La Pura Vida

Finishing up for now in the North

In Humahuaca (one of the coolest names ever) right now – last morning of our 2 week trip to the North. Feeling bright and cheery – sun shining, just had coffee and toast and jam in our hostel, and ready for today´s bus rides and tomorrow´s return to my Buenos Aires family. Bags are packed to the brim with the fun purchases I couldn´t resist in Bolivia and the ferias at the different places we visited in Argentina. In 30 minutes we´ll make the 2 hourish bus ride to Jujuy (hoping for a movie – makes the trip. On the way here yesterday got to watch the espanol Gone in 60 Seconds.) and then have a few hours to eat lunch and explore. Around 3 we´re meeting with a women´s group and then at 5 we get on the luxurious bus for the return trip to BA. It´s been a long haul of moving from place to place each night – I think everyone´s tired and ready for a little stability before our trip down south.

I have learned so much on this trip – it has definitely been one of the most learning filled two weeks of my life. Will write down some thoughts after they´ve simmered some more. Pictures to come as well – stood in the midst of breathtaking beauty many times in these weeks.

Sampling of the themes…
What makes one poor? (Are the families we stayed with for rural homestays poor?)
Differences in poverty in small communities and in cities
Importance/sacredness of land and why the struggles to retain it are of such vital importance
How indigenous communities live
Perspectives (different necessities for happiness?) of those who live in isolation
Different, more tranquilo, pace of life in the North/other face of Argentina
Adjusting to high altitude – there´s a whole verb (I think apunarse) to describe people´s physical reactions to living in this Puna region (nausea, headaches, trouble breathing). Luckily I bought coca leaves (base of cocaine! Illegal here too but available everywhere) which help with this in a fun rebellious way :)
Llamas!

Overall, feeling much more comfortable here in Latin America and very grateful for the exposure that I´m receiving. Inspired by the work of people in every corner of the world to better general societal well being.

Quote that I love (Thanks Jess, I got this from an away message of yours):

"Either we have hope within us or we don't: it is a dimension of the soul, and it not essentially dependent on some particular observation of the world or estimate of the situation...It is an orientation of the spirit, an orientation of the heart; it transcends the world that is immediately experienced, and it is anchored somewhere beyond its horizons… Hope, in this deep and powerful sense, is not the same thing as joy that things are going well, or willingness to invest in enterprises that are obviously heading for success but rather, an ability to work for something because it is good, not just because it stands a chance to succeed. The more precarious the situation in which we demonstrate hope, the deeper the hope is. Hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out." - Vaclav Havel

Back to the travels!

posted by Colleen @ 7:38 AM