Making the impossible, possible!

As many of you know, I've had a lot of time to be sitting around thinking of what to do next with my life, and make some sort of decision about what that actually is going to look like without pressure!

You would think that processing something like this would be easy when you feel like you have all the time in the world, but honestly it feels like a bad item on a "to-do" list. So... naturually I have put it off of the "I'm really thinking about this seriously" today list, and have continued to just mull over it while doing other fun activities.

I decided recently it was about time to actually put some thought into it. How do you really think about something that seems so distant, and so demanding, and so time consuming. I dream of big things, and then think it's nearly impossible to get there. However, I decided today that nothing is impossible. I just traveled Latin America for a year, and didn't think that possible in a lifetime, so why would I give up that now?

So here we have it. These are major goals that I want to see happen one day, and they WILL happen one day. Thanks to my Aunt Patti she said today Mandi I am stating a goal to you because I want it to happen, and it will happen. So I told her that I wanted to do the same thing... So here you have it.

She told me that to state my goal, is not just a mere statement. It's a powerful driving force that pushes us to achieve those things that seem impossible. To make the impossible, possible! So don't state I HOPE or I WANT...but state as if it has already happened...Let's try it out...

I AM A PERSAL TRAINER BEGINNING JANUARY 2011.
I AM A FITNESS PROFESSIONAL WITH AN EMPHASIS ON NUTRITION AND PERSONAL TRAINING - HOLISTIC FITNESS IS MY ULTIMATE "I AM".

With that being said, you can best believe that I will be doing all possible things to get to this in the next 2 months. I have a lot to do, and I will have to push hard. Now to figure out how that works into a job....a real job, as some might say... that will be the question. But I am and WILL NOT settle for anything but my dreams. The only thing that may have to come between me and my dream, is a step to get there - like making money - so I will have to think that too, however these are the things I will be, I want to be, and truly AM at heart!

WOW joins the Gym Club!

I was at the gym this morning, and I've been doing this new workout thing, and I take a book to remind me what's next so that I can keep my heartrate up. Anyway, I have it sitting to the side so it's not in anyone's way, and so I kind of have my own workout station. (sorry need to give you a bit of background first). Mid workout I need the lat machine.....and this old dude is just sitting at the lat machine reading his newspaper. Aren't there better places to just be sitting or reading your paper? I don't know like on a bike or home or something wher eyou're not in the way! haha! Then of course I had to ask him to move, that was kind of weird, but oh well. So then this other guy comes up to me right then (not sure why his timing was so spot on) and asked me - oh it looks like you follow a book routine, right? So I was polite and said yes. (Now let me tell you about this man - he had been sitting on the row machine for probably 20 minutes while I'm pretty much running around the gym to different stations, jump roping, etc... and then all of the sudden he has to stop me mid workout to ask me that one question when he could clearly see that i had a book with me!). Anyway, he started to have a conversation, and how do you tell someone politely, hey man I'm trying to workout here and keep my heartrate up can you shut up please? HAHA. So then he kept talking while I was just doing my thing, and he said ..."yeah, I spend 20 mins here, 20 mins there and then 20 minutes over there." I was thinking - yeah I can see the awesome workout you're getting in when you stand and talk to people, and then just sit at a machine for 20 minutes. So why are you here again? Good thing people can't read my mind! He litterally was sitting at the row machine for 20 minutes before he said something to me. I think I saw him do ONE set!Oh I nearly forgot he was texting the whole time while sitting there! What's he worlking out, his thumbs! Leave the stupid cell in the car! I couldn't believe it, it made me laugh when he was trying to brag, like I hadn't noticed him RIGHT in front of me! Oh man people crack me up at the gym! Ah back to the American I have to show you how awesome I am routine. Why am I back again?

It's about time...

So I really am going to get ready to start blogging about my trip. I will try to take it one day. one picture at a time....so watch out next week I should post a few fun stories! Hopefully Chris can help me!!!

¨Watch out, there is a giant F*ing hole to your right¨

That was a quote by my tour guide, Javier, on my mineral mine tour today. I nearly fell in the hole because it was pretty funny to hear some guy that spoke mostly spanish, yell that behind him!

