Round and Round and Round We Go

In Which, I Describe How I (Wish I Had) Packed

So this is the first post that's not directly related to stuff we've done lately or what we're up to now. This one has actually been rolling around in my head and even been sitting here in my drafts for a while since it's something I run into just about every time I leave the apartment.  

I've discovered that packing to go live in another country is vastly different than packing to travel. I had a slight inkling of this before we moved, but now I'm really wishing I had paid more attention to the differences between the two.

The biggest difference, in my opinion, is the fact that you're going to live somewhere (DUH), not just travel through it for a few days/weeks. Unless you're someone who normally lives in Lululemon or NorthFace-everything (I'm neither), then you will want regular clothes. And by regular, I mean whatever you normally wear on a day-to-day basis, while keeping the local weather of the place you're moving to in mind.

For me, this means jeans, tshirts, sweaters and flats. I brought 2 pairs of jeans, a plethora of tshirts, and one pair of flats. I'm not entirely sure what I was thinking. Maybe 'balance' or 'equity amongst clothes' or something like that. I don't know.

Now that we've been here for a few months, I find myself wishing I had packed according to the following -

1. More jeans. Seriously. I could've brought at least 4 more pairs, preferably in multiple colors and washes. They love colorful jeans here, and I'm sad I left my yellow ones at home.
2. Fewer tshirts/more business-casual shirts. I'm not sure how I forgot, but the Hispanic culture loves to dress up. And I don't mean fancy-schmancy, but they typically don't go out running errands looking like slobs. I've grown up around Puerto Ricans, Dominicans and Colombians my entire life, I've seen it every day, and yet I still managed to forget it. Tshirts are great for a casual trip to the park, but when I want to hit up a cafe for breakfast or go out in the evening with friends, a tshirt just isn't making the cut.
3. Fewer skirts. I'm in the mountains, y'all. The ANDES MOUNTAINS. I'm 8500+ feet above sea-level. It's frequently sunny and 70+ degrees, but it's also JUST as frequently rainy, cloudy and 50 degrees. If anything, I would've been better off bringing capris or long shorts. Skirts will be good for when we go to the beach, but until then, they're basically just taking up room in my closet. 
4. More flats. Now, this one I am slightly conflicted on. I love to be comfy, and walking for 3 hours on uneven concrete sidewalks or cobblestone roads or in the dirt is NOT comfy. My Sperrys are pretty darn amazing at delivering comfy, but they're also pretty darn beat up. Plus, going to the discoteca in Sperrys is just a huge faux-paus.
5. Sweats. OMG. I DIDN'T BRING ANY. I really wish I had brought at least one of my sweatshirts and a pair of comfy lounge pants. I sleep hot, so I was only thinking about pajama-wear, but I totally didn't think about lounge-about-the-house wear! In case you haven't heard, we're 9,000 ft above sea-level. I also spend a good portion of most days inside, either in the morning (when it's chilly) or in the evening (when it's chilly). Since we don't have (or really need) any central heat and since I didn't bring any sweats with me, I end up bundling up with the blankets in bed in order to stay warm.

This is me in the morning

So, to sum up, I would've brought more jeans, more business-casual shirts, fewer skirts, more flats/business casual shoes and DEFINITELY some sweats.  

That being said, honestly I didn't do too bad. Most of the wardrobe that I have is solidly middle of the road, leaning slightly towards casual. It's only really noticeable when I've got something a bit nicer to go to, like, a baby shower (more on that later).

This is definitely a case of "you live and learn." Thankfully, my learning experience doesn't have to last for too long. When we visit in October, I'll be sure to rectify my clothing imbalances to the best of my ability. 

Just Around the River Bend

In which, I use Disney to fully describe my feelings

This will actually probably happen quite frequently since I'm a huge Disney fan. I grew up in the middle of the Disney renaissance, with Beauty and the Beast, the Little Mermaid, and, my absolute most-favorite movie of all time hands-down - the Lion King. It just doesn't get any better than hakuna matata, my friends.

Pocahontas has grabbed my attention again recently, mainly for its absolutely fabulous lyrics and music (and the always hilarious duo of Meeko and Flit). I mean, when you have a line like, "With all you got in ya boys, Dig up Virginia boys!' you're pretty much an absolute genius.

One of my most-favorite songs in Pocahontas is Just Around the River Bend. Her father wants her to settle down and be 'steady as the beating drum,' building a family and a stable life. She disagrees and yearns for the unknown, whatever life's got for her just around the river bend.

It's funny, because, as a pragmatic little 7-year-old, when I first saw the movie, I used to think of Pocahontas as selfish and foolish, throwing away safety and security just for excitement and adventure. And what ended up happening? John Smith got shot and they both ended up with broken hearts! Don't look to closely at my angst over this, I was a very strange child.

Rediscovering these songs over the past few years was a joy, like finding $20 in a jacket you hadn't worn in forever. Hearing Just Around the River Bend again, it was amazing to examine how my heart and outlook on life had changed.

We're leaving for Ecuador in three weeks. It's definitely 'around the river bend.' I feel excited and scared and hesitant and elated and unsure and confident, all in one big messy lump. A friend described it as fascinating and fun and big and scary and wonderful - to which I said yes! And my inner 7-year-old is telling me to not be ridiculous, that life isn't meant to be those things. Life is meant to be stable, to be secure. Not unknown and scary.

I don't have a concerned father telling me to give up my childish ways and settle into life (although, maybe he should've told me to STICK with my childish ways), but I do have friends and family who don't understand our decision. That's fine, I don't expect everyone to understand. It's not the usual life choice, that's for sure.

We want to see what's beyond our shore, beyond our current horizon. We want to experience it, taste it fully, live life outside of the safe-zone, the zone where we know all the variables. That's a little weird, I know, but that's where we are. There's nothing wrong with the life we're leaving, the life that so many people live. It's a good life. We just want something different. Something a little further down the river.

And who knows, maybe my inner 7-year-old will actually start acting her age.