Archive for the ‘Work and Travel’ Category

Sustainable social initiatives change lives forever and the visionary people who create these incredible projects that grow and impact the fortune of an existing community are who inspire me the most. There isn’t a more perfect example of this than what the Proyecto Horizonte organization is developing in the small town of Ushpa-Ushpa just outside the city of Cochabamba, Bolivia. Thanks to a connection made by friend and fellow traveler, Kiersten, we had the opportunity to visit Ushpa-Ushpa and work with Proyecto Horizonte for a few days to learn about all the amazing things they were providing for this community. Home to approximately 1,500 families, Ushpa-Ushpa was established by former miners in August of 2001 who migrated to Cochabamba in search of brighter prospects. Beginning as an illegal settlement outside Cochabamba, the community eventually grew to be recognized as part of the neighboring city even though it lacked any infrastructure …

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Sucre, Bolivia is the third place I’ve called home over the past two and a half years of living in South America. While the lifestyle here is much different from the bustling Buenos Aires and seductive Medellin, it has been an amazing place to experience life like a local. Sucre is Bolivia’s judicial capital and is nicknamed la blanca (the white) because of all the beautiful Spanish-style, whitewashed buildings that canvas the city skyline.  It’s home to just over a quarter of a million people, which makes Sucre feel more like a small town than a major metropolis. The weather is beautiful all year round, the people are humble and friendly and your money goes a long way. The food is basic, the streets are hilly and travelers don’t venture far from the main square. There isn’t much tourist hype or famous attractions in Sucre – it’s just a peaceful, …

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I’m writing this post from 35,000 feet in the air on my way from Santa Cruz, Bolivia to Cancun, Mexico. As I squeeze into the middle-row seat on a 6-hour flight between 2 layovers and an overnight bus ride, nothing can push me off the feeling I have at this moment. The feeling is of complete warmth. One that rushes through your body when something you’ve been working so hard for finally comes to fruition. It’s like that sensation you get on a Friday afternoon when the sun hits your face as you leave the office. This is the feeling I crave and one that constantly drives me. Last Saturday, the BiblioWorks staff, myself and nine other volunteers put on the first ever book fair in Sucre, Bolivia and it went off without a hitch. We had 15 educational institutions participating, 11 corporate sponsors and hundreds of children and adults …

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We’re officially 10 days away from the first ever book fair here in Sucre, Bolivia and the BiblioWorks squad has been running around like crazy to ensure the event’s success. La Feria de la Lectura (the literature fair) will be held on Saturday, April 14th in downtown Sucre right next to the central market in Plazuela San Francisco. At this point we have almost every major educational institution in town participating at the fair with educational games and information, as well as 11 sponsors, including Tigo (telecom), AeroSur (airline) and Coca-Cola (you know). Over the past 2 weeks (and continuing up until the day of) we’ve been covering the streets of Sucre with posters and flyers, and announcing the big event on all the major radio and TV stations. We’ve invited every school in the district and even provided their transportation funds. Like planning any major event, there will always …

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One of the most frequent questions I receive in the T2T inbox is how I meet and befriend locals while traveling and living abroad. The entire concept of this site focuses on that interaction and I base the success of each adventure on the friends I’ve made and authentic moments I’ve shared with locals. I’m not saying you can’t have the same experiences following the backpacker trail or hanging out in tourist bars, but I do think that while traveling, everyone should make some effort to understand a place and culture through the people who define it. The moments I cherish most while traveling and living abroad are those when taking photos seems inappropriate and an explanation of the scene always falls short of the feeling. They are the times when you feel comfortable being part of something completely foreign. It’s for this reason I’ve gone into every South American …

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This experience would have never happened if it wasn’t for friend and fellow traveler Ayngelina from Bacon is Magic. We were having a chat one day while I was in Lima and she told me I had to visit Eco Truly Park, a Hare Krishna community outside Lima. As I began to explain that it wasn’t really my thing, she uttered the few words I can never pass up. She said, “C’mon you should do something different, it will be a very unique type of adventure.” She knew just what to say. I was sold. I left Lima 2 days later and ended up spending almost a week at the Eco Truly Park, volunteering for room and board as I learned about the Hare Krishna religion, ate like a vegetarian and entertained everyone with my terrible yoga ability. I expected to feel completely out of place when I arrived. I …

