Hills Are Alive

Hills of poverty in Medellin are ALIVE. They are full of real humans that are living off their basic needs everyday.(Move to bottom). When we went up on the cable car with the three other Colombians in the car, I just kept turning my body. I was looking right, left, behind, and in front. My body was going zig zag and my nose was pushed up against the window


.

 With all the beauty of the wealthy El Poblado, there was extreme poverty in the hills above the city. There was a rush of poverty that just came my way directly in front of my eyes. These hills were filled with hopes and dreams. With real people who deserve a chance and there we were floating above and crushing their dreams. Perhaps these people were closer to god the closer they came to the sky.  As the elevation kept increasing(we continued to go uphill), I continued to see fires to make food, water buckets to do laundry, and people walking up the hill. It was not like there were only villages rather there were also convenient stores, bodegas, and family owned restaurants. They had their own little world up there- a world that the Rich did not know about nor cared to know about. Each and every time I feel empathy when I see these communities.

 It's my responsibility to help them, therefore I feel a sense of sadness or guilt. It's unjust for them to live that way, but society leaves them that away. It's not always a choice for them to live on the other side rather its just handed to them. They just try their best to mark things work for their families day to day, they stick together, they believe in god

Look at the cross

These Hills are Alive because these people have beautiful hearts. Yes there are those who are sick, troubled, and stuck in violence, but their environment can make them sink or swim.


Thousands of people on these cable cars looking down on them like ants and  just saying

"Oh how sad."

That's not an action rather its just a word. The people of Medellin need help that involves volunteering, community outreach, and those who live in abundance giving more. It also needs a government that cares about it's own people


Isn't that what all of these countries I visit need. This population is never cared or believed in the way it should be and this is frustrating. This is constantly frustrating, sad, unfortunate, but those are not the qualities to focus on.  These people are beautiful with good character, spirit, and soul. They have not been tainted by materialism, which makes them humble, kind, and down to earth. Their life is so much different from the other side, but they make a living with what they have. That deserves some acknowledgement and credibility

Venezuelans Starting Over

The country of Venezuela is a very corrupt, poor, and suffering country. The black market and trade is flooding with corruptions all to benefit the government and politicians who have taken over everything. The own all businesses. It’s not a place to live and many locals leave and start over in a new place.

When it comes to the country of Venezuela, a person may believe in the presented news about the country-violence, political corruption, and poverty. What happens is that people translate these characteristics of a country to a person. It's believing people are bad, violent, dishonest because of their countries negative state. It's not fair for Venezuelans to also feel this same lomd

On the bus, I met two lovely Venezuelans early 40s who had been best friends since childhood. With all the corruption and political mess, they decided that it was time for them to leave the country and start over. They tried a couple startups in Brazil and Argentina, but it was way to competitive. They went back to Venezuela to support their family and to recharge their batteries. After things becoming politically worse and losing a business their to government corruption, they left. They were on a trip through Central America to find a good place to land their business.
 
They had checked out Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua and felt like Honduras was a good spot for them. He was explaining all the business details and how it's difficult to get a business license in certain countries i.e. Belize and Panama-no surprise there.

While I was staring out the window with the sun shining in my face, it felt so nice to hear their story. These people were so genuine and they experienced such struggle with their own country.  When you hear there is a shortage of food, it's just a shocking statement to hear. There may be people who can't afford to eat, but a shortage of food? A shortage of food raises prices enormously and people can't afford to eat what is available. To hear what is done to businesses with the government taking control over the business and market, it's absolutely appauling. The country has run short on dollars leaving them to borrow, dig a hole of debt, and then watch people suffer. The main problem is that the market and the country's people don't believe anymore. They have lost faith in the government for their corruption and selfish choices. The Bolivar is collapsing and the country seems to be on the same page.  It's a shame for these lovely people.


