Day 1~ Fulbright TGC in Perú!!

 

Peru Cohort in Huaca Pucllana Ruins in Lima 🇵🇪

Where do I even begin??!! 👀

15 American teachers across the US flew into Houston or Miami before flying to Lima on Saturday, June 17!!! We have teachers from Hawai'i, Oregon, Washington (ME!), Colorado, Ohio, New Jersey, Virginia, D.C, and Florida. 

I was running on adrenaline the night I arrived. 7 of us flew from Houston, and arrived around 10:30PM in Lima's Airport... we arrived to the hotel around 1AM, and had to meet at 8:30AM.

This trip is totally different from my previous trips abroad. It will be full days of learning and representing Fulbright. If you're interested, you should check out their programs!! They have so many!! https://fulbrightscholars.org/

Day 1 |  Sunday, June 18th

We started the morning with a Welcome & Agenda Overview, which got me super excited!! We were originally supposed to go on our International Field Experience sometime fall of 2022, so just being here makes it all so real~

Next we had an Introduction to the Peruvian History & Culture, which was very informative!! A few takeaways:

• 48 official original languages: Quechua is the most spoken
• Inca = sacred
• In the past 6 years there has been 6 different presidents. The current president is the 1st female president

After that session we had another very informative session on Foundations of the Peruvian Education System. We had so many questions, our presenter almost did not get through all the slides! 🤣 This was very fascinating to learn about. A few takeaways:

• Ministry of Education provides nationwide curriculum, and is supported by the National Council of Education called Proyector Educativo Nacional
• The minimum percentage that the nation must invest in education is 6% of their GDP
• There are three types of basic education
1. Regular Basic Education (EBR)
2. Special Basic Education (EBE)
3. Alternative Basic Education (EBA)
• Regular Basic Education includes:
1. Preschool | Ages 3-5 years old (*no curriculum, just be kids!) 
2. Primary School | 1° grade through 6°, Ages 6 - 12
3. Secondary School | 1° grade through 5°, Ages 12 - 17

We had such an informative morning session, it was nice to have the afternoon to enjoy lunch and see the ruins.

*I am still curious to learn and hear about how average Peruvians view education.

PORT.u.gal w/ JESS 👯‍♀️🇵🇹

 

Douro River in Pinhão 

Lisboa | 16 - 2o may [4 nights]

• Time Out Market Lisbon https://www.timeoutmarket.com/lisboa/en/
• Pink Street Lisbon
• Santa Justa Lift (Elevador de Santa Justa)
• Belém Tower
• Pasteis de Belém https://pasteisdebelem.pt/en/ 
• Cascais https://www.lonelyplanet.com/portugal/lisbon/cascais
• Sintra Pena Palace https://www.parquesdesintra.pt/en/plan-your-visit/tickets-palace-of-pena/

Pena Palace in Sintra 🌿

Porto | 2o - 23 may [3 nights]

• Chapel of Souls (Capela das Almas) 
• Train to Pinhão in the Douro Valley - Port Wine Tasting
• Flight to Faro in the Algarve - Southern Portugal

Porto River Front on Ponte Luís I Bridge

Lagos | 23 - 27 may [4 nights]

• Praia do Camilo (Camilo Beach)
• Kayaking in Benagil Cave
• Eating cataplana 

Benagil Cave

BEST Cataplana 🦐

Lisboa | 27 - 28 may [1 night]

• Last meal together at Minibar https://www.minibar.pt/en/

hidden door!! 🚪 

This is our 4th trip together!!

1. Puerto Rico 2o19
2. Belize 2o21
3. Turks & Caicos 2o22
4. Portugal 2o23

We've known each other since we were 5 years young in 1st grade, and grew up together through middle school and high school days. Looking forward to our next trip together!! ✈ ❤ ☺

24 HRS in Barcelona 🌛

 

Fans Cheering on FC Barcelona

To my surprise there was a parade for FC Barcelona on the day I was in Barcelona transiting through to get from France to Portugal!!

I love to be able to serendipitously be in the right place at the right time.

I was walking from my hotel to the street with some buildings that were designed by Gaudi, when I noticed a ton of fans sporting FC Barcelona on one street. I stood there for a moment looking around, and then I Google searched "FC Barcelona parade today," and sure enough they were going to be passing by on the street where I was standing on. I was debating to stay or continue on my walk, and eventually I decided to just stay and cheer on the team with everyone else. ☺ It was quite the experience to be a part of

Victory Parade Route

FC Barcelona

Barcelona's Womens Team | Barça Femení

France 🇫🇷 w/ Rita ❤

 

reunited after ~10 years!!

I AM SO FREAKIN' LUCKY!!! I first met Rita when we were in undergraduate studies at Concordia University in Portland, Oregon~

She was there to see me grow + learn throughout my college years and we lived together during our undergrad years and post at various times. I even shared a bed with her part of one summer when I just moved back to Portland and was working as AmeriCorps before moving in with another dear friend of ours named Erika!!

When I was figuring out my time and travels in Europe, I thought I'd send her a message on IG to see if it was okay to visit her in Paris. I knew she lived there, but I didn't want to bother her if she was busy or may have other plans. Luckily for me, she was free and she helped plan a trip down to the south of France with me, her and her manfriend. ☺ SO I took a cheap RyanAir flight from Dublin to Paris Beauvais Airport, and then took a shuttle bus from Beauvais to Paris Port Maillot (~1.5 hours). I arrived right at high commute time, but Rita braved the crowded metro to fetch me and we returned to her home in another part of Paris. ❤ 

The next morning we hopped on the train to Béziers, France! We got picked up by Rita's manfriend's brother and went to a small town called Cers. 

