Ecuador Bound!

It's been years in the works, 100+ hours of certification, months of planning every single step, months of improvising when said steps were different than anticipated, countless sleepless nights, hundreds of questions (some of which remain unanswered), thousands of prayers... But it is finally a sweet reality.... 

I am moving to Quito, Ecuador to teach English! 

I physically am incapable of speaking these words without breaking into the biggest, nerdiest grin humanly possible.  My heart has never been so full and happy, nor has my deepest self ever been so sure of this being the right path.  I am beside myself in joy and am proud of all of my accomplishments, as this is something that I did by my own free will, but also with the support from friends and family, and for that I am supremely grateful.  

I will be teaching English to business professionals on the Equator, two miles in the air.  When did my life become so fascinating?  Well, truth me told, it was pretty damn cool before when I was traveling the world modeling, studying in Europe, achieving scholastic greatness with a triple-major, double-minor degree, producing television and radio commercials for brand giants like KIA and Universal Studios in my native Los Angeles, rocking a massive corporate restaurant chain in Dallas, becoming certified as a Professional Organizer, and nannying for one of the best families I have ever met.  Lord knows I love to take things to the next level, so why not teach English in South America?  

As I revealed my amazing news to my family and closest friends, I discovered that there were quite a few misconceptions as to what kind of place Quito and Ecuador as a country are.  Some people thought I was going to be in an urban metropolis dominated by cement giants.  Others believed I was going to walk to a classroom down a muddy road and live in a grass hut.  I Googled these images (thanks, Google!) to give you readers an idea of where I am headed, and to preemptively answer questions regarding my new adventure.  You can find all the information about Quito & Ecuador aquí and find a little love for Latin America until I get over there, settled, and start posting about how things are coming along.  

When I started blogging a year ago, I had no idea that my blog would have well over 2,700 hits thus far, that I would be moving to a foreign country other than Japan, that I would be surrounded by and involved with the most amazing people on the planet, and could possibly be this happy!  I am truly a blessed individual.  Every struggle, every heartache, every heart break, every disappointment, every wrong turn, every mistake... They all were stepping stones leading to this monumental moment in my life where my heart is screaming "YOTY!" (Year of the Yes) and I am forever changed.  


I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestioned ability of a man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.  -Henry David Thoreau 


Soy verdad agradecido para el amor y apoyo demostrado por usted... And off I go to practice my Spanish...  xx.a

I want to be contagious.

Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.   -Angela Monet


The written word is one of the most beautiful forms of expression on this sweet planet, yet I cannot help but feel as though they just cannot fully convey the emotions I feel.  They say a picture is worth a thousand words... This is true, but sometimes even a photograph cannot fully express what is living in my heart.  (That is saying a lot, coming from a photo-obsessed blogger!)  


Strangely enough, I have discovered that, at least for me, it was more difficult to express joy in my writings, paintings, and music than sorrow.  I am naturally a happy person, so this baffled me upon my revelation.  Why would this effort be more difficult if it is natural?  So I pondered my findings over a cup of fresh coffee and a bowl of watermelon cubes while enjoying the early morning breeze through the backdoor screen.  I strive daily to express the joy that I have found in my life- especially over the last year- both as a form of gratitude to the universe, as well as to lead by example.  The negativity in the daily life of people I am surrounded by astounds me.  Quit your bitching, count your blessings, say thank you, and start appreciating your life, people!  It's easier to express discontent or pain because those emotions are stronger when you allow them in.  Since I have parted ways with my old self and the negativity associated with her, I find that the happiness and excitement that is now a constant light in my chest is dominating my creativity.  


Every man dies- Not every man lives.  -William Ross Wallace 


That being said (thanks for riding out my ramblings today) I have to remind myself not to get frustrated when my paintings turn out differently than imagined or when I cannot find the words I need to connect an intangible emotion to a cognitive understanding.  


I paint to create something beautiful I can pour emotion into. 
I write to express ideals and ask questions.
I photograph to capture things that move me.
I sing to open the doors to my soul.
I play guitar to find balance.
I learn languages to connect to other worlds. 
I teach to help mold the minds of a new generation.
I adventure to feed my soul & connect to the universe.  