The mine tour today was interesting. It was SUPER depressing, and actually one of those things that I was interested in because my grandpa used to work in the mines in PA when he was younger. Now I really want to hear those stories again, I feel like I might appreciate all the hard work he did to make it to where he is today - much more than when I was about 8 years old hearing the stories!

The miners work in some very tight spots, with very littel oxygen. I couldn´t believe that Bagilla, a local miner of Potosi, works 24 hours on Fridays so he can make enough money for his family of 7 kids! He has two of his kids working in the mine with him, one 14 and the other 20. He is currently 40 years old, and has been in the mine since he was 13! I couldn´t belive that he has been working there for so long. They have short lives, and he is probably only expcted to live another 20 years max, so it´s hard to hear those stories.

These kinds of stories are the ones that are making the silver, gold, and other mineral type compositions that you use everyday. These lives are the ones being risked to make that pretty earring that you are wearing. Tough to see this, and hard to know that they are not treated very well here! They hardly see any of the money from it. They might make 500 bolivianos (about $75 USD) each month! The ¨leaders¨sometimes make up to 1500 bolivianos (that is closer to $200 USD) a month!

Just something to think about. Say a prayer for these guys and their families if you think of it! They work hard for you!!

Worlds Worst Surfer

I was so excited about surfing today! I can´t even tell you! After learning to surf in San Jan Del Sur, Nicoragua I was pumped about trying it again...until I actually got in the water. The bottom was not a nice sandy beach like before, it was filled with rocks. The nice waves that were in Nicaragua were not so nice in Peru! Can I tell you that I was so tired from swimming out into the ocean over these huge waves that I pretty much didn´t have it in me to even try to stand up on a wave! I need to do more push-ups! Despite not being able to surf, I still had fun. Chris had to give me a few pep talks to make sure I went back out in the water. I was not having fun some of the time because I was so frustrated, but you know what I changed my attitude and had a good time seeing the underside of the water! Good thing the water wasn´t too salty! Anyway, I got pummeled by a lot of waves, now I am sore, tired, and reday for bed. Can´t wait to see what I feel like tomorrow.

Maybe that is why God had me grow up in CO, he knew that I wouldn´t master surfing. Oh well, I will keep trying and having fun, but I don´t think that I will be in any pictures in surf magazines! Well...maybe the what not to do section!

Drooler!

Last night was a long night on my first Peruvian overnight cama-bus. Yes, they say cama (bed) bus, because they say the seats transform into beds. I would say it´s more like a semi-cama seat. Actually it doesn´t even recline as much as a good ol´lazy-boy, so I hardly consider it comfortable; however, I did manage to sleep for the last 12 hours on the first bus, and then continued my slumber on another bus for 3 hours. I made it to Huanchanco, Peru today. It´s a lovely rundown beach town (reminds me a lot of North Myrtle Beach), and just got settled. I took another 3 hour nap today, you would think that I would be over the whole sleeping gig after so many hours. I guess I was drooling, Chris told me I drooled everywhere! The bus ride was not that spectacular this time...minus the lady that told us the wrong thing.

We were on the chase again for the bus. The lady that bought and reserved out bus tickets from Chachapoyas told us that the bus left at 8p, and when we arrived at 745 guess what...the bus left at 730p! Great! I love that we were told the wrong time, but the good news is that the people in the office felt bad for us, so they called the bus and they made it stop. We took a taxi for 5 soles to catch the bus, and actually made it! I couldn´t believe it! I was so happy that we didn´t have to spend another night in Chacha, and the bus waited outside of town. It didn´t make it very far in 15 minutes, so I didn´t feel too bad, but I did feel bad enough when the guy yelled at us and told us we should have known. I didn´t feel like arguing, so I just let him yell and said sorry. I don´t think that he would have believed me when I told him the lady told us the wrong time! I think that is why they felt bad, they knew they told us the wrong time, but then again I looked at the ticket that was given to me and the time said 730 - hardly ledgable, but nonetheless it was an adventure with the taxi driver chasing the bus down so we would make our destination. I´m glad it stopped when we got there, and then we were able to relax until someone was in our seats! We just sat in some other seats, but 1 hour later we were told to move to our seats, so there was a reshuffle of a few seats on the bus since people were sittin gin the wrong ones! All in all, it turned out okay. Minus the fact that our bus experience to/in Peru so far has been more than interesting! I hope that this is not a sign!