Along with this guy, I met a girl on the street who walked me to bus station. She was so sweet and kind explaining the times. She was also emphatic with how I felt, which was refreshing. When I asked her where she was from I got "Venezuela."
I said to myself, "Of course she is." It seemed like from Nicaragua to Costa Rica to Panama-  nice Venezuelans were coming my way and I was quite thankful for their presence and kind being.

 

Stay strong Venezuelans and if you have the opportunity-remove yourself from the environment and start life on the right foot. 

AC Por Favor

When people say that Leon is one of the hottest cities in Nicaragua, they definitely are not kidding. The city itself is special and charming and something about it just captivates you BUT the heat will knock you down. Being one of those people who prefer heat to cold, I try not to complain. Although, there are just those times when you need AC. 

In Central America, the fan is suppose to do the job, but many times the fan just stops working and you are left super hot. It still runs, but it just becomes ineffective.  The nice housekeeper at my residence gave me an extra fan and that helped, but some nights it was just going to be tossing and turning and cold showers.

One may ask, air conditioning is not available? Yes, air conditioning is available for an extra $20 to $40 per night, which is more than the cost of the private room with bathroom and breakfast. It's kind of defeats the purpose of the budget you set up. 

Most travelers on a mission or longer term trip don't choose the AC and work with the fans. 

Even without the room AC, there are special places that will always have air conditioning. Special VIP places where they sell Fried chicken, French Fries and Coca cola. It was called Tip Top Chicken. 

I'm not sure if their chicken was tip top, but their AC and French fries sure were in great condition haha. I'd come here after long bouts of walking just waiting for that burst of cool. This was the good stuff- cold air fully functioning coming through the events. It felt like an icebox and the people were so kind and welcoming(Expect this common behavior when you go to any fast food restaurant in Central America).Their genuine warmth, respect for their job/others, and their innocence is admirable. We should take notes from them on customer service instead of having training from Becky who has twenty tattoos and a bad attitude. 

On those days where I needed a little cheering up, I would go into see Henry with his white hat and cute red and yellow uniform. I didn't even have to ask for fresh fries because he made them perfectly. Sometimes I got two orders- wow talk about real confession. This is as crazy as it gets for me. 

French fries and I were BFF in Central America mainly Honduras and Nicaragua- Amazing. 

The food is fresh , the people are nice, and they have air con. One would think this is not special because most restaurants, grocery stores, and shops have air con- they do not. Air conditioning is a luxury in an underprivileged country. Thankfully I had Tip Top Chicken- clean and cool with nice people-my two favorites. 

La Paz- Peace

La Paz in Spanish means " peace." What is great about this trip is the amount of peace from strangers. 

In the Middle East, Africa, and Asia- peace is interrupted with....


*Someone thinks you're pretty
*Someone who wants to sell you something,
*Someone who wants to talk because     you're American
*Someone who wants to be annoying,
*Someone who wants your attention
*Someone who thinks they love you
*Someone trying to lead you to accommodation 
*Someone called a "Taxi Driver!"

Perhaps, I am just referring to the high levels of annoyance and No peace in Egypt and Morocco.
Regardless, this post is to give recognition to these peaceful countries: Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua- Belize is not quite at the peaceful level of the other three, but it's pretty good.
  
La Paz, peace, is one of the most beautiful things a traveler could ever be given. The fancy resorts, the expensive food, the big tours-nothing compares to this one word-peace.  

It's significant to mention the fact that I do look Latin American so people may not bother me as much, but I did not see this happening with other tourists nor did I hear any complaints from Anyone. 

Also, people who knew I was American still did not annoy me. They allowed me to have the peace I deserve. What kinds of peace? The physical, mental, and spiritual peace that human beings deserve, especially during travel.    These people were not trying to manipulate you with money(yes few occasions). They did not follow you around when you were shopping. They did not holler at you, make inappropriate gestures, or treat you like a dog.  They don't fall in love in 5 seconds(well most of them;) People are just nice, honest, love to laugh, love to smile, keep you smiling, and they are genuine. They don't sugarcoat themselves. 

