YOU CAN GET KILLED WALKING YOUR DOGGIE!!!

Santa Monica, CA: Fans of the movie Heat will know exactly where the title comes from. LAPD officer Vincent Hanna, played by Al Pacino, is looking for information about a big criminal bank hit. He looks for answers from an informant named Richard. Richard is freaking out about giving him the information, but feels he has to.

RICHARD: Man, I can get killed for telling you some of this stuff.
VINCENT HANNA: You can get killed walking your doggie! (yelling, in the loud Al Pacino tone).

I've been on top of the latest concerning the "swine flu outbreak" since it was first reported. I dare say i've read and researched more about it than anyone reading this blog. One, because I have more time on my hands, and two, because it's of great interest to me at this time.

Travel to Mexico has been outright banned by Cuba and Argentina. The European Union and Canada are strongly discouraging travellers from heading to Mexico. The U.S. is advising travellers to avoid "non-essential" trips to Mexico.

But let's look at the facts.

As of this writing there have been 159 deaths related to swine flu in Mexico. Mexico's health secretary, Jose Cordova, late Tuesday called the death toll there "more or less stable."

There are a approximately 2,000 documented cases of swine flu in Mexico.

Mexico City is the second largest city in the world. Greater Mexico City has a population of approximately 22 million people. It is very overcrowded.

Mexico as a country has approximately 120million people within its borders.

Now divide 159 by 120 million, and you'll get the probability of anyone dying from the swine flu virus in Mexico.

You have a better chance of being struck by lightning, getting hit by a car, getting into a car accident of any kind, or getting killed walking your doggie!

You should also know that approximately 36,000 people die from the flu every year, and that's just in the U.S. (source: CDC website).

The World Health Organization has raised its alert level, but has not called for travel restrictions or border closures.

My point is, I know the virus is real, and precautions should be taken. But is the news capitalizing on fear? What do you think? Especially channels 9, 11, and 13 in Los Angeles. Although 2, 4, 5 and 7 aren't much better. You'll get more factual information on TMZ than those local news channels. They are more or less tabloid shows at this point.

159 deaths is nothing to sneeze at, no pun intended. It's sad and tragic when anyone dies of a disease. But there are precautions that can be taken to minimize your chances of contracting the virus. Wash your hands, wear the Michael Jackson mask, and don't put your fingers in your mouth. Do you ever notice how many times your hands are in or near your mouth. Or your ears or nose? Take a look at the guy next to you, next time you're driving down the road. Chances are at a stop light he'll have his hands near his face. One, that's disgusting, and two, that's how you risk contracting a flu virus.

Right now in Mexico City, everyone is on high alert. Washing their hands, wearing protective masks, and going to the hospital at any sign of flu-like symptoms. I won't claim there is no risk in going, but as of today, I have no plans of revising my travel itinerary.

The World Health Organization has raised its alert level, but has not called for travel restrictions or border closures. I trust WHO more than I trust the judgment of Cuba, or Argentina.

So unless you know something I don't...and remember I read updates every hour on this, then just pray for me, because i'm going. If you tell me how dangerous it is out there, without any new information, i'll tell you the same thing Vincent Hanna told Richard...you can get killed walking... well you get it.

That being said, thank you to all who have shown genuine concern. I would never do anything to jeopordize my life unnecessarily. If you know me, you know I am very risk averse. I have never broken a bone in my body, even as a kid, because I would never stretch myself to the limit. I always played it safe. This is no different. Right now, with all the information we have, going to Mexico City on May 11th is ok. Precautions must be taken, but there is no need for panic. The one thing spreading faster than the swine flu, is the hysteria created by the news trying to attract viewers. We sure do love a good scare, don't we.

Define "non-essential"

Santa Monica, CA: I've finally bought my camera, an Olympus 850sw, with all the essential features. Waterproof, shockproof and dust proof. Now i'm in the process of learning to use it, not learning how to use it, but learning to take it with me and getting used to taking pictures. It's like anything else, you have to get into the habit of doing it. Kind of like blogging. It doesn't come natural to log into a blog everyday and write about what happened to you that day. But I must get into the habit. Of both blogging and taking pictures. My family has so much as required it of me.