Tomorrow I will surf and ride in a reed boat through the breaks! Should be interesting. I hope I can help make a boat, that would be really cool!!!

Ecuador to Peru: Part 2 - Gun to My Head

The bus... yes this was your average bus, with average seats. It was a great upgrade from the actual chicken buses that I was used to in Central America! You know it was nice to have a small child on the bus that spoke better spanish than me, and when talking to me he spoke a million miles an hour! Yes, that is good for the self-esteem! I love that I speak like a 2 year old! (Katy, Jenn, Becky, Kirsten...all you mom´s out there... your children could probably speak better spanish than me!). Anyway, my little amigo and I had a great time chatting for about 5 minutes, and then I wanted to read. I can only take so much when I have to concentrate really hard on what he´s saying....slow down and I´ll talk to you more, but he didn´t understand that concept.

I decided to just read, but before that I jumpped out of the bus and saw this man pushing a yogurt machine through the park. Yes, a frozen yogurt machine! I was so excited that I could hardly breathe. I didn´t know what kind of icecream it was going to be, but I honestly didn´t care. I wanted something cold and yummy in my tummy! So I went up to him and it was coco y chicle. Gum and coco icecream, sounds interesting. I´ll take two! No I didn´t have them both, but it was tempting! I really wanted to steal Chris´because it was that good. I didn´t think that I could find icecream that I loved as much at Baskin Robin´s Choc & Peanut Butter Icecream, but this is a close second favorite. I hope I enjoyed it because I surely will never have that soft serve deliciousness ever again! (I am an icecream conosour, so you better believe that I know good icecream! I mean I did work for an frozen yogurt shop throughout all high school!)

Anyway, about 15 minutes after the bus was headed out again to our final destination of the day, Zumba. (Which if you read part 1 you know why we only made it 7 hours instead of 10!) I was sitting on the bus reading, decided that was going to pass the next few hours (the book I was reading was really good, so I was quite excited about it anyway), next thing I know I have a gun to my head. Yes, I was ignoring the small child so I could read, he disappeared and returned with a gun. At first I didn´t know if it was real or not. It was black and next to my head, so I could only see with my periferial vision. Next thing I hear him say is ¨bang¨ (but in spanish of course). Then I heard a click! Great...so this kid is violent, has a gun, and just pointed it at my head and pulled the trigger. Good thing it was PLASTIC! But then again, he decided to show me how it worked after I started to give him attention again. Yep, he showed me where the plastic pellet bullets go, and continued to tell me that he knows how to take apart guns, and that he knows how to load them too. So...who is this kids mom? Seriously, plastic guns are cool with cops and robbers, and cowboys and indians, but when it comes to actually shotting someone ganster style for fun, I think that I have to draw the line there! Come on already - seriously??? So I could have died this day for the plastic gun!

....

Landed in Zumba, and it was about your most basic town. Actually I´m not even sure what they eat here. We had some ¨typical¨food, but other than that there were no snacks or anything for the next 12 to 15 hour day in the bus, taxi, and tricycle...so I don´t know what I´m going to do! We didn´t know what to eat for breakfast either, they didn´t really have anything, couldn´t even find a basic banana! Hmmm...

Anyway, apart from the room smelling like poop (I think that the drains were backed up or something gross), there was TV and we were able to watch the US win it´s World Cup game! That was exciting. However, I slept through most it because I was exhausted! I woke up, thanks to Chris, for the final goal! Go USA!!

Until tomorrow.... I am not excited about an early morning and a cold shower!

Ecuador to Peru: Part 1. Wrong Way

Two days ago I started out on an adventure to see the wild untamed edge between Ecuador and Peru. The ¨sheet of paper¨(love my map!) explained that it was 16 to 17 hours of travel, however I had no idea what I was up for.

