Frequently Asked Questions...

See?? I haven't forgotten about you! And thank you all for your e-mails, comments, wall posts, phone calls, visits and HUGS over the last week. I'm telling you that they have made the re-entry period much less painful!

So I've been back a whopping 3 whole days and throughout that time, have hung out with friends, family, ran into old co-workers and caught up on the phone and internet with many "long-distance" friends. And throughout those conversations, I have noticed an ALARMING pattern of the questions I've been getting.

Add to that, I am about to attend the literal Superbowl of weddings this Sunday. It is like the perfect combination of family, friends, parents' friends and a whole bunch of people who I will have no idea who they are but somehow will know me. I am very excited for this wedding but am literally afraid of the questioning I may face at this event.

So, without further ado...here is my list of FAQs and Answers to the most popular "So, you've been gone for 6 months..." questions:

1. What was your favorite country?
This question is impossible. Impossible! But here is what I've come up with...

The overall winner? Peru. Great food, family, friends, project, city, weather...this place had it all.

My favorite school to teach at? Honduras. Amazing kids with a really structured program. It was awesome.

Closest to my heart? Guatemala. I think just being the first country with incredible people, indigenous students in arguably the most gorgeous city, it is a hard one to beat.

2. If you had to do it again, would you?
Abso-fucking-lutly. I have nothing more to add. Just a strong and defiant YES. The best decision I have ever made...

3. What was the food like?
Every country was VERY different but here is a quick run down...

• Guatemala: Traditional food in the house...good cook...lots of chicken and meat with rice and beans. House specialty? Pepian...SOOO good.
• Honduras: I actually lived in a restaurant. My house mom served and catered out of her home so every meal was a traditional Honduran delight! But beware...you better LOVE the beans in Honduras. And bananas. There are plenty of both. Bring the GasX.
  
• Ecuador: Definitely the LOSER on a culinary front. This was my menu every single day:
• Breakfast: Bread roll and tea
• Lunch: Mystery sandwich (often bread and caramel) and 2 black bananas
• Dinner: A plate cut down the center...half white rice, half french fries.
• mmmm...Dr. Atkins would have loved this place
• Peru: Great food. A really good mix of Peruvian and "American" food. She even made me blue box mac and cheese a couple times but the best part about my Peruvian family? First family to fully embrace dessert!

4. Favorite travel spots
So hard but topping the list are...Belize (paradise come true), Machu Picchu, the whole backpacking trip through Nicaragua and Costa Rica and Lake Titicaca. (there were so many others...Chile, Colca Canyon, Tikal...the list just goes on and on)

5. What were the low points?
Like I said in my last entry, this trip definitely had its ups and downs...but SO many more ups. But when I think about the low points...three come to mind...

• Night number 2 in Guatemala (2nd day of the whole trip)...I just remember being on top of a crazy mountain and thinking to myself "I can't believe I just left behind the best friends and family in the whole world for this?" I had serious doubts on whether or not I would make it through.
• When my grandfather died...very difficult to find out about it so far away
• One "sniffly" night in Honduras..I had come down with a terrible cold, snot running down my face, terrible kleenex all over the bed, spiders and frogs on the floor, hard rain on my tin roof keeping me awake. I just remember thinking "I am SOOOO over this..."

6. High points?
Again, absolutely impossible question. Just way too many to count. But it really is the tiny, insignificant moments all piled on top of one another that added up to what was just an unbelievable ride.

7. (and the WORST one...) So...what now??
This is the question that we all learn to dread and hate from about February of senior year of college.

The short answer? I do not know yet!

The long answer? Well...first is that I have jury duty so I'm not jumping into anything too huge before that! But, I am definitely exploring some options and I am just trying to find a way to use all of the experience and knowledge I have gained over not just the last 6 months but the last 28 years and use those gifts in the best way I know how.

I know it's not the answer you are looking for and I know the wedding guests' eyes will glaze over at "exploring options" but looks like you are just going to have to keep reading the blog to find out!

xoxo,
Debra

P.S...wish me luck on Sunday. I'm thinking of making handouts...