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.