DIY Face Scrub

Traveling can totally throw your body out of whack which can cause some seriously unpleasant side effects. A common side affect I experience while traveling is my skin will start to break out, and this is one of those times that it is really inconvenient to have bad skin. Think of all the pictures! A few tips to help with bad skin are simple and a no brainier.

1. Drink a lot of water. This is always true. But, especially true will you are traveling. Traveling puts stress on your body, so staying hydrated is especially important, and your skin will thank you.

2. Get a good nights sleep. I know while you are traveling you want to pack in as much fun and adventure as possible but, be reasonable and get a little bit of shut eye.

3. Wash your make-up off. Duh, right? Well, especially important while traveling, you may be tired but take those 2 extra minutes to get it all off.

4. Last but not least, a nice little face scrub never hurt anybody. Here is a DIY recipe for a face scrub you can make with ingredients found everywhere around the world. It can also easily be made in small doses, perfect for traveling.

   Ingredients:

- 1 teaspoon of nutmeg

- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon

- 2 teaspoons of sugar

- 1/2 olive oil

 Mix all the ingredients together. I typically use this scrub in the shower, but wherever is fine. Gently scrub the mixture in your hands first before applying to your face. The sugar can be a little rough so be especially gentle if you have sensitive skin. 

Cinnamon helps reduce bacteria on the skin's surface and helps prevent blemishes. It also stimulates and revitalize the skin by drawing oxygen, blood and other nutrients to the surface. The nutmeg also helps reduce blemishes while exfoliating the skin. Both act as an anti inflammatory that will give your skin a radiant glow and no reason to shy away from those travel photos. 

(You can also make a face mask using nutmeg cinnamon and a teaspoon of honey. Honey acts as a natural moisturizer for your skin. Leave it on for 10 minutes then rinse off.) 

Have you ever tried a DIY face scrub or mask? 

Slow to Adjust - Culture Clashes in Paraguay

When you live in another country you learn a lot about yourself because you learn first hand how different cultures can be and how you handle yourself when put in awkward situation when those cultures clashed. After having lived in Paraguay for over two years I have become pretty much accustomed to almost all things regarding Paraguayan culture. However, there were several things that were really hard for me to get used to and that I still struggle with today. I'm not saying these things are bad by any means, just that they are wildly different then the United States.

"Adios" - anyone who has taken any level of Spanish class, and honestly even if you haven't, knows what the word adios means. It means goodbye, right? Well in Paraguay it doesn't. When you are in a group of people and you decide to leave if you say adios, you might get a weird look. Instead you say chau. Adios is reserved for a passing greeting, by that I mean, when you are walking down the street and you pass someone you know, or even someone you don't know, you say adios. It is very similiar to our head nod, awkward smile when you make eye contact, or the "hey, what's up" that has no meaning behind it and expects no response. 

Double Kiss - In the United States when you walk into a room, or come to someones house or anything like that, you usually just say hello, maybe shake their hand or give them a hug depending how well you know them. In Paraguay, as a girl I am expected to give a double cheek kiss, to everyone in the room. It is considered rude if you don't. Men can shake hands, but if their is a woman involved a double kiss is usually expected.

Opposite Seasons - Being that Paraguay is in the southern hemisphere its seasons are opposite of the United States. When it is summer here it is winter there. That has been really confusing for body, that for the first 23 years of its life was used to cold Christmases and a relatively warm birthday (May 22). But, my past two Christmases have been spent here, in hot and humid weather. Also anytime the weather here starts to get chilly I want to start watching Halloween movies ... in June.

Yes means Yes, maybe and no - Many times as a Peace Corps Volunteer I would plan a meeting and invite over 30 people and they would all say yes, they were coming. The day of the meeting only 10 would show up. I later learned that this is normal, most Paraguayans will always say yes, even if they only mean maybe or no. They don't want to hurt your feelings.

Bluntness - I know this seems exact opposite to what I just said. But, what can I say. In some ways Paraguayans are are very blunt. For instance, I can't tell you how many times someone has told me that I look fatter today. They aren't trying to be rude (I don't think) its just normal to them.

Lunch - In Paraguay, as well as most Latin countries, lunch is the biggest meal of the day; and because of that the other meals, breakfast and dinner, are a lot smaller. I grew up with dinner being the biggest meal of the day, so it was a change.

