Guatemala

I think I finally understand the joys of traveling.

The freedom, the decisions you have to make for yourself, the fact that you are completely dependent on yourself, and nobody else. The experiences you get, and the various cultures you encounter. The locals you meet, and how interesting it is when you see the different ways they react to different things.

Denise said to me a while back, "I love traveling, because everywhere in Asia, we asians are a hot commodity". I kid you not, here in Guatemala, I am stared at like a monkey in the zoo. And just a few days back while walking back home, a local confessed his love for me. Albeit in a crude "I love you baby" way. But still. Confession of love people. I assume Denise likes the attention, but I find it a tad intrusive, but hey, to each his own.

Here in Guatemala, everything takes on a community feel, or so it seems to me anyway. In many places I've been, the locals have always been friendly, but you do feel the undercurrent of resentment, but here, the locals Guatemaltecos really do seem to enjoy communicating with you. It's the feel of a small town, where everyone says hello to each other on the street, and actually smiles at passersby.

Oh how different it is from Singapore. Or Australia. I've always extolled the need to brighten people's days by simply smiling and greeting someone you pass by, but apparently it's bad form where I come from. I have proof now, that simply smiling at someone can really make their day. It's a simple existence here, but happy.

The past month here has been idyllic. Yoga, Spanish classes, salsa classes, and just conversations with people. A few trips here and there, that just shows me how much more of the world I have yet to experience. I do believe after graduating, I might just take time off and travel. The plan so far has been to get a job, anywhere I can get one, but now I wonder as to the wisdom of that. The world is waiting.

Or, due to influences in my life that remind me to do what I love, I'll take a few years to make the acting thing work out. The times I just want to hit myself, when I think about how I just gave it up. Why did I do that, when I'm never happier than when I'm on stage? Or when I'm writing. Or performing in general. Okay, maybe I have one too many passions. But acting first. We'll see.

I have three more weeks in Guatemala before it's back to Singapore and from there en route to Perth to continue my degree. God it's going to be a long year, with many many many things I need to do. The Women's Collective in the Guild that I'm now running. The Vagina Monologues. The Women's edition of the Uni magazine. Focus groups. Not to mention that I need to get a job. Jesus. Rock climbing. I need to get up to Denise's level. Not that I possibly can, seeing how much longer she is than I am.

Right, so enough with the things I need to do, but on to resolutions for the year. They are important, so I hear anyway.

The first, and probably the most important, stop the filthy habit of smoking.

Then get my fitness up.

And actually do something useful this year, will endeavor to get the Women's Collective up to a standard where people will g on about how great the Murdoch Women's Collective is.

Go to Europe.

Learn French. Seriously.