Before the Adventure Begins

Teresa:

Usually a week before any large trip, the countdown begins.  We tell each other "this time next week, we'll be in blah blah."  Or, "you know, tomorrow at this time, we'll be in Virginia."  This trip, we have followed that customary transition from planning stages to traveling stages, telling each other "this time tomorrow, we'll be on an airplane."  "This time next week, we'll be in Guatemala."  "This time next week, we'll be in a village with only a handful of people who speak English, playing with kids and building ovens...."  And, so, our trip begins like all other trips and yet it is going to be a trip like no other trip we have taken before.

Otter and I leave for Guatemala City in less than 24 hours.   We decided to take this trip over 6 months ago because we wanted to go do simple good things globally.  I also wanted to expand Otter's world perspective.  Its so easy to say time and time again "we have too much stuff, we live in a society that values money and 'things' too much," this is our chance to go out and see how a good deal of the world lives.  It is a time to help refocus what is truly important in our lives, while bringing awareness to how much we have.  In America, we have opportunities every time we turn around.  We have been attending trainings every other Sunday since May, including an 8-hour training on how to teach English as a foreign language.  Its a chance to go and do simple things, such as the building of the ovens, that will improve someone's life exponentially, reminding both Otter and I how acts of kindness are invaluable, no matter how large or how small. 

And suddenly, it is the morning before departure.  The kids are coming down the stairs and I can't help but think, this is the last day I get to see you for a week!  From a mom perspective, its scary to leave them for this long, but they are in good hands with the Big Daddy.  From a mom perspective, I know this trip is going to bring Otter and I a lot of good time together that is very much needed without others around.  A time to just enjoy and learn from each other.  The bags are still not packed, there is a lot to do still today to prepare, but there is a calm excitement that our day is going to be the start of a trip we will never forget.

OTTER:

I am very looking forward to this trip. It is just tomorrow that I am going to be on a plane and flying to Guatemala! I am looking forward to  meeting many new people and seeing many new things while I am there. Here is are schedule. 

1:00AM: Take bus to the airport in Chicago.

3:30AM: Arrive at the airport.
5:30AM: Get on the plane.
12:30 PM: Get OFF the plane, then board chicken bus.
2:30PM: Get in hotel.
2:30PM, two seconds later: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ [sleep]

I personally like the last part. 

The next day, we will be starting with all of our work. Our work will be teaching English as a foreign language, and building ovens for people in need. We are building ovens, because down in Sampango, lots of people die from the cause of smoke intake, because cooking is done over a open fire, and the smoke from that is often caught in the houses. Then, the air is breathed in, and it is not good at all. Below is a map showing you where we are going.


Map of Madison to Guatemala

The check pointed green little things are showing that we are going from Wisconsin to Sampango. Pretty cool.