Drinks during meals - In Paraguay, they do not drink while they are eating. They wait until they are done to drink a glass of water or soda. I never knew this was a problem for me until I came here. Let me just say, I need something to drink while I'm eating.

Clapping - When you arrive at someones house instead of ringing a doorbell or knocking on the door, you clap. This was hard for me to get used to, but I once I did I embraced it. Its fun.

Must-See Places in Ecuador

Ecuador may be a small country compared to its neighbors, but, it sure packs a punch, with amazonian rain forests, historic colonial cities, palm tree lined beaches to bustling markets filled with indigenous crafts. Most visitors who come to Ecuador fly into the capital, Quito, and then straight on to the Galapagos Islands. But, Ecuador is much more than just the Galapagos Islands and there is so much more worth seeing. Due to Ecuador's compact size almost every where can be reached in a one day's bus ride. Here are five cities you can't simply shouldn't miss.

Quito - High up in the Andes, Ecuador's capital city will take your breath away literally and figuratively. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the old town of Quito offers incredible Spanish architecture as you walk down narrow streets that open in to beautiful cobble stoned plazas. On the other side of Quito you will find the new town with its variety of cafes, gourmet restaurants and glitzy bars and hotels. 

Otavalo - A two-hour bus ride from Quito, Otavalo is a popular attraction in Ecuador, mainly due to its infamous Saturday market. For decades, if not longer, members of the indigenous communities surrounding Otavalo have flocked down from to the hills to sell their craft and produce. 

Baños - This town is filled with tourists, but don't let that stop you from visiting. Surrounded by beautiful green peaks, incredible waterfalls and the thermal baths that give this town its name are just a few reasons why you shouldn't skip Baños. Also, a great place for adventure seekers.

Montañita - With a laid back almost hippie-type vibe, Montañita is a great place to hit the beach and relax ... during the day. At night the the bars in town come alive, so be prepared to dance until dawn. A great place for surfing, but keep in mind the waves might be too intense for beginners. 

Cuenca- Definitely my favorite city in Ecuador, Cuenca, is its most beautiful colonial city. Similar in looks to the capital Quito, with its cobble stone streets, colonial architecture and beautiful churches 

and monasteries; but with less crowds, traffic and pollution. Don't forget to make a trip to the original Panama Hat factory located right here in Cuenca, where you'll learn why its called a Panama Hat and not an Ecuador Hat.

Source

Have you been to Ecuador? What is your favorite city?

Tips to Cope with Jetlag

Jet lag happens when you quickly cross time zones and it is a very common side effect of travel. It can affect even the most seasoned travelers; it can really knock you out cold and waste a whole day of fun and travel. Symptoms of jet lag include sleepiness during the day, insomnia at night, poor concentration, hunger at inappropriate times or lack of appetite, and general irritability.It can take several days to recover if you don't take the right precautions and every day on a trip is precious so you don't want to waste them feeling tired and groggy.  Here are a few tips that have worked for me in the past:

Hydrate Hydrate Hydrate: Dehydration is one of the symptoms of jet lag, so drink as much water as you can. Its recommended to drink a glass of water for every hour you are on the plane. 

Sleep on the Plane: I know this can be difficult for lots of people, but try to get as much sleep as you can on the plane. Traveling can be very exhausting and the more rest you get the more ready your body will be to handle jet lag.

Sleeping Pills: Going along with the last tip, I have taken sleeping pills on longer flights to help me get some rest. But, you definitely need to be careful and time it right. A plane is also not the first time to try out a sleeping pill. 

Stick to Destination's Clock: When you arrive make sure to stick to the schedule of your new destination, this includes your sleeping schedule and also your eating schedule. If you arrive in the afternoon, wait it out, try not to go sleep until a normal hour. 

Keep Busy: On your first day in a new country, try and keep busy. Fill your day with fun activities so you aren't tempted to take a nap.

Sunlight: Get out in the sun! It will help your body reset it internal clock faster.

Exercise: A quick jog or brisk walk can reinvigorate you and help you make it through the day.

What are some tips and tricks that have helped you in the past to get over jet lag?

