Six months and a failure steer the ship

Can you believe that it has been just over SIX-MONTHS since I hopped on that plane and headed to Buenos Aires?  Me neither!  All-in-all I’d say it’s been an overwhelming success.  I couldn’t have planned it any better (and thank goodness I didn’t try).  If someone would have told me that in a span of 6-months in South America I would have:

…visited nearly the entire country of Argentina

…made hundreds of new friends

…spent 100+ hours on dozens of buses

…trekked Machu Picchu w/ my mom and sister

…and joined the first rugby club ever to exist in Peru

I wouldn’t have believed a word of it.  Not one.  Well, YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT, because I’m half-way through this adventure and the fun has only just begun!!!

Having settled in quite comfortably here in Lima, my ‘exciting’ stories are few and far between.   I wouldn’t ask for it to be any different.  On my daily bike ride to work I am often left pinching myself, reminding myself that I am living in South America, alone on this amazing journey.  Well, the next thing I know, my bike breaks; great.  Yes, this is the same bike THAT ISN’T EVEN MINE!  It’s not enough that I am an American, wearing dress clothes, riding a bike that it is too small for me, in Peru; I was now pushing myself along the busy roads holding a bike pedal in my hand, thankful that the way home was mostly downhill.  I was devastated! My new found means of transportation, exercise and penny-saver had failed me.  Luckily, my buddies’ dad is a carpenter and works out of his garage just five blocks down the road from me.  With just a few minor adjustments to the bike, disaster was averted.  I was back on the road!

I want to once again thank everyone who voted for me in the Isla Palenque Intern contest.  A further thanks goes out to those who spent the extra time emailing their friends and family encouraging them to vote as well!  It was fun to dream and as a result I may have stumbled onto another unique opportunity.  

Bastimentos Island, Panama

After seeing my video submission, a friend of mine from Villanova sent me a message stating the following (in summary): “Hey Ryan, my sister’s best friend and her boyfriend moved to Panama last year to start up a volunteer organization.  I am not sure if that’s something you’re interested in, but if you are going to be in Panama, you should definitely contact them!”  She sent this to me after day two or three of voting, so I was still hopeful that I would move onto round two. Regardless, I am always on the look for a new opportunity, a new country, and a new adventure to take on down here, so I began my pursuit.  After emailing back and forth for the past two weeks, it seems the following opportunity is well within my grasp and on the brink of happening.  The organization is located on Bastimentos Island which is a part of a collection of islands in Panama known as the Bocas del Toro.  On this island, a lovely woman named Margaret and a few others have been working for a few years now within the local community known as Bahia Honda.  Bahia Honda is made up of about 25 families; I assume quite large ones, who have recently developed an elementary school system for their children.  They are now looking to initiate a pre-school program and it looks like I will be lucky enough to take part in this challenge.  Literally, starting from the ground-up, I will be part of the inaugural group of teachers (I think there may be 3 or 4 of us) to get the ball rolling.  Details are still very unknown and there is a chance it will fall through, in which case, there are multiple other volunteer opportunities I can help with.  Furthermore, Margaret has a 3-year old son who would need looking after three times a week.  In return for all of my services, they would provide room/board and a small stipend.  I would have all weekends off, and during the week would spend most of my time entertaining guests at the gorgeous lodge that Margaret runs as well.  Clearly things are still getting worked out and nothing is set in stone, but the opportunity has me giddy and excited thinking about where this South American adventure will bring me.  Enough so, that I felt the need to inform my readers!

Last note for now; tomorrow I will be competing in my first rugby game in about a year and a half!  I have been a dedicated player and attended nearly every practice since my arrival here in Lima.  As a result, I have been practicing and starting with the first team.  Though I am not certain, all signs point to me starting in tomorrow’s game against Old Markham’s (my club) biggest rival Newton.  I must admit this is the most nervous I have been going into competition in quite some time.  I hope to represent the USA well and will be sure to report back on how the game went! 

"Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm."

~ Sir Winston Churchill