Sometimes life throws a surprise your direction and you can’t do anything but go along for the ride. I’d been terribly worried that my two transition months before backbacking in Asia would be marred by intense boredom. But, little did I know, an incredible oppurtunity was around the corner.
My good friend and past travel buddy, Maya, had been sporadically talking to me about a Non-Profit based out of her small town in Colorado for months now. The organization teaches rural and indigenous women in Central America to provide for their familes through the nutrition, processing and propagation of the local Maya Nut. The organization perfectly aligns with all my interests: Latin America, agriculture, and the environment.
Yesterday she emails me that she thinks they might actually need a volunteer to accompany the Program Director to Central America. “Damn, how sweet would that be,” I thought. Within the evening I had agreed to go to Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. I’m not getting paid, but they’re providing air fare and living expenses. It all happened so fast and it was so exciting, I’m not sure I can tell you what I’ll be doing there. There will be some conferences, an important meeting, and I’ll be living for two weeks with an Indigenous community at the base of a Volcano in Nicaragua. But, what more do I really need to know?
I’m leaving in 2 weeks and I’ll spend a little less than a month down there, before returning to the States on February 15th and then I’ll have another 2 weeks before I leave for Thailand on March 1st. I think 2010 is going to be my year! Things have just begun to get Awkward my friends…
PS. The woman I’m going with is a CNN Hero. Check out her video below:
Question–why does she only teach the women? Shouldn’t men know how to provide for their families also? I’m not asking this in a feminist sort of way, it just seems odd to me that these “workshops” are for women only.
Question — did you plan it so that you’d be home for my birthday? So sweet, Josh ….