A Peruvian Birthday!

Another year older, another year wiser!

I'm so happy to be celebrating my 32nd birthday here in Peru! Gosh, who would have thought?

Those of you who have been following my blog, and most of my friends know that every year on my birthday, I aim to do "something I've never done before". Last year, I got my "pourquoi pas" tattoo - which I still love, by the way... And this year, well, when I realized I was going to be in Peru, I initially planned on being in Macchu Pichu to celebrate... but then the organization that I'm volunteering in, The Light and Leadership Initiative, needed me to help out sooner than the 25th of March, so... I thought it might be nice and fresh to count "Volunteering to teach English in Peru" as my "never done before" birthday act! To be giving back for a change! And I gotta say, it has been so wonderful so far.

Light And Leadership

Last week, I talked a little bit about the organization... Well, now that I've had more than a week of working experience here, I can now proudly and honestly say that they are an AMAZING group of people working towards a great cause, and I am SO HAPPY and LUCKY to be here!

I teach English (and PE and Art) to both kids and adults, and I gotta say I enjoy them all. I don't have a favorite... At first I wasn't too confident about teaching the little ones because my experience in teaching was mostly for adults... but after my first class, I realized that age doesn't really matter when I teach... I've almost forgotten how much fun I have in the classroom, and how good I am in reaching out to people of all ages and races. I play the ukulele and teach them songs in my class too - which is great, because LLI is flexible enough to give me that freedom. I'm back in my element, and I am having the time of my life with all these people! 

Oh - and did I tell you my Spanish teacher name? It's Miss Tierra. Tierra, in Spanish, means "Earth". No one could ever pronounce my name properly here so to make things easier for everyone, I am called "Tierra" in Spanish and Latin American countries. :)

A student, Cristina, gifted/dedicated her artwork to me <3
Tierra - that's me!!!

The Volunteers

I've said it before and I'll say it again... The group of volunteers in this house are quite possibly the best, kindest, most amazing people to ever come together under the same roof. Every single one of these people could rule the world with their skills and vibrant personalities, and they are here making a difference in Huaycan, right in the middle of nowhere Peru! I am floored and in awe everyday, working with these people. It just makes the experience that much more meaningful and rewarding... because I've only been with them for a week, and already we have become such good friends. I'm so lucky to always be surrounded by bright lights... SO LUCKY.

Double Birthday

I also happen to share my birthday with one of the fierce ladies here in LLI, Karen (she turned 23, I turned 32... PERFECTION)! And so we thought of doing a double birthday bash which involved cake, food, karaoke and some dancing! On the 25th, our actual birth date, the crew got us a Tres Leches Cake (delicious!) for a little candle blowing... We went out to dinner together, and did a little Karaoke (upon my urging).

The next day, we ventured out into Lima for an overnight trip... Lima just has more options in terms of a night life, so we hung out at the rooftop of the hostel they booked, had a really chill out pre-party over there, then headed out to a club for some dancing action...

Nose Piercing

The day after, I went and got my nose pierced. :)

It's weird... I feel like I'm regressing, sort of like Benjamin Button. Lately I've been inclined to do these random things - like get a tattoo, highlight my hair bright red, and get my nose pierced... you know, stuff that people usually do when they're younger. Mind you - these are things that I've ALWAYS wanted to do, but felt I couldn't, because the corporate world wouldn't allow me to. I was always too afraid of the consequences of looking a little radical, because it might dim my chances of being taken seriously, or getting a job. In corporate, and I suppose in a lot of other situations, perception is everything... and I didn't want to be perceived as a pierced, tattooed, and bright colored hippie.

Little by little though, as I've gone through this trip, my world has changed. I think what's really happening is that I'm finally allowing my physical body to reflect what's really inside of me... My true inner self - which is unique, creative, and colorful! :)

I love my new look! You can't really see much of the piercing because the stud that was used had to be tiny first... I'm due to change the little stud for something brighter and bigger in a couple weeks when it's fully healed. Right now it just looks like a silver blackhead... Like a silverhead, basically. But it's heart shaped and cute!

See that TINY dot on my nose? That's not a speck of dirt on your monitor.
That's actually my stud. 