Cers Town Centre Mural 🐇🍷

It was beautiful to be able to reunite in France after all these years, and to be able to be welcomed + invited into their family home in Cers. I am constantly amazed at this thing we call life, and be a witness to see how each of us navigates through it. 

🧀ᐩ🍷🍇

[ 11 ~ 15 may ]

Dublin | PART I 🇮🇪

The last time I came to Europe was to Greece in the summer of 2o18 with Michael. I usually do not plan to travel to Europe. Why? I think it's because since I identify as Asian American, I prefer to travel to SE or S Asian countries. Every time I went to Hong Kong, I would feel like I was going home to the "motherland." People looked like me, they spoke Cantonese, and I felt a sense of belonging. ❤ 

I decided to come to Europe because my childhood best friend Jessica wanted to go to Portugal 🇵🇹 for our annual friend trip. She got her plane ticket to Lisboa back in Fall 2o22. AND I waited to get mine because I was undecided about going. BUT once I got back from India in January 2o23, I decided WHY NOT?!

So I searched for the cheapest tickets to Europe for May, and Aer Lingus had a direct flight deal from Seattle. 🛫 Jessica could only take 2 weeks off for work, but since I had more time off because of my sabbatical I was able to book my trip from May 8 - June 8. One month in Europe!!

The start of my Euro-Trip began in Dublin, Ireland!!

Trinity College ☘️

I never have imagined myself visiting Ireland, but it was neat to experience. I stayed 2 nights. I arrived the morning of Tuesday, May 9th and walked around my hostel area, and Trinity College.  The next day I did a day trip to the Cliffs of Moher, which was absolutely beautiful to see. I was freezing 🥶  cold, because I did NOT pack for cold weather... I wore all the "warmest" clothes I had, and I was still cooooooollllddd... BUT I survived!! ☺

Cliffs of Moher

This is also totally out of my norm for travel. I usually do NOT... I repeat do NOT travel to cold places. I am a wimp in the cold. 🤣 

To be honest... I had trouble grasping with the idea that I was traveling to Europe for a month. I kept thinking and telling myself that I won't enjoy it, and that I should've stayed in Seattle to work + try to earn more money before summer break (July-August). I know a lot of people just Love LOVE l❤ve traveling to Europe... and I love love L❤VE traveling to Asia. haha. I think we grow within a safe distance outside our comfort levels AND this trip is definitely an opportunity to push me to think outside of what I am comfortable thinking + being.

I am still struggling to figure out what to do post sabbatical year. It's been such a healing time, and I don't know if I'm ready for it to end. OR do I need it to end so that I can go back to a routine of what I know? OR should I explore what else is out there?? OR do I need to find within myself what I am searching for? 👀

Tayrona National Natural Park 🌴

We started trekking around 8:15AM at the Calabazo entrance.

There are 2 entrances into the Parque Nacional. The Calabazo entrance is the less frequented entrance because it takes 2 hours to trek from the Calabazo town entrance to the park entrance. Luckily you can hire a mototaxi to drop you off at the park entrance, and that's what my friend Isa and I did.

💸 Price Breakdown:

• 10.000 pesos for motoxi
• 5.000 pesos for Associaton of Agriculture of Sierra Nevado of Santa Marta fee
• 6.000 pesos for medical insurance fee (green wrist band)
• 62.000 pesos for park entrance fee for non-Colombian citizens (yellow wrist band)

Hiking through Tayrona National Parque

This route had a lot of inclines and switch backs, but once we got to the beach side, it was mostly flat. 

The most popular beach is the Cabo San Juan Beach, which had tents and hammocks you can rent and stay in the park.

Cabo San Juan Beach

Chillin' on the Beach after trekking for 2 hours~

Once you reach the beach side of the park, there are several beaches you can stop and relax at!!

We also took some time to chill and eat at La Piscina Beach. There were some food stalls for fruits and snacks.

La Piscina Beach~

Trekking from the beach to the Zaino Entrance

Beach Views 🏝 

Zaino Entrance is the Main Entrance into the National Park. Theres' a shuttle bus that takes you up to the hiking part. This way is mostly flat, and easier to trek along to get to the beach side. There are also horses you can hire to ride to take you to the beach.

Zaino Entrance to Tayrona National Parque

Finished by 3:45PM!!

 It was a beautiful experience to visit Tayrona National Park!! If I were to do it again, I would definitely hike from the Zaino Main entrance and stay a night or two in the park. We did not see any animals in the park during our trip, but I found a site that mentioned there are lots of animals that can be spotted in this beautiful park!! 🌴 

diving certified 🌐🤿

So I’m back in Cartagena, Colombia 🇨🇴!!! 

After I returned from India, and I was subbing a bunch … I  realized I can take another trip if I wanted… so I decided why not return to Colombia?! My friend Isa was back and we were chatting and she suggested why not come back and get my open water diving certificate?? I said okay!! lol 😂 

I received the online training course via email and completed it the morning before flying out!! Yes, I’m a procrastinator!! All I needed was 75% on the final exam, and I received 76%!! Phew!! 😮‍💨 

I felt comfortable and more inclined to return and do it because the last time I was here I did the introduction course. 

Diving Planet

The first day we spent the morning in the pool practicing the signs and other exercises needed for diving. Then we went out and did it in open water. We did two dives that day. The second day we met at the pool in the morning again and practiced the necessary skills needed for open water diving. Then we went out and did two dives again. And now I’m certified!!! 

Admiring the Coral 🪸 

I rested for 2 days before deciding to go out and do my first open water dive as a certified PADI diver!! It was so exciting!! I hope I made my instructor proud. 🌊

First Dive Completed as a Certified Diver 🙌🏽