Life and Loss: To Theo

Slightly somber post ahead!

In the midst of organizing and planning a load of travel and updating you all on my South African adventures so far, I was hit with the unexpected; losing a loved one while abroad. Death is the only outcome that we know to be guaranteed in this life and it is such an integral and unwavering aspect of human existence yet, it never gets easier to accept.

What happened? Long story short, my uncle went into the hospital with one large issue, which was ultimately corrected as a slew of other issues came tumbling down (on which an autopsy will shed light, hopefully).

The thing about living this Bonderman experience is that your reality is skewed. While you’re building new relationships, experiences, ideas, beliefs, understandings and sharing them with your loved ones, their lives move too. People go to grad school, they get married, babies are conceived and born, people hurt, they discover new things, they find happiness, and sadly, people die, with you there or not. Though that seems pretty obvious, it became extremely apparent to me.

My family is so close and so loving and I know they sat 30 or more deep in this hospital waiting room for days, showing love and supporting my aunt. All I wanted to do was be there. I did have the option to go home but decided coming back to travel after going home in that time would have ruined me. Also, I was reminded over and over and over that my uncle NEVER would have wanted or ¨allowed¨ me to come home. Keeping in mind his unwavering jealousy of my travel experience (hehe) and even less waivering PRIDE that he never hesitated to express, I know that the best way to honor him would be to continue my plans and make the best of this experience.

I’ll tell you a little about the man. Theo was crazy! Haha, the good kind of crazy. The life of the party type of crazy. He was the over-sized, over aged kid that all the kids loved. The one that would never say no to them, had zero impatience for them and believed wholeheartedly in letting kids be kids in all their glory. He had a love for the universe and all things sci-fi and a voice so strong he could nearly get you to love it too. One could always depend on him to walk around the corner, from seemingly nowhere, and insert the most ridiculous, probably off topic comment into otherwise respectable conversations. And you could guarantee that he’d do anything for you if you offered a steak and a gallon of milk...not sure why he loved milk so much. Granted, he'd do it without those offers as well. This man is well loved and loves well. I have no questions about how much he loves me.

Okay, teary eyed me is done for the moment but I will share a few last things. Below are a few commercials that featured my uncle, and his voice as well as family photos.

Theo as Frank (we laughed about this for some time)

He is the voice of the Cavs App

Me photo-bombing my aunt and uncle

This is normal

Uncles, Aunts, Parents and Grandma bringing in 2015

Hello from South Africa

The Cape!

Good morning from Storms River, Western Cape, South Africa. Boy, do I have some stories for you all. But of course, those will be found in story time, later.

I've been settling here pretty well and yesterday marked two weeks that I've been here (time flies). I spent my first week in Johannesburg after a pretty horrible travel experience. In that time, I was invited by another traveler to join her for am 11 day road trip up the coast of SA from Cape Town back to Joburg, and that's where I am now. Because we only have 11 days we're moving super fast with adventure filled days and it's been pretty freaking awesome. Once I settle again for a day or two I will update you all on my first 3 weeks in Africa.

On a more serious note.

A while back I decide to start keeping notes on my experiences and thoughts about my identities while abroad and how they compare to what I've thought or experienced at home. Since then, I've been asked by many others looking to apply for Bonderman as well as staff to chime in on identities abroad. This has turned into a pretty lengthy and multifaceted project and I will begin making smaller posts from it after I update. So look out for that.

In closing, I have nothing else to say :)

Hope you all have a beautiful day.

VIDEO!!! Oh, and bye Brazil

Oi!! Today is my last day (now marks the final 12 hours) here in Brazil and I couldn't be more excited to make my way over to South Africa! As I mentioned before, I was working on a video and I have now posted it, well some of it. So, go check out my AMAZING ADVENTURES. Thanks!

31/12/14...

   Happy almost New Year everyone! I hope the holidays were filled with love and family and everything you ever wished for. I'm doing well out here, currently in Rio de Janeiro where I decided to spend my holiday season with a special guest. I have had an amazing time here in Brazil and it is sitting at the top of my ¨Countries I will definitely revisit¨ list.
   I am working on a video to compile some of the amazing people I've met and moments I captured but technology has apparently taken a holiday break on me so things are taking a bit longer to upload. HOWEVER, it will be awesome. In the mean time, check out my 'cities' link in the toolbar (or the link here) for some info and pictures on my time in Salvador, Lençóis, and Rio de Janeiro. See you all in 2015!!

Até mais tarde. Tchau galera!

Merry Christmas

         

            Merry Christmas, Feliz Natal and happy holiday season to everyone! From Rio de Janiero 

12/12/14

Hello blog! Long time no see.

I will start with this; I have found it hard to speak about myself, to write a blog about my travels and daily life when my mind has been so deeply thoughtful and I sit silently on the recent grand jury decisions, the conditions in Ferguson, and other things that hit home for me while abroad. With no words for those events, I didn't want to say anything at all. Standing as an representative of the Bonderman fellowship, the University of Michigan and the United States among many other things while abroad, I try my best to give the most accurate information and debunk as many stereotypes as I can while also telling truths that are often glossed over. At least 75% of the people I've had cultural conversations with think America is LA, Miami, New York, Hollywood, rich wild frat parties, rednecks, segregation, guns and freedom for all...among other things.

I have to explain that yes, those things exist but none of them are completely definitive of America(ns). As a person who fits almost none of the wide perceptions of the visage of America, I have no choice but to speak of the lesser known facets of my home. I try my best to speak for only myself and include that there are other people who have or have had similar experiences, but in some cases, that is not possible. I find myself having to tell people things like, no, there isn't just open fire all over the US with bullets flying at black people and that racism is no longer white hoods and burning crosses, while simultaneously telling them that it kind of is. And thing like, every kid in college isn't rich, and white and not every college (or high school) student is a sex crazed drunk. 'This happens but....',  'Some do this but...',  'There are people that....', 'I never had that...',  'I know plenty of people that...'. At times I've been so lost for words because I have lost so much respect.

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In the midst of these conversations and the things happening at home, I am enjoying the world that I'm getting to know. Currently making my way through Brazil, mastering the Portuguese language, and falling in love with the culture of capoeira, all in the company of some amazing people from all over the world. I worked some time in an AMAZING hostel in Montevideo before making my flight up to Salvador, Bahia, Brazil for 2 weeks. My first weekend was pretty rough, after I spent my first day feeling really lost and displaced with a language I wasn't at all familiar with (in spoken form). That Monday I began my classes and created my new temporary social circle of awesome people who, in addition to my roommates, would make my entire time in Salvador so unforgettable.

I have some awesome picture adventures to share very soon. Until then, peace.

One down...

Wow, I am not doing well with keeping up here. Welp, procrastination is my specialty (I'm working on it).

Argentina, what can say? Well now that I am in Uruguay I guess I can say, thank you. Thank you for the awesome 7 weeks you showed me, for your hospitality, for your lack there of, for catching me up on all the red meat I hadn't eaten in four years, for shaping my Spanish accent into a sea of 'sh' sounds so that I now sound like a Porteño, for Lomos and Panchos and the 42,000 cheek kisses that greeted me at every meeting. Thank you for the wine of Mendoza, the smiles of Cordoba, the floods of Tigre, the awesome people everywhere and the HORRIBLE last week you gave me. Thank you for allowing me to check you off my bucket list after 7 years of strong desire (thanks to Senora Olivera), and finally, thank you for setting such a high bar for the rest of the world that I will see during this adventure.

My direct route since Córdoba (omits side trips)