From afar I have been carefully watching what has been going on in the US regarding women´s rights. The intravaginal ultra-sound law in Texas literally raping women who are seeking abortion services, the Oklahoma law requiring a doctor to show the ultrasound photos to a woman and described to her by the doctor, the attacks on Planned Parenthood...it's all really scary. I don't know how many people read my blog, but a word to all you women living in the U.S., do NOT let these rights get taken away. We didn't gain them in a day and we will not lose them in one piece of legislation. Our reproductive rights are being taken away piece by piece and because of the slow process it is being done right in front of our faces. I live in a country where women do not have the right to abortion, and even family planning methods are difficult to come by...don't let this happen in the states. The women most affected by losing these rights will be low-income women, already struggling to make ends meet let alone with extra kids to care for because of lack of access to family planning methods! Please, write to your representative, senator, hell even Obama, and tell him you support women's healthcare and reproductive rights. It is so so so important. Trust me, you never know what you've got until you've lost it.
OK, outside of this thing that has been eating away at me from afar, I am doing great. I'm happy in all my jobs, living with my boyfriend, Juan Carlos, who is the best and makes me feel like the luckiest woman in the world...yea I know what my New Years resolution was, we're just going to forget that. When love knocks at my door I just can't seem to turn it away. He works training dogs in search and rescue, tracking, obedience, agility, therapy, and all kinds of that stuff. He's pretty much the dog whisperer.
I've been on and off sick for the past 2 weeks, but starting tomorrow I am beginning training for my first triathalon which is June 2nd. I can't wait to be training again, these past few days have just been so slow and lazy. Actually, I am really beginning today with a nice long walk and then taking my dog to the park to walk a bit more and maybe do a little bit of strength training. It's the first day I'm feeling healthy again so I'm taking it easy. I also gave up coffee which actually makes me feel great! It's so nice to wake up in the morning without any urges, I'm just awake. The small change really has made me feel much better, I can't wait to see how I feel running in the morning (whereas before my whole run was just daydreaming about espresso). 10k run, 25 mile bike, .9 mile swim. Going to be painful...I can't wait!
My sister's wedding is coming up and I can't wait! I have a wedding this saturday which I am taking as my practice test. I'm keeping my eyes open for ideas and whatnot. After all, I am the maid of honor, even if I am far away and not doing so much. I can't wait to see my big sissy walk down the aisle! Since I don't ever plan on getting married it's like I'm doing it vicariously through her...just quenching those tiny little desires I have to wear a fancy dress and have a big party (although, I suppose I can do that anyways).
Thats all for now!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Update!
Things in my life have been good here. I am now with 3 jobs...or 2 paying jobs and 1 volunteer gig. My 3rd job is working the mornings on Saturday and Sunday with a dog training company called Gresbur. There I do mostly administrative stuff, but I also get to play with the dogs as much as I want. I never thought that dog training would be such a fad here, but the class seems to grow every week!
I´m really looking forward to Sarah´s wedding. The time is just flying! I think now that I have found a steady rhythm here...or at least steady by MY standards, the weeks seem to pass without my noticing.
I spent this week running around getting supplies for the birth kits for the next Jungle Mama´s workshop which will be next week. Unfortunately I won´t be able to make it, but at least I know I am making a difference. And despite how frustrating it can be to argue for hours with people about prices and quantity and whatnot, I really like going out and doing the shopping for this. It´s strange that the one job I don´t get paid for is the one I feel the most passionate about. I wonder if that has anything to do with the psychology self-fulfillment theory...or whatever that was called.
Anyways, this week in Ecuador is Carnaval where everybody throws water and flour and eggs at each other. I´m not sure how I am going to like that considering I really hate having my hands dirty, but surely my next blog will be about that. That´s about it for now, things here have been pretty quiet and tranquil...and I am thankful for that!
I´m really looking forward to Sarah´s wedding. The time is just flying! I think now that I have found a steady rhythm here...or at least steady by MY standards, the weeks seem to pass without my noticing.
I spent this week running around getting supplies for the birth kits for the next Jungle Mama´s workshop which will be next week. Unfortunately I won´t be able to make it, but at least I know I am making a difference. And despite how frustrating it can be to argue for hours with people about prices and quantity and whatnot, I really like going out and doing the shopping for this. It´s strange that the one job I don´t get paid for is the one I feel the most passionate about. I wonder if that has anything to do with the psychology self-fulfillment theory...or whatever that was called.
Anyways, this week in Ecuador is Carnaval where everybody throws water and flour and eggs at each other. I´m not sure how I am going to like that considering I really hate having my hands dirty, but surely my next blog will be about that. That´s about it for now, things here have been pretty quiet and tranquil...and I am thankful for that!
