10 Things I miss about South America

Now that I've been home for a few weeks, I figured I'd throw up another Top Ten, but this time let me give South America its due...

10. The Airlines- I flew two of them while I was down there, LAN and TACA and each provided incredible experiences. It’s easy to forget that you are actually flying International flights, because the tickets to fly in and around South America were very comparable in price to flying around the U.S. The difference in service and quality was no comparison however. From the touch-screen video screen for each individual passenger to watch whatever movie he or she chooses to the complimentary glass of wine after the meal, flying coach in South America was almost as nice as First Class here at home.

9. The Parties- I’ve mentioned this in previous blogs but do the South Americans love to party, sing and dance- especially the Peruvians! It wasn’t that they partied any harder than we do- just more frequently with more themes, costumes, etc.

8. Cheap Bootlegs – They were everywhere, on every corner it seemed. Music, movies, software… any type of media you need was within walking distance to wherever you might be. Best of all, it was dirt cheap. Being home brought back the reality of the $4.80 rental at Blockbuster. For that price down there you could own at least 3 or 4 brand new movies or even the entire Rosetta Stone language software collection! (Not that I would suggest doing such a thing.... and I can now say that in 27 different languages)

7. Hostels – One of the most asked questions I get regarding my trip, “You went by yourself??” Hostels make traveling South America by yourself an easy task. It doesn’t matter what day you check in, there’s always someone there who is also traveling solo who could use someone to tag along with for a day or two of excursions. I guess it isn't the Hostels themselves that I miss, but instead its the constant meeting of new and different people from around the world.

6. The Signs – You have no idea how a simple sign, or a t-shirt or anything that’s got a not-so-perfectly translated phrase written on it, can totally make your day. Case in point, take this person's shirt for example:

Thank God for camera phones!

5. The Music – The radio stations all feature a pretty good mixture of old U.S. hits and South American jams. The Latin music totally grew on me- quickly.

4. Cheap Prices – The cost of living was so low. Bottle of water for less than 50 cents, plate lunches for 2 bucks…. I could go on and on, but you get the idea.

3. Not Driving – For 3 months I didn’t drive a car. Riding in a bus or cab, biking or walking were the only ways to get from one place to another. What first felt like an inconvenience eventually felt like a blessing. No need to pay close attention to the road, no need to worry about directions and best of all, for 3 full months I never uttered the words, “Where are my keys?”

2. The Kids- The children that I worked with in Peru were the best. Having their little faces perk up when we would arrive each day for class was something that really made a difference in the day. My days back at home don’t have that.

1. Mrs. Gladys and The Carerra Family in Ecuador – I grew really, really close to that family. They took care of me for the first month of my 3-month stay in South America- at the time when I was most vulnerable. Their love and support was something I will never, ever forget.

I will hopefully be going back there very soon to visit them all. So, to Brandon, Ronald, Alexandra, Elizabeth, Mr. Gonzalo and Mrs. Gladys (if you are able to read this)- I love you guys and I miss you all so much!