It must be said that all these countries are primarily Christian except for Belize(league of it's own).  The Christian religion believes in respect, peace, and love. It's not a culture that supports such negative behaviors in public. 

There could be a whole study done with many different factors, but overall I am just beyond thankful for La Paz. My appreciation overflows from my heart to have these times to ride my bike, sit on the beach quietly, read a book in peace, write in a café day by day, church, and taking a hike. People will engage in conversation, but they know when to stop-this is the crucial part. They know when to give you the peace you deserve. They could keep talking, bothering you, or asking you questions, but they "Stop." They let you have La Paz.
                                  

 Thank you to these beautiful countries for being respectful of your visitors, for being kind, for being patient, for listening, and providing help. This is what makes people visit your country again and this is what makes tourists spread positivity to others. 

AMEN

Who Needs Shoes?

In the US, you may find someone barefoot in their own house or in a yoga studio.  When it comes to walking into a public place with no shoes-this is just a social norm not accepted.
When you are walking around in Central America, it's very common for people to not wear shoes in local restaurants and stores.

It especially does apply to the tropical climates-the beaches and islands.  On Roatan Island it is acceptable to not wear shoes, which makes sense for locals, but tourists like to follow this trend. 

 "When in Honduras, do like the Hondurans."
Tourists follow the trend wearing no shoes all around the hostel. This was also common in Belize. Please put shoes on when you go to dinner. When I am eating some nice food at the table and you have dirty feet, it makes me distracted and thinking about feet rather than food.

Clearly with my OCD, I am not the one running around with no shoes and always wear a flip flop. The other American backpackers are much more laid back with their feet and just let them run bare all over.  Priscilla is not a hippy and Priscilla would appreciate if people would keep their flip flops, gym shoes, or something covering their feet. 

 No hippy style for Priscilla's eyes por favor. Muchas gracias!

Intervention

As a brave soul, I let me curiosity take me into places I should not always be in.  This always happens with the desire to learn about people. Also, to make myself available to them as people gravitate towards me and his spirit.  People want to share intimate details about their life, they want advice, they want help, they want acknowledgement, they want to learn, they want to feel good, and they want to feel cared about and loved.

With this said, I went wondering through the houses to see a worn down house with a porch full of brown wooden boards all in a pile. Behind it, I found a man passed out and with a beer bottle laying on the ground. I tapped on the shoulder and he jumped up. I greeted him kindly and he was confused as to who I was and what I was doing there.  He kindly said, "Excuse me" and turned away to fix his hair and button up his shirt.  He looked Filipino, but clearly he was part of the local Mayan tribe.  He was thin with a dark dress shirt all wrinkled and beat up khaki cargo pants. He had a nice kind face and feet with no shoes. 

He presented with paranoia and anxiety and he said loudly, "Who sent you here?"

He was stuttering and said, "Did the police send you?"

He couldn't understand why I was there and I simply told him,
 "I just want to talk to you." 

I patted his shoulder and smiled and we sat down on the steps to the house.  He shared that this was his house that he owns with his wife.  His wife takes care of him and loves him even with all the drinking.  After a few questions, his drinking problem quickly rose to the surface.  We discussed his alcohol consumption, habits, reason for drinking, impact on family, etc. He opened up and shared his desires to quit(most addicts are great manipulators saying they will quit and they never do). 
To confirm, his interest in quitting drinking, he took the empty beer bottles on the ground and threw them away.  He then asked me to come towards the tree and I did. He cut a mango for me and then cut a big coconut for me to drink and one for himself.  

There we were outside the formal setting of social work, in the village, sharing a coconut and a one hour session together. 
It's hard to come up with substitute activities for a client when they are living in a village-it's limited.  However, the inspiration and religious component is priceless.  When I asked if he believed in Jesus, he shook his head and said, "Yes, oh yes." When I gave my inspiration speech about life and living it fully. When the body lives well, our life finds a way to live well too.
It was lunchtime and time for him to go home to his wife. His smile, his handshake, and his heart thanked me.