A 520a wake up buzz to my wrist watch was more than I wanted this morning! I crawl out of the upper loft where my single bed is cozy with wool blankets. Off to sit on the side of the road until the 6a to 630a bus picks me up! I wonder how long I will actually have to sit out here! After 45 minutes a bus comes by, so I assume it´s the right one, but just in case I ask the ayudante if he is headed to Zumba, and he says ¨¡Si!¨ I was excited that I was on my way to Peru!

About 5 minutes after being on the bus we see another bus go by in the opposite direction, so I ask the guy next to me if the bus was going to Zumba, and he chuckled and said, ¨No, Va a Loja!¨(Hmm that is one hour in the WRONG direction!). Crap the bus I need just passed, there are only 2 buses a day to Zumba. ARG! I am now really mad! I asked the guy and he said yes, so I trusted him. I KNOW I said the right thing, and I know that he said Yes. Si is a very simple thing to understand in Spanish, so I am pretty sure that I didn´t mess up in understanding! So now ... what do I do. Jump off this bus and wait for another bus back in to Vilcabamba, and then spend the day there getting a $18 massage for 90 minutes, or head to Loja in hopes to get another bus to Zumba so I can get on my way to Peru! I decide the latter! I hope I made the right choice!

When we arrive at 7am in Loja, mind you one hour in the opposite direction of desired travel, I find out I have to wait 2 hours for the next friggin bus to Zumba! 9a! I will never make the border! It´s now a 7 hour bus ride (instead of the original 6), and the border closes. PLUS, I don´t know if the connecting forms of transportation will be there after the one bus that arrived there at 1p! No choice now, wait for 9a bus and see where I land. Good thing I have a tent, if all else fails I will make friends with a farmer and ask if I can camp on his land! Maybe then I would get some fresh milk from their dairy cows. Sounds like a fun adventure! (Guess I will use my spanish today!)

The bus...to be continued... part 2

Medio del Mundo

This was a VERY long day in the bus. We were going to do the teleferiqo, but dedcided that we waited to long to get up that day, since we really wanted to hike the top of the volcano that same day, so instead we decided to hit up the middle of the earth. I mean how hard could it be to get there since it is world famous? You would think everyone knows about how to get there...right?

WRONG!

We jumpped on the trolly line to head toward the bus station, we knew we had to get to the bus station, and it was at the end of the line. Guess what, we made it there in flying colors, only about 45 minutes later. I was thinking something was wrong because the book (which was back at the hostel - good place for it right? Back safe in the hostel room while I wonder around Quito, Ecuador´s capital city! Brilliant Mandi, just brilliant!) Anyway, I decided to start asking locals where I needed to go so that we could make it to the center of the earth. Everyone was pointing to this one bus, that didn´t have the right sign on it, but I decided to trust them anway. We got on the bus, and luckily we didn´t have to pay because it was a bus transfer. However, it did take me to another place where I had no idea where I was. Great, in the barrio of Quito somewhere far far away from where I think I need to be. How the heck do I get to where I need to go??

Finally, I found someone that said he knew that we were in the wrong place, and we needed to leave this terminal and walk about 4 blocks to the blue bus (great, there are only about 100000 blue buses in the area, so honestly which one! I guess I was that much closer to being there, so I decided to trust him. Plus I had my bodyguard, Chris, with me, so I was fine!). We get to the blue station (not blue bus, it was quite obvious when we got there), and took that to the end. Then a nice lady showed us the correct bus to get on to get there.

In a matter of hours, quite litterally hours, we finally made it to the center of the earth! I was expecting something grandios, and knock my socks off beautiful...however, you should honestly imagine a desserted Disney Land. I think Chris and I were the only people there, I thought this was supposed to be some sort of attraction, guess not! We did a few silly photos, and then looked around at the abandoned shops that probably were cool at one point. (Yeah, come to find out there was a cool thing next door to the place that we were at. See shouldn´t have left that stupid book behind! I suppose it´s my travel guide! Stupid me, you would think after 10 months of traveling I would have known better!).

Anyway, we saw it, enjoyed it, and left all in 1 hour time. The journey there was more spectacular than the actual sight! And by the way, I think that myth busters needs to do a show on the whole toliet flushing thing. I don´t think it´s true. I have not noticed any toliets flushing in the opposite direction here as they do in the US!

