Well, I haven't got much to report. Well I did go to Granada a second time and to Valencia for Las Fallas which is a festival where they burn a bunch of burnable sculptures. But that's not what I want to write about. I want to write about life so far, in general.
Thanks to Facebook we get to look back on our lives in documented form. For me, I generally look back at old photos. And man have I had a good life so far!!!
I've grown up with the two best little brothers.
I've got friends that have got my back no matter what. Friends that I can count on from across the world at whatever time day or night.
My parents are cool.
I've been spoiled with amazing cooking since the day I was born.
I've traveled.
I've seen things that are different from what I am surrounded by on a day to day basis.
I've grown up around cultural diversity.
I went to college.
I graduated.
I experienced "dorm life".
I was able to rent a cabin in the mountains and go snowboarding with all my friends. Twice.
I've learned another language.
I've seen the Eiffel Tower and the Colosseum.
I get to visit my grandma in Thailand.
My other grandma is the best human being alive.
I've gone scuba diving, and saw a giant tortuous.
I've gone zip lining in Costa Rica and Ecuador.
I've lived with families that are not my own.
I have a job.
I've swam in the Pacific Ocean, in the Meditteranean Sea and South China Sea, and dipped my feet in the Atlantic Ocean.
College was a great 5 years, but there will be many more great years to come.
I am currently living in the south of Spain.
I have health insurance (both here and in the U.S.)
I have grown up in Berkeley, California.
I have laughed so hard it hurt.
I've cried so hard it hurt.
My parents make me strong.
My friends make me strong.
My brothers are there for me to be completely ridiculously annoying around.
I've ridden an elephant.
I teach.
I have lived where the tallest trees grow.
I have lived where the craziest people seem to settle down.
I've gone inside the Oregon caves.
I've been camping.
I spent two amazing weeks in Hawaii with my best friend and her parents.
I've been in plays.
I've seen elephant seals in real life.
I've ran out of a canal because there was a giant snake.
I've crossed a bridge with lots of crocodiles below it.
I'm healthy as far as I know.
I celebrated New Years in Las Vegas, and in Madrid twice.
I have loved and been loved.
I've been inside a crater.
I've driven down California highways in a red convertible blasting music with my friends not caring about anything in the world.
I've been to the "City of Angels"….San Francisco is better.
I've eaten guinea pig.
I am able to travel with my family.
I have had the help and inspiration of teachers and academic advisors.
I have done lots of things that many others cannot.
Where do we draw the line between appreciating what we have and bragging about what we have? Is it wrong to be happy for all the things you have done? Should we constantly live in a depressing world where we compare ourselves to others who have less or to others who have more? Or should we just focus on what we truly want and think about. We don't have to feel guilty for the good things we have in life. We don't have to feel sad about the bad things we have in life. Do what you want to do and try to make things better in the world at the same time. At least don't' make them worst. But don't overanalyze, you will drive yourself crazy. If you want to spend big money on a fancy dinner go ahead. If you want to save up your money for a vacation in 10 years that's fine too. If you want to ditch a party and stay in, so what. If you want to spend your life in an office okay. If you want to spend it working on a boat that's great. No one can judge, we're all too different. We're too many in this world to know what's right or wrong. I guess it comes down to what they teach you in elementary school: treat others how you want to be treated. And Bob Marley: Don't worry be happy.
Monday, March 24, 2014
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Homesick? Or just plain sick?
Well, nothing makes you miss your mommy more than being sick away from home. Let alone in a different country where they speak a different language and their hospital system is completely different. So you end up confused with a woman yelling at you in a different language at the front desk about why you don't know how to make an appointment, and you can barely keep up because you have a fever and pain in your stomach. I just wanted to punch her in the face, if I had had the energy, who knows. If I worked in a hospital, I would be a little more empathetic towards people that came in, obviously they feel horrible, and just need some help. Just because she hates her job or is having a bad day doesn't mean she needs to wipe her issues out on me. Finally, I found the nice lady that had helped me back in November, she was more understanding, and spoke a little slower. Which is all I needed.
The hospital I am assigned to here is not the best, people say it is the "ghetto" of Cartagena. It's not in the best condition, is very small, and always packed with people waiting for their appointments that are an hour behind schedule. Then you have the gigantic hospital that is not exactly in Cartagena, but a 10 minute bus or train ride away. But what is closer, is always more convenient for the people.
Sitting in the waiting room I was so angry with that woman downstairs, and exhausted and helpless (at least that's how I felt). I wanted to cry out of frustration. Then I realized how good I have it. How privileged I am. Here I am actually being seen for being sick, and I don't have to pay anything, in a different country. In the United States, I am lucky to be covered under my parents. In the United States especially, so many people are not covered, and go untreated or in debt for the rest of their lives. Now, I don't have it great, not even close, but I do have it a lot better than a lot of people. I also thought of my mom, my tough woman of a mom. I remembered all the stories she told me of her as a kid in Thailand, the dentist trip she had to make alone to get a tooth pulled, and walking back basically through the jungle afterwards to get home, bloody napkin in hand. I hope I can do that if the time ever calls for it. I know a lot of people who couldn't. Well, all of that made me feel better, and re-think, and calmly wait for the doctor. Luckily I love my doctor. Even though she prescribed me nothing and I'm pretty sure something is growing inside my stomach! Unless I'm paranoid…I don't know why I think I know more than a doctor does…I wish she would have just given me something.
