HAPPY THANKSGIVING

it's weird to think that today is thanksgiving. it's not celebrated in ecuador, so it hasn't even been on my radar. they started preparing for christmas two weeks ago (i was in a mall in guayaquil last weekend, on a computer while a chipmunk's christmas was playing in the background-the stuff we export is ridiculous). but as i was on my way to work a few minutes ago i realized that exactly one year ago is when i decided to take the plunge and look into volunteering.

i was in hilton head, south carolina visiting my dad's family for thanksgiving and i was feeling very uneasy at the prospect of graduating and entering the "work force." i knew sitting behind a desk from 9 to 5 wasn't for me. still isn't. so i started thinking of what i would enjoy. i instantly knew traveling was near the top of my list. but being a poor college student, soon to graduate with student loans, making me even more poor, i knew i needed to find a viable option in traveling. so i started looking at volunteer progrgams. this was all before i came to ecuador mind you. so as i was in hilton head for two or three days waiting for my parents to arrive, i started to come up with ideas, sketches, plans of what i could do and what it would look like. i wanted a community-based program, so i wasn't just dropped off in the middle of the juungle by myself. and at the time i was seriously looking into africa (that is still on the list of future plans). but as i ran through all of these thoughts in my head, the one thought that scared me the most was talking about all of this with my dad. we are different people. he's logical, slow to act, methodical, rational. and i'm, well, irrational, emotional, and quick to act. so naturally my biggest fear was that he would rain on my parade and tell me it's impossible to do something like this, i've got loans to pay and i need to get a job. but the suprising thing is, he was the most supportive of all. i told him what i wanted. and he said to me, "if you want to travel, travel. find a way to do what makes you happy." i was shocked. i was expecting a big speech on health insurance, loans, etc. but none of that came. only support. two weeks later i was in duran, ecuador and i knew that this was what i wanted to do. the rest is history. so on this thanksgiving day i'm thankful for this opportunity, but mostly for my dad's support.