if everything comes your way, you are in the wrong lane. -Unknown

I DROVE YESTERDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME.  (in Australia...not the first time ever..)

Describing word:  interesting.

The roads are all backwards, much like the roads in England.  The steering wheel is on the opposite side as well.  The car I drove yesterday is a manual.  You should know that I've driven a 5-speed twice in my lifetime--when I was 17 years old.  Driving on the wrong side of everything, in a 5-speed, proved to be quite the experience; without a doubt: interesting.  It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, I guess practice will make perfect; or at least I won't suck at it forever.  

Here's a bit of an update on life in Australia so far:

1. The job that I had, I no longer have.  I decided to quit.  The cafe itself was alright and even the people working in it were alright.  I just felt like the owner was being a bit 'dodgy'  **aussie word for sketchy**
2. The coffee in Melbourne is delicious.  I have a new obsession with Chai Soy Lattes.  Never ever did I think to put honey in it;  this is a must for anyone who didn't know that the combination of honey and chai is heavenly. 
3. Living situation:  moving to a bigger place soon I hope.  
4. I also found two volunteer opportunities coming my way.  One with a museum and the other with a conservation group over on Ocean Road.  I think this will be a great way to get involved and make some friends.

And the job hunt continues.  

Peace and Love, 

Adriana 

Melbourne Day One

I attempted the city today. It started at 7 am. Dressed and ready to go by 8:15 am.

***side note... I had a job interview today... After applying to like 100 online job ads. It went well I think. I have a trial on Monday. I know absolutely nothing about being a barista. Should be a very interesting Monday.

I did a lot of walking after my interview. I went to Hardware Ln for a coffee and some breakfast. I stepped into a French cafe, where literally everyone spoke French. I wish I could speak French. I had a delicious cappuccino and a yummy crepe with spinach, tomatoes and cheese. Next I walked to to Melbourne Central Station. This is a mall something like the Eaton's center. At least I think it's comparable. I bought myself some tea, a couple awesome books on the inner city about hidden gems and holes in the walls and grabbed a chai latte. I really enjoyed myself. It was a nice day alone getting to know the city. Tomorrow I'll be checking out the Queen Victoria Market.

Peace and Love.

Heading Down Under

Hello, I’m typing this from somewhere over Utah?  Or Arizona?  I’m not sure, but it looks sandy down there.   This time tomorrow, I’ll be in Australia.  I packed up and I’m gone for the year--maybe forever?  I don’t know if things will work out over there.  I don’t know if I’ll be okay.  I’m leaving behind my family and friends to embark on something of my own.  I applied for a working visa to make some cash while I’m living there.  I spent last night packing for 4 seasons for at least the next 8 months.  Its funny that most of my life can fit in two suitcases.  This is going to be an interesting adventure.  I have a few plans for what I want to do, but at the same time, I don’t have a plan at all.  I decided two weeks ago I was jumping on a plane and giving it a shot.  How do I feel right now?  I’m nervous.  I’m excited.  I’m anxious.  I’m scared.  But then, I get really excited all the new possibilities.  

It was really hard leaving my best friends behind.  I honestly have a small group of people I see and hang out with all the time.  It’ll be weird being on my own for a bit, but if I learned anything in Belize, it’s the frequency at which you meet people.  Friends are waiting at every corner to be made.  

I’m going to really miss my family.  I wish we left on better terms.  I guess sometimes, you need space.  Hopefully time fixes all that needs to be fixed.   

I’m not sure what I’m doing with school right now.  I don’t know what I want from that anymore.  I know that I want to finish school, I just want to figure some things out.   Like, I want to help people.  I have a pretty good idea about how I want the next couple years of my scholarly life to go.  But, I’m young now, so why not make a few mistakes and take a few chances and enjoy whatever life’s gonna toss my way?

Maybe down under will be a good thing.  Maybe down under will be life changing.  

I’ll keep you posted.  What else can I do from here?  

Peace and Love <3

Canada

I wish I wrote more, but Canada has been work and no play.  If I play, I’m at the local bar or a rave for an after party or with my best friends eating sushi and spending money we shouldn’t be spending, and then I’m back at work.  

I went vegetarian.  That’s kind of exciting?  I’ve been meat free since May.  I do eat fish occasionally, but I’m going to cut that out soon too.  I did meet some cool people this summer too, overall, not a bad summer so far.  