But being sick does make me miss home, specifically my mom. Moms know all.
Being cooped up inside for 3 days gives you a lot of time to think, and thus write. When I finally came out of my shell, the world was bright, people were weird, I felt like I was in a bubble. But when I got to spend an hour with my favorite two boys that I teach English to, by the end I felt a lot better! Surprising.
Tomorrow I have a full day of high schoolers. Have you ever wondered, how do teachers do it? How do they NEVER get sick? They are there, all the time. Rarely do they take a sick day. Maybe with high school teachers it's different, because in elementary schools, the kids cough, sneeze, lick, touch, whatever and everything. Imagine though, if I was the main teacher, and I had to take off 3 or 4 days off of work?? What a disaster.
You'd think that homesickness would be gone within the first 3 months, but oh man it does come in waves at random times. 5 months or something later, yea I'm sick, so maybe that's why. Hopefully I'll be better by Monday, I'm going to Valencia to see the festival Las Fallas. My friend Elena told me even before I came that I need to go, and she lived in Valencia, so she knows!
Now I have to finish my powerpoint presentation on St. Patty's day. It's an Irish now Irish-Northamerican holiday, that I have nothing to relate to except that it's an excuse to have a few drinks and put on a big green hat. I wonder how it feels for people in this program who come from completely un-Northamerican cultures or backgrounds, with different religions and everything, and who are expected to give presentations on all theses typical holidays. Holidays completely irrelevant to them. My last presentation I'll do before I leave is this epic, kinda long, presentation all about Thailand! With videos, photos, everything. It'll be great.
The hospital I am assigned to here is not the best, people say it is the "ghetto" of Cartagena. It's not in the best condition, is very small, and always packed with people waiting for their appointments that are an hour behind schedule. Then you have the gigantic hospital that is not exactly in Cartagena, but a 10 minute bus or train ride away. But what is closer, is always more convenient for the people.
Sitting in the waiting room I was so angry with that woman downstairs, and exhausted and helpless (at least that's how I felt). I wanted to cry out of frustration. Then I realized how good I have it. How privileged I am. Here I am actually being seen for being sick, and I don't have to pay anything, in a different country. In the United States, I am lucky to be covered under my parents. In the United States especially, so many people are not covered, and go untreated or in debt for the rest of their lives. Now, I don't have it great, not even close, but I do have it a lot better than a lot of people. I also thought of my mom, my tough woman of a mom. I remembered all the stories she told me of her as a kid in Thailand, the dentist trip she had to make alone to get a tooth pulled, and walking back basically through the jungle afterwards to get home, bloody napkin in hand. I hope I can do that if the time ever calls for it. I know a lot of people who couldn't. Well, all of that made me feel better, and re-think, and calmly wait for the doctor. Luckily I love my doctor. Even though she prescribed me nothing and I'm pretty sure something is growing inside my stomach! Unless I'm paranoid…I don't know why I think I know more than a doctor does…I wish she would have just given me something.
But being sick does make me miss home, specifically my mom. Moms know all.
Being cooped up inside for 3 days gives you a lot of time to think, and thus write. When I finally came out of my shell, the world was bright, people were weird, I felt like I was in a bubble. But when I got to spend an hour with my favorite two boys that I teach English to, by the end I felt a lot better! Surprising.
Tomorrow I have a full day of high schoolers. Have you ever wondered, how do teachers do it? How do they NEVER get sick? They are there, all the time. Rarely do they take a sick day. Maybe with high school teachers it's different, because in elementary schools, the kids cough, sneeze, lick, touch, whatever and everything. Imagine though, if I was the main teacher, and I had to take off 3 or 4 days off of work?? What a disaster.
You'd think that homesickness would be gone within the first 3 months, but oh man it does come in waves at random times. 5 months or something later, yea I'm sick, so maybe that's why. Hopefully I'll be better by Monday, I'm going to Valencia to see the festival Las Fallas. My friend Elena told me even before I came that I need to go, and she lived in Valencia, so she knows!
Now I have to finish my powerpoint presentation on St. Patty's day. It's an Irish now Irish-Northamerican holiday, that I have nothing to relate to except that it's an excuse to have a few drinks and put on a big green hat. I wonder how it feels for people in this program who come from completely un-Northamerican cultures or backgrounds, with different religions and everything, and who are expected to give presentations on all theses typical holidays. Holidays completely irrelevant to them. My last presentation I'll do before I leave is this epic, kinda long, presentation all about Thailand! With videos, photos, everything. It'll be great.
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