on my mary way mondays
week ten “You don’t have to be rich to travel well.” – Eugene Fodor On that note, check out this song that I have been bumpin' to lately. where in the world is she now Rocking (aka working) around the clock in Thailand! What an experience this has been thus far. The team here is just a dream and I am thriving despite constantly dripping in sweat. all in a days work If you told me a year ago that I would be paid to help enhance the lives students and people around the world through service learning, I would have never thought it was possible. Now I find myself literally pinching myself to make sure I am awake, as I do just that. This week began our service project at House of Blessing, a Children's home just outside of Chaing Mai. This home to nearly 150 displaced and orphaned children is absolutely beautiful. We quickly found that the students and staff there were going to equally impact us, as us them. As a team, we have been building and beautifying the playground and clothes washing area on the property. What I appreciate most about House of Blessing is the focus they put on learning. Of the many children at home, only a few are seriously without family. Most however, are welcomed to stay at the home to gain access to education that is unavailable to them otherwise. The goal for all students is to complete the schooling necessary to attend a university. While the organization is constantly struggling to find the funding to support those students who do wish to attend university, it is clearly a priority not taken lightly. it takes two How many followers do you have? You know the ones that like you instagrams or react to your Facebook statuses. How many people do you choose to follow? After watching this Ted Talk about how to start a movement, I realized just how important it is to carefully select who you choose to support, because whether you know it or not, others are also following you! mantra of the week I am motivated. This week focus on what inspires you. On what motivates you. I have found that I am motivated by the resilience and drive of those around me. So this week I aim to surround myself with people who will motivate me to be the best version of me! I am motivated! That's all for now buds. Stay tuned for more in the mind of Mary. Peace be the Journey, on my mary way on my mary way mondays
week nine "The most beautiful thing in the world is, of course, the world itself." -Wallace Stevens where in the world is she now Feeling happy in the land of smiles. Thailand has already surpassed my wildest dreams and treated me like a princess. I never want to leave. 48 hours ...is a long time to travel. It's no easy task to make the journey from Central America, which is why it took me nearly two full days to make make my grand entrance at the Chaing Mai airport. I did, however, find this amazing website which gives you the lowdown on sleeping in airports! hey what's up hello Alright, I've been in soaking up Thai culture for nearly a week and can confidently say this place is a new favorite. There is so much to love, but a few of my favorite things so far are: The food. Of course. So far, I have some of the best vegetarian food in my life. There are so many veggies and sauces and noodles. The people. Even though I have no knowledge of the Thai language, so many people have just smiled and helped me along. Hand signals totally work people. The city. It's so nice to be in a metropolitan city! I have access to everything I could want or need. It's amazing. I think coming from Costa Rica to Thailand has really shaped the way I am adjusting. To be honest, for me everything seems SO lavish. I think if I had been living in a more highly developed place immediately before this my perception would be entirely different. mantra of the week I am awake. This week I will focus on awakening my senses. Sometimes it is easy to autopilot your way through the week and miss a ton of cool stuff that happens along the way! Join me in using our sight, sound, taste, and "feelies" to be truly awake! That's all for now buds. Stay tuned for more in the mind of Mary. Peace be the Journey, on my mary way on my mary way mondays
week eight "Go wherever you can afford to go, with whomever you can get to go with you." -Chelsea Handler where in the world is she now My bed. This week was all about R&R. :) name that song After singing along (loudly and badly) to this Latin American tune for the past few months, I recently learned the real meaning behind the words. Me Rehúso, by Danny Ocean means much more than initially meets the eye, or should I say ear.. Ocean was inspired to write this song after receiving a note from a girl who he had to leave behind after emigrating out of Venezuela, which if you haven't heard is going through some tuff shit at the moment. The lyrics are about how he refuses to let politics separate him from his love. In interviews, Ocean has talked about how he has been overwhelmed by the success of his song, but also about how grateful he is to shed light on the heartbreak that millions around the world feel as they are separated from their loved ones. hello out there Raise your hand if you are still reading this nonsense! I want to hear from you! Is there a destination that you are curious about? Do you have a question about how to pack more effectively? Or maybe you just want to find out my airplane playlist? Please, click here to answer some questions so that we can learn more about each other! mantra of the week I am open to new experiences. New can be scary. But new can also be amazing. This week accept new opportunities with open arms! Comment your new below to share where this #onmymarywaymantra takes you! That's all for now buds. Stay tuned for more in the mind of Mary. Peace be the Journey, on my mary way on my mary way mondays
