I've been everywhere, man.
I've been everywhere, man.
Crossed the desert's bare, man.
I've breathed the mountain air, man.
Of travel I've had my share, man.
I've been everywhere.
Since January 1st, I have traveled a total of 39,839 miles. On Tuesday, that total will go up to 45,839.
And you guys were wondering why I hadn't updated the blog...
The year 2011 has proved itself to be the year that will test my iron will. The year that I will find out what I'm really made of and in the end, we'll see what kind of Kristin actually comes out...if she comes out of it at all!
Because my project here for Latin America will be coming to somewhat of an end in 2011, this year is smack in the middle of it. That means I have a lot of work to do in each and every one of our markets. What that really means is that in January I would travel to Chile and Argentina. The entire month of February would be spent in Chile. March was spent in Tulsa. In April I'll spend the month partly in Mexico and party in Brazil. May I'll spend partying, oops, I mean partly in Mexico and partly in Chile. In June I'll spend part in Chile, part in Switzerland/Lichtenstein, and part in Argentina. July will be spent trying to remember what floor my apartment is on in Panama...that is, if I can even find it in the first place and probably partly in Brazil and/or partly in Mexico. Half of August will be spent in Chile. September isn't planned yet, but by then I'm not sure they'll even be able to find my body. It'll be circling on a baggage claim at some airport. Half of October will be spent in Mexico and the other half in Brazil. November will be split up exactly the same and in December I hope to run away screaming with my arms flailing to my mommy's house for three weeks to lay in her lap in fetal position. We'll see.
When I got home from Mexico last weekend, I spend the entire weekend with a fever. After some consulting with a dear friend who is a doctor, it was decided that probably my body was just screaming for some rest. Apparently it wasn't too happy when I never went to bed Friday night and went straight to the airport at 4:00 AM on Saturday morning. However, even amongst the absolute exhaustion I am feeling, I have been so blessed to be able to do some really fun things while I've been working.
Acclaimed travel writer Tim Cahill said once: "A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles." I couldn't agree any more with any statement I have ever heard in my life.
January:
One day after I got back from Christmas vacation in the US, I boarded a plane for Chile. It was to be for one week for a series of meetings. I was also invited to attend their beginning of the year and hands on meeting for a full Friday and Saturday. It was fun being able to meet people. That was my first time in the market, so I was new to everybody and everything. And, as I was a striking contrast to the rest of the group, I stood out like a sore thumb. Thankfully Adolfo had traveled from Panama with me as well and he introduced me.
Other than work in Chile, I was able to spend a day with a very beloved family with whom I had made their acquaintance more than 10 years ago (The Ibañez family). I found them just as they always were, crazy. They greeted me by throwing a bucket of water on me, if that's any indication of how insane they are. I fit right in. It was great to be able to catch up. Later that weekend I found out that their neighbor had inquired as to why exactly they had greeted me in "such a manner" when I first arrived at the house. They're answer: "Because it was Kristin," as if that was enough explanation for everybody.
Two days after I returned from Chile I headed to Buenos Aires to work with my buddies there. This was actually my first experience with Argentina in the summer time. Yeah, Panama is hot. Argentina might be a tiny bit hotter at times. Whew.
I had a good time hanging out with my friends and we went kayaking through the river delta one Saturday. I wasn't sure I was going to make it. Rowing is tough. I even learned lots of new, interesting words from my friends that day, too. Just as a note to myself for the future, it's also probably not a good idea to eat too much after you've been rowing for five hours at TGIFridays because there's a possibility that you'll get horribly sick to your stomach and have to leave two of your friends on the side of the road to fend for themselves whilst you squeal your tires trying to get to your home before there's an "accident" in the car (I was one fending for myself, not being sick to my stomach. Isa and I are pretty street smart. We made it.).
February:
Two days after I returned from Argentina I headed for Chile for the month of February. The market in Chile lost the resource which was working with me on the project, so I was left to do two jobs. This is why I was there for the entire month. It was a difficult month. However, as is my custom, I was able to make the best of it...thanks to the help of some great friends.
I spent another weekend with the Ibañez family playing video games with little Manuel Hernan and trying desperately not to let him beat me... and my pride. Much to my dismay, I was unsuccessful. I eventually got over it. They did have to offer me some chocolate milk, though. I was also able to catch up some more where we left off in January and it was a great weekend getaway. Valeska and I even saw two movies in one day.
On another weekend I got to see another good friend whom I also hadn't seen in more than 10 years. I was also had the chance to meet his lovely wife. He found out I was in Santiago by chance one day when I had put a rather "clever" facebook status up. I had used an old Lawerence Welk quote which said, "Some days are good days. Some days are bad days. Today is one of them." I saw, just by chance, that he had translated what I had written and used it as his facebook status! I began with my snide, sarcastic comments, in Spanish even (Yes, that's right, I'm just as sarcastic in Spanish as I am in English) and the rest is history. He and Anna invited me over for a great dinner and great conversation and I was so thankful I was able to catch up with Jonathan after so many years and finally meet Ana.