Songs That Will Inspire You to Travel

Music is magical, it can transport us far away from wherever we are and take us somewhere different. It can inspire us to see new places, meet new people and go on an adventure. Whether you use this playlist on an over-night bus trip, 10 hour plane ride or just to cure your wanderlust woes, take a look at these songs that capture the allure of travel. The following songs are a mixture of different genres (and decades) but, have all hit home with me at some point in time.

* I love this video. You might recognize some famous and hilarious faces*

What songs inspire you to travel? 

26 Lessons Learned in my 26 Years

Today is my 26th birthday, yay! I don't have any big plans today because the boyfriend is working and has class, except to eat a red velvet cake and cream cheese icing my mom sent me. We are going to celebrate this weekend instead.

Being 26 now, I'd like to think I'm pretty wise or at least wise-ish. However, we all still do stupid stuff (myself included), but those are the things you learn from. So in honor of my day of birth here are 26 lessons I've learned over the years. Some are obvious and cliche but, still important.

1. It's ok to ask for help. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, so don't be embarrassed.

2. Never skip a Monday workout, because later on in the week when fun Saturday plans get in the way of your workout you won't feel as guilty.

3. Follow the news. Doesn't matter if you read it, watch it or listen to it, just stay up to date.

4. Never go to bed angry. I know this has been said many times. But, its so true!

5. Smile, even if you are sad. Ever heard the phrase "fake it til you make it." Well I think it applies here too. 

6. In need of some advice? Ask your parents.

7. Need to make a big decision, go for a walk. Its a great way to clear your mind and studies show it sparks creativity.

8. Travel. Do it as often as you can. Its a great way to open your mind and give you new experiences.

9. Everything in moderation. This works for food, wine and weekend binges of Real Housewives.

10. Don't let other people decide what makes you happy. I know this seems obvious, but, sometimes you don't even realize how much other people influence what you think.

11. If you don't have time to shower, that's ok. Baby wipes and baby powder are your best friend.

12. Do the things that scare you. Most of them turn out to be worthwhile experiences.

13. Always, always, always where sunscreen. Your skin will thank you and you will be happy you did in 20 years.

14. Always trust your gut. It is usually right.

15. Friendship is a two-way street. Both of you need to make an effort for the friendship to work.

16. Not everyone is going to like you, and that is ok.

17. Money is not the secret to happiness. Duh. But it is easy to get caught up with material goods and making lots of money.

18. You can't avoid your problems. They will eventually catch up to you.

19. If you choose to be happy, you will be.

20. Learn a new language. It will be worth it.

21. Having a bad day? Watch a few episodes of Friends and you'll feel better.

22. Always say please and thank you. Even if others don't.

23. Don't compare yourself to other people. Follow your own path and make your own mistakes.

24.Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate. Drink lots of water everyday. The benefits are endless.

25. Always try it on. If you are anything like me you are not a fan of dressing rooms and trying on clothes, but, you will regret it if you don't.

26. Its ok if you don't have things all figure out yet. You may feel pressure sometimes to get your life together, but, its your life and you can live it any way you like.

10 Reasons Why You Should Visit Paraguay

Paraguay  is a vast, beautiful country with a long and rich history. It sometimes is called the "Heart of South America" due to its location on the continent but, it is usually passed over by travelers for their bigger, more well known neighbors. Paraguay gives a people a rare opportunity to visit one of the more underrated countries in South America without the abundance of tourists. So, I won't keep you waiting any longer, here are 10 reasons you should give Paraguay a try:

Unspoiled Nature: Paraguay offers a wide variety of beautiful landscapes, from rolling green hills, red dirt roads to rain forests. For a land locked country, Paraguay has numerous coastline views, from the costanera in Encarnacion, all the way up north on to the Paraguay River which leads to the Pantanal, where you have the chance to see jaguars, crocodiles and dozens of different bird species.

 Journey Back in Time: When you visit this country it is almost as if you have stepped back in time (in a good way) to a time when life was simpler. A time when life moved a slower pace, everyone knows their neighbors, the air is fresh and clean and spending time with family is the most important thing.

 Inexpensive: Traveling through South America, especially in countries like Brazil, Argentina or Uruguay can make a big dent in your travel budget. But, while traveling in Paraguay you can forget having to constantly worry about how much everything costs. You could easily live on a budget of $30-$50 a day or even less.

