3Abril09
Reflections
Well, first of all, I can’t believe its time for reflections already. It’s like I just got here (one might say that about my Spanish!), and here I am already ‘reflecting.’ The good thing about sabbatical is that I actually have time for reflection most days. Here, though, I try to keep my memory short and reflect only on the day’s events (what new words I learned, how blue the sky was, how crisp the rain, how brilliant a flower, or how nice some passerby’s cologne smelled).
I have a friend who told me that six months was too short for sabbatical and that I should travel for a year. I believed him (sort of); though I didn’t change my plan – mostly because I had only budgeted for 8months of income-less-ness. But now I can truly say I understand how much time it takes just to shake off the newness of a place; and that has to factor in to your travel and down time. I’m really just starting get into a rhythm here; nonetheless, I’m off to Costa Rica in 10days for new adventures. If I could teleport myself back to day one, here are the things I would have told myself about my DR trip.…
Ø Most people here really are that hospitable – they’re not just chatting you up to rob you (as your travel book may suggest)
Ø That overly nice guy from the airport will become interesting company
Ø Find a language partner/tutor soon (I didn’t start with one until my 3rd or 4th wk here)
Ø You’ll learn more from stumbling through conversations with people than from books
Ø My cell phone has a radio! which is one of the things ive been missing from home… (that may have helped my spanish along too, eh?)
Ø When riding in taxis, save yourself the trouble and only look out the side window
Ø Call that lady from the Samana trip sooner – her and her circle of friends are perfectly hilarious!
Ø No walk is too far when u have a bottle of water and no schedule to keep
Ø Taking out clothes to make room for the yoga mat will be a good investment
Ø Serás reina de las habichuelas :)
jt:)