All these things are beautiful in their own respective ways, and I am so fortunate to have the ability and drive to create in these fields and feel a sense of accomplishment and be filled up with peace and happiness.  My newest adventure is moving abroad to teach English.  This venture combines so many of my loves: travel, teaching, adventure... Plus I will be able to write, paint, photograph, and perform wherever this life takes me.  


There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. -Albert Einstein 


Making someone laugh brings me more inner happiness than I could ever even begin to explain... That is a miracle to me.  I could list two hundred other miracles I am thankful for, but there are two I am focusing on in my life right now: 

1. Every single person I interact with.

2. My new adventure.

Applications are out, kids.  There is no turning back now, not that I would if I could!  I have applied to some amazing countries... Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Thailand.  This is the first thing I have ever done in my entire life that is for me.  The level of support from the people in my life is outstanding, and I am forever grateful.  I will have to devote an entire blog post to just thanking you crazy people for putting up with me!  I hope that this massive, life-altering step I am taking inspires you all to live your dream, or even start a new one.  I want to be contagious.  I want you all to catch this incredible passion for life and rise with the tides!  I began this post with stating that sometimes my media cannot truly express the light inside of me... I just want you all to feel it for yourselves.  I hope that you can find something in one of our interactions- even if only for a moment- that moves you.  That is the greatest joy and greatest gift I could ever ask for.  


Find some inspiration in something.  Anything.  Start getting out there and making magic happen... Find that inexpressible inner light & inner joy.  Then do your damnedest to express, to share, to inspire, & to give back the positivity into this crazy-amazing universe of ours.  


xx.a

sunrise in my soul

"We must get beyond textbooks, go out into bypaths... and tell the world the glories of our journey." -John Hope Franklin


Have you ever been so excited that your hands literally are shaking and you cannot stop smiling?  It feels like the sun is rising in my abdomen and there are chirping birds in my lungs, singing a beautiful melody with every breath I take.  I love the feeling of happiness, hope, and inner peace.  


I officially registered to become TESOL/TEFL/TESL certified.  By the end of August, I will be qualified to teach English as a foreign language and will begin applying for jobs over seas.  Those of you who have been a part of my adult life know that I have wanted to do this for the better part of a decade, however, I made the choice to- let's just leave it at "postpone"- my dream for others.  Twice.  In the last 9 months, I have had an awakening in my soul and started respecting and loving myself more than ever.  I have become a better version of myself and I am the happiest I have ever been.  Now I can pursue my dream, because I know I deserve it, and I do not need another's validation.


This adventure I am about to embark on marries so many of my favorite things in life: travel, teaching, passion, learning, adventure... The list goes on and on.  I have found nothing but support from my family and nearest and dearest friends, and for that I am endlessly thankful.    Initially, my intent was to venture out through the JET Programme, however in light of recent events I feel my path is taking me elsewhere.  I will always have a serious love affair with Japan, and we will one day be reunited, but for now I will find love in another place.  I was also looking very seriously into Dubai, however being a woman (and a sassy one, at that) it would be extremely difficult for me to find a job without a Masters Degree and limited work experience (they also have a hold on all work visas for non-UAE passports).  Based on my qualifications and what is out there in this market, I am looking at South America.  Brazil and Argentina are the top two contenders for my attention, thus far, and I am taking some serious time to research the countries and their respective lifestyles, pay, cost of living, etc.  

This is going to happen very quickly, but it has been a long time coming, so I feel the immediacy of my departure is appropriate.  I will begin applying to schools in both countries (as well as Ecuador, Taiwan & Panama) at the beginning of September, and depending on the interview and work visa processes, I could be gone as early as November 2011.  Wherever this adventure takes me, I will still be on facebook, Skype, ooVoo, Whatsapp and blogging faithfully.  Once I am assigned a school and get settled, I will also develop a work-based blog from an ESL teacher's perspective, but more on that later down the road. 

There will be a couch available to anyone who wants to make the trek and visit me wherever I am teaching, and know that I am still adding things to my Bucket List, though achieving this goal will definitely be crossing a few off of it as well! I hope that you all start thinking about whether or not you are grabbing hold of your dreams and desires of the heart.  Life is far too short and far too beautiful.  I breathe freely knowing that one day, this sunrise in my soul will be one on another continent, and I am free. 

“Maybe some women aren't meant to be tamed. Maybe they just need to run free til they find someone just as wild to run with them.” 

xx.a