Christmas Adventure Teaser...Alternately Titled: Come On People, What Are You Waiting For?!

This is craziness. Dave and I have been living and traveling around South America for a year and a half. We come across many fellow travelers and adventurers. How many of the people we have met do you think have been from the United States?

Do you have your guess?

Counting the people I work with, the number is in the low double digits. I'm thinking maybe 10 to 15%. And that, again, is including the people I work with. The majority of travelers we come across actually have been from Europe. See, they know something you North Americans haven't seemed to grasp yet...

South America is the place to be! It's beautiful, unique, has beaches, mountains, jungles, and the best part, is incredibly affordable. I ask you again, what exactly are you waiting for?

Exhibit A: Colombia. I know, I know, the first things you think of when you hear Colombia are drug cartels and guerrilla warfare. But seriously, that is so 1995. Visit Colombia today and you will be amazed at how clean, safe, and beautiful the cities and countryside are. Trust me, I would not lead you astray. I even have done my own research. Dave and I, along with my Aunt Sherry, spent Christmas in Colombia and you will never believe the adventures we had. Prepare yourself for some attacks of envy...pictures and adventures coming soon.

Hello? Is Anyone Out There?

I know, I know...the blog has been deathly silent for the past five (has it really been five?) months. That is partly due to that fact that life in Ecuador is just that, life. No longer caught by surprise by that man peeing on the street corner, or the countless iguanas crossing the road. I hate to say it, but it's all become part of the expected. Even our vacations are becoming a bit repetitive. I could tell you about how I went paragliding over Thanksgiving, but I'm pretty sure I have a post about that. I could wax elegantly about school life, but let me check....yep, got those too. Not wanting to repeat myself over and over, I've let the blog lapse a bit. There has been no new news to report. That is, until now. This overseas living and teaching tends to have its own rhythms. In November, the wave of decision comes crashing in. Will you stay and renew your contract? Or, will you throw caution to the wind and try your luck with somewhere else. For those who ch...

A Little Pick-Me-Up

So it is raining here in beautiful Guayaquil. Again. When I say rain, I don't mean just a little sprinkle, a soft and constant pitter patter, or a gentle mist. Oh no, I mean a savage downpour that pounds on the windows, roofs, and streets. Yesterday we had a rainstorm that flooded the streets...and our apartment (yeah--we live on the second floor of our building). The clouds started to roll in on our way home from spanish lessons, it had been a beautiful sunny afternoon with not a cloud in the sky. Dave and I made it into our apartment right when the first big drops started to land. Right in the nick of time, right? Yeah, that's what we thought. Five minutes after arriving home, it sounded like rocks were being thrown on every surface of our building. Curious about this sudden weather change, I started to walk to our front balcony door to watch the storm. I didn't make it too far before I stepped into what has been come to be known as Lake Richert. The water wa...

Años Viejos, Pyromaniacs, and Fireworks...Oh My

I have to admit, it has been quite awhile since I have actually been awake to ring in the new year and say goodbye to the old. Dave and I have always been a bit more concerned about the eight hours of sleep necessary to enjoy life rather than seeing the ball drop. But this year...is different. It is 12:58 and the neighbor's hired band just started, there are rapid fire explosives (aka fireworks) going off in three minute intervals, and the car alarms throughout our block seem to be answering the loving call of said fireworks. There will be no eight hours to start off the year for the Richert's this time. Nothing about our experiences in Ecuador could be classified as typical, and New Year's Eve is proving to be no exception. The evening started out quite and low key, dinner at home with a movie. There were the occasional firework, but that isn't anything atypical. I was even contemplating continuing the tradition of snuggling into bed by 10:30. Before I called...

Living The Good Life

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