Post-Birthday Thoughts

I was thinking about how - my birthday last year and getting a tattoo was a pretty good marker of when my round the world trip adventure started, because I quit my job a few days after that. And looking back at what I've seen and what I've done and who I've met since then blows my mind. I think you guys are witness to the fact that my year has been pretty incredible.

I keep thinking... Is it really possible for someone to be THIS lucky?

Then I think maybe it's not all luck. I think your world really is just a reflection of how you feel, how you think, and what you give out. My world this year has been amazing and exciting, because EVERYDAY, I feel amazing and exciting! I've always looked forward to where I was going next, what I was going to do, and who I was going to meet. Because I'm traveling, and doing what I feel like I'm meant to do, my heart is constantly just full... and it makes me happy. Plainly happy!

Another thing I noticed about myself is that lately, being grateful has become more of a habit now than something I have to remind myself to do or be. Like - it's sort of automatic for me to whisper "thank you" for anything good that happens everyday... Anytime I arrive safely in one place... or anytime I witness a beautiful sunset... or meet a new person I really connect with... or when I eat a good breakfast... or even when I hear a good song on the radio... Automatically, my mind "smiles" and says "thank you".

Being grateful has given me a better sense of being. It gives me the feeling of congruence... Like I'm exactly where I'm meant to be at this point. In all the choices that I've made lately, from choosing next destinations to hostels I've booked, or even in choosing restaurants to eat in... I feel like I'm being guided. I've learned to trust my instincts more, and it hasn't led me astray.

So I dunno... maybe good luck is only what we call beautiful things falling into place when you decide to start living the life you were meant to live. Maybe we're all meant to be lucky in this world, if we were only brave enough to pursue our own happiness. :)

For my birthday, there is really nothing else I could wish for, because I HAVE everything I need... I am the youngest 32 year old in the world, and I have never been happier than I am this past year. I am content and complete <3

So instead, I am going to use my wish on you guys... My dear friends, on my birthday, I wish for you... The courage to pursue your right to happiness... May your thoughts be clear and hearts be full, and may you all be brave enough to live your true destinies... to "get lucky" in life, as I have been fortunate enough to be.

Cheers to another INCREDIBLE year! Salud! :)

On Getting My First Tattoo: A Birthday Special

Ever since I turned 25, I made it a point to do something I’ve never done before on my birthday. That way, I always have something to look forward to, and it makes my birthdays extra special. These are the things I’ve done since then:

Year 25 – Went Skiing for the first time

Year 26 – Went Hang Gliding for the first time

Year 27 – Participated in the Landmark Forum which changed my life for the better
Year 28 - Did an East Coast Road Trip and celebrated my birthday in New Orleans
Year 29 – Did the I-Fly at Universal Studios – Indoor Skydiving
Year 30 – Went on a big Eurotrip, and visited two places I haven’t been to before: Prague and Austria

This year, when I turned 31, the year where anything could happen, I went ahead and got myself my first tattoo!

It was a decision that took me almost a year to process.

I never thought I’d ever grow the balls to get myself inked. Most of my friends have them, people that I work with have them, everyone in Hollywood has them… but the idea of something that permanent always freaked me out. I’m just naturally afraid of any type of commitment --- and getting a tattoo is something I’d have to live with for as long as I walk this Earth. Plus… I heard it was painful!

The last year has changed me though. Turning 30, trying to figure out what my personal legend is, and finally making the decision to quit my job to pursue a lifelong dream has done a number on me. The process of letting go caused me to lighten up in all aspects of my life, and allowed me to see things clearly. No longer am I concerned by what society dictates, because this is my life and I decide what makes me happy. My definition of success is no longer dependent on material wealth, but rather on the wealth of one’s soul. I have learned (but not mastered yet) how to manipulate my fears, and use them as a motivation to help me accomplish whatever it is I want to pursue… I live with the knowledge that our time here is only borrowed and we never know when it runs out… And so I’ve stopped wasting whatever time I have left worrying about what others might think, what society dictates, or what an ancient book might state. 

And about getting a tattoo? Well… Robert Kennedy once said,

“There are those who look at things the way they are and ask, why? I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?” 

Why not? :)

I flew to Cebu on my birthday, Monday the 25^th for my final working week at Bosley. I had emailed my co-worker, Jungkay, from Cebu to help me find a respectable and awesome tattoo artist a month before my trip. My parameters for the search were: Clean, Awesome, Highly Recommended, Clean, and ZERO MORTALITY RATE!

