A year in review

It is so very strange to me to think that exactly a year ago today I spent over 12hrs sitting in the LAX airport.  I had disembarked the Sapphire Princess and had to say goodbye to the family I'd come to know over the past several months.  You always promise that you will meet again -you always hope- but life can be funny and those things don't always happen the way we'd like them to.


I had spent the whole day in that airport contemplating my next steps in life.  After two consecutive ship contracts, I knew that I wanted to spend some time on land (windows and the outdoors have their appeals), but I wasn't sure exactly what I would be doing.  I had some pretty big dreams of freelancing my photography- focusing on weddings and paying the bills on my terms.  It didn't pan out immediately (what does?), but I am closer everyday to that dream.

After finding work at an organic pizza restaurant, and freelancing photo jobs on the weekends, I had begun training at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio downtown.  I worked as a receptionist for a few months while I learned the ballroom curriculum and techniques.  I was soon teaching private and group classes, professionally competing and practicing for the bi-annual show that the Fred Astaire Franchised Dance Studios put on every year.  Besides the travel (up to 3.5hrs a day), long hours and a few other details, I was loving my job.  I loved the people I worked with, I loved learning new material, and I loved teaching and seeing my students grow!  Eventually, the little things get to you though.  I wasn't making enough money for all the hours I was putting in (and all the expenses- oye, have you ever had to buy a ballroom dress!? ouch!). 

I had spent roughly 8 months with the company when a casual friend from the ship invited me to move to Mexico with him- he had a spare room.  I laughed at first, but a car wreck the day before had me even more frustrated with my situation.  It actually took very little coaxing to convince me I'd rather be broke on a beach than broke working my life away for someone else.  I talked to my boss (who tried his best to convince me to stay), and then decided if I was unhappy, I should just go.

I ended up flying to Playa del Carmen 2 weeks later and quickly fell in love with that casual friend.  Funny how quickly life can change- how one situation will lead you to the next and one moment morphs into another.  I can't imagine where I might be one year from today, but I bet it's someplace worth traveling to.  I can only hope that everyone reading this blog will realize the adventure that is their life and take a moment to reflect how it is just one big amoebic adventure.

Mexico-Vietnam-Ireland

I must say that I am quite enamored with the amount of cultural diversity that presents itself in my life.  I feel so blessed that I have so many opportunities to explore different foods, music styles and traditions on almost a daily basis.

A few days ago, I spent the day with my mother.  (Another thing that I'm grateful for- she's a pretty fun lady!)  After I got back from an early morning photo shoot, she and I walked around the neighborhood to all the local garage sales.  We struck up conversation with people along the way, and Mexico was a topic that seemed to come up quite naturally.  (Between me just returning from there, and us living in TEXAS... well, it was inevitable!) 

We worked up an appetite with our walking and shopping, so we decided to try a new restaurant.  We decided on a Pho (Vietnamese) restaurant.  Mostly, because mom was hesitant to try the Greek-Indian place next door to it.  (Sidenote: I am a little baffled that it seems almost an entire generation pronounces the word "VietMaNese")

Anyways, after dining and dressing, we picked up my Aunt Linda and drove her to the concert venue where the Houston Choral Society was performing.  The concert was fantastic!  The theme was Scottish/ Irish/ Celtic, and they even had a group of three sisters performing traditional dances (you know I got a kick out of that).  With the sounds of mariachi and ranchero music still fresh in my mind, it was interesting to note the extreme differences in cultural movement and sound.  So intriguing to me how different people have come up with completely unique ways of expressing the same joyous or sorrowful emotions.

I have a Masters in Packing...

With the risk of sounding absurd, I would like to begin by saying that I am a truly gifted packer.  If ever there was a useful skill based on a three-dimensional Tetris game, it would be the packing that I have mastered.  I never worry that my abundance of stuff will not fit into the luggage allotted for it... only that my baggage will outweigh me- or at least the 50lb weight limit set by most airlines. 

I have invested in luggage with wheels (as most people have these days), so other than the airline restrictions, the weight is really of no bother either.  The only time my obscenely profound packing skills prove to be a disadvantage, is when my bags are inevitably chosen to be searched by security.  Although the security people are generally a bit timid when first rifling through my belongings, they soon gain courage enough to dismantle my organizational piece of art... slowly dismembering my work one rolled shirt and tucked scarf at a time.  It amazes me how they always seem a bit confused that the suitcase will not close or zip around the enormous pile of things they have left in place of my once carefully packed bag.  Most security persons are usually kind enough to try and shove a few items back into place in attempt to close the luggage, but let's face it- it's not every day they come across a bag that has been so strategically fitted.  They are unprepared to play this advanced game of life-applicable Tetris.  Instead, I am left there re-packing at the airport security station... good thing I remember where everything goes.

Art Festival in Playa del Carmen

Today, Abel and I went perusing around 5th street to view the many performances of the art festival!  (Can I just say that I LOVE art festivals!!??)  :)

A little rain deterred a few spectators, but I'm really glad we stuck it out because we had a great evening!  Quinta Avenida was bustling with families and couples perusing the paintings of dozens of local artists and shuffling from performance to performance.  We saw balancing acrobats, face painters, flirtatious clowns, human statues, musicians by candlelight, belly dancers and skeletons on stilts. 

Here are a few pictures from the evening:

Una dia floja

Today, I took a break from all of the photo and job searching and had a truly lazy day... truly.  Here are some highlights:

• The Little Rascals
• Just Friends
• Daddy Day Care
• Hook

 ...and enchiladas that smiled back at me!  (have I mentioned how awesome Abel is?)

Patricio

 





















A couple days ago, we had the most adorable visitor stop by!  His name is Patricio, and he was truly wonderful. 

I found myself hanging out with him way more than his parents (who were also visiting).  I'm pretty sure it's because Patricio and I have roughly the same understanding of the Spanish language.

 I couldn't help but snap a few shots, here are 3 of my favorites. 

Being a monster... I think.

Wicked Waves

Today was a beautiful day at the beach!  I'd been working so diligently at booking photo appointments in the states (TX and OK), that I have been practically glued to this computer!  Abel, Rodrigo and I took an hr or so to walk down to the beach and have a swim, and the waves were absolutely amazing... the biggest I've seen here in Playa.  I floated on top of them as they crashed around my neck, I dove into them to avoid being devastated, and I failed to dive into them... resulting in complete and utter devastation.

It is astounding to me how easy it is to get wrapped up in life... to not notice the wonderful things that are right at your feet.  This is true of anywhere.  As soon as we get locked into a schedule -as soon as we have a certain "order" to our lives- we tend to forget the adventure that is still within reach.  I am going to do my very best to keep this lesson with me.  Generally, a short drive or bus ride is enough to explore someplace new.  Sites like www.trazzler.com are committed to pointing out the local treasures, and I plan to do some more exploring once I reach Houston.  Adventure on!