 Food: The food in Paraguay may not be the healthiest of choices but it sure is delicious and hey you are vacation. There are definitely healthy options if you really want them and a lot of the food used in cooking is locally grown and organic. So you should definitely try the Chipa Guazu, Vori Vori, or even get yourself invited over for an asado (barbecue).

 Tereré: The national beverage of Paraguay is definitely Tereré. It is an infusion of yerba mate with cold water. (Here is an old post with the How-To's of drinking Tereré) But, it is more than just a beverage, it is a social event. You should try and get invited into a Tereré circle if possible, it is a great way to meet Paraguayans and really get to know them.

 Tourism - Still Developing: I personally think on of the reasons the tourist infrastructure of Paraguay isn't very developed is due to the lingering effects of the dictatorship that ended in 1989. But, the lack of lots of tourism can also be a good thing getting to see so many beautiful things without the hoards of people crowding your view.

 Helps The Future of The Country:  Paraguay has a bumpy history and visiting this country not only supports the economy, but will also improve tourism and the future of the country

 Beautiful Places to Visit:  Paraguay is often overshadowed by its larger neighbors but, it does have plenty of beautiful places to visit. There are the Jesuit Ruins in Trinidad, Laguna Blanca, the sand dunes in San Cosme, Bahia Negra and the Pantanal, Salto Monday and numerous others. 

Paraguayans themselves: The people of Paraguay are easiest the biggest and best tourist draw. They are incredibly friendly and generous, don't be surprised if you are invited to drink tereré, eat lunch or even stay with them in their home.

 Why not?: Honestly, if you have the chance to go anywhere, even if you don't know much about the country, you should take it. Don't rely so heavily on the opinions of others go out and experience it for yourself so you can form your own opinions.

5 Awesome People to Follow on Instagram

So I've decided to do a follow up to my 5 Hilarious People to Follow on Twitter post and show you some of my favorite people to follow on Instagram. I am kind of new to the IG game but I am catching on quick. I love taking pictures so IG is a good fit. My boyfriend and I continuously bicker over this, he says "Instagram is just like Twitter but for people who can't read." (A quote from the show 2 Broke Girls) He doesn't have an IG account and thinks everything you do on Twitter you can do on IG. However, I am a big IG advocate. Twitter is great, but, its focus isn't pictures, you can post almost anything but in only 140 characters. With IG I'm not limited in my character count, which I love, and it focuses strictly on photos. However, I don't think it is an either/or situation. I do not discriminate when it comes to social media and I use Instagram and Twitter equally. So here are a list of my favorite people to follow on IG!

1. Rachel Brathen (@Yoga_Girl) - Rachel is a traveling yoga instructor who lives in Aruba. She posts lots of beach photos, yoga videos and just happy, positive pictures. You can also follow her dog @ringo_thegringo

Do you love someone? Deeply? Truly? Fully? Tell them. Now. @luigijimenez I love you. @joshwendel i love you. @ahlaluna I love you... Family time por siempre. Lo dejaría todo por vos.... Y te daría todo a vos. Soy infinita por que mi cuerpo no termina en mi piel, se extiende sin límites formando parte indisoluble del universo. #amorinfinito #love #always

2. Brook Saward (@worldwanderlust) - Brooke has been named one of the best travel bloggers by many people and if you follow her blog, her youtube channel or her Instagram you'll see why. She is always on the move and her IG account with definitely make you jealous but also maybe inspire you to get out there and travel too.

Bo-Kaap 💃

3. P.S. - I made this (@psimadethis) - This account has so many bright and colorful photos and makes you think any DIY project is possible. Take a looks for a bunch of great ideas and how-to's.

Our love don't @Lacoste a thing. See ya'll at our crafternoon #desertpoolparty Let's #livebeautifully

4. Spoon Fork Bacon (@spoonforkbacon) - Spoon Fork Bacon is one of my favorite food blogs, if you have never seen it you are missing out. They have so many great and simple recipes and IG is a great way to showcase them.

Hot Crab Dip recipe on the blog! 👊🏈👌

5. Dave Yoder (@daveyoder) - Dave is a contract photographer for National Geographic Magazine and National Geographic Society Explorer so you know his pictures are incredible. Take a look!

"Love locks" in a ventilation duct in the Florence Campanile.

Lessons Learned from Living Abroad

Living in another country is fun and exciting because so many things are new and different. But, for that same reason living in another country can be really hard sometimes. Living in Paraguay for the last two years has taught me a lot about myself. 

