Everything about me has been slow since we got back from Colombia. Slow to move, slow to process, slow to speak. It's kind of strange, but a good reprieve from the racing thoughts I've been plagued with for the past month, I guess.
Colombia was great. I went through several love-hate-love moments, but all in all it was a good trip and I learned a lot. Humor me, will you?
1. If I'm going to do this whole Save Syria thing then I had better get used to the less glamorous side of traveling. Like the lack of A/C, lack of communication, lack of hygiene etc, etc. It's not glamorous. I think I forgot about that. Duh Jenna. A refugee camp is probably the least glamorous place in the world. They probably will not have toilet paper. In fact, they probably will not have toilets. So get over it.
2. I love the people of the world! Especially fellow travelers. We met so many great people on this trip from so many places! Travelers are so cool! They have all the good qualities you want in a friend: patient, chill, low-maintenance, kind, understanding, adventurous, friendly, approachable, uninhibited. The list goes on. I need to make more traveler friends.
3. Locals are pretty great too. Sometimes, in really touristy areas, it can get annoying when they try to shove stuff in your face and make you buy their random merchandise. No I do not want a maraca! No I do not want a pair of fake Ray Bans! (Okay fine, I bought a pair of fake Ray Bans). No I do not want your bus tour package!
My tactic is to look them in the eye and treat them like people. Smile. Be genuine and kind. You'll be amazed at what happens. That vicious vendor facade fades away and you can see the humanity again. It's great.
4. I need to get around the weird mental blocks that I've constructed around certain things. Like jet skiing. This guy on the beach was pushing and pushing to sell us a ride on a jet-ski and I was like, "No no no no go away I have no desire to jet ski." But he told me he would just take me for a spin and we'd see how I felt. The spin worked (great selling strategy!). I went jet skiing! I drove the jet ski! I DROVE THE JET SKI FULL SPEED AHEAD TOWARD THE SUNSET ON THE SEAS OF COLOMBIA. Wow. It was a magical experience.
5. I get grumpy when it's late and I'm tired and I have to haul around a lot of stuff.
6. It's hard to keep up a scripture/prayer routine on vacation. Don't let Satan do that to you!
7. There are a lot of people in the world. I can hardly handle it.
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