Lithuania: The Beginning

I had a gigantic post and then it got deleted so now you will get the cliff notes. Hope you pass your test.

Friday: woke up and headed to the grocery store. I love the grocery store. I especially love exploring grocery stores in other countires. 

Rachel went with me to explore. We decided to buy some random Lithuanian treat. It was nasty.

After the store we walked around our apartment complex which is full of many many buildings that look like ours and lots of little parks. 

Rachel is also my bed mate. Yes my bed mate. We share a bed. 

We went to our school and had a few meetings. Here is my new school:

Then we got to observe lessons done by the girls who are leaving. The kids are so cute and are going to be so much fun to work with. They are having me open a new level which will be exciting but a lot of work. I'm grateful for my teaching background since I will have these kids for 3 hours periods and be teaching almost every subject. It is going to be like going to school again for them but in English. ( we teach our classes in the afternoon and night after the kids get home from their traditional school)

Saturday:  We went to the school and organized the supply room. We are forked everything and made it pretty. If your an organization freak like me it's actually a lot of fun! 

Then we set up classrooms. From here we got to learn the bus system. 

We took the bus to Acropolis which is a giant mall. The mall has an ice rink in the middle of it wit restaurants surrounding it so you can sit and watch people play while you eat. This is a huge mall and slightly reminds me of the Mall of America. It's really beautiful. After a quick walk around the mall and a set up of my cell phone we headed into old town Vilnius. 

This is a beautiful European town with the cobblestone streets and great architecture. It's everything you would expect to see in Europe. Outdoor cafes lined the streets and carts full of gelato. Of course I had some. What do you expect? ;) 

the girls showed is all the main  sites that we will go back to visit. 

Cathedral square:

The wishing stone:

The presidential palace:

Many streets to explore

Oh and the random man who sells cat paintings.

There is so much to explore! I can't wait to spend my mornings and weekends exploring. 

Sunday: We learned how to take the bus to church. I love that church is the same no matter what country I am in. That brings a lot of peace. Everyone is always so nice and friendly too.

We also got to use a head piece for translation.  

After church we got to explore our backyard. We walked across the street and behind the school. It started with gorgeous paths and wild flowers.

And then opened into a forest.

From the forest we found a lake.

And then the beauty just continued.

This is going to be one of my favorite spots. Times like these that make me want my real camera. There were lots of people out walking and picnicking. Even boxing.

Also a rope swing for later use:

What a gorgeous place I live in.

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Door

Doors.

Doors. You twist a door knob and pull the door open. Basic knowledge right? 

1. Our house has two doors. Two doors. You know when you go to a hotel and have an adjoined room? You open one door and there is another door. Now imagine that on your front door. Two doors weird. 

2. While we are on this subject let us talk about my incident. Handles. I twisted the handle nothing. I twisted it up, down, nothing. Stuck? I pulled and the door started to fall from the wall! Fall. From. The. Wall. Ahhhhh! So I caught it. Pushed it back and left it. To deal with later when I find someone who can help.

Then I learn that the door is supposed to open like that. It let's air in. Apparently doors here have options of how the open. So let's look at it:

Seriously if the door started falling at you like this wouldn't you freak? Don't lie. That's scary. 

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Lithuania Facts

Here we go again. It's time for a Lithuania version of my facts list. 

- toilet paper goes in the trash(only some places like our apt). Not the toilet. Oh this brings me back to my Ecuador days. 

- there are a lot of pizza places 

-in stores you have to buy plastic bags

- no one hands money to you it and the reciept always go on a tray. Hands never touch 

- when you order pizza they bring ketchup to the table. Apparently ketchup pizza is a thing here. 

- English is not common. But most people speak min of 2 languages on average more: Russian, Polish, English and lithuanian are all very common and many of our kids speak them all

- there are lots of bassinets 

- cars stop for pedestrians. Always.

- apartments are rented by the amount of rooms. Not bedrooms just rooms. Since every room is doored off anyway you can choose if it is a living room or bedroom.

