Go Your Way

Today is the day and—as I begin writing this on my 6:00am flight—an early day it is! Who knew that even at 6:00 am you could feel so nervous and anxious (especially too anxious to join my fellow passengers in sleep)? As I was straightening my hair for the last time for the next two months this morning – if you know me you know how close my straighter and I are and how difficult this will be –I was trying to figure out what I would use this blog for. I have no idea how many of you that are reading this are family, or friends I forced to read this, or maybe someone who happened to accidently type jenstewartinecuador.blogspot.com in their search bar. For all of you that plan to be loyal readers though, I cannot guarantee that I will be writing anything profound, or funny, or even entertaining (and especially not grammatically correct so try to ignore that...). I guess the only thing I can guarantee is that I will be writing daily (even if I am the only reader).

So now is the point I start spilling all the thoughts going through my head… Proceed with caution because I have no idea what will come out.

The funniest things I have noticed about getting ready to visit a developing country are the tokens of advice people give you. Now I love advice, especially when I am wandering around REI trying to find a head lamp or trying to grasp the fact that I have to wear hiking boots let along how they are supposed to fit, so I will reflect on them and share them with you— even though you probably will not need a head lamp during the next two months.

“Be safe”
This is probably not top of the list as far as words of wisdom come, but it is by far the most common— especially when your trip is to a developing country… Thinking back on all my travels: UK, France, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Mexico, Guatemala – safety has actually rarely been a concern (except one sketchy night in Germany). Naïveté could be the source, or maybe all the crime shows I have watched have given me an irrational sense of invincibility, but I have always found some of the most amazing, warm, and welcoming people throughout my travels. The cultures I have gotten to experience, in Latin America especially, seem to be the most caring and I expect similar experiences in Ecuador. I have heard that the mosquitos are especially friendly and I am anything but brave when it comes to bugs and bug bites so I have purchased enough bug spray to keep myself and all the Ecuadorian citizens bug-free for the next 20 years.
 **PSA**Don’t worry to all my family reading this! I will still be extra careful and I did indeed get all my shots (even a few extra for good measure)!

“Run Forest, Run”
My Dad said this.. (well actually Jennie from Forest Gump), but somehow my Dad thought this would be pertinent information to share. While I do not know if this was meant to be safety or fitness advice, I like to think that this is my Dad’s way of knowing how much I will miss watching movies and his way of making sure I remember a great one. Thanks Dad – I’ll miss you too.

“Don’t forget lipstick”
I think the thing people were most shocked about on my trip was the size of the bags: two backpacks for eight weeks is definitely not the way in which I usually pack. To be honest I pack that much for a single night… multiply that by 56 and it took me a while to comprehend how this would work. For my five week journey through Europe I survived without my usual array of hair dryers, hair straighteners, and curling irons (and that was hard enough), but when people started asking what I would do without my makeup I have to admit… I PANICKED!  Luckily though my favorite grandmother (Hi Grandma) assuaged my fears with “You’re beautiful, just don’t forget lipstick”. I don’t really think there is an inspiring life lesson here, I just find this to be one of the funniest and most useful things anyone has told me. P.S. I definitely did bring lipstick because you must always listen to your grandmother.

“Write down what you don't know”
I love this. The Social Entrepreneurship director at Miami shared this with my fellow travelers and I at a pre-trip meeting. He said it was the most useful advice he has ever listened to. When I arrive in Ecuador I will not all of a sudden have the knowledge to solve all of the world’s problems and that’s not my job (as I have now realized). My job is just one tiny piece in the gigantic puzzle of making the world a better place. So, he shared, when I find something I don’t understand, or don’t know enough about, I am to write it down then come back in 2 months and begin a life of figuring these things out.

“Be in every moment”

“Go your way”
This final piece of inspiration is my favorite: “Go your way”. I firmly believe that God shares things with you at the exact time you need to hear them, and as I was increasingly getting more nervous at 4:00am this morning my mother was doing her daily bible reading, finishing the book of Daniel. She shared with me what she read: Daniel was told to go his own way, not to worry about things we cannot know but to instead go ahead on a journey guided by what is right and faithful. As I stood their previously second guessing everything, this helped me realize that the fear of the unknown will always be there, but I shouldn’t let that fear take up my time. Instead my job is to go forth, doing what I believe in, going my own way.

So that’s it, no more preparation or pre-trip words of advice. I am on my way with my two backpacks stuffed to the seams and my hiking boots tied to the side (which, by the way, I read in another blog that this makes you look like a rookie hiker… but I think people will catch on to that anyways). I am anxious to see what is to come, nervous for the unknown, but also incredibly excited for yet another life changing journey. Thanks to all for any and all advice and prayers!

Lots of love from Ecuador (almost),
Jen(Early morning airport picture)