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Last week I turned 28 years old and like many people, my birthday was met with a lot of reflection and evaluation about life. I was talking with my cousin who called to wish me a happy birthday and during our conversation, he helped me put things into perspective. Out of the blue he says, “well, it doesn’t look like you’re going to reach your goal anytime soon does it?” I had no idea what he was talking about. He continued… “Wasn’t it always your goal to become a millionaire by 30?” I was amazed that he remembered. I sat speechless; thinking about what he said as old emotions came flooding back. Somewhat embarrassed and thrown off, I laughed and said “You’re right, that was the goal and no, it doesn’t look like it at this point…” Since I was a sophomore in college I’ve had one primary goal in life: …

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One of the greatest things about travel is how the people you meet dictate your decisions and experiences. I strongly believe that individuals are put into your path for a reason and it’s up to you to take advantage of the opportunity and figure out why they’re there. It was Christmas Eve in Cusco and I was eating breakfast alone in the hostel, when 2 lovely ladies walked in and sat down next to me. Of course, my first thought was, a 3-some for Christmas would be great, but I quickly changed focus once we began talking. Turns out, Kiersten and Lindsay are from California and were in Cusco working with Peruvian Hearts, an organization that works to enhance the lives of orphans and other children living in poverty in Peru. I was impressed, and began to explain my literacy project plans for Bolivia. As we chatted a bit more …

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At 4:30am the alarm on my cellphone went off as I laid there staring at it. I hadn’t slept at all. I was just waiting with restless anticipation. The girls and I got dressed quick and met Juan Carlos in the lobby to set out into the darkness. It was day 4 of our trip and this was the final push to Machu Picchu. My adrenaline rushed as we passed a handful of other groups leading up to the trailhead from Aguas Calientes. Within 15 minutes into the hike I found myself alone, flying up the mountain, like I was 13 again, running down the stairs on Christmas morning. Only this time, the stairs were steep, wet, rocks that led straight up and there was over a thousand of them. Sweaty, tired and excited, I reached the main gate just before 5:40am. The doors opened at 6, so I waited impatiently as …

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69. Latin women love same-side sitting. I think it’s sexy if done with the right person and food selection (When eating ribs respect the space). 68. Chivalry isn’t dead gentlemen. Open doors, pull out chairs and offer your jacket. 67. Unlike American women, don’t expect Latin women to thank you for your chivalry, it’s expected. 66. You need to set a precedent early on… NO SURPRISE VISITS. They’re dangerous and will become more and more frequent. Not to mention they’re unexpected. 65. Never trust a woman who drives a mustang. 64. Never fight over a woman, but you can fight to defend a woman. 63. If you find a hot Ecuadorian woman you better hold on to her. 62. When in Argentina, drink a little Fernet and coke after dinner and it will help with digestion. 61. When in Colombia, order a bottle of Aguadiente vs individual drinks. It’s cheaper …

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For those of you who’ve followed this adventure for a while understand that everything I do has a purpose. The “missions” I set out on are organized to learn about specific aspects of a country and it’s culture. Tourist 2 Townie began in Argentina with learning Spanish and finding a local job and then moved to Colombia to trade my gringo shuffle in for some smooth salsa moves. From there I scratched the surface on cooking like a Peruvian chef and now I’m focused on Bolivia and my most ambitious adventure yet. When I decided to take on my latest T2T mission, volunteer in Bolivia, I wanted to get involved with an organization that was truly instrumental within the community and be a part of something that I could have a lasting impact with… Enter BiblioWorks! My Passion for Literacy From water to rainforests, there are a million and one …

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**Watch in HD** On day 1 of volunteering at Paseo Los Monos Monkey Rescue Center in Puyo, Ecuador my camera was confiscated by Sambo, the alpha woolly monkey. He told me I could have it back at the end of the week, but not before he put together this short video explaining his life at “the Monkey Ranch”. If you notice any shaky footage you need to understand that monkeys don’t use tripods. Read all about my experience at Paseo Los Monos Monkey Rescue Center. Special thanks to all animals and volunteers who made this week one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Also, thanks to Nick Greco for translating Sambo’s dialog. Having trouble loading the video? Try watching it on the T2T Youtube Channel

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