I knew I wanted it somewhere on my wrist because I want it to be seen… I didn’t see the point of going through all that pain only to have it hidden 90% of the time… If I needed to hide it for some obscure reason (not that I would want to though), I could easily do it with a watch or a bracelet. And most importantly, I’d want to be able to see it myself, for several reasons.

I’ve known for a while what tattoo I wanted. They’re my words to live by… A personal mantra. Something I picked up while traveling in France with Karen.

Having those words placed on my left wrist would be an ideal position, because I’ll always see it, and I’ll constantly be reminded!

Jungkay found me a well known tattoo parlor, and booked an appointment for me at 3:30pm, which is right after I land in Cebu. Crol’s Tattoo is owned by artist, Carlo “Crol” Gabiana. He’s well known as one of Cebu’s top tattoo artists, and has been featured in every major tattoo art magazine in the country. If he’s good enough for Cebu, then he’s good enough for me! :)

His place is small, but very clean. Maui, Jungkay and I were waiting on the couch as he was prepping his station. I was a little nervous at this point, but I think I’ve done enough mental preparation for the pain. I’ve spoken to countless people, poured over hundreds of websites, forums and blogs about how I’m going to feel, and the responses varied from “it doesn’t hurt at all” to “it’s extremely painful, you’re going to cry.” That really didn’t help me much, so I just did what I usually do which is – expect the worse. 

Carlo Gabiana

When Carlo was ready for me, he drew markers on my hand for symmetry and placed a stenciled outline of my tattoo over my wrist as a guide. He gave an option of smearing a cream anesthetic over my skin to help with the pain, but Jungkay insisted that I don’t use it to “feel the whole experience”. I wasn’t feeling too masochistic so I was really leaning towards the anesthetic!

Carlo said he’ll try it quickly without, and if I couldn’t take it, he’ll apply the cream. I felt like I didn’t really have time to think about it because his gun was already pointed towards my wrist, and I could already hear the familiar drilling sound I only hear at the dentist’s office!

Then – BAM! The first stroke was performed, and I was… okay. He looked at me to check if he should continue, and I said, “yeah keep going”. And onward he drilled.

It was not as painful as I thought.

In fact, I think I can describe it as more annoying than painful. I was doing the Lamaze breathing method that women in labor use to gain confidence in giving birth. I didn’t even know I was doing it till afterwards… it was kind of instinctual. I remember thinking to myself – “Breathe”. And that’s what I did. And I guess it helped! 

Breathe in... Breathe out.

I don’t think I have a particularly high pain tolerance… I think it’s just that I was overly prepared for it, that the anticipation was a lot worse than the action. It really didn’t hurt! There was one area though where the design was right over a prominent vein…that one stung just a little bit, but really very tolerable overall. 

It was over before I knew it… I think it only took around 15 - 20 minutes for the tattoo to complete… And I LOVE IT! Carlo did an excellent job with the white shadow that made the font pop up! The fact that it didn’t hurt probably also has something to do with his light hands. It’s beautiful!

Now I can tick it off my bucket list! Get a tattoo: Cha-Check!

My birthday tattoo crew! Maui, Carlo and Jungkay :)

From here on out, anytime I feel unsure of myself… or when I get overwhelmed by fear and self doubt, or when I find myself hesitating on the edge and ask myself, “Why?”… All I have to do is look at my left wrist, and BOOM. The courage I need to take a leap of faith will consume me. I will be reminded that I am the type of person that dreams of things that never were, and ask....

Pourquoi pas?

“Pourquoi pas?” is French for “Why not?” :)

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Hi There! Have we met before? You look familiar! Those shoes look great on you, by the way! I’m Eartha and I recently decided to quit my job to travel the worrrrld! Join me in my adventures by checking back on my blog, and leaving me a comment or two!

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The 30 by 30 Epilogue

Almost exactly a year ago, I held a bow and arrow for the first time, and found myself competing with a 12 year old blonde kid with elvish genes whom I then referred to as, “Legolas”. Learning archery was the first of the 30 things I promised myself I would attempt, as part of this project. A project I had started because I wanted to find my niche! My bliss! I was tired of being a jill of all trades, and a master of none. It was a quest… to find out finally, what it is I’m really passionate about!

