April's A-Ha! Travel Moments ~ Tracy Guthrie

For me, traveling to Africa on a volunteer service trip was something I dreamt about for years.  But due to limited resources, time and money, I didn’t think it would ever happen. However, in February of 2010 I was laid off from my job which gave me the availability to go to Kenya for an extended amount of time but made the money part even harder. I immediately started to pray asking God that if His will was for me to go that He help get me there. About two weeks after my prayer, my Dad called and said he got a random check in the mail for the amount of $1350. The money actually came from a savings account my Grandmother set aside before she died in 2003. No one knew about this money. The plane ticket to get to Kenya was $1400. That was my “A-Ha!” moment.  I knew God was leading me to Kenya, so I took the leap of faith and spent six weeks volunteering WWB orphanage. It was the most amazing time of my life.

Tracy Guthrie
Cultural Embrace HUG Kenya 2010

April's A-ha! Travel Moments ~ Luan Ly Lierman

I knew I needed to see the world and I love travelling. I fell in love with China especailly after I had studied abroad for a semester with Seattle Pacific University (SPU). Now, my husband and I are happily working and living in China, almost 3 years!

I've always been very interested in people. Cultures, food, religion, customs have always fasinated me. China for one, has such a deep culture and long history. Since my heritage is part Chinese, I find it even more important to know my roots.

Life back home in Tacoma, WA. is surrounded with people from different walks of life. I grew up with Tacoma, a good size city south of Seattle. I love my home for many reasons. Diversity in language, culture and life. All my friends have such unique stories. That's where education starts; is by getting to know one another. That's when we grow as individuals and a community. Being open, patient, and non-judgemental is crucial to getting to know others.

I did take a leap of fatih, a big leap when I decided to come to China. At the time, by myself with limited language ability. But what kept me going was my determination to learn, to grow in myself, and to expand my future. My risks, no return! Travelling abroad is huge risk, especially when you have no idea (for me) how to teach, or what to expect. My A-HA moment was the time I told myself, "I'm here. I got myself this far. No turning back!" I pushed myself and it has it rewards. Another A-HA moment was, "I can't believe I'm living in China." Now, I see China as my second home. A place I can always come back to with open doors and great opportunities.

Luan Ly Lierman
Cultural Embrace Teach in China 2008-present

Tomb Sweeping Day ~Matt Wiersen in China

I decided on sunday morning to go to Yangshuo.  I kinda went to yangshuo out of necessity but I definitely was excited to head back to my old stomping grounds!  Because of the holiday the trains were packed so I had to wait an hour to catch one of the slowest trains to Guilin.  It was mildly frustrating but I still managed to get there.  So then in Guilin I wanted to catch the express bus which left from the bus station a few minutes down the road.  For whatever reason I couldn't find the station, to only find out that the last express bus left at 6. the exact time when my train pulled in.  So after wasting away an hour I ended up taking the normal bus that left from the train station.  I finally arrived in Yangshuo at around 830 and made my way to the school as fast as I could.  It was really exciting to see all my old friends back at the school.  So from there we went to the grand reopening of the Stone Rose.  It was pretty fun seeing how different the place looks from before.  The weekend in Yangshuo wasn't the most exciting but it was just good to spend time with the people there.  I also talked to Isabella for some time about my options for staying in China longer.  So that was a very useful conversation.  On that note this is something I really have been thinking a lot about recently.  I am really enjoying my time here and could see myself here for a year.  The school really wants me to stay and I would get paid more.  But if I did stay that means I would miss coaching cross country this fall, something I really really enjoyed last year.  Right now I am siding on staying longer because I feel once I leave China, It will be quite a long time until I come back.  Also, I think I'll need more time to work on the language. 

So my return trip was kinda funny, looking back at it.  On the bus back to the train station I sat next to this chinese girl, and I talked to her for a few minutes but then i dosed off to sleep, waking up about 5 minutes from the station.  So just before we arrive, she does a totally chinese thing.  She gives me her phone and says "can we make friends" okay, she wants my cellphone number.  But when I was talking to her she said that she lives in Nanning.  So will I ever talk to her again?  no.  Regardless I gave her my number anyways and I have hers, never to be used.  So I go to buy my ticket at the train station for the train that leaves in 15 minutes, a woman comes up to me trying to sell me her ticket.  I look at it and it seemed legit, but I didnt want to buy it from her because you never know.  I don't know why I didn't pull the "i cant speak chinese, I dont understand you" card.  Anyways my ticket ended up being a standing room only ticket (the lady's was too).  So when I got on the train I wandered around for a bit and ended up sitting on a step.  This wasn't all that bad since this was only a 2 hour train back to liuzhou.  So I arrive home and call it an early night, exhausted from the long weekend of running around until the wee hours of the morning.

So this week was a 3 day week which was awesome.  But one of the most terrifying things happened to me in class on friday (actually its the week before but i'm telling it to you now).  So I'm teaching my lesson and then all of a sudden my phone starts ringing.  Not too loud, or anything and typically this is NBD but then a group of girls start laughing in the corner.  this meant only one thing THE STUPID GIRLS HAD MY CELLPHONE NUMBER.  This had potential to be one of the worst things ever.  I had no idea how they got it and they wouldn't tell me.  But I do have a pretty good theory (they went through their written english teacher's phone).