We jumped a bus to go back, of course not knowing what one to take, because really I don´t think we were ever on the right one! So we got on one that said ¨CENTRAL¨ hmm... where could that take me? Well guess what, 20 miutes later we were about 5 blocks walking distance from our hostel. Amazing. Next time, I think I´ll just guess and take random buses rather than think I know the way! It was better that way, and who knows we probably would have been less lost the first time had we done that.

So that is my story of discovering the center of the earth!

Pirates and Paradise!

You know that song... welcome to paradise...ohowhoa... Umm, that´s hardly what comes to mind when I think of Bluefields, Nicaragua. I knew that it would be an adventure coming (getting) here, but wow I had no idea it would be this amazing. The long bus ride on Evie´s birthday (Feb 17 - Shout out to my girlie!) lasted well over 10 hours. I started bright and early at 8am and arrived in Rama around 630p. Rama is a quaint little town, with pretty much NOTHING. The ol´faithful guidebook (aka - piece of trash since nothing is accurate) said nothing much about this place other than it was at the end of the road. WOW - I think for ONCE the Lonely Planet book was RIGHT! (mark that one in history would ya!). Anyway, we tried to find a place that didn´t have prostitutes hanging around in the lobby area (if you can call it that) and didn´t rent by the hour. A nice Nicaraguan man Juan Carlos was able to point us in a direction, unfortunately we did not take it. Good thing because later we found out it was ¨open 24 hours¨ which is not really a good sign in a small town.

- commercial break - why in such small towns are there so many prostitutes? I don´t understand why? Why don´t they just all get married to someone in such a small town? The money doesn´t seem to be the attraction? Explain that to me...

Back to our regular programming...

Anyway, Rama (look on a map it will help with the story) literally is at the end of the road to Eastern Nicaragua. No roads north, no roads south. Managua (a few towns between) and Rama. Rama then provides transportation down the rio to Bluefields, which is not accessable by car (okay land transportation - except perhaps an airplane and then you have to jump out of it before you get to the ocean).

- commercial break two - why have a port city of 80k people in the middle of eastern Nicaragua without any transportation (other than boat) in and out of the place? And then in the town why own a car? No one friggin´walks here (exaggeration), but honestly I think I see more cars than people crusing in their sneakers!

We´re back! Anyway, stayed the night in Rama at our beautiful hotel (recap - hopefully not brothell/whore house), and the next morning made our way on boat (which may or may not leave depending on if it had enough people) to Bluefields.

We promptly got off the lancha (boat) and as we were waiting for our bags to be thrown from the front of this small boat, a ¨nice man¨came to ¨help us out.¨ Honestly, I know better than to let anyone even talk to me when getting off any kind of transportation within probably 5 minutes of being there. They look at you as if you´re a dollar sign. Anyway, ¨Spicer¨- yes people that was his ¨name¨or so he said. He has 3 kids and a family to support (oh wait I jumped the gun here). This man decided that we needed his help`, even after inisiting that we knew where we were going and didn´t need help. Even after telling him that I spoke english and spanish, and was completely comfortable taking care of our communication. It was only 10a at this point, we had PLENTY of time before dark to find somewhere to stay - that wasn´t a brothell or whore house. He then said he had to take us to the ¨best restuarant¨in town, and well let´s just say that I think his sister owned it or something? Not sure, but he didn´t just leave us there so we could enjoy our meal, oh no, he had to sit and just watch us eat and wait for us to finish so he could be our ¨tour guide¨and help us find a hotel and see the city. That was his Job.

I asked him how he got his job, and who he worked for. He said ¨I work for myself.¨Ah yes, I´ve heard that one before, you work for yourself, so either you want me to shell out a bunch of cash for showing me 10 feet down the street, or you want to rob me. Awesome. I love those kinds of jobs! Chris and I started looking at hostels along the way, and just comparing what we wanted, and he showed us to this one (which in fairness we ended up staying at), but only after seeing several others after we looked at this one. He then said ¨I´ll wait out here,¨while a woman that owned the place showed us to our room. The man that owned the place made him leave and said not to come back. Oh yes, this verbal match was one for recording. It was quite humorous! Anyway, the man came back and said you need to becareful of that man, he´s always on drugs. We told him he´s been following us since the dock, and we couldn´t get rid of him. We offered the druggie 20 cordobas ($1 us) to go away and to ¨thank him for his services¨... wow!