week seven "May your adventures bring you closer together, even as they take you far away from home" -Trenton Lee Stewart where in the world is she now Romping around San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua. This backpackers paradise is the hub for much of Nicaragua's Southern Pacific Coast. It sits just above the Costa Rica - Nicaragua border making it the perfect long weekend getaway for me. San Juan is most well known for its weekly Sunday Funday, which brings everyone (and their mother) together for a full day of drinking, pool hopping, dancing, and drunk munching. Two of our favorite hangouts were Parlour (for their $1 tequila shots) and the Taco Stop across the street that is 100% locally owned and run. there's no place like home For those who may be unfamiliar, in part with my Spanish lessons, I also lived with a Costa Rican family for the past 5 months to be fully immersed in the language and culture. Two days ago marked the end of my time with my host family and let me tell you it was not an easy goodbye. As I packed my belongings, I could not believe that 5 months went by so fast. I went from the girl who just nodded and smiled through every conversation, to joking with my host siblings and having deep conversations with my host mom, yes, in Spanish. I learned more than I could have ever anticipated and would 100% recommend this experience to anyone considering it! house hunting I have officially begun apartment hunting for next year. I have accepted a position to continue working with Global Leadership Adventures in San Jose, Costa Rica! I am very excited about moving to the capital of CR and being surrounded by all the things that come with living in a metropolitan city. The next big step though, is finding a place to live. So far I have had the most luck with Airbnb! Before beginning this round of home finding, I would have never considered it as a long term housing solution, but here I am happily surprised by the great options out there! mantra of the week I am listening. I have a big old week of training in preparation for my busy summer ahead. With a bunch of important info coming at me, I will need to focus on actively listening. Here are some tips I found about how to be a better listener. That's all for now buds. Stay tuned for more in the mind of Mary. Peace be the Journey, on my mary way on my mary way mondays
week six "Be kinder to yourself. And then let your kindness flood the world." -Pema Chodron where in the world is she now Parrita, Costa Rica Writing to you from Hotel La Isla located on the Pacific coast in Playa Palo Seco which is right between infamous Jaco Beach and the city of tours galore, Quepos. This little slice of heaven has yet to be truly discovered by mainstream tourism, which is what makes it so special. this is not a drill The World's climate is changing. Call it what you want. I call it Global Climate Change and from this point on I will refer to it as GCC. In some places the changes brought about by GCC go unnoticed. Costa Rica is NOT one of those places. This small but incredibly biodiverse country is watching the land and the creatures who habitate it transform right before their eyes. Whilst visiting a nearby finca (farm), I learned so much about how GCC impacts the ag-business. How water and air and soil and tempuratures are in constant control of what grows and what doesn't. And with a market for production that follows a schedule created by consumer demand, not seasons, growers are faced with the unfortunate task of choosing between introducing new, or more, unnatural methods of growth or taking a major,and often dehabilitating, blow to their crop and wallet. Of course, there is also the undeniable rise of the ocean, which has devastatingly affected many coastal towns in Costa Rica. In Parrita, I became familiar with the efforts that the locals have implemented to protect their coastline and help prevent impending erosion. Much of this work to protect and preserve what is left, is led and executed by empowered individuals within the community. This small glimpse into the lives of those who feel the impacts of our changing Earth so directly has sparked a deeper curiousty about GCC. The people I met who are so passionate in their efforts have inspired me and have reaffirmed the idea that even one person really can make a difference. a peek into the future Big things are happening. I recently discovered that I will be traveling to Thailand this summer as part of my work with Global Leadership Adventures. This is big exciting news because not only will I have the opportunity to see the continent of Asia for the first time, but I will get to see a side of Thailand that most who visit short term do not see. In less than a month I will be learning, volunteering, and mentoring students on the opposite side of the Pacific Ocean. mantra of the week I am confident. That's right. Scream it to the mountains and sing it in the shower. If you need some help with this one, I I recommend taking a quick look at this Ted Talk and if "I am confident" still seems unnatural, try I choose to be confident. That's all for now buds. Stay tuned for more in the mind of Mary. Peace be the Journey, on my mary way on my mary way mondays
