travel...

what a privilege to travel. i, as a middle-class, white, north american have SO MUCH access to travel. its terrible, actually. its terrible that i can buy flights so cheap and use so much petroleum, a resource that we are depleting from the earth, with virtually no accountability or consequence other than that of my own conscious and the realities of a lessening of these natural resources every day for uses such as mine (air travel). its unfair that i can enter all central american countries without being asked for a visa, without being questioned, without problem, while my good friends and co-workers from colombia have to pay hundreds of dollars, go through tedious and extremely long visa processes, and show every document known to human kind before they are welcomed to these same countries. and that's IF they get the visa (if not, they have just lost all that time, money, and emotional energy). i can't stand that my us passport gives me so much privilege to enter other countries freely, while that same us nation won't allow ANY of those countries enter onto our land. its hard to know what to do with the privilege (a privilege which sometimes i hate because of its inequality)...the ability to travel...when so many don't have it, for example my good friends here in colombia!

and yet, its a gift. seeing other parts of the world, different cultures, different people with different thoughts and ways of doing things - it is enriching and i give thanks for the ways travel, amidst all these difficulties/challenges/inequalities, has taught me to see and know a world much bigger than myself. i continue to struggle with privilege. i suppose it will be something i struggle with all my life...seems depressing, although i believe that it should be like that. those of us who sit in positions of privilege better never feel comfortable with it!

travel was on my mind the past month as i visited family in belize and bussed down through central america to arrive in managua, nicaragua for MCC orientation with the Seeders. it was a rich experience to see central america, its rich indigenous roots, its incredible tortillas (just a bit different in each country), mcc's diverse projects and offices in each country, and the lovely countryside viewed during HOURS of bus rides.

being in belize, however, was the most rewarding. after a number of months of plenty of work and planning, it was phenomenal to relax for a week and hang out with family. family is a blessing i miss more and more the more time i am away, and every chance i have to be with them, i am grateful for. here are some pictures from belize...

beautiful beaches...

incredible food! tamales...yum

awesome creole

colorful sights of the streets

and lots of family time...
cousin chris, miriam and omar!

we had good times together

and my birthday cake!!! haha, love it.

we are now back in colombia with the Seeders. it has been an incredibly busy week, but the group is great and i'll write more reflections on that later. much love to all...

ps. here's a clip of an mcc movie that features me and some of what we do with Seed here in colombia, if you're interested: http://blip.tv/play/gdYogr%2BMAQA i hope that works!