Jolly Good!

This post is intended for the purpose of posting the very cliché videos of the most tourist-y parts of Smengland. My sentiments will follow in another post.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6iE4zGemW8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWYYSwXzcm8

Big lights will inspire you

Let's hear it for New York!

With the help of my good friend, amateur restaurant-blogger, and tour guide extraordinaire, I explored new areas that revealed NYC to be more than just wall to wall concrete and traffic. Marie Cassandra Masters deepened my appreciation for the Big Apple as we steered away from the onslaught of advertisement and consumerism: the art of manipulation that encourages greed, instant gratification, and fiscal irresponsibility. I will now step down off my soap box.

One of our first stops was an obsolete above-ground Metro, converted into a beautiful garden with a stunning view. I loved the contrast of converting this symbol of noisy industrialism into a peaceful park, complete with water feature and a small performance area for mini-concerts. Besides enjoying the serene walk and admiring the flowers, we observed a man struggling up the massive flight of stairs with two kids; one on his back and one in a very heavy-looking stroller. Sweat stains were forming on his shirt and his face was red with straining. Marie didn't have the heart to tell him there was an elevator.

As we walked, we stumbled upon an exposé for Iron Chef. I don't follow the television show, but I gladly ate the free food on offer. The Korean noodles were tasty, and if that wasn't treat enough, we received a free DVD to have our photo taken! Double score.

Eating was really the highlight of the trip. I lost so much weight eating rice and beans in Guatemala, I had no problem making up for it with pizza and cupcakes. The NYC cupcake competition is vicious, and they have to go to extreme measures to attract your attention and woo your sweet tooth. See exquisite example below from Crumbs Bake Shop.

In addition to walking and eating, Mike, Marie and I put on our dancing shoes and sashayed over to the swanky Swing 46. We drank dry martinis (tres apropos), listened to a great live jazz band, and nibbled overly-priced appetizers. Mike and Marie really cut a rug, while I had a Swedish girl as my partner. She was a great lead, just not my type.

To close the night and alleviate my chocolate craving, we taxi'ed it over to a bar- the only place open on a late Sunday night (damn you, chocolate store for closing!). Mike had dinner round two, because he's training for an Iron Man and burns a hundred-million calories a day. I can't remember what chocolate delicacy satisfied my addiction, because the night's focus was on my trip to Egypt. I was scheduled to travel from Athens to Cairo at the disapproval of most friends and family. Marie and Mike supported my desire to get an inside view to the revolution and hear people's opinions during this monumental period of political transition... until we started talking to the Egyptian waiters in the bar. Their words of warning coincided with my concerned parents. Risk is a part of life, and danger can be factored with an equation, but I can't give an accurate probability assessment for a woman on her own in Cairo. Well, as they say, when one door closes, another opens... and the pyramids will still be there for next time.

On Monday, 23rd of May, Marie and I took a little yellow taxi to JFK. I was loaded with snacks from the Masters' place of business. They work at an impressive building overlooking the best of Manhattan, but more importantly there's a ping-pong table on their floor and all the free Kit-Kat's, DDP, and Nature Valley granola bars you can stomach. Hmm... maybe I should get back on my soap box about how brand loyalty is one form of manipulation, but my video doesn't help my case... oh well, enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzDPCiuuL5Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0SlRybN85s

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Caudillo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N734V2Itnok&feature=channel_video_title

Pit Stop in Houston (May 16 – 20)

I had four days to unpack and sterilize my jungle clothes, pack for the extreme corners of the northern hemisphere, and say goodbye to friends and family. Thanks to the advice of a former English-teacher-in-Thailand, I got my hands on some mail order Cactus juice- a unique mixture of sunscreen and pesticide to take care of the sand fleas on Thai beaches. It’s amazing how this trip has magically connected me to all these other people who have had their own adventures teaching in Thailand. Everyone wants to put me in contact with their friend of a friend, or relative who is out there, or in Dad’s case, the random English girl on the plane who was lovely and seemed to have so much in common with me. I’ve spoken with her on the phone and she is indeed lovely. It’s a very small world we live in, and we don’t even realize how connected we truly are.

On the Friday I bid farewell to Houston, I road-tripped it with my parents to Fort Worth for Joey and Rachel’s wedding. I love my parents so much I want to just squeeze them! Just look at the photos and video to see how freakgin’ cute they are! You probably want to squeeze them too. From Buc’ees BBQ to the faulty GPS, we had our own adventure. I do cherish every moment with my mommy and daddy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqdIN3ArHfg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwej8tk5wxI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjzW00gFano

Joey and Rachel’s wedding was beautiful, joyful, and a spectacular reunion. Of course VERT was well-represented, and Vic caught the garter… probably because Ross wasn’t there to do the honor. The bouquet was caught by yours truly- I’ve just deleted my pessimistic comment in favor of a more hopeful one. This is a sign of a time to come; when I move back to Houston, get a job to which I feel worthy of dedicating my energy and passion, I’ll finally plant roots. I will be happy to be a good friend, daughter, God-mother, and maybe even girlfriend. Then, dare we say, maybe one day I’ll have my own bouquet of flowers to toss.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves! One day at a time. First stop, New York!

Mi casa es su Casa Guatemala

Please accept my apologies for the delay. This Guatemala visit was from April 29^th to May 16^th.

It was during the morning break when I got off the boat, and before I could step off the pier, kids had recognized me and were running to greet me with a hug. Any apprehension I previously felt, thinking they resented me for abandoning them in their time of need, evaporated immediately. My legs were swarmed with smiling children and my heart burst with joy and love as I shouted out their names in excitement. There they were! Vilma, Gladys, Yessica, Maria Alejandra… arm in a cast, but looking well. I was a bit surprised to see the eager faces of Pulula and Naomi happy to see me. Didn’t I used to punish them quite severely?

And then I saw her. My baby. My Floridalma. Time slowed down as I took in the moment. Her hair was longer, but the rest of her didn’t grow much. I picked up her tiny body and swung her around; the sound of her adorable laugh made me want to cry and laugh and sing, but mostly wrap my arms around her and never let go. There were more joyful greetings. The Niñas Grandes asked, “Y Lizzy?” The Verones Grandes wanted to know, “Cuando viene ‘Buenos Tiempos’?” They don’t forget, not even the Pequeñas, and it means a lot when the volunteers return. I wanted, more than anything, to let them know that they are loved tremendously.

Since August of last year, much had changed at the orphanage. I would rather not talk politics or of my frustrations, because, despite the fact that life is tough, especially in the poverty-stricken areas of rural Guatemala, the kids are happy and quite self-sufficient. The video shows just that. I thank God I was able to share such intimate moments with these precious children: combing lice out, singing underwater, curing boo-boos, reading bedtime stories, and kissing them goodnight. This is Love: real and raw, sometimes blissful, sometimes painful, but always beautiful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ29HjTFKXM

P.S. I seriously contemplated sneaking Flori into the States (buying fake papers, registering her in school as my daughter, somehow avoiding felony charges), but resisted the urge and instead took advantage of the two weeks that flew by way too fast. We were swimming in the river, Flori riding on my back, when I submerged to make for the ladder that leads to the top of the pier. My internal compass was out of whack (shocker), and I am swimming off in some crazy direction before I surface for air. Flori is cracking up, asking where in the world I’m taking her, and thus begins the story that never gets old. To her, it was a classic, “Remember that time when…” story, and each time retold I was heading for some place further and further away- Cuatro callos, Fronteras, Buenos Aires… if I could have managed it, of course, I would have piggy-backed her all the way to the United States.