1. Material goods are not the most important thing in life: I mean this is something people always say, but, you don't really learn it first hand until you move to another country only taking two checked pieces of luggage. Yes, I still have a lot of luxuries - computer with internet, smart phone, etc. But, there are so many things about my life here that is a lot more simple than my life in the US and I like it. I'm nervous about going back and falling back into the same pattern as before. 

2. Embrace the awkward: Living in another country leads to a lot of awkward experiences with clashing of social norms and customs. What I've learned from this is to not avoid them, to go full force into them, you will learn so much about the country you are living in and about yourself. You know the whole getting out of your comfort zone thing.

3. To-be more open minded: I considered myself open-minded before and living in another country has just opened it even more. Living in another country introduces you to so many new people, new ways of living, new beliefs and so much more. 

4. Who your real friends are: This one is sad but true. Living in another country puts a strain on a lot of your relationships back home because there needs to be more of an effort on both sides to stay in touch. Those true friends that really care will make a point to stay in your life.

5. To be more tranquilo: I thought I was a pretty laid-back person before I came to this country, boy was I wrong. If Paraguay had a motto it would be Tranquilopa which is similar to Hakuna Matata, No Worries, don't sweat the small stuff. Paraguayans take everything in stride. They know what is important in life and what isn't and what is worth getting upset about. I may not have the same tranquilo level as a Paraguayan yet, but, I'm getting there. 

#FIRSTSTOTALSOCIAL - My First Trip Abroad

Today I am participating in my first link-up as a blogger. Yay! And it just so happens that the theme of this months #totalsocial hosted by Helene and Sarah link-up is firsts. What a coincidence! So I am going to tell you all about the first time I traveled abroad.

When I was 14 years old I was lucky to have an opportunity to travel to the  beautiful country of Australia, with People to People Student Ambassadors. People to People is a travel service that offers international travel opportunities to students in middle school and high school. The student ambassador program specifically offers trips that are educational and aimed at increasing global awareness.

I traveled in a group of middle school students from Maryland and California. We spent three weeks traveling the east coast of Australia from Cairns all the way down to Sydney. I had been fascinated with Australia most of my youth and the fact that I had the opportunity to travel there at such a young age was incredible (and mostly due to my parents. Thanks Mom and Dad).  I swam in the Great Barrier Reef, visited the Whitsunday Islands, see and hold koalas at an animal reserve, stayed a few nights on a cattle ranch in the Outback, had a home stay visit in Brisbane and toured the Opera House in Sydney.

*sorry for these sunglasses, they are truly awful. What was I thinking.

This trip is truly what gave me the travel bug. Ever since then I couldn't sit still, taking every opportunity possible to get out and see new places, mission trips, study abroad, Peace Corps, you name it. There are so many places to see in the world and so little time, so you have to take advantage of it.

Where was your first trip abroad?

5 Hilarious People to Follow on Twitter

If you are anything like me, over the years you have follow dozens if not hundreds of random twitter accounts. Your feed gets overrun with with so many tweets that things sometimes get lost in the mess and you miss out on some great stuff. Every once and a while I go through and clean out the accounts I'm following, unfollow the ones that seemed like a good idea at the time but turned out to be waste of time. 

Here are a list of 5 accounts that always make the cut. They are super hilarious and their tweets always give me a laugh and brighten my day.

1. Anna Kendrick (@annakendrick47) - We all know Anna from her movie roles in Pitch Perfect, Up in the Air and Twilight. But, she is just a normal 20-something and post hilarious tweets about her everyday life.

Burned my thumb on set today. iPhone fingerprint ID won't work. Pretty sure I can get away with murder as long as I only use my thumb.
— Anna Kendrick (@AnnaKendrick47) May 2, 2014

What if I'm a sleepwalker, except I'm so lazy that even when I sleepwalk I just lie in bed. #ThingsIThinkAboutWhenImNotWorking #HelpMe
— Anna Kendrick (@AnnaKendrick47) February 4, 2014

2. Julieanne Smolinski (@boobsradley) - Julieanne is a comedy writer, whose work can be found in GQ, Jezebel and Vulture, to name a few. Its amazing she can fit all that hilarity into only 140 characters. 