- boys wear capris 

- they eat soup with lunch and dinner because they believe it keeps you healthy

- the movie theater popcorn in already in boxes in the fridge. You pick your cup and fill with soda get the popcorn and then pay. 

- men have handbags

- bachelorette parties are huge! The girls get all dressed up with matching headpieces and then travel the town, they have a professional photographer following them to take pictures

- it's weird to talk to strangers on the street - they don't do that here 

- you don't smile to people unless you know them and are talking to them

- all the apartments where we live look exactly the same. Do not get lost. 

- there is graffiti everywhere 

- All the rooms in the houses are sectioned off with doors including the kitchen and the living room. 

-No air conditioning 

- there are no screens here- not on windows or doors 

- take your shoes off when you enter a house

-coats come off as soon as you enter a building and are neatly folded. Do not put them on the table. 

- you give the bus man your money and he makes you change and gives you a ticket as he is driving 

-they have a huge mall- HUGE 

- maxima is the grocery store that is a huge chain 

- there are no dryers 

-money is litas 

- it randomly rains and when it rains it pours 

- there is a lot of forest

- gelato is all over

- people on the street are not very friendly

- men are commonly seen pushing the stroller well bassinet 

- adult women hold hands- like friends and mothers/ daughters 

- they have live fish in the grocery store. I'm not quite sure what happens when you order one...

- they have guerilla street knitting

- a lot of people are Russian or polish. Russian is very hard to speak and full of weird letters. 

- they drive on the right side of the road 

- if you want to do a tax write off a receipt is not good enough. You have to get a separate piece of paper from the store. Factura.

- there are people who sell fruits and veggies from their cars outside the grocery store 

- when you take off your coat you need to fold it and set It somewhere but not on the table never set anything like that on the table 

- Greer anyone when you walk into a room or you are rude

- they eat a lot of potatoes 

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Copenhagen, Denmark

Wednesday at 2pm I entered the airport and boarded the plane to Chicago. Once in Chicago I was to meet up with my group to fly to Copenhagen. They were not answering their phones and I couldn't figure out where to go so I started asking questions. I had to use escalators, elevators, bridges, and a tram to get to another terminal and then re enter security. It took me an hour. The plane left at 10:05. Well at 9:15 I get a message saying they are still in the plane but just landed. Um, ut oh. So I started texting directions on how to get here and as time ticked on the messages started to say RUN. Run faster. Hurry. I'm talking to the gate man now and he says you have ten minutes. Meanwhile I'm freaking because I don't want to spend the day in Copenhagen alone. Nor will I know what to do when I get to Vilnius. So I ask him how much it will be to change my ticket, too much. So I wait and finally get on the plane at 9:45. I must have looked stupid because I kept looking around and straining my neck hoping the made it. Then I spot Rachel but no one else. At least I have a buddy. Finally at 10:05 a group of girls covered in sweat come racing on the plane out of breath and huffing. They made it. Huge. Sigh. Of. Relief. I'm not going alone! Woohoo! The rest of the plane was average. Food, movies, interrupted sleep everytime the man infront of me moved. 

The plane finally landed at 1pm on Thursday in Copenhagen, Denmark. We had an 8 hour layover so let the adventure begin. 

Part 1: figure out where there was a toilet. Lines everywhere. Wait.

Part 2: exchange money. How much? What type of money do they use here? Who knows everyone just put in $40 and we will pool the money. Done. While in line meet random girl. Name: Tabitha. Traveling to: Germany. Why: nanny. Invite her to join us. Accepted. 

Part 3: get out of the airport. Denmark stamp in passport wahoooo. 

Part 4: find luggage storage lockers. Ask. Ask again. Ask again. And again. Finally found. 

Part 5: fit all luggage into one locker. Difficult but done.

Part 6: read instructions in Dutch and convert Dutch money. Not enough money. Try and break bills to get coins. Continue to try different amounts of coins in machine until the locker locks. Done. 

Part 7: go back to airport and figure out the metro. Man speaks too fast. Who knows. Take ticket and hope no one questions you. Get off on k something n something. Lost. Ask directions. Find the canals.

Part 8: locate the beautiful canals and gorgeous scