Wednesday, November 28, 2012

artist of the day: smile


That's What's Up. Did anyone ever think that Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros could ever out do Home? Well they did. This IS the cutest video ever and tell me you can sit through the end with a frown on your face. Impossible. Also try not to clap or stomp along.
 Don't let the day get you down,
rach

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

a poem with pictures


The Keys

Inside the outside pocket
Nowhere to be found
Unzip, searching, scrambling
Moonlight shining down

The clank of a metal gate
A shoe stuck in the crack
Little monkey climbing and
A friend to watch your back

Some useless, hopeful staring
Credit cards all snapped
Deflated, unsuccessful face
A new plan needing mapped

Through the window
To find a backup, a spare
Apologies were given
But I didn't even care

All was fine but alas the gate
That I still had to climb
With ease and grace I found
Myself safe in no time

The door now shut and
Incense lit, smoking in curls
I found myself as comfortable
As a princess in her pearls. 


feeling at home, away from home, 
rach

Monday, November 26, 2012

reflections: education

I didn't just come here to travel, or eat or play at the beach or climb rocks or stand on top of mountains, I came here to learn. And not just Spanish, but about culture, politics, history, nature and myself. 

These are a few snap shots of my notebook for my culture class, probably the manifestation of my growth can be found in this book. There are a lot of pictures, charts and rants, and hey, what better way to learn? 


This page is one of many pages about the politics of Chile. The lemon that I drew represents the tear gas that is always present at student protest/riots. People suck on lemons and use them to cover their nose so that they don't pass out when they are trying to run away. I was never directly in the thick of a student protest but something I learned from these conversations is the importance of not taking education for granted. 

As a current student, future student, currentish teacher, and future teacher, I've worked my way around many types of school systems and while I can directly understand the fight in Chile for free education, it will be hard returning to my private university without feeling like a total cop out. 


A little bit of a history lesson above. Learning about the aftermath of Pinochet after he fled the country. History is so important to understanding a culture and just when I am going to leave this country, I finally started not only understanding the history, but finding my voice and deciding my opinions. 


One the one side, I have grades from 4medio's presentations and then good ol' Che makes an appearance. Some Bob Dylan poetry... 

So what lesson did I learn from this page. I learned that I have strong personality that shines through to my view points. I think I learned that I need to be a bit more gracious when I offer my opinion. I never try to push my opinion onto others, but I bet it comes off that way sometimes. I am just passionate okay!! OKAY?!! But in all honesty, working alongside Meghan for our grading our kids has helped with my compromising skills, talking about politics always gets heated, but I have learned better ways to go about it, and the Bob Dylan, well, he is just awesome. 


El Ojo Silva was a selection from our literature in culture class. I learned a lot about people's work ethic during these assignments and even thought I didn't do this in the moment, in retrospect, I have learned that you shouldn't let other people's lazy behavior effect your attitude/participation/mojo/attitude (worth mentioning a second time!) Not only did the other people in my class never read the assignments, they rarely participated in the classroom discussions (and that counts as part of the grade for the presenter) Attitude is everything! It's not what you said, but how you said it. Right mom? :)


I learn better when there is art involved, regardless of the form. When my notes are full of designs or font changes, it doesn't show my lack of interest, quite the contrary. I like looking back into my artwork, because there I can really remember what I was thinking on the subject. 

And it is also fun finding quotes in your notebook like the one highlighted, "welcome to this episode of snarky comments in the corner."



But the biggest think I have learned over my educational journey is that I am in transit, en camino, en ruta, still on my path to somewhere else. Who know where I will end up. Maybe I will open up Carabeaner, my coffee shop rock wall, and not have anything to do with education in my title, but even if that happens or if I get my own classroom, educations exists far beyond the school system. 

What have you learned today?
rach


Saturday, November 24, 2012

the ending pages

so my journey is coming to a close and I can feel in the pit of my stomach that is is not time to go. therefore my profundity has left the building. I am starting to feel like I haven't accomplished what I came here to do, I need more time.

so rather than bring myself down and realize that I am still in my pjs and it is 11:00am, I am going to share with you what I have accomplished in Chile. something I am rather proud of.

you wanna know what I actually did in Chile? 

I ate food, and it was good. 


sometimes you need to remind yourself that life is funny, and that food is delicious. 

cheers Uncle Tony (I hope I made you proud),
Rach

Saturday, November 17, 2012

getting there.

 a lot of travelers/adventurers like to talk about the journey. the journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step, its not the destination that matters, but how you get there, etc.

so why is that all everyone talks about? you know people only want to see the pictures of the beautiful destinations. I will return and people will ask, how was Chile? and my answer will be, I can't even begin to describe... so I will just show them pictures. there is no harm in this, actually, I love doing just that, but what I will always remember most, like all the other travelers around me, is the journey of how I got from place to place. I will always love picture endings (take my last blog post as an example) but this post is devoted to middle stuff.



so imagine you are cloud watching, harmlessly watching the shapes and forms go by. what a simple, enjoyable pass time. but imagine, something else catches your eye. the blue between. that piece of forgotten blue sky that you missed because you were concentrating on the clouds. that is traveling. you take something simple, like walking up a mountain path and you find it takes your thoughts far past placing one foot after the other. watching is a big part of hiking. the above pictures were candids of the watching process.


sometimes you have a very easy task set in front of you, something you have done for years, and for some reason, your mind has a hiccup and you psych yourself out.  


but then you remember to breathe, and the easy things, become easy again. 




traveling is a lot about teamwork and choosing a traveling partner is a big decision. sometimes its the right one, sometimes it's not the right one. sometimes its okay for the other person, but not right for you. but working together is inevitable. one could argue that living ones life is full of teamwork and it is nice to escape that once in a while. then we introduce the solo traveler. 


on my many trips, i often meet the solo traveler. these people usually end up being my favorites of the bunch because I idolize them. I have never long time solo traveled. Soloing in a mental game that comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. I am feeling a solo trip coming up in future, I believe it is time, the traveling gods have given me the okay. 


and then sometimes it feels like you are doing all the work. not a solo travel, but these are the times you wish you were soloing. these moments are the lowest of the low for me. I love to work together, I love to help out, but a major downfall of my personality is positive affirmation. i have no solution for this, i am still searching and growing. 


then there are the times when other people do everything for you. you just sit back and enjoy the beauty of generous people. these moments refresh you and inspire you to do the same to others in the end, maybe i just answered my question from above. I am pretty sure selfless love is the answer to all. 


 sometimes we even get lost. or we often get lost. 


but we just remember that, no matter where you go, there you are. 

get out there, 
rach

Friday, November 16, 2012

the world as I see it

from the humble depths, 
that is what nature does.
it strips you and leaves you, 
open and exposed. 
but then, oh then, 
it fills you, it wraps you up. 
you feel not full again, 
full is a human wrong. 
it empties us, 
yes, cleans us out. 
when we have open space, 
we fill it with memories, not things.

the following pictures are from:
The Lake District in Patagonia, Chile
Puerto Varas
Volcan Osorno
Villarrica
Volcan Villarrica
Isla de Chiloe (Ancud)
Lago de Todo Oro
Lago Toro

(and many others I am sure) 


on a boat ride, observing penguins in their natural playground.


the sunshine that is grown into these flowers... amazing.


welcome to the magic, swirling in the clouds. welcome to Chiloe.


the lonely tree who is actually not lonely at all. he finds comfort in the mountains and the rocks and the flowers, just like I do. therefore, we always know, nature is our refuge.


Volcan Osorno, towering over the trees. 


sharing a cup of steaming herbal tea, with pure honey in this beautiful location, with beautiful people.


the natural colors of nature can never be recreated (even in pictures)


even the clouds breakaway, taking their own path around the forest


the magical rock that swallows ships in Chiloe


because this is the internet, i need to stress that this photo has NO photo shop. these colors are pure. 


and to leave you with words that do not belong to me, 

“Roads Go Ever On"

Roads go ever ever on,
Over rock and under tree,
By caves where never sun has shone,
By streams that never find the sea;
Over snow by winter sown,
And through the merry flowers of June,
Over grass and over stone,
And under mountains in the moon.

Roads go ever ever on,
Under cloud and under star.
Yet feet that wandering have gone
Turn at last to home afar.
Eyes that fire and sword have seen,
And horror in the halls of stone
Look at last on meadows green,
And trees and hills they long have known.

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way,
Where many paths and errands meet.

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with weary feet,
Until it joins some larger way,
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.

The Road goes ever on and on
Out from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone.
Let others follow, if they can!
Let them a journey new begin.
But I at last with weary feet
Will turn towards the lighted inn,
My evening-rest and sleep to meet.” 


-JRR Tolken, The Lord of the Rings

breathe, 
rach


Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Presentacion sobre la cultura de los EEUU


Uncle Tony




¿Por qué este programa, Sin Reservas con Anthony Bourdain es tan profundo en el concepto de la cultura en los Estados Unidos?

Señor Bourdain tiene un ritmo de su viaje que es perfecto para mostrar a la gente, los partes de cultura que son importantes para cada persona. 


Cajun Country, United States of America
1. A Anthony le gusta comer
Principalmente, Anthony es un chef y es importante para él saber toda la información sobre la comida.

