Colombia, Te Quiero

I wrote this on the plane on the way home from my most recent adventure.  I went to Colombia.  It was amazing...

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I want to write about the beauty that exists in the people of this world.  I want to tell you about the adventure I just took and about the love I experienced.  I want to describe the blue scarf hanging around my neck, the earrings dangling from my ears, and the bracelet hugging my wrist, all given to me by people who have very little of their own...

I want to write this all down, document it, so I can remember the overwhelming love, gratitude, joy... and humility... but when I try to put it into words, it just seems stale.

We've heard it all before.  A young traveler goes away, sees some mountains and banana trees, discovers a new culture, and realizes that the world isn't really that big after all.

I won't tell you that story, because it's only really  new when you've just lived it.  I will say, though, that I had one hell of a week.  I drove through Colombian mountains in the back of a rickety old van.  I stood under a waterfall.  I hugged an old friend and made some new ones.

I learned to communicate with more than just words.  I learned how to make ajiaco and empanadas.  I learned that a Colombian airport luggage search is much smoother when you are smiling through the tears that are streaming down your face.

Most importantly, I learned (or was once again reminded) that people are good; that friends are everywhere; that life is beautiful.

I wish I could write my adventure in blog form so it could be understood, through eloquent metaphors and brief moments of wit.  The thing about this kind of adventure, though, is that it needs to be experienced to be understood.  So I guess all I can say is that maybe you should make the trip yourself.  Go to Colombia.  Ask for a guy named Jake.  Tell him I sent you.

Up, Up and Away

I have the heart of a traveler.

I just love going to new places and exploring and basking in the beauty of things I've never seen before.  I love the familiarity of walking through a place I've read about in books.  I love feeling so alone and yet so connected to the whole world at exactly the same time.  I love traveling.

It's strange, then, that the last time I really travelled (with the exception of a weekend trip here and there) was five years ago.  Five.  That's about one sixth of my life.  It's been one sixth of a lifetime since I explored the world.  But don't worry -- that story will soon change.

I'm going away.  Soon.  I will visit a good friend in a hot place and see his life.  I can't even tell you how excited I am about this.  I've packed my belongings into a small carry-on suitcase.  I've bought travel insurance.  I've painted my toenails.  My stuff is sitting at the door all ready to go, and I'm certain there's no way I'll be able to sleep tonight.

It's worth it.  The plane ride may be expensive, it may rain the whole time I'm there, but to sit here right now, having this feeling that I'm having...  Oh yes, it's worth it.