I'm supposed to check in at least every other day, or they'll send a search team to come find me. I do appreciate the concern, but it is unlikely I will have the ability to blog every other day, much less the desire. But I do promise my mom and grandma, that i'll check in at least twice a week. Although you shouldn't send a search team until at least two weeks have passed!

Here are some frequently asked questions about the trip.

WHERE
I'm off to Latin America for one year. My trip will begin in Mexico City (I know, i've heard all about it), and continue to Guatemala. Below is a list of countries, and the cities I tentatively plan to visit. I imagine the list will increase during my trip.

Guatemala - I plan to start in Flores and visit the Tikal ruins which are near by, then head over to Rio Dulce, where i'll volunteer at Casa Guatemala Orphanage for two weeks. From Rio Dulce, i'll move on to Guatemala City, which is the capital, then to Antigua, a small colonial town, then to Panajachel, which is on Lake Atitlan, and off to El Salvador.
El Salvador - Just two cities in El Salvador. I'll start in the capital, San Salvador, where i'll spend two weeks volunteering at a children's home for neglected children, La Casa de Mi Padre. Then to the Pacific Coast beach town of La Libertad. Very good surf there, not that I surf. Maybe i'll take lessons.
Honduras - I'll start in the capital, Tegucigalpa, then almost immediately head to La Cieba, which is on the Carribean Coast, where i'll spend two weeks at Casa Cielo, an orphanage for kids. From there i'll head back to the capital, then to Nicaragua.
Nicaragua - I'll start in what is said to be the intellectual center of the nation, Leon. It's a city bordering a huge river, and about ten miles from the Pacific Ocean. From Leon, i'll take a bus to Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, and its largest city. From Managua it's off to Granada, a colonial town, which is the most popular among travellers. From Granada i'll head to Rivas, a small beach town close to Costa Rica, also popular among surfers.
Costa Rica - I have absolutely no plans for Costa Rica, I was so tired of researching cities at this point, that I took a break, and decided that I would enter Costa Rica with no plans. I have a feeling i'll find something to do here.
Panama - I'll start in Bocas del Toro, which is on the Carribean Sea, then off to the capital, Panama City. Then to Portobelo, also on the Carribean Sea, but south of Bocas del Toro. From Portobelo i'll catch a sail boat to Colombia. The voyage will take approximately 5 days.
Colombia - Cartagena, Bogota, Cali. If you haven't heard of these cities, you're probably white, or never read the news, or both. JK. But they're all pretty popular cities, and well known.
Ecuador - The capital city, Quito, which is known as the center of the earth, because of its position on the equator. But as my uncle points out, the equator runs all around the Earth, not just Quito. Then to Guayaquil, a really cool beach town, where most Ecuadorians go to vacation, at least that's what i'm told.
Peru - Trujillo, because of its proximity to the border, then to the capital city of Lima, for maybe five minutes, then to Cusco, which is the launching pad to Machu Pichu, and if you haven't heard of Machu Pichu, google it! From Machu Pichu, i'll head to the city of Puno on Lake Titicaca, which borders Peru and Bolivia.
Bolivia - I may stop in the capital city of La Paz, but very shortly, then to Cochabamba. There i'll hopefully connect with another orphanage, but the details have not been worked out yet.
Chile - The port town of Valparaiso, then to the capital, Santiago. I'm sure i'll have to make stops in between. The country is just too big.
Argentina - Buenos Aires, and surrounding cities within a two hour radius. And Iguazu Falls. If you haven't heard of it, google that as well.
Brazil - Sau Paulo, and Rio de Janiero, including Copacabana, and Impanema beach.
Belize - Plane to Belize City, the only plane ride on the entire trip.

WHEN
The trip is scheduled to begin May 11th. Unfortunately, the first city was to be Mexico City, and unless you've been living under a rock for the last week, you've heard about the deadly swine flu virus. As of this writing, my plans have not changed. On May 6th i'll have a better idea of whether or not I should change the first destination. I'm itching to go, so it'll take a lot to stop me. So May 11th, but maybe i'll start somewhere else.

