Sunday, September 04, 2005

Change of direction

We thought we were set for the second trip to Zimbabwe, but at the last moment (well a month before) we were told that the trip was filled up and we couldn't be part of it. I felt as if a door shut in my face. But Capricorn to the end (at least Cap rising) I emailed two groups who have orphanages and schools in Zambia asking if I could be part of a group going to take supplies and goodies. One person emailed back and said, "too busy; back to you later." So it is still a possibility. At least with a combination of determination and luck. There were Elder safaris to Zambia, one leaving on my 70th birthday, but they were expensive, and as much as I'd like to see the landscape and animals of Africa, I also want specifically to see humanitarian missions there. From what I know now, I suspect I'd find them behind every bush in Africa. But you keep learning and learning and the landscape opens and opens and opens up to you. So the idea of Africa is by no means dead, and I keep thinking about the boy in The Alchemist who kept becoming satisfied with things that fell short of his dream. But at any rate, I talked with a male friend who has been to Central America on a number of trips by himself and with others, and was willing to guide a group there. For some reason Guatemala is the country in C. Am. which sticks in my mind the most, so we plotted out a do-able two week trip there, but then he had to work and he got involved with putting a CD of his music out, so that didn't seem to be happening. 

From time to time I chat with my older son, who has travelled all over, and told him of my frustrations and my determination. A week ago he called me to say that for my birthday he would like to give me a trip to a language school in Guatemala. Ohmigosh. I was half out of my mind with excitement for days and days, had my tickets the first day, my school picked out in two. The trip seemed simple and safe, for an "older woman" (when will I start FEELING like an "older woman"?) with little Spanish and no experience in a foreign country. Fly in, get picked up at the airport and plunked down in Antigua at my "Homestay" and given my classes for two weeks. Well.........that's all well and good, but my flight gets me in Guate. City on Saturday morning, and classes don't start until Monday. Those incredible museums in Guate. City kept hanging around in my brain, and frankly, the chance to challenge myself a little.....all alone in a strange city where I don't speak the language. So little piece of info by little piece, it looks like I'll get a taxi at the airport, get to my small local hotel and plunk my things down, and take another taxi to the Museums, a taxi back when they close at 1 pm (no buses in that area) and walk from my hotel to the panoplay of museum, art gallery and zoo in a park in Zone 13. Then find a restaurant or just get back to my hotel before dark and get picked up in the morning. They say the city is safe except for Zone 1, which is probably where the school for kids that I'm interested in is located. (Camino Seguro, serving children who live in the city dump.) I have written them, but I suspect they are closed on the weekends. So that's how things stand at the moment. Two months til I go. Hard to wait. 

The more I realize that other people have done way more adventurous things many years ago in Guatemala (not to mention everywhere else in the world,) the more my anxious excitement subsides. But the fact remains that this is an adventure for ME. And probably a gateway to other adventures in that area, and possibly other areas, once I become familiar with travelling, and get a little more Spanish under my belt. For me, a door is opening to a world I've only seen in photographs - well not even that really, not enough to give me any sense of what it looks like, or feels like to be there. I spent several days, recently, reading the Female Nomad book........and I have to say that it just made travelling alone seem more possible. I don't have her trusting nature (though I usually trust people when I have a chance to see and feel them) - I can't imagine just going off with anyone, not knowing where. I'm not my friend Susie, either, who showed me her photos of traveling with her boyfriend in a mini-van all the way to Guatemala, picking up passengers, going to local cantinas and dancing, getting drunk, etc. Well maybe I will find Guatemala a simple and easy place with friendly people. My desire is to find out how people live around the world, particularly withOUT all the amenities, without a lot of money, etc. I'm hoping my language school experience will allow me to get out into the rural communities a little. The door is opening.