Dangriga

I enrolled in this drumming class to learn more about local culture.  Belize is split into three kinds of people.  Well, four.  You have the British, the Spanish and Garifuna.  Then you have the msyticos.  Mystico's are a mix of everything.  I guess you also have the Maya.  Either way, theres a lot going on there.  This drumming class was specific to the Garifuna culture.  Our year end trip was to Dangriga.  A cultural town and center for Garifuna lifestyle.  

As a class we went to see dancing, singing and drumming; and then we made our own drum.  

I cannot Punta or Piranda for the life of me.  I am a white girl trapped in a white girls body…but I tried.  I really tried to dance.  Fail.  

The night was filled with dancing and drinking and classmates playing on the beach till early morning.  We went to a bar and met strangers who showed us around-–they also advised us not to be walking around alone at night.

The next day was spent building drums.  This was a difficult feat to overcome.  The main reason being, all of us were hungover.  The steps as I remember them: 

• tree stump needs to be hollowed up with a saw
• tree stump needs to be trimmed around the edges very carefully, exposing the softness. 
• Sand the shit of out the outside of the hollow stump
• Stain the stump.
• Pull fur off dead animal skin
• Comb it off with impossible tool to use
• Soak it in some kind of water
• Stretch leather over the stump
• Tie leather up 
• Braid string 

I’m pretty sure some of that is wrong…it was hard, and hot and I wasn’t paying attention.  Let alone couldn’t understand why they would give me a saw.  Like I know how to use one of those things…

Also…beware of sand flies.  Invisible little monsters that attack you and make you itchy for days.  

I have scars that will never leave me.  They truly leave a lasting impression.  My ankles will never be the same.

Peace and Love, 

Adriana

In case I die tonight...

To whom it may concern: 

I’ll admit I’ve been doing an awful job of updating my blog.  I’ve been too caught up in living the dream.  Tonight, I write from within the darkness of the bus.  I spent the last two weeks in El Salvador.  Tonight I fear for my life.  The rain is beating on the bus like hail.  Lightening lights up the sky in moments of flickers.  For a brief second, I can make out every shape, every rock, every car and every other face on the bus.  For a while I couldn’t see a foot in front or on either side of the bus.  Now, I’m watching rock slides plummet onto the road from the cliffs on either side as the bus swerves to avoid them.  I think my heart has stopped about 15 times.  Carlos is sitting beside me carefully watching ever move the driver makes.  I can see him looking at me, making sure I don’t panic. I’m terrified to continue this journey, but it doesn’t look like the driver is planning on stopping.  If I actually post this, I made it out alive.  

Yours truly,

Adriana

Somewhere outside of Guatemala City 

P.S. A rock just hit the side of the bus.  We’re still moving.  

El Salvador

There's so much I want to say about El Salvador.  I spent two weeks there.  The first day or so was in San Salvador.  Very interesting place.  It’s very different from Belize and Guatemala.  The people vary in colour and ethnicity.  It’s very multicultural.  There are shopping malls and franchises everywhere.  It’s weird.  Nice cars, billboards, massive nightclubs.  It was like being in a Spanish Toronto; without the buildings.  El Salvador is so prone to earthquakes, they don’t—can’t—have any tall buildings.  

Its also surrounded by Volcanoes.  Volcanoes everywhere.  Some are still active.  That makes the weather different too.  Its really hot, but still can get really cool at times.  

I climbed to the top of one volcano.  It was really pretty.  What a view.  If I had more time, I would have hiked down the crater too.  

The second portion of my time was spent at the beach.  The waves are really strong. El Salvador is actually one of the surf capitals of the world.  Anyways, we ended up staying at this resort with Carlos’ family.  They were all so wonderful.  It was really nice to be apart of a real family.  Like the Spanish Braidy Bunch.  There was good food, good wine and good company for a whole week.  The beach was dark sand.  I found sand dollars and spent most of my free time tanning by the pool and playing with the kids.  It was so lovely.  It felt like a vacation.  

View at the Lake <3

The third portion of my trip was spent at the lake.  The name of the Lake escapes me know,  but I do know that it’s a volcanic crater that filled in with water.  The depths of the crater are completely unknown.  I spent my days here jumping off the dock, playing with the kids and eating good food.  Most of my nights were spent with a glass of wine sitting on the dock watching the horizon fade into darkness. 

Oh one more thing to say about El Salvador, go with someone who speaks Spanish.  It’s very dangerous.  There are armed guards everywhere.  Houses are blocked in and protected.  Men with guns watch your cars while you dance in clubs.  There are twenty something deaths a day due to drug related and gang issues.   So be smart. 

Nightclubs: Awesome.  

Peace and Love <3

****I actually lost all the pictures from El Salvador :(

I watched beach soccer there too!! It was super cool.