Lucha Libre, Mexico

2. No le tiene miedo a nada. 
Eso es El Octagon y eso es Tony en el suelo. Para experimentar una cultura, es muy importante intentar cualquier cosa que sera ofrecida. 

I don't care where this is.
3. Anthony es honesto.
Cuando habla sobre la cultura, es importante ser honesto. Si una cosa es diferente, no significa que esta cosa es incorrecta.  Distinto de los otros guías de viajar en la tele, cuando a Anthony no le gusta algo, dice, “no me gusta,” pero al mismo tiempo da respecto a las diferencias en la vida.

Quito, Ecuador
4. Anthony es un artista. 
Las artistas tienen la capaz a ver el mundo en una luz diferente y por supuesto, la cultura también. Todos los episodios corresponden a la vibra del país o ciudad especifico donde filma. Típicamente, en los EEUU, cultura es representada en forma visual, en cosas anormales (blanco y negro, ángulo diferente, etc.)
 

Eating Oysters, Cambodia
5.  Anthony es personal.
La mejor manera para entender una cultura es compartir comida, bebida y conversación. En mi opinión es bueno mostrar esto en Sin Reservas, porque normalmente, la gente come solo o rápido o con amigos y falta conversación sobre la cultura con la familia o gente nueva. 

Commies, Cuba
7. Anthony es un profe. 
Puedo atribuir aproximadamente la mitad de mi conocimiento de la historia y la geografía a Sin Reservas. En vez de ocupar un episodio, tratando de encontrar lo que hace "bien" TV, Tony también preserva la reputación y la integridad del lugar que está visitando. Consciente de la lengua, los tabúes, los platos tipicos, y lo más importante, la historia de los paises. 
Beirut, Lebanon
Anthony recibió un Emmy por su trabajo en Beirut cuando había un golpe del estado y él estaba detenido en la frontera . Tambien mostra que las otras culturas no siempre están tranquilos y a veces es difícil aceptar el otro.  Pero, si tenga capaz a mantener una conversación inteligente con los locales y desarrollar una relación, con mucha practica, puede saber la definición real de ‘cultura.’
   

gracias por su atención, 
rachael 

Monday, November 12, 2012

life lessons living abroad

holcad article for this friday :)


Most people reach a point in their life when they wonder "Am I living it right?" Last year I reached that point.  I knew I needed to explore a life outside of the twenty years I spent in New Wilmington, PA and Scotland had been on my heart for a couple of years.  I mustered up every ounce of courage I had and went through the lengthy procedure to make studying abroad a reality.  Before I realized, it was September 1 and the next day I would be boarding a plane to London.  I was feeling anxious, nervous, and terrified because it was the first time in my life I had zero expectations for the next four months.  Although it was refreshing to go forward without a plan, I almost backed out at the very last minute because I started to doubt whether or not I could handle living in a new country.  Thankfully my parents gave me the extra confidence I needed to go through with my plans; I'm so gad I faced my fears and went through with it or I would not be as happy as I am at this very moment. 



Studying abroad taught me a lot: I learned all the good, the bad, and the ugly things about myself; I learned how to be completely independent and through the process became a mature adult; I learned to breathe, to relax, and to not stress over the little things; I learned to value each moment spent with a new person; I learned to stay true to myself even when it was easy to re-invent myself; I learned to love people for their flaws, their mistakes, and their differing opinions; I learned to value every good or bad experience as a life lesson; I learned how to live a life full of happiness. Through this experience, I learned more than I thought I ever could about myself-socially, economically, academically, and emotionally. This journey has changed my life in more ways than I thought possible and I would do it all over again if given the opportunity.




As much as I miss my friends and family from home, Scotland is exactly where I needed to be at this point in my life without realizing it before I left. Life takes us on unexpected journeys and gives us unexpected experiences. I knew I would be surrounded by a beautiful landscape, but I did not expect to find immense beauty in the people I have met and the culture of Scotland that I have learned to love. When I go back to the States, I hope I can show everyone how meaningful and beneficial this journey has been for me.  I plan to teach my friends ceilidh dances, attempt cooking haggis with my dad, give my mom European fashion tips, and tell stories about all the wonderful friends I've made in Scotland to my close friends at home.


So even if you do not have a specific moment when you ask yourself if you are living the life you want to live, I encourage you to explore the endless options that surround you. Do not be scared to go outside of your comfort zone because you never know what could happen when you do. Neale Donald Walsch once said "life begins where your comfort zone ends"-and he is completely right.

xx,
hill

Monday, November 5, 2012

song of the day

this song sums up popular UK music. although this is actually a relatively old tune, i still hear it every time i go out to the pub. something about it just makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside because it's so very typical UK dance music. happy monday, ya'll.


stay classy,
hill