week five "I got it from my momma." -A shameless shout out to the woman to whom I owe my life, my everything. Happy mom's day Nanc. where in the world is she now Ciudad Quesada. Or as I call it quesadilla city. And I am not all wrong. Turns out the biggest ball of cheese in Costa Rica was on display in our central park this weekend. Gotta love small town CR. the ground is lava You know the game. The one where children leap from one surface to the next in an effort to avoid said lava. Well that basically sums up my walk to work every morning. But, I am a (pretend) adult jumping from the curb over a two foot ditch to cross the street, all the while dodging oncoming traffic. My walks to work have turned into a sporting event of sorts. I know I have to sneak past the angry neighbor dog before he chases me up the street, I will sing "buenas" to every person I pass, I then whiff in my few moments with nature as I cross the creek, and finally huff my way up to the church and past the karaoke bar where I lost my go-pro. By the time I get to work I am sweaty and slightly winded. But I will tell you, that commute beats sitting in traffic on a crowded freeway tenfold. Not all of the streets in Costa Rica are quite as freeform as ours in Ciudad Quesada. But here, simply walking from one location to another is an obstacle course; an obstacle that I have learned to appreciate. celebrate good times COME ON. Yes, you have permission to hate for putting that song in your head. I want to send out a big fat congratulatory hug to all those that have recently graduated or plan to sometime this month. Whether it be from high school, university, or another form of study, Congratulations To You! I recently watched the commencement speech that Will Ferrell gave at USC's graduation this year. And even though it is my one year mark from having graduated university, it was exactly what I needed to hear. He spoke about taking chances, not being afraid to make mistakes, and how it is really not that big a deal if you are still figuring out some stuff. I was comforted by his story of self and was happy to be reminded that his success did not happen overnight. So often we see milestones as gravestones in western culture. That when we finish one chapter we have to move straight on the next. But why? I love that Will spoke out, to one of the most prestigious student bodies, about being okay with pursuing what you love, even if means having small failures or rejections along the way. mantra of the week I am patient. You heard me. I am patient, well in reality, I am trying to be. This week let's try to put our patience to the test. Every time you feel the anxiety of an unanswered question, the tap of your foot against the floor as you wait at the bank, or even as you practice something new and mess up a bit. Say it. I am patient. on my mary way mondays
week four "Time flies. It is up to you to be the navigator." -Robert Orben where in the world is she now Filling my tummy with tasty food and my head with live music at Green Room Cafe in Playa Jaco, Costa Rica. the power of travel After finishing up nearly half a month of shimmying and shaking around new places in Central America, I have a renewed belief in the power of exploring the unfamiliar. Sometimes, and in my case most times, we don't realize how much we have learned and grown from a particular trip (or moment) until it is brought to our attention by others. This week I am thankful for the friends, new and old, who have shared in this growth spurt with me! no habla español Learning a new language is ruff work. In fact I think it may be one of the most humbling experiences on this planet. Words that flow so naturally out of the mouth of one person, get tongue tied, twisted, and thrown hopefully out of lips another. In my attempt to learn the Spanish language, I have experienced my fair share of peaks and valleys. Yesterday I had the joy of experiencing both of those extremes in a matter of minutes. I peaked early, when I successfully bought my bus ticket and ordered a burrito just the way I like it. Small victories, am I right? But shortly after, as I sat cross legged, fanning my face out the window of the bus, an abuelita (sweet little grandma) asked me a question in Spanish. I carefully began to speak the sentence I had created on the whiteboard in my head, but was bluntly interrupted by the abuelita with the phrase I know too well, "No habla Español," meaning "You don't speak Spanish." And you know what, she is perfectly right. I don't speak Spanish, at least not skillfully. But wow, how lucky am I to be living in and accepted by a country, where I can't speak the language. mantra of the week* I am curious. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but lack there of can kill a creative soul. This week remind yourself, let yourself, be curious. Ask your barista what his middle name is, google search the ingredients listed on the back of your afternoon snack, and heck, grab that new brand of cereal you have been wondering about. As you move through the next few days recall the mantra "I am curious" and allow it to find its place in your weekly routine. *Mantra of the week is a new thingy I am running with. If you hate it, ignore it. I will keep it at the bottom of the post so it'll be easy for you. If you love it, YAY. I like you. My hope is that in sharing in this weekly mantra, we can connect our worlds with a bit more ease! Feel free to share your practice of the weekly mantra on instagram with #onmymarywaymantras on my mary way mondays
