New year, New decade

This year marked a very important milestone in my life, entering a new decade! I wanted to put some thoughtful words together here about my feelings regarding turning 30, but I had the fortunate opportunity to contribute to a fantastic blog, My Thirty Spot, and their #Lovefor30Project so I thought I would link the article for those to read: http://www.mythirtyspot.com/2014/02/throwing-expectations-out-window-love.html

I am grateful everyday for the experiences and people in my life that have allowed me to have this life. If decades are improving exponentially, this one is sure to be off the charts. I look forward to more adventures, both travel and other, to share in this space.

With love,
Cara

Reflections and Gratitude, 2013

As I packed up my backpack tonight in anticipation of my departure to India this weekend, I stopped for a few seconds to take in the present moment. The smell of the worn backpack, the crispness of the new journal, the checklist of chicken scratch beside me. It was just nearly 1 year ago that I stuffed the same pack before departing on a yet-to-be-determined length of stay in South America. As the year comes to a close I can't help but reflect on what amazing experiences 2013 has brought me and I really just wanted to write some thoughts here to express my gratitude for the last 12 months of my life.

I am grateful to experience Christmas in Buenos Aires, to take in the gritty, yet absurdly picturesque streets of the city, to sip fine wine and eat delicious food. To travel on to the beaches of Uruguay and soak in the sun, to meet the dawn of the new year after an epic fiesta. To wander through Patagonia and take in some of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen. To challenge myself physically trekking through mountains and glaciers and reward myself with new friends and memorable times. To find a new home in Santiago. To begin to teach yoga. To work and play and live in a foreign city and country, yet not feel strange and alone. To make lifelong friends and learn a new language. To find new adventures in Ecuador, surfing the coast, exploring the bustling capital city, rafting through rapids, hiking for hours on end and blissfully taking in the heat of the sun on horseback. To drift north to Colombia sharing travel experiences with new and old friends, sleeping in hammocks, dancing on the beach until sunrise, hiking through remote jungle and coastline and taking in the history of one of the most beautiful capital cities I have seen. To return to the United States and slip back into the warmth of family and friends. To experience the summer coast to coast in the US. To celebrate momentous occasions. To challenge myself to figure out what's next. To make the move to Austin. To start a new job. To begin a new chapter. What a ride......

If 2014 brings me even half as much joy as this past year, I will consider myself a lucky girl. Happy New Year to my family and friends around the world. More experiences to share after I return from India.

Cheers!
Cara

A Life Abroad

View of the city from my Providencia apt

I apologize for the absence of posts for more than a few weeks now…Unfortunately, life tends to get in the way of some of our extracurricular hobbies and it has certainly been a busy one for me as of late.
But now, after beginning to find a balance and routine, I have finally begun to feel a bit more settled in a new life abroad.



Backtracking a few weeks, I was so privileged to be part of the Wanderlust Chile festival in mid- February.  3 days filled with yoga, music, nature and community in the beauty of Termas de Chillan (in the South of Chile). The yoga was blissful, the music vivacious and the energy contagious and, fortunately for me, I made some very dear friends from the experience.

Wanderlust Chile

In addition to new friends, I had the opportunity to experience a traditional Temazcal ceremony during the festival. Temazcal in Spanish refers to the small enclosed structure where hot stones are introduced, over which is poured an infusion of medicinal plants and water to produce steam. This creates a type of "sweat lodge" or sauna in which people are gathered inside for a ceremony led by a spiritual guide who uses chants, visualizations and meditation exercises among other tactics that serve to guide the emotions and group dynamics. The Temazcal is recognized as a place of ritual ceremony that improves the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual being.  Percussion instruments and songs help participants release and express emotions, while assisting in the focus of the true purpose; connecting with mother nature. I am fascinated with learning about new spiritual activities and, this one in particular, was so impactful for its ability to open my heart, connect with the energy of the people around me and connect with mother nature. A few weeks later in Santiago, we were able to reunite with a Temazcal in Cajon del Maipo. I feel very lucky that I have been able to take part in this ritual both times amongst the majestic beauty of mountains and greenery.

Temazcal in Cajon del Maipo

Also in February, I had a wonderful visit with my mom who traveled over from the States. We spent two jam packed weeks touring Santiago, enjoying very fine cuisine, escaping to the Atacama desert for the weekend and relaxing along the coast in Valparaiso. It was so special to share my Chilean life with family from home and have a familiar face around. Definitely bittersweet to say goodbye at the end, but I have the excitement of looking forward to another family visit from my sister very soon.

Me and mom in Valparaiso

Now, back in Santiago and finding my groove, I have spent the last few weeks balancing a full time job with meeting new friends, taking advantage of the still-summer weather with outdoor runs and al fresco dining, teaching and practicing yoga (more on that later), planning some upcoming travel and even filming a commercial that will run in the USA in the spring!

Summer nights in the city

So it seems, the gypsy has found a state of being, staying in one place and creating a "normal life" at least for the moment….

Am I no longer a traveler?

It's been about 3 weeks since I've officially settled in Santiago, Chile. In that time, amongst the sweltering summer sun, I've moved into two different apartments, started a full time job, practiced and taught yoga and even started training for a half marathon. When I stopped this weekend to reflect on my life in the Southern Hemisphere thus far, I was almost put off. Isn't this relatively the same life I had not much more than a year ago? Isn't this idea of a routine and daily grind what I wanted to get away from? Is this boring? I felt perplexed. Perhaps I hadn't gone about this right, was purely "living" in a foreign land enough of the adventure my wanderlust craved?

But then I spoke with a friend, who helped put things into perspective, and as I stared out my window looking into the distant Andes mountains and he said, "but Cara, you are living in Chile...." Ah yes, there it was. I may not be hostel hopping or trekking mountains, but this is a new kind of adventure. One where I try and make a life for myself in a foreign city, amongst a completely different culture, set of values and language from what I am used to. I'd call it a "challenge" adventure.

My birthday has just recently passed and as I think about my goals for the last year I have in this decade I can only hope that I continue to challenge myself and others around me. For without a thirst for adventure and a true intention to make ourselves better people we won't ever change and wouldn't that just be...boring.