       One great moment in a sea of many PRIS 

Creole Cray Cray

Creole is one of the funniest languages. The expressions and the tone of voice when speaking, it just sounds like pure street slang.It can also sound like a chicken. Sometimes I can pick up languages, but not this one. My comprehension has improved overtime, but my pronunciation is slim to none. It's just hard to speak such a broken language. It's like syllables and words cut in half. 



 Actually, Creole has an open syllabic system of language.  Many of the words are ending in vowels and syllables reduced to only a consonant or vowel. 

The Chicago Tribune 1987 reported that Belize Creole is "a language that teases, but just escapes the comprehension of a Native English speaker." Some say that Creole started from the contact of English land owners and their West African slaves to ensure basic communication(Wikipedia).     

If I am on the bus or just sitting with a couple students, I just listen to them go back and forth. My head is turning as I am fascinated by this being an actual language.  I don't even make an attempt to repeat words rather I try to just listen and make out words.  

Sorry Belize, but this language is Cray Cray

Believe Again

Sometimes bad people scare you and they make you wonder why you love people so much.  Living in Morocco, my love for people was constantly questioned. There were lovely people and there were horribly dishonest people.  There were people who hurt me emotionally, psychologically, and physically. Towards the end, it felt like everyday was a challenge, but I just kept trying to make it work.  I kept trying to hold on tight to the faith I had in people and the true ability to connect with them.  While I had wonderful people in my community that I connected with and served as "friends." This was just not enough as I continued to encounter cultural barriers that lead people to be dishonest rather than direct. For instance, you would ask one question and get 5 different answers.
At the end of the day, the joke just always seemed to be on me.  

It was not the fault of the people rather it within the culture and I began to recognize this, but I still could not believe it.  People would send your head through such a roller coaster ride making  you lose track of what to believe. It made you question what you heard, what you said, what you did, and how you behaved.   It was an experience that made me truly question my faith in people.  This was a faith that had never been questioned. Perhaps it had been tested through life experiences, but it had never been questioned to this extreme.  How could people treat me this way when I am so good to them? How could they turn on me, lie to me, steal from me? Why were they engaging in such sin and claiming to have such strong morals and religious values? 

It was truly sad to see people living in such sin with such lies on a daily basis.  They never even got to know their true self as they continued to chase their false idea of truth.  It was unfortunate, but absolutely fascinating to witness such an extreme.  It really was such an extreme with there being beautiful people who followed the word of Islam and those who thought they were following the word and were just lost.  They couldn't find their way and lost their identity.  Even with all this poor treatment, I was still intrigued and wanted to learn more about this culture and why they acted in this way.  

My lovely, amazing students often commented on those just being lost and acting as a Muslim when their mind was somewhere different.  They explained to me the word of the Quran and how things are suppose to be.  My amazing students were what kept me sane in times where I felt so disappointed and frustrated.  My students gave me a dose of faith and kept me going for the time I was there. They allowed me to believe in the how truly good real people of God can be.  

After those last travels in Morocco, I returned to US and I stayed there except for trips to Scotland and Ireland where the people were fantastic, but that was kind of assumed as I heard about the great hospitality.  With Central America, I didn't know what I would be put on my plate.  

Would there be kind people and spirits coming my way or would I encounter something negative?
  
 Would God restore my faith after my traumatic experience?

Would people have open arms and open hearts?

Would their Christian religion be present in their daily actions and behavior?

Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes 

God delivered and he delivered with such beauty and wonder.  Guatemala has allowed me to Believe Again in the people that I love. The conversations are of honesty, purity, and curiosity.  The people are special on the inside and they follow through on their Word.  They want to genuinely help you and not misguide you in anyway.  It's truly been something wonderful and a new beginning with a new country.  It's learning and helping those who need it and deserve it rather than engaging with negativity and people who are wasting your time. It is beautiful to see those engaged in love and honesty.  I am proud for these moments I share with Guatemalans, especially the Mayan Community.  

Thank you for helping me Believe Again.....