Sweet... my ¨tour guide¨was a cracked out crazy man that no one likes. I always like those stories!

- commercial break- why do port towns always have so many dodgy people???

We´re back to our afternoon special...
After getting settled, we decided that it would be best to go check internet since we hadn´t been able to in several days. Plus, feel out the town for what this place is really like & to find out when the next boat to the Corn Islands is (which is a joke... perhaps that should be it´s own blog!) I think on our way to the internet cafe we found ¨Spicer´s¨brother. He decided about 3 steps from the door to the internet cafe that we needed a tour of the city too. He said that he hangs out with a lot of ¨white people¨and that he knows that the white people like to do that stuff... you know the white stuff... you know crack or cocaine. He said that he could help us get some and that it would be a good party. (Oh I forgot to mention that Spicer wanted us to go to the big DJ concert starting at 930p on Saturday night at the areana... okay yeah sounds like a great plan for me to pay 600 cordobas (30 dollars) to get robbed... hmm). Yeah pretty much we didn´t need his help either and walked in the cafe and he was gone... so we thought.

We finish up about an hour later, and we walk down to the dock to double check the ferry schedule since we really wanted to find out the next boat departure, which aparently no one knows. Maybe tmorrow, definitely Sunday. Oh and we forgot to mention that you have to go to the bluff to catch the boat. When was someone going to tell us that? Going on... on the way to the doc who do we see... our new friend... he didn´t have a name. He thought that we needed help at the dock communicating because apparently when I told him that I speak spansih and I don´t need his help that didnçt mean a thing! We get to the navy base where you have to ask these important questions, that literally no one knows the answers to, why bother asking in my opinion! He talks to the guard over me, and decides to tell me that he lives in Big Corn Island and is a guide, etc.. Hmmm... I think I´ve heard this one before. Oh yes ... it was quickly followed that he has 3 children here to support and a family in Bluefields. Wait one second, didn´t you JUST tell me that you live in Big Corn Islands? I´m so confused! Anyway we walked away.

TIME FOR A BEER AFTER ALL THAT!

We find this little place with a cute little waitress that didn´t look over 14 years old. She was super friendly, and spoke to me very slowly so we could have a conversation. The only other person in the bar was this other, what appeared to be, local man. He ended up buying us each 2 beers and came over to our table. He Juan Carlos (is everyone´s name Juan Carlos?) and he was from Honduras, and visiting his mom who lived in Nicaragua. We talked to him for a few hours, ended up having dinner with him. Strange thing is that I dont remember inviting him to dinner, nor do I remember telling him I would pay. But anyhow it was good conversation, and good friendship with a local guy - so I won´t complain! While sitting eating dinner.... GUESS WHO SHOWS UP?????

You guessed it - Spicer! Wow... really? Can I have one meal today without you *thought*?? Juan Carlos had the man removed from the restaurant, and guess who was waiting outside the restaurant for all 3 of us... yep SPICER! Seriously, who is this guy. He then started getting into it in REALLY REALLY fast spanish (I think I got ever 3rd word), and then Spicer turned to us and told us that Juan Carlos was a Pirate and was after all our money. Kind of funny to have a local garfunda looking man tell me that some Honduran man was after all my money after he just bought me two drinks? Not sure how that works out.... Juan said that it wasn´t safe for us there, so he´d walk us back to our hostel and if we needed anything we could call him or come by his hostel. Yep, pretty sure someone that´s going to rob me is going to offer his hostel name, his cell phone number... riiiiiiiiiiight... he´s a Pirate alright!

That was day one in the adventures to Corn Islands...

Today we found out that a boat did leave from the bluffs this morning to Corn Islands. I hope they´re right about the one on Sunday! ... can´t wait for the next 3 days... wonder if I´ll see Spicer and Pirate man again???

To be continued....