Mucho Gusto: Americo

While traveling I found that the people I enjoyed talking to the most were the locals: shop owners, food vendors, cab drivers, weavers, farmers and restaurant owners. All gladly answered questions, joked with me and asked me just as curious questions. I loved getting to know the history of dishes they made, struggles as farmers, and their take of the influence on the younger generations.

On July 30th 2015 we had the pleasure of meeting Americo. A Huaraz, Peru native that was our cab driver from the town to the mountains.  Through my conversation with him, he opened up about his family life. I learned his parents were farm workers for a wealthy family, and through hard work they gave their children a better life. Americo like most of his siblings were able to buy their own land and work for himself. The financial independence his parents had dreamed of for their children. He is a land owner, a farmer, and drove a cab for extra money to help his children with their cost for college.  Driving a cab pays well in that part of Peru as we learned cab drivers are unreliable. Therefore if you are someone people could count on, you will always have a job. 

As our conversation continued we found that he shared a lot of similarities with my parents. I briefly shared the struggles my parents had as immigrants to the U.S. My parents similar to Americo and his wife worked hard to give their family a better future just like their parents did for them. Americo like my parents didn't finish a high school education, work and helping his family was made priority. He expressed his sense of embarrassment as he wasn't able to help his children with homework which was a frustration I had seen with my own parents. Americo and his wife relied on his community to get his kids help with homework and always made sure they didn't fall behind. He now has two college graduates and a son that will soon be going to college. As we sat in his car having this conversation I had a realization. I realized that like my parents although he couldn't help his kids with school homework he taught his children things you can't learn elsewhere. He taught his kids how to grow their own food, be independent, and the rewards of hard work. Life lessons that I told him his children probably value more than anything. 

It was great to get to talk so openly with him. To get to see the constant glow from the pride in his family. When people ask what my favorite part was about our travels, I always say it was the people we met. We saw so many beautiful sights, both breathtaking and tear jerking from beauty. But there is just something so beautiful about meeting and sharing moments like this with people. 

Below is a photo of Bryan and I in the tree net at the hostel Americo drove us to. A permaculture hostel  that was home base for a few nights.

A Celebration of Life

I'm not clear as to when it was that I met Joan for the first time, mostly because from the start, this beautiful soul was so loving and welcoming that I instantly felt like part of the family. I loved to hear her tell stories of when she met the love of her life, her time in California, her time as a tailor, and mostly the memories she shared from when Bryan was just a boy. I loved the way she used her hands to gesture little details. The way she smiled when just seeing and enjoying her family together. I loved seeing photos of her wearing the clothes she wore and the elegance she always carried. 

On June 1st we got news that Grandma Woodward had been hospitalized. After watching what had to be the most spectacular sunset on Bryan's birthday our moods were saddened but mostly shocked. With family rushing to see her and us far away in Chile, it all felt like a terrible nightmare. We had just seen her at our wedding, called and followed up her hip surgery, she had just bought a map of Peru to continue following our travels. It felt unreal to hear that she had gotten I'll and passed to reasons unrelated to the surgery.

Her life was a beautiful one, filled with so much love. I'm so honored to  call her Grandma, to have shared sewing tricks, played cards and many games, and spent time in her home.

Cheers to a beautiful life, a beautiful woman, a wonderful soul. May your warmth live on forever in the hearts of those who love you!!

Honeymoonin'

Saludos de Cochrane, Chile!!

Before I ramble about all we've seen and done in the last month I'll explain a bit of what Bryan and I are up to out here in South America and how this idea of travel came about.

So here it is...

Did you leave you jobs? 
Yes we left our jobs, but Bryan and I are hard ass workers and have no fear of finding jobs whenever it is we return.

How this idea came about:
Many years ago when Bryan and I were still dating, we wanted to be able to take an extended time off work and travel. We both lusted over the Patagonian region, and here we are. We knew we would have to be smart about spendings and planing. So we were.

How?

In life we all set goals; better jobs, houses, cars, travel, etc. 

For Bryan and I, being able to do this trip and dirtbag climbing when back home was important ifor us. That is how, we set the goals, we worked hard to see them through.

Where?
We started our travels in Southern Chile,  a bit of Argentina, with Bolivia and Peru in the months to come.(maybe Ecuador) Plans may change and have already changed but we are having a blast.

How long?
Right now we say 3-4 months. We could stay longer we could stay less.

How we travel:
Mostly by bus from town to town, hitch hiking when possible but due to the low season it has been a bit more infrequent.  We also scored on off season priced tickets on a "cruise", totally unplanned and a very unexpected trip. So we are traveling in any way we find to be worth it or cheapest.

What we packed:
Bryan and I both have only one backpack each, we carry those everywhere.
Clothes, food, cook gear. You soon realize the little you need in life.

I hope this somewhat explains our "honeymoon"
I'm hoping to post photo filed post soon!
For now follow the fun on Instagram.

¡Ciao!

Stop, pause, disfruta la vida

Cheers from rainy and windy El Chaltén, Argentina!!
Today marks the second week for Bryan and I in South America.
We've already seen so much and given information on so much more to see.
I think our very first lesson has been to sloooow down!
You can't rush the Patagonia region, Mother Nature has a plan of her own and we are simply here to enjoy it. You rush it by quickly visiting places you might hit bad weather and not get to see much. However bad weather too has been a way for us to observe and be part of the culture.
They know how to take life easy and siestas in the towns here are a time for you to slow down enjoy your life, family or friends.
Siestas are hours long and Sundays is a time the whole town shuts down.
Looking back on the hours Bryan worked, and the time that took from getting to do what we love, is in a way making us really think about what we want from life when we return.
Sure our jobs gave us the means that have allowed us to do the extended honeymoon were on, but I guess a work/life balance needs to happen.
As we've found out sooo many other people are doing this, taking a break between high school/ college, or Bachelors/Masters degrees.
In my opinion I think as an American culture we overwork ourselves and forget to pause and enjoy the simple things. (Generally speaking)
Like my uncle once said,  "Toma el día de descanso, el trabajo y el dinero siempre se gana. La vida solo se disfruta una vez." (If you didn't catch that: Take the day off, money and work can always be obtained but life is only enjoyed once.)
Even if that's simply a latte with a loved one, sunrise workout, or a after work hike.

Stop,pause, disfruta la vida!

Amor y todo lo de mas...

After collecting photos for our wedding I was flooded with inspiration to sit and write my wedding vows.

Now I sit flooded with emotions struggling to write.

I mean, how does one sum into words all their emotions.

All the love I have for Bryan wouldn't fit in this universe.

So many memories, so many years, so many laughs.

So much pure and honest love.

Love is such a simplified word for such a complicated thing.

 A beautifully complicated thing.

 

We have been fortunate to share over 7 years of this beautiful life together and I can't wait to be his wife, to live our dream "honeymoon", to return to begin forming a home and prepping for future goals.

Juntos somos todo.