That same weekend I took my first bicycle tour of the city of Santiago. It was a great way to get to see the city and enjoy the beautiful summer weather in Santiago. I had so much fun, actually, that I decided to go back the next weekend and do the other tour they offered! Both were lovely and I met great people along the way.
After that second tour, I hung around with the two ladies I had met: one from The Netherlands and the other from Germany. Both of them live in Brazil. We had coffee and toured some more of the city...and generally just laughed. It was good to stop working for a few hours and get some fresh air.
The first tour with the company "La Bicicleta Verde" (The Green Bike Tour)...for obvious reasons. They made me wear that helmet. I wouldn't have done so otherwise...
La Moneda, the governmental palace in downtown Santiago
Jabon Gringo (Gringo Soap). I'm not sure if it's actually for "gringos" to wash up with or not, but it didn't look too appealing to me.
Plaza de Armas, downtown Santiago...on what else? The green bicycle!
March:
march was a difficult blessing in disguise. While I had been in Chile the month earlier, my beloved Grandma June had a massive stroke. I spent all month in a lot of emotional pain knowing that I couldn't be there to help my family or Grammy.
That month I also got a call from the North America office in Tulsa. They needed some help. They needed me to give a training class.
I spent almost the entire month with my family and my friends. I was able to help Grammy a lot and give mom and dad a little bit of a rest. I was even able to work in going to the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the NCAA tournament to see my beloved Jayhawks play...that is, before they crapped out against VCU.
I also had the opportunity to meet a new and very special addition to my circle of close friends. I took the opportunity to go ahead and threaten his life as I felt it was necessary since he's now dating my dearly beloved best friend. With that, my work was finished in Tulsa.
April:
April...what do I say about April. April was the month I realized how much I did truly miss my family and friends after being able to spend so long with them in March. It made me realize just how blessed I am. I was literally was making 3 or 4 dates a night with friends to be able to see everybody who wanted to see me. Lunchs, dinners, coffees, snacks, passing in the parking lot of some restaurant. All of it made me realize just how loved I was. And I am very thankful for the opportunity that I had to go home in March.
I also headed to Mexico. My dear co-worker in the office there in Mexico is also a friend and she asked me to come the weekend before I had to be in the office so we could have some fun. And fun was had by all. We toured the city on the turibus (the open top bus...which, by the way, if you're going to ride on you should wear sun block of spf 300 or you will be red as a lobster when you finish...especially if you're the token "gringa"). I went to the pyramids of Teotihucan and climbed all of them...much to the dismay of my knees. The steps on the Pyramid of the Moon hit me about mid thigh. Yes, that's right, mid-thigh. Think about the lift needed for a step of that height. It was worse than Machu Picchu. Which, by the way, I forgot to say I visited last November in my last blog entry (I'll write a separate blog about that. It deserves it.). At least after Machu Picchu I could walk. After Teotihucan I limped for two days!
I also ate everything...with chili on it. It didn't matter if it was sauce or powder, I ate it and loved it. The Mexicans themselves were even surprised. Their first question to me always was, "Have you gotten sick yet?" I never did...and I just kept eating all the hot and authentic stuff I could find. They thought it was funny. I was just proud. Though, I do now know why you find scratch marks on the sides of the bathroom stalls in Mexico...
They also took me to the Lucha Libre fights. If you're not familiar with "Lucha Libre", let me give you a small run down. It's like the WWF only with less fit and less acrobatic guys who wear masks. It's a Mexican icon located in not such a great neighborhood. It's also the most hysterical thing I've ever seen. If I thought I learned a lot of "new" words while I was rowing with my Argentine amigos, I learned far more at the Lucha Libre match. By now I'm ready for the street in Mexico. I laughed non-stop for almost three hours.
And that was April.
The Angel of Independence, Mexico D.F.
Palacio de Bellas Artes, downtown Mexico D.F.
Ummm, there are people EVERYWHERE in Mexico City. And not just a few, either.
Plaza Zocalo, the center of Mexico City
Me eating home made potato chips with hot chili sauce downtown and Adriana being very proud of me for being a true Mexican.
Karla and I in the back of the bicycle taxi....we're going green. Though I did feel really, really bad for the poor guy who had to pedal my big butt around...
The Pyramids at Teotihucan, built long before the Aztecs, but taken over by them. The one straight ahead is the Pyramid of the Moon. The biggest one is the Pyramid of the Sun.
The steps up the Pyramid of the Moon...you know, the ones that came up to my thigh. Did I mention they're also super steep and narrow?
The view of the Pyramid of the Sun from the top of the Pyramid of the Moon.
I was definitely excited to to climb the Pyramid of the Sun. I was not excited by the time I got to the top.
I've definitely had some adventures these last few months. I've also worked like a dog, though it may not sound like it. I am so thankful for all the time I was able to spend with all my old and new friends.
But seriously...can I please stay home for awhile?
Okay, gotta be on my way my friends. I'm headed to Brazil tomorrow.
Peace out.
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