South America: Preparation

I am preparing for my trip to Argentina and Brazil. I have recently been accepted into medical school and before I begin this challenging and exciting journey I continue with my travels, and passion to see the world. I have set some goals for this trip:

1) To immerse myself in the history, culture, food, and natural surroundings of the places I visit

2) To meet locals and fellow travelers learning about their lives and experiences

3) To read, exercise, and practice my Spanish daily

4) To remain present in my surroundings learning and experiencing some thing new everyday

Peru

Photo by Alyse Gilbert

Home

Photo by Alyse Gilbert

Cuba

Cuba a fascinating place. Food rations, separate tourist and local economies, but if you get away from the old city you see how Cubans live. They play baseball in the streets, blast music out their windows, cook pizzas from their roof tops. While the country is poor the culture is thriving, incredible art, beautiful dark skinned women. People gather at the Malecone for a late night drink or smoke, or stand in line at Coppela for a cold ice cream. It is a country of two worlds--the few elite and the working class. While you don't see beggars in the street, houses are crumbling and food is scarce. While health care is provided to all, the state hospital looks old and warn down. But the old cars still run and the streets still filled with young vibrant people.

Nyanga

Namib Desert

The great Namib Desert is truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever been, peaceful, tranquil, the most incredible night skies I have ever seen

Paradise

One passion, I have surely identified in my life, is the passion to see the world. I wish to see the world in its many forms--history, food, people, livelihoods, communities, traditions, health and well being. These photos were taken in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. I spent time in a Xhosa community, not far from where Neslon Mandela was born. This place was truly paradise with its ocean views, rolling hills, and a welcoming community. While people still had to walk miles to school or the local health clinic, surrounding communities gathered to play football using wooden logs as goal posts, the women weaved beautiful baskets, families cooked us food and sold us their medicines and crops.

Simon certainly new how to roll a joint

Reflection

Before I look at the present, I want to reflect on the past with a series of experiences that have shaped who I am, my passions, and joys in life