Okay, so I now that i'm up to speed I will explain what tomb sweeping day is.  Tomb Sweeping Day is a holiday where Chinese family go visit the tombs of their ancestors. Of course, they light off firecrackers (to scare the bad spirits away).  At first I thought this was just a pretty basic holiday, but then on the train ride back to Liuzhou I was thinking about what if we had this.  To make a point of going to visit the ones who have passed before us.  Then I realized that I have never visited my Grandfathers grave.  He died almost 5 years ago and the last time I was there was at his funeral.  Yeah, it's about a 6 hour drive away but Chinese people will take train rides that are exponentially longer just to clean the tomb of their ancestors.  Just some food for thought.

Okay, to cap off this blog I think I'm going to try to change the tone of it a bit.  I think I will write more about chinese culture and traditions and so on.  I felt this blog post was mostly about nightlife and whatnot. I am doing a lot more than that, but it just feels like more day-to-day things like going running, teaching lessons and stuff that just doesn't seem to noteworthy.  but its in these day-to-day things is where I really experience the regular culture.  I will try to think of things but If you have any specific questions about things you want to hear, let me know!

April's A-Ha! Travel Moments ~ Jerzy W. in Guatemala

I have been living in Guatemala for 3 months now and have observed a great many things. Some differences are quite obvious and others more subtle. It has been interesting to try and get deep enough into the culture that I am able to actually see things from their perspective. I can’t say I’m there yet, but I can say that I’ve realized some of the initial thoughts I have are pretty hasty. The cultural differences only seem so strange because I am living in a foreign land with the same set of eyes from my homeland.

I noticed right away that coffee is far more popular than in the US. Nearly everyone drinks coffee everyday and it is not unusual to drink it at every meal. I’m not a coffee drinker myself but have found myself drinking a little here simply because it’s in constant supply. At dinner the question asked is “¿Quieres café?” not “¿Qué deseas beber?” It is as if it is assumed that coffee is standard with each meal. I have observed this in far more places than just my host family and have been told it is common here.

The other day I finally made a comment to one of the teenage daughters in my host family because she had just served coffee with sugar to a six year old per the child’s request. Yes, even children of six years of age here are drinking coffee. I told her that it was crazy in the US for someone of that age to drink coffee. I have been astonished by this since I noticed this phenomenon while living with various host families. The teenage daughter responded with the simple question of “¿Por qué?” I opened my mouth to explain as my brain quickly generated the response…except nothing came out of my mouth. It suddenly occurred to me that my explanation was not sound. I was about to respond that giving caffeine and to a kid of that age is not a good idea. But before I released that thought from my mouth I processed the other side of the equation. What do we give our kids to drink in the US? I didn’t like the answer I gave myself but it was the reality. I know PLENTY of elementary school age kids whose parents allow them to consume soda and candy on a regular basis.

Suddenly my case was lost, before I even spoke. It was this moment when I realized the differences are only odd to me because they are just that…differences. Different doesn’t mean weird; it just means you are not accustomed to it. This was my revelation of the month. It is unfair to evaluate what you observe in a culture or society from the standpoint of a different culture. I will be away from my culture for several more months and I am very curious to see what I find strange back home once I return.

Jerzy Wasilewski
Cultural Embrace Participant
Teach in Guatemala 2011

Happy vs Obedient ~ by Founder Emlyn Lee

I have read dozens of books, blogs, and Oprah magazine articles on this subject; watched movies and documentaries addressing this theme; taken workshops at spiritual retreat centers to discover the meaning; and discussed this topic with most of my close friends and family members to share an opinion or two. What am I talking about?...of course, the meaning of happiness.

Sorry, this blog is not intended to define what happiness means. I wish I could. But according to Wikipedia, "Happiness is a mental state of well-being characterized by positive emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. A variety of biological, psychological, religious, and philosophical approaches have striven to define happiness and identify its sources."

Yet how do we measure happiness? How would we react if there was some formula that could measure it? Would we be happier knowing where we are compared to others on the happy scale? Or be more competitive? But then who would we be measuring and comparing it too? I often think of the impoverished areas that I have visited around the world and what drives me to travel and serve others. For example, the villages that I recently visited for Cultural Embrace's HUG projects in Guatemala and South Africa are so poor with very little resources yet the people and children seem happier in comparison to a general community in the States.

Happiness means different things to different people. Some people are happy with consumed goods like cars, jewelry, homes, clothes, shoes, food, wine, etc; some people only need their family and loved ones; some embrace happiness through spirituality; some through activities (ie: sports, music, arts, traveling, etc). Do we need it all? A little bit? A lot?

