Houston, TX: Taxi Traveling

I write from a plush bed at the Hilton Americas in Houston, TX. I haven't really stepped outside the hotel much these past few days because I am here on a work trip, not to mention the weather here confuses me (how is it 80 degrees with a chance of showers?!) but I still have experienced a good amount of culture.

And it ain't Texan culture.

The few experiences I've had with people outside the hotel -- that is, outside my coworkers and the hundreds of chipper young girls and full-grown-women-with-pigtails who are here for the National Girl Scout Convention (I can count so many green Girl Scout skirts, but zero Thin Mints in sight. There is something wrong with this picture.) -- have been with taxi drivers. Since my arrival, I've been driven by two men from Ethiopia and one from Nigeria, the two African countries from which a majority of people have emmigrated to Houston.

My drivers have all been exceedingly friendly and affable; quite talkative; and very open about their cultures. They are also into their families. I've learned the following:

- It's very common for men in Ethiopia to have multiple wives as a form of status. My first taxi driver said his brother at home has four wives and spends a week per month with each wife -- and a handful of his 28 children. 28. children.

- Ethiopia is very green. My first driver went as far to say that "There is no difference between Houston and Ethiopia...they are ze same! Ethiopia...just greener!" However, I think I'll need to head over to Ethiopia to validify that claim. ;)

- Somalia is one of the most dangerous African countries, according to one of my drivers. Nigeria is, too, for tourists who don't know their way around (but isn't that true with any and all countries?).

- Music is a huge part of their culture and history. My driver tonight fully blasted Nigerian music all the way back to the Hilton and explained that Nigerian music has good messages. Wholesome messages. Like "be proud of your children" and "be good to your wife" (hm, wives?).

It's incredible how one can travel the world through conversation and interaction. Taxi traveling, as I've dubbed it. Through Houston, I've somewhat traveled Africa.

It's all about cultural diplomacy: people are incredible tools for action, understanding, and change, if we all took the time to listen and engage with each other.

Celebrating Hapa Kids

Zara just released their October Lookbook for kids, and I immediately fell in love with this little boy.

My roommate and I decided he must have a cool, location-based name. Like London or Brooklyn. Because he probably travels around the world with his well-to-do parents. And he probably plays with toy airplanes -- never Nintendo DS. And he grew up speaking three languages, one of them being an Asian language, because he's hapa -- and ADORABLE.


There is no other reason for this this post other than to point out how handsome this little man is, and to celebrate interracial marriages! I come from a family that contains a lot of mixed marriages; it's really beautiful to be able to blend cultures, genetics, accents and languages -- and to be able call everyone 'family'.

Cheers to open mindedness and cute hapa kids!

PURA VIDA. COSTA RICA.

At the end of September 2011,  I spent 8 days in Costa Rica with one of my best friends from undergrad, Kristine.

Since the beginning of the year, K & I had been wanting to go to Latin America and, after stumbling upon their website, decided to go with Toronto-based G Adventures.

For a variety of reasons, it was one of the most life-changing trips for both of us.

The adventures while traveling were, of course, memorable, as they always are...

Like when we went rappelling down 220 ft waterfalls; cannon-balled our way into the tiniest of water holes - a mandatory to get down the mountain; and stopped the torrential down-flow of mountain water as human shields...

Or when we went on the most treacherous hike of my life, only to be given the opportunity to jump off mile-high rocks into a pool that led into another waterfall...

 

Or when we went Class IV white water rafting, my most favorite hobby in the whole world, and laughed, laughed, laughed as we were smacked by Costa Rican trees, swallowed and spit out by its murky, foaming waters, and gleefully encouraged by our mustached, Costa Rican, guide of a guide, Luis...

 Or when we danced on the ferry ride home: cumbia, salsa, merengue, atop the boat, with the locals - as if it were as normal as buying a hot dog at a baseball game (because it IS normal there!)...

 But of course, the best times were spent with friends.  All the new friends we made on our trip, with whom we bonded as we swung for hours on hammocks in the night, usually humid sky; or when we built bonfires together and swapped stories -- and how to best make s'mores...

PEOPLE are what always make the trip.  Always, hands-down.  I will venture to say that Costa Rica was not unlike any adventure I had while living in Thailand or even Australia; the beaches are surely not as impressive as Thailand, the food not as spicy or obscure; the culture not as wild different as I'd expected.

But on our trip, K and I both met people who will forever be in our lives.  Specifically, two other people who live in different countries, but share the same zest for travel, for doing better in the world, for LIVING.  Our lives are definitely better because of those 8 days and the people we met on that trip.

And we have Cacique to thank.  Just kidding!

PURA VIDA!

She's Back.

I'm back. I neglected my blog for a YEAR - a whole, bloody year, because well, I got a job. And it's kept me sort of busy. Also, the stalkers on my formerly named blog started creeping me out, but I'm over it now.

But more on all that later.

I've missed writing so very much and have a ton of insight and great news to share from this past year's hiatus. Never mind that I probably have zero followers at the moment, but hey, it just feels GOOD releasing my thoughts to the universe. Ah, free therapy.

So I shall blog again. And it will be increíble.

(Note the Spanish: I'm going to Costa Rica for vacation this Saturday -- so stay tuned!)