Who is She?

Well, after just a week of being back in the US, I've felt the pinch of reality and my sense self wane in this familiar but strange land. Due to serious technical difficulties the last leg of Chile will have to remain as wild and free as you're willing to make it.

Cavancha Beach

Jellies Everywhere !!

Iquique: Clear waters, white sand, and dry brown mountains enclose the small but bustling beach town of Iquique. As the hot sun bears down on Cavancha Beach, it's the perfect day to sit and reflect on the end a pretty big personal accomplishment. Breaking only to take a dip in the pleasantly warm, jellyfish infested water and to eat at a small sandwich shop I have taken a liking to called Ola Tsunami Sandwich shop.

Leaving the Desert

San Pedro 

In eight months, I have learned about people, myself, and life. I've learned that the English language is fascinating and excruciatingly difficult all at the same time. I've learned that teaching is really fun, despite the difficulties that you will face. Lastly, I've learned that although it would be hard to live so far from family, my family in Chile-by which I mean my host family, friends, students, and teachers-would make it worth it.

Laguna Chaxa

My time in Chile, helped me remember something I have a tendency to forget. Life isn't what happens to you. Life is many things: complicated, painful, and colorful. However, life isn't a spectator sport, it's a participatory one. It's choices, consequences, and actions. Life is great, if you let it be. We are free to change and leave our demons behind. Hopefully, we remember the shadows in our lives so that they don't resurface anew. We are free to love or not love, and to laugh heartily. But it's up to you.

Laguna Miscanti

Cerro Santa Lucia

Santa Cristobal

Eight months, slowly thawed and finally got through the ice that had numbed my ability to be me. The warmth of the people and their love for me, healed me, and is preparing me to love others.

San Pedro de Atacama: It's frickin hot. The Atacama desert is beautiful, and true to description dry and arid. Volcanoes rise in the distance across the salt flats. Laguna Cejar gives us chance to cool off in the salty water, which lets you float without effort. Three types of flamingos reside in the salt flats in the reserva we visit: James, Chilean and Andino (andean). The Chilean flamingo, our guide and self-proclaimed Nicholas Cage of the Atacama says, is the easiest to find because it's always dancing cueca.

As I board an overnight bus to Santiago, the hours begin slipping away. I'm going 'home', whatever that word means. I worry. Will I remember who I am? Will I know where I belong? Will people know me?

My name is Jameisha Washington. I am a woman, daughter, sister, friend, athlete, teacher, doctor, comedian, punchline, cook, and so many things. In each season of life, I will always be me and the stories I live. 

 

Thanks for reading, miss all of you in Chile. Merry Christmas and happy holidays. Lots of love.

The First Fake Ending

Dearest Friends,

Thanks for all of your support so far, this is going to be rather short and bland as compared to my previous efforts. At the moment I'm writing you from the arid beach town of Iquique. After spending much time at the end of the world, I've headed to the northern regions of Chile. At the moment I still expect to be home December 11, 2013.

We arrived in Santiago, November 29, 2013 and as soon we walked into Balmaceda airport things seemed different. Adam, Pawel, and I were getting on a plane to Santiago. We made small talk, "How were your goodbyes? How exciting is this?!?!" Yeah. It's exciting. However, it feels a lot like I just left home, not like I'm going home. Walking around the sprawling city of Santiago, I felt like a zombie, this isn't my home and it's so freaking hot. Oh yeah, it's hot and we walked around the city like people stuck in a different time. Intermittent conversations helped pass the time, however it felt awfully like those of people forced together by time and space. The fact is, Coyhaique has stolen my heart. Reflecting on my experience with other volunteers made realize the magnitude of my decision to come to Chile. When I went to Uganda, I knew I was coming back and that I was only studying. Here, I was living. I am a member of the community.

Iquique: After a ridiculously long 26 hour bus ride, largely filled with landscapes vaguely reminiscent of California, we made it. It's pleasantly warm, and as we speak 10:30pm my time, I'm still comfortable in my sundress. Watching the waves crash of the ocean, makes me think of San Diego. After, cooking dinner, my plans of a vegetarian meal were interrupted, as an older gentleman offered me fresh caught and cooked fish. He's from Basque country and his accent is a little hard to understand. Well here's to the life of intrigue and circumstance. Let the first fake ending of this adventure live on. Pictures soon, I promise. I plan on

Lots of love,
Jameisha