Why did I do it? What made me want to go? How did I do it? What did I
do? What was it like? These questions burn in my mind like a child
torturing ants with a magnifying glass. I know the answers to all of
them, or at least I think I do. The problem is that the words seem to
be stuck in the memories. Trying to extract from the fruit of my experiences a juice that doesn't taste like a powdered mix is frustratingly impossible.
I sip fresh Columbian coffee from the deck of the guide company I
currently work for in the Venezuelan Andes and try to describe in words
simple moments that are accompanied by intricate sets of emotions. I
look towards the south and can see the fog rolling in over Venezuela's
tallest peak, Pico Bolivar. This is why I did it.
This isn't going to be easy, so bear with me. I guess the best place to
start is the motive for going, especially for the first time, when you
don't know how amazing it can be. Maybe that is the reason I first
went: because I didn't know. I had to know. I looked at it like deciding
to go to college. Maybe it wouldn't be for me, but it couldn't hurt to
try; though deciding where to go, now that was a daunting task. In the
end, I found that it doesn't really matter where you go; adventure
awaits all who seek it. So, I decided to go to Argentina. Once again, I
don't really have a solid explanation for why I chose Argentina, but it
was far enough away that it couldn't disappoint me. I could give
descriptions of beautiful scenery down to the smallest detail, but I
won't. The same could be found in any travel guide and besides, it will
never come close to actually being there.
Making it happen, now that is the easy part...for me to explain.
Actually making it happen is only slightly harder. There are many
little tricks and fundraisers to pay for a trip other than working a 9
to 5 job. Granted, entering the working world can bring in reliable
funds, but just be careful you don't get locked into anything that
might make you want to stay. The best little trick I found to fund my
trip was to sell it. I contacted every person I knew and asked for a
donation of whatever they thought fit and in return I would include
them in a weekly (or monthly) newsletter about my trip. I raised over
half my money that way. As far as school goes make sure you take care
of all classes you might miss ahead of time or that you can get credit
for them while away. That is, if graduating on time is important to
you. Also, get creative. Helping in an English class abroad could count
for an English credit.
Now the hard part; what it was like. I am not sure it is possible to
describe the feeling of being in a world or a culture that is eerily
similar to your own but overwhelmingly different. It would be like
being in some sort of twilight zone, except less scary. Freeway signs
are still green but use a different font or are maybe placed in
different locations, bus rides require that you pay as you get off
instead of on, McDonalds are still everywhere but serve rice. These
small differences attack all at once and drown out any sort of
familiarity that might exist. But then there are the moments of
realization. Oh how they make it all worth it. Sitting in a dugout
canoe skippered by a native while drinking Venezuelan beer and watching
pink river dolphins play, the realization of what you are actually
experiencing cannot be matched. Once, as I was knee deep in mud
fighting with all I had to save my flip flops from a gloppy death, a
friend shouted to me through the sheet of mosquitoes, "Think about what
you're doing!" All I could do was smile and think, there is no way this
would happen to me back home. But all of this is my perspective. If you
are reading this you are already interested and that is all it takes.
So get out and do it!!!