WHO
Me. Michael. Or Miguel as I may come to be known.

WHY
And the most frequently asked question, why? I'll give you the easy answer, why not? But since you can't answer a question with another question, i'll give you a few reasons. And there are multiple reasons, and a number of objectives. Not all can be described in this blog, and not all are as important as others, but they all partially answer the question why.

But perhaps it may be easier to first describe the reasons that don't exist.

girls. No, i'm not going to Latin America to find a wife. I've had a few people ask me if this was my goal, and of course most of them were just joking, but i'm pretty sure that at least two people were very serious. One because I think he was hoping he could come along and find one for himself, and the other because I think he's just dumb. But, no, i'm not out to find a beautiful Latin bride, and bring her back to the states. Not to say that I won't meet any girls while i'm out there, i'm just saying its not my objective. Like I tell anyone who asks, I live in California, there's plenty of beautiful girls right here!

escapism. Escapism is the inclination to retreat from unpleasant realities through diversion or fantasy. In this case, a year long trip to an exotic land! Some people use escapism to retreat from depression or other mental anxieties. While I have my bad days just like everyone else, I must say I live a pretty good life here. I have no reason to want to escape. And like the clever Southwest commercial, "wanna get away!" I haven't done anything so embarrassing that i'm dying to get out of here. Truth be told, I can't wait to get back, and I haven't even left. Everyone that I love and cherish is here, in California, with very few exceptions. And none of those exceptions are in Latin America. I'm not escaping anthing, i'm not running away from responsibilities. On the flip side, I hope that my blog can provide at least temporay escape from a boring day, or the afternoon lull at work. If you ever find yourself drained in your office or cubicle at work, or if inspiration has abandoned you at school, I would hope that you would check out my blog and find some relief from the day to day, and perhaps some motivation. For all those who have said you wish you could come along, but can't because of obligations, I promise to do my best to bring you along through this blog!

find myself. No, can't say that i'm going to find myself. I know who I am, I know who I want to be. Although, i'd be a fool to spend a year outside of my comfortable environment, and not strive to further define my goals, my values, my hopes, and my dreams. I know who I am, and I know what I believe, but to not take the golden opportunity to grow, mentally, socially, and most importantly, spiritually, would be a great mistake. I'm not going on this trip to find myself, but I will go with an open heart and an open mind, and ask God to grant me two things. More love, and more humility. The rest i'll leave up to Him.

So, why? I think it will become more clear as I step out. Almost certainly, it will be a trip of a lifetime. I'll have so much fun, and learn so many things, including fluent spanish! But it may not be until I come back that I realize exactly why.

Today the Center for Disease Control and the State Department issued warnings against travel to Mexico. They encouraged individuals to avoid any "non-essential" travels to Mexico. My phone is off, but I know its a matter of time before people get a hold of me and let me know its not a good idea to go. Maybe it will be a good idea to skip Mexico. But there is no way i'm cancelling this trip. It's essential that I go, at least as I define it.

First things first...

These days, no one is going to "read" a blog unless its filled with pictures. I could write a commentary on that fact, but I won't. I've committed to no "soap-boxing" on this blog, at least not about petty things.

Since no one will read a word I write, I need a camera, in order to post pictures. There are three digital cameras sitting in my room, but none of them belong to me, and worse, none of them work.

So i'm off to Fry's Electronics to buy a decent digital camera. I've done a bit of research, but not much. I think i'm settling with an Olympus 1030sw, waterproof, shockproof, and dustproof. All important features for a one year journey through Latin America.

If any one has a better suggestion, please let me know. Considering no one knows about this blog yet, i'm guessing no one is going to respond! I just had to throw it out there.

I'll start posting reguarly, with pictures, soon. This blog will serve as my primary communication to So Cal while i'm gone on my one year journey.

I'll try to link this site to Myspace and Facebook, since most people have an account on one or the other. I'll blog about my preparation, then blog about my trip, which begins May 11th. I'll have more to say about the trip in later blogs. But first things first, i'm off to get a camera!

-M