The who, what, where and why

Here I go! In just a few days I will be taking off with my backpack, a guide book, and of course, my camera, for my ten month adventure in South and Central America. It has been interesting to see people's reaction to my trip. For some, their first comment was "That's great! I really wish I had taken a year off before going to college..." Whereas for others it sounded more like this, "Wait what?! A year alone?! Why would you ever do that and why are your parents letting you go?!" And for those of you who know me well enough, you probably just said yup, this trip seems very fitting for her. After these varying initial reactions, the questions were almost always the same: "Who are you going with?" No one. Partially because I couldn't find anyone who would go with me, and partially because I would rather go alone. This way I am truly free, free to do what I choose, and free to meet new people wherever I go. "What do you plan on doing while you are down there?" Spanish schools (no, I don't know any Spanish... yet), volunteering (hopefully in orphanages once I actually get the Spanish part down), mountain biking (down mountains at 16,000ft, who could ever pass that up), climbing (maybe a 20,000ft peak, and if not, well, I will just have to find some smaller mountains to concur), hiking through the Andes, visiting some of the most diverse jungles in the world, living in indigenous villages, visiting Machu Picchu, diving and relaxing on the beach... And just about anything else I get the opportunity to do. "And your parents are letting you go?!" Not only are they letting me, but they think it's a great opportunity. Jealous? You should be, not many people have parents who would let them do this right out of high school. They were probably the least surprised of anyone when I announced to them about five months ago that instead of going to school next year, I was taking a year off to travel.

As of right now, the only thing set up are my first two weeks, which will take place in a Spanish school in Quito while doing a home-stay set up by the school. After that, well, we will just have to see! I plan to travel through Ecuador for 2-3 months through the highlands, and do the same kind of thing in Peru and Bolivia. While I am doing Spanish schools, I plan on doing home-stays (at least for the first few months) in order to learn more Spanish and live like the natives. On weekends and on weeks "off" from Spanish school, I will be staying in hostels, a fun cheap way to meet people from all over.

Here is what I am taking for the year:

Next time I write, it will be from an internet café in Ecuador so who knows when that will be! And for all you worried moms out there, I promise to be safe.