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Tristezas
I really love is the concept of "tristezas." I first heard it when I was listening to a comedy skit where a guy simply complained about everything in his life that bothered him. Ever since, I've been meaning to write my "tristezas" and get it all out of my system.
1- Whenever I am feeling depressed here, everyone always assumes its because of some man...95% of the time, it's NOT! I am not a type of women that's emotional well-being relies on the stability of a man in my life, thank you.
2- Just because I am a native English speaker does not mean that you should always use the same three English phrases you know every time you see me! They make no sense in a conversational context, and you wouldn't understand me if I answered anyways- so stop it!
3- I am not a native Spanish/Castellano speaker and I am hard of hearing, so I really appreciate it when people do not speak in slang and a million miles an hour so I can understand...If I can't understand you, you are only one step away from talking to yourself.
4- No is NO...it's just no and please stop asking
5- Don't whistle at me in the street. I know that these men are just dying for a woman's attention so they have resorted to this cave-man like strategy of mating calls...but, just as a point of clarification- it has never and will never work!
6- The guy in the club last night that told me to "bajate, bajate, bajate" when I wasn't even dancing-- you are a piece of asshole. I do not take commands like a dog, you are the only dog here.
7- All the people who manage to say the exactly wrong thing at exactly the wrong time...does it really pain you that much to take 5 seconds out of your life and think about what your about to say before it leaves your mouth? i.e...my boss who, after 6 months of working, says "Chuta, yo no sabía que tu me entiendas! (wow I didn't know you could understand me!)"
8- Being invited to sleep over a boyfriends house and then they stay up all night with their friends downstairs...if I wanted to sleep alone I would have done so comfortably in my own bed, then having the awkward morning where I wake up 5 hours before you and have to wake you up to let me the hell out so I can get on with my day.
9- When I'm web-chatting with my family from home and everyone finds this the best time to ask me a million questions. I am really far from home and I rely on these brief encounters to keep me half-sane here...let me be!
10- I know it's tradition here to kiss on the cheek when you say hello/goodbye, but I also know that it is a cheek-to-cheek kiss. There should be NO lip action and my cheek should not have your saliva on it, and I'm not a stupid gringa that doesn't notice.
Feel free to add to my list, I know I will continue on with it and it really does feel better just to get it out.
"sentir tristeza es doloroso,no sentir nada es asqueroso"
(to feel sadness is painful, to feel nothing is disgusting)
1- Whenever I am feeling depressed here, everyone always assumes its because of some man...95% of the time, it's NOT! I am not a type of women that's emotional well-being relies on the stability of a man in my life, thank you.
2- Just because I am a native English speaker does not mean that you should always use the same three English phrases you know every time you see me! They make no sense in a conversational context, and you wouldn't understand me if I answered anyways- so stop it!
3- I am not a native Spanish/Castellano speaker and I am hard of hearing, so I really appreciate it when people do not speak in slang and a million miles an hour so I can understand...If I can't understand you, you are only one step away from talking to yourself.
4- No is NO...it's just no and please stop asking
5- Don't whistle at me in the street. I know that these men are just dying for a woman's attention so they have resorted to this cave-man like strategy of mating calls...but, just as a point of clarification- it has never and will never work!
6- The guy in the club last night that told me to "bajate, bajate, bajate" when I wasn't even dancing-- you are a piece of asshole. I do not take commands like a dog, you are the only dog here.
7- All the people who manage to say the exactly wrong thing at exactly the wrong time...does it really pain you that much to take 5 seconds out of your life and think about what your about to say before it leaves your mouth? i.e...my boss who, after 6 months of working, says "Chuta, yo no sabía que tu me entiendas! (wow I didn't know you could understand me!)"
8- Being invited to sleep over a boyfriends house and then they stay up all night with their friends downstairs...if I wanted to sleep alone I would have done so comfortably in my own bed, then having the awkward morning where I wake up 5 hours before you and have to wake you up to let me the hell out so I can get on with my day.
9- When I'm web-chatting with my family from home and everyone finds this the best time to ask me a million questions. I am really far from home and I rely on these brief encounters to keep me half-sane here...let me be!
10- I know it's tradition here to kiss on the cheek when you say hello/goodbye, but I also know that it is a cheek-to-cheek kiss. There should be NO lip action and my cheek should not have your saliva on it, and I'm not a stupid gringa that doesn't notice.
Feel free to add to my list, I know I will continue on with it and it really does feel better just to get it out.
"sentir tristeza es doloroso,no sentir nada es asqueroso"
(to feel sadness is painful, to feel nothing is disgusting)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)