So excited to hang out with all my friends tonight!* *several fictional television characters
— Julieanne Smolinski (@BoobsRadley) April 13, 2014

I'm against animal testing, unless of course you're testing little top hats and miniature sunglasses.
— Julieanne Smolinski (@BoobsRadley) January 1, 2014

3. Jenny Johnson (@JennyJohnsonhi5) - Jenny is a comedian writer who gained fame on Twitter after her tweets making fun of Chris Brown. Her tweets are full of profanity sometimes but still hilarious.

The people who get upset over same sex marriage didn't seem to mind when Paula Abdul was openly dating a cartoon cat in the late 80s.
— Jenny Johnson (@JennyJohnsonHi5) May 7, 2014

Most of us were taught to never get in cars with strangers, so taxi cabs make absolutely no sense.
— Jenny Johnson (@JennyJohnsonHi5) April 30, 2014

4. Paula Pell (@perlapell) - Paula is a writer for Saturday Night Live ... enough said.

Who wants to get up with me tomorrow as the sun is rising and pretend we're walking home from da clubs?
— Paula Pell (@perlapell) May 1, 2014

Swimsuit diet = get bigger swimsuit and make a quesadilla to celebrate.
— Paula Pell (@perlapell) April 7, 2014

5. Alice White (@alicewhitey) - Comedian who tends to overshare in a hilarious way about her mishap filled life.

Misread the last word as "Paris" and thought, yeah we all would. pic.twitter.com/HZ0A2UqI1E
— Alice White (@alicewhitey) April 2, 2014

I see you miming playing a violin as I talk but I'm going to pretend it's a fiddle because you want this story to gain unstoppable momentum
— Alice White (@alicewhitey) March 20, 2014

Hope you enjoy the hilarity. Who are you favorite people to follow on twitter? 

Delicious Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup

The weather is starting to really cool down here in Paraguay. With that came a serious craving for tomato soup and grilled cheese.  I usually just buy my tomato soup at the grocery store, but, that wasn't really an option here so I thought I'd give it a try, and, then I saw some beautiful red peppers at the store, so I thought I would add them too. 

Ingredients:

- 3 medium size tomatoes

- 1 onion

-1 red pepper

- 1 carrot

- 3 cloves of garlic

- 6 tablespoons tomato paste

- 1 tablespoon olive oil

- salt & pepper

- fresh basil 

- 1 cup chicken broth

- 1/2 cup milk

Directions:

- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

- Cut onion and tomatoes into wedges. Remove seeds from tomatoes. Chop carrot into small pieces and cut red pepper into even slices and remove seeds.

- Cut garlic, it doesn't matter how big or small.

- Place all veggies on cookie sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle salt and pepper. Put in the oven for 40-45 minutes, until veggies are tender, lightly browned and roughly half their size. Remove and set aside.

- In a large pot, over medium-high heat, add chicken broth, tomato paste and roasted veggies. Add salt, pepper, basil and bring to a low boil. 

- Reduce heat and let simmer for 10 minutes. Then use blender or food processor to puree (to your desired thickness level)

- Return to pot and add milk. Cook for 5-10 minutes on medium heat.

Serve with Grilled Cheese. Will keep for a several days in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

How to Avoid a Travel Visa Nightmare

Wouldn't it be nice if everyone could just get along? And by everyone, I mean all the countries around the world. If they did, it would have saved me a lot of money, time and frustration.

It took me two trips to Clorinda, Argentina, over $200 and countless hours out of my life to finally get my tourist visa to Paraguay. The first attempt was a couple days before my Peace Corps courtesy visa expired. One thing that really affected this whole process was the fact that I have two valid United States passports. Apparently, that is not normal. One of the passports is the one I've had for years and the other one is the passport you get from the government as a Peace Corps volunteer. Before I finished my service I called the consulate to make sure it was ok if I came to apply for a tourist visa a few days before my other visa expired, which I was informed was fine. Well, after about 6 hours and a trip to the get my picture taken, another trip to exchange money they informed me that in fact it was not ok and I couldn't get a new visa until my other visa expired. So on the second trip, I came with everything prepared and it still took all day. At one point while waiting the consul who had been helping me came out and told me that I might be able to get my visa that day because the systems were down. That would have meant staying the night in Clorinda because I wouldn't be allowed back in Paraguay without a visa. Now, at this point I was beyond frustrated and seriously wanted to cry, luckily about an hour later she came back with my brand new visa.

