my favorite in the city. They are also known for their incredibly inventive cake creations; be sure to check out the ones they have on display while you’re there. And those cupcakes…forget about it.

The Historic Homes – A few times a year Inman Park hosts a tour of homes, but I prefer my informal “run past the homes” that I do 2-3 times a week. But, you have to be careful. The homes are so charming and architecturally interesting, that if you are not careful, you will trip over the uneven stone sidewalks that line Elizabeth Street. I know, I’ve done it…hello partially-torn meniscus.

P’Cheen – Highland Avenue is lined with restaurants that I love (Sotto Sotto, Fritti, Across the Street, Zaya, etc.). And those restaurants cover just about every culinary genre possible – Italian, Mexican, Mediterranean, even a pizza joint. But my absolute fave is P’Cheen. Their menu boasts an impressive selection of flavorful and delicious dishes, including everything from tradish bar food like fish & chips to their mouth-watering curried muscles. Stop by on Mondays for some of their famous BBQ, and be sure to have a drink at the bar. Every time I drive past this place it’s packed with folks livin’ the cocktail hour dream. And be sure to ask when and where the owner’s band is playing next – Mike LeSage and the Stumbling Troubadors. You can thank me later.

Springvale Park – No, this isn’t the big park that the neighborhood is named after, obviously. Springvale is a much smaller park nestled in between the historic homes just off Elizabeth Street. It is never crowded and is the perfect spot to take a mid-run breather. The park is well-shaded, has a big pond with lily pads, lots of oddly large turtles, and the neighborhood goose. (She is a little bit of a diva, though.) If you walk to the edge of the pond, all of the turtles will leave their sunbathing float (yes, I’m serious…they actually have a little float in the middle of the pond that they lay out on) and swim over to the stone wall to check you out.

Bookie Recommendation for August

2009-08-07T13:01:00.007-04:00

If you are one of the few people left in America who has not read The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger...I beg you to do so immediately.

The story is about Henry, who has a genetic disorder that causes him to time-travel. Now, I am not a sci-fi fan. I was incredibly skeptical going into this book, as I thought I would have a hard time buying into the time-travel aspect. But, Niffenegger writes the story in such a way that just two chapters into the book, not only was I hooked, but I totally believed every word she was writing. There are no magic potions or red and blue pills, just the heartwrenching vanishing-into-thin-air. The book is also a love story, but not in the traditional sense, so guys...you will like this book too. As Henry travels through time, he meets the love of his life, Clare, at different points throughout her life. This book is beautifully written and easily makes my top five of all time.

I have one last request - read this BEFORE you see the movie, which comes out August 14th. I always get so nervous when they turn a book I love into a movie - thanks for ruining The DaVinci Code for me, Opie. The casting choices made me happy, with Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana. But, I really doubt there is any way they captured the passion and spirit of the book in the film.

"We laugh and laugh, and nothing can ever be sad, no one can be lost, or dead, or far away: right now we are here, and nothing can mar our perfection, or steal the joy of this perfect moment." ~ The Time Traveler's Wife