And now, one year – and 30 things later, I still don’t have a clue! Haha!

But it’s not a bad thing!!!

Because honestly, putting myself through all of the activities I participated in – truly TRULY made my year a LOT more interesting AND more fun than if I had just sat myself down and let life pass me by. 

I mean it’s one thing being a joiner like I already am… But then having a goal in mind – like I did, really did something to my psyche. It’s like having a propeller. Whenever something came up… like an opportunity to do something different for example, my brain was sort of wired to automatically say “YES!” almost like I had no choice. Because the choice to say “yes” was predetermined by the contract I made with myself to do this project and see it through. Does that make sense?

And the law of attraction or the power of thought or however you want to call it --- was definitely working to my benefit too. One thing kept leading me to another. One activity led me to meet someone who did this thing, and going to that thing led me to see a poster about this other thing, and going to that other thing inspired me to try this other new thing… etc. You get the picture, right?

And one of the greatest most amazing gifts the universe has given me was leading me to meet my favorite writer, who was in fact my inspiration for this endeavor. Like I mentioned in my previous entries, this whole project was my homage to his “Yes experiment”, and meeting him right at the very end was just too movie-like perfect.

In fact, someone should seriously turn this into a movie… and I nominate Emma Stone to play me!!!

I’m trying not to be cheesy and feel-goody about this ‘epilogue’… but it’s haaard because I really did have such an amazing time doing this! I mean I don’t think I would have sought out to learn Archery, or had the guts to play Dodgeball, or subject my body’s flexibility to Anti-Gravity Yoga, or give up bacon for Veganism if I didn’t feel like I had to. But I’m glad I did!

I did have my challenges. At pne point in the middle, I had lost my momentum. I got exhausted! I felt like I was doing too much, my body was literally failing me. I had temptations of giving up halfway... I thought about quitting. I was running out of things to try, things to do... and I was so tired.
But everyone goes through low points, and I slapped myself out of it eventually. I just taught myself to slow down and pace myself. I actually ended up doing more than 30! Some of the activites just didn't make the cut. Too boring to write about. Nothing really eventful happend when I took voice lessons or hip-hop classes. I already bored you guys with the horseback riding story, I didn't want to do it again.

I’m happy to report though, that I’m still doing Muay Thai, 4 times a week, thank you ver much! I really like it, and its one of the ones that stuck with me. I still play and rock the ukulele, trying to get better at it everyday. I still volunteer on a regular basis, and recently got an offer to be a real face painter (Woohoo! Didn’t see that coming!). I’m doing the triathlon again this year, focusing on my navigational skills in the ocean this time. And traveling? Well, plans for a Greek Island Hop is underway!

                           

And even if I didn’t find my niche like I had intended… beh… So what? It’s okay. I still have the rest of my life to figure out what it is… and the point is, I don’t think I’ll ever stop trying anyway. :) Just because the 30by30 Project is over, it doesn’t mean it stops there.
As a matter of fact, after I’ve turned thirty, I’ve driven a boat, coordinated a wedding, volunteered as a paparazzi, AND auditioned for a musical (Les Miserables) at a local community theater (I got in!!).

So you see?? Maybe trying EVERYTHING is my niche! Maybe I’m just a master at being a jill of all trades! Maybe life IS my bliss!
Maybe I had it all wrong. Maybe we aren’t supposed to have just ONE passion or purpose in life.  

                                              
 
Who knows? I’m no expert, but I do know that right now, at this very moment, is the youngest I’ll ever be… and I don’t plan on wasting my youth by moping about, complaining about the things that could have been, kicking and screaming about my limitations… But instead, I choose to celebrate the things I can do, and be grateful for them. I choose to be proactive, and seek out adventure that makes me feel INFINITE! I choose to be mobile, and continue to discover different places, music, food, and cultures of the world! When I am faced with a situation where I have to ask myself, “Why” – I choose instead to ask, “Why not?” … And to opportunities, suggestions, favors, or invitations where I would normally say “no” – I choose to say, “YES.”

And I hope you do too!

Lastly, I’d like to leave you with a nice blessing, borrowed from our friend, Neil Gaiman…

“May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.” ♥

Thanks for reading, guys. It’s been a pleasure.

xoxo,
Eartha