Travel visas are essential for entering numerous countries. But, even though I complain, as a United States citizen I have it easy, there are several countries that do not require a travel visa for me. However, others are not so lucky. Some visa processes are so time consuming that it seems they were made that way to dissuade people from applying. For a Paraguayan to apply for a tourist visa to the United States, they need fill out a 10-page application, pay the $160 fee (which is non-refundable if they do not get approved) and then travel to Asuncion for an interview at the Embassy. 

Here are some helpful hints if you want to avoid a visa nightmare like mine:

1. First and most important, do your research! When you are planning your trip check to see if the country you are traveling to requires a visa and if it does check if you are able to take care of that before you leave.  I definitely recommend getting your visa ahead of time, if possible. If not possible, research what the country will require of you when you do apply.

2. The following are some of the requirements I have run into when applying for a travel visa. Most countries will require a 2 inch x 2 inch photo. Also, make sure you know ahead of time what currency they require you to pay in. (In Argentina, when getting my Paraguayan visa, I had to pay in American Dollars). Also, some countries will request a credit/bank card (Paraguay did) to assure that you have enough funds to travel with. Finally some countries require proof of exit travel. This means a plane ticket or bus ticket or something along those lines. There are a few ways to get around this but, it can be risky. You could buy a refundable plan ticket. Or when you go to buy a bus ticket or plan ticket print out the confirmation ticket (without buying) and use that. (I personally have not done this, but, I know people who have).

3. Time! This process will always take longer then you hope or expect. So, give yourself plenty of time to get it done. 

Let Me Tell You About Where I Live

I am currently living in a small city, San Ignacio, in the southern department of Misiones, Paraguay. The city was founded in 1609 by Jesuit priests Marcial de Lorenzana and Francisco de San Martin. It was the first Jesuit mission in the region and because of this San Ignacio has the oldest Jesuit ruins in Paraguay. The ruins are very small in comparison to some of the other ruins in Paraguay, but hey they are still the oldest so that is pretty cool. 

San Ignacio has roughly 25,000 residents but, still definitely has a small town feel. That is one of the things that I love about it. You walk down the street waving and smiling at everyone you see and everyone knows you. It is the best of both worlds, the small town vibe, but also the hussle and bussle of a bigger city. They have town events and it seems like the whole town comes to participate. For example, every Sunday, in the main town plaza there is a Serenata Focklorica, which recently celebrated its 19th anniversary, where there is performances of traditional Paraguayan music and dance. 

The orchestra Ars Barroca of the Catholic University in San Ignacio performing at the Serenata Folklorica. The song is entitled "Cazador Arekaja"

One of my favorite performances of the night was from the Grupo de Oro (The Golden Group) which is the seniors dance group. They performed a very lively and funny dance that really got the crowd going. Take a look. 

Wannabe Yogi

The first time I did yoga was my junior year in college when I took a yoga class as my required gym credit. I figured it would be an easy A and would take a lot less effort then the strength training class. Don’t get me wrong I love working out, but, I like doing it on my own terms.

Well needless to say when the semester was over not only did I get that A I had hoped for but, I was hooked. I loved how yoga didn’t discriminate, any person, no matter their gender, body shape, size, age or skill level could participate. I especially loved to see the changes in my body, I mean I was so flexible, it was awesome.

However, one thing I’ve learned about myself over the years is that a lack what people would call, a strong follow through. I played cello when I was younger… I quit after one year. I have about a half dozen diaries from my youth that were written in daily for about two weeks, a month tops and then nothing. It is definitely not one of my better traits and is something I am continuously working on. But, this obviously ended up affecting my yoga. Sometimes when I’m lying in bed at night I’ll think I should start yoga again, but, then when I wake up in the morning that quickly goes out the window as I hit the snooze button 2 (3,4,or 5) times.

I think it would definitely easier if I was living back at home in Maryland and could go to classes at my local gym. The outside pressure and motivation definitely helps. But, I’ve decided to give it another go and hopefully this time it sticks. I’ve found some good yoga channels on YouTube with great videos like Yoga with Adriene and Rachel Brathen (<-- she also has a great Instagram to follow @yogagirl) for inspiration and help!