Well, I’ve only got two more days of class and four more days until I hop on a plane to Ecuador. Although I’m not entirely sure what I’m getting myself into, I haven’t started to worry too much about it yet. I have a round-trip airline ticket that satisfies all of my destinations from now until I return home on December 29th. And as far as I know, I have someone to pick me up from the airport in Quito as well as a place to stay.
I don’t speak Spanish at all, but I’m taking a two week intensive language class upon arrival in Quito… 7 hours/day of one-on-one instruction, plus an apartment to live in, and other niceties for only $560. Not bad. Once I’m done with that I start my volunteer work on the Maquipucuna Reserve. Not quite 100% sure what I will be doing there… I know it has something to do with organic gardening and sustainable agriculture, and that I will be living with a family and helping out in their daily lives… which is good enough for me! It’s only about $290/month for everything. So I’m hoping I can get away with spending less than $2,000 over the summer.
Sometime in July, if I’m lucky, my girlfriend Jenna will fly down to Ecuador to visit me for a few days!
Then on September 4th I leave the ground once again and fly to Costa Rica, where I will be participating in the UGA Ecology Study Abroad program for the entire Fall semester. I’ll be back in “school” and working with other students again. I’ve met a few of them already and I think I will get along with a couple really well. It should be interesting… I think one or two of them have never been away from home before. A few of my friends have been on this program in previous years and said it is amazing. I think I will learn more than I can imagine at this point.
I’ll be back to Atlanta on December 29th. Just in time for New Years Eve.
I will miss all my friends. But it’s a good opportunity to send postcards. If I have your address, you will get one. If I don’t have it then you should post it here in the comments.
There’s no telling what my internet access will be like while I’m gone. I’m going to keep a paper journal and take lots of photos (I have enough storage space for 30 gigabytes). When time permits I will update this space with information and if I’m able, photos.
In the meantime, if you’re tech savvy you can subscribe to the RSS Feed and get automatic notifications whenever I add a new entry.
/end
Have a great time!
hey bro,
i didn’t realize you weren’t coming back before your costa rica trip! sorry, we didn’t get to go bowling. or anything really. but when you get back… i’m not sure where i will be living… so here is corie’s address, she’ll be in the same place, and i’m over there all the time. love keith
180 wilkerson street athens, ga 30601
ben,
hello there ya lucky bastard, it seems as though life is treating you well somewhere out there. same ol at the farm, picking some veggies. the restaurant opened. friday night dub played and saturday grogus. kids everywhere dancing and $2 tall boy PBR. they start serving food this week. by the time you get back the restaurant will actually be on its feet. did you know sallie had her baby, his name was obie and then dr. J changed it to duke. lame. squash bugs are plaguing my life. let me know how the ag scene is over there. i could go on about farm stuff but it would take too much space. thats radical that you are taking 2 week, 7hr, one on one spanish.. you should be fluent by the end. too many pictures for me to scan but let me know when you get to the farm and i’ll check them out.
be safe on your travels brother.
e
1284 e. broad st. 30601
by the way, this shit is super high tech… a lot to take in for a wannabe pioneer farmer.
It’s been a while my friend, good to see that you’re doing well and traveling the world. I’ll catch up to you someday. Until then, sign me up for the postcard. Your pictures are amazing! Good luck and be safe!
Pimpdaddysupreme 2518 Blair Blvd Upper Apartment Nashville, TN 37212