I guess we should only grade our happiness within our own scale and terms. I am learning that I am happiest when I am obeying God’s direction. There are times that I slip up and make mistakes to think that God wants me to be ‘happy’ versus ‘obedient’. Yikes, it happens. It’s called being human. Y’know, those times when we rewrite the rules and think that God’s answering our prayers, and then realize…it’s actually an act of self-interest. No way?!...Not me!...Then who?

Like everything else in life, to obey and listen to God takes patience and practice…even God’s will. I wish it was as distinctive as hearing James Earl Jones’ voice in the Lion King; or having Morgan Freeman appear like in Bruce Almighty. But until I am able to tune out all the noise, distractions, and voices (especially my own), I will do my best to listen and obey God’s direction.

April's A-Ha! Travel Moments ~ Whitney Washington

My study abroad experience significantly shaped my life, and the lyrics from my favorite singer perfectly describe my experience--“And the day came when the risk it took to remain tightly closed in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to bloom.” I took the risk of going abroad and was rewarded with an enhanced perspective beyond the tight bud of my American lifestyle.

By studying and living abroad, I became accustomed to the typical life of a “Sevillana”, or a native of Seville, Spain. My day began with a light breakfast followed by a beautiful walk to catch the metro or bus. On my way to school, I saw people catch transportation to their jobs beaming with the optimism of a “siesta”. Many nights ended with socializing and eating “tapas” in the streets of Seville.

My study abroad experience significantly shaped my life by allowing me to emerge from the tight bud of American lifestyle and also the tight bud of my family ties and expectations. First, my family had always expected that I would fulfill all my goals and dreams—as long as I achieved them within the state of Texas. Thus they did not expect me to follow through with my seemingly lofty desire to study abroad. As the youngest, I was expected to remain within the care and reach of my loved ones. Also, despite my interest as an International Business major, I was hesitant to study abroad and abandon the comfort zone of my close-knit family. While I feared being homesick in a foreign land, I broke free of my comfort zone to live in Seville.

Embracing my new life as a “Sevillana” significantly shaped my life because it afforded me with the opportunity of living with a host family, learning the art and history of Spain, and traveling throughout Europe. I especially enjoyed the journey of building lasting relationships in a different language. For example, while
abroad I befriended my host mom as we spent many hours talking about family, religion, shopping, school and traveling. My personal bond created through the Spanish language encouraged me to seek the further
opportunities to enhance my fluency.

Whitney Washington
Studying & Living in Spain

April's A-Ha! Travel Moments ~Haley Price

Guanajuato

Admit it, you're a Tourist.

Last summer I travelled through Mexico. My plane landed in Leon, then traveled to Guanajuato, San Miguel, Bernal, and Queretaro. As my first time ever outside the US, this was an experience I can never forget. Many times throughout the trip my prior assumptions of Mexico were deconstructed, and my perception of the culture, people, everything, changed.

As a gringa in Mexico, I automatically felt out of place, and that feeling that I need to adapt and try to fit in, immediately set in. I didn’t want to be noticed, or have any special attention to me drawn. At first, the only comfortable and familiar place was at the airport because there were couples from Texas on the plane as well, and we all stuck together trying to figure out our way to the baggage claim and passport verification. But that's what adventures are for! That invigorating, almost uncomfortable, surreal feeling that makes you realize you are doing something you have always dreamed of. Looking back, I can't believe I felt that out of place and intimidated.

So, the second day I decided to embrace my tourist gringa self, and be confident in being a visitor and experiencing as much as possible. It’s the same idea as when people visit New York, they want to be a New Yorker and so they act like they know the subways perfectly and refuse to look at a map. Yet, you can always spot a tourist in New York because they are constantly looking up. 

I challenged myself to practice my Spanish, ask questions, learn as much as I could, and basically to not be shy! By doing so, I realized that people are more welcoming and willing to help a tourist more than you think. Locals of Mexican cities have a pride for their city that they want to share. I admit, I was the “quiet girl” at some moments because of the speed the language was spoken in and sometimes I just couldn’t keep up. If you want to get the most out of your travel, talk to people and at least TRY. That is my only regret of the trip; I didn’t speak up enough and get to know everyone I met better.

Keep in mind that if you are a US tourist in Latin America, you may be targeted. I mean this in the way that if you ask how much something is, they will overprice you. So, negotiate! Understand that the cultural difference is a great experience, but can also teach you to recognize the reality of differences and take necessary actions to watch out for yourself.

I travelled to Mexico when it was starting to be a turbulent time with the drug trade. On a four wheeling trip into the countryside, we passed through small villages I couldn’t imagine living in. There was an unconscious man being carried by his friends, and a man just chilling in front of a gate with his gun in his hand. This opened my eyes to the severity of the quality of living in impoverished areas of Latin America, and sparked a desire to volunteer more. If I have the ability to travel, I want my trips to have a purpose, which is to me the greatest experience.

After this trip, I fell in love with the culture and learned so many new things. The one week I spent in Mexico sparked a desire to continue exploring Latin America. 

Don’t be afraid that you wont be as accepted, be confident as a tourist and get the most out of it that you can, don’t be shy, and always ALWAYS try to ask questions. (and practice the foreign language if there is one wherever you go!)

~Haley