week three "Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world." – Gustave Flaubert where in the world is she now I bought a ticket to paradise and I am never coming back. You'll find me scooting around Bocas del Toro, Panamá from now until forever-or at least for the rest of this week! off the grid Bambuda Lodge, best described as: hostel meets ecolodge meets grandpas lake house meets Gordon Ramsey's kitchen, is a place to check off your bucket list (I know I sure enjoyed checking it off mine!). After my initial nerves about embracing nature ceased, I was greeted by happy people, $10 bottomless sangria, and the joys that come with (actually) letting go. With all that said, my absolutely favorite part about this time away from time, was the lack of vanity. With only an itty bitty mirror, conviently placed in my bathroom so that I could only see my face if I stood on my tippy toes, it made for a truly unique and carefree experience; surely one that I will crave again in the near future. falling down stairs If you haven't already guessed, I fell down some stairs this week. But hey, if a girls gotta pick a place to take a tumble, I can't think of a better place than Blue Coconuts with 100 of my closest, newly-made friends watching. Strangely enough, it wasn't the initial fall that has plagued my subconscious, but the idea that I hadn't really fallen or been hurt in a while kinda stuck. I had completely forgotten what it was like to pick yourself up after (literally) being down. I have come to the conclusion that this could mean one of two things: 1. I am extremely lucky human who has dodged gravity for the last decade or 2. I need to bring back some of my childhood curiosity that allowed me to explore without the fear of "getting hurt" holding me back. I think you know which scenario I plan to embrace. tip of the week Talk to strangers - despite all the warnings that your mom gave you. Half of the fun in experiencing new places, restaurants, and even public modes transportation is the friends you meet along the way! Get at it chatter boxes! on my mary way mondays
week two “We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” ― Jawaharlal Nehru where in the world is she now Coming to you live from the cutest hipster neighborhood I have laid eyes on. Having spent the last few days exploring in Casco Viejo, Panamá I can say most positively that is not your average "old town." Wether it be the strong sense of history, or the strong drinks, Casco has something for everyone. Worlds collide as twenty somethings enjoy cheap beer in hostel bars blasting "despacito," while happily married folks swish wine and crunch fancy foods in the adjacent rooftop eatery. But it hasn't always been this way. This posh place has developed quite recently. (We're talking 6 years and counting.) Before that it was very much a "red zone" to visitors and was home to multiple gangs and cartels. While there is some animosity among old residents and new, most can agree that the recent updates have created a much more positive (and profitable) environment. Needless to say, I am happy to have spent a long weekend discovering the history of this unpolished diamond in ruff turned Crown Jewels. a man a plan a canal, Panamá Who doesn't love a good palindrome?! (Yes, the phrase above is an example.) It wouldn't be a trip to panama without the obligatory visit to the Panama Canal. In case you have been living under a rock for the past century, I'll give you the readers digest of the importance behind the Canal de Panamá. The canal is a 50 mile long water way that connects the Pacific to the Atlantic through the middle of the isthmus of Panamá. Essentially, it was constructed as a trade route and has been highly successful as one. Today, on a more philosophic level it embodys all that is very good and horribly bad about the USA and the way we continue to impact the rest of the world. Actually visiting the canal is not all that the tour companies claim it to be. Yes, it is an amazing wonder of the modern world, but the experience at large is more comparable to watching paint dry. Not all that invigorating. If you want to make the most and feel actually connected with the canal, I would one hundred times over recommend cruising through over observing from afar! tip of the week Look at new places through the eyes of a local. An absolute metropolis, Panama City has more packed into city limits than one can truly experience in a long weekend, but getting the inside scoop from a local truly helps! I was able to see some real sights and sounds from my new friend, at pty.life. on my mary way mondays
week one “Traveling leaves you speechless and then turns you into a storyteller.” why now, why me: I moved to Costa Rica about six months ago and have been searching for a way to share my experiences with family and friends, in a real way. Of course, I have a travel journal, but sometimes talking to yourself gets lonely. So for fun, sanity, practice, and much more, I give you on my mary way mondays. here’s the plan I write, you read. As promised (long ago) I will share the real deal with those who choose to join me for the ride. I plan to make you think, giggle, and hopefully feel. Every Monday I will drop some info and insights straight to your inbox (because who says Mondays have to be all bad?)! If there is something you are curious about, write me. Want to know more, tell me. It is my sincerest hope to create a space for engagement beyond the "like" button. thanks in advance This week is about getting the ball rolling. The first official on my mary way monday will begin next week. In the meantime, tell your friends and get excited! Cool things are about to happen. tip of the week Oversleep your alarm. This week I overslept my alarm. Twice. It is important to remember to allow yourself to hit snooze, put your feet up, and even - every once and awhile- take a vacation (even if it is just to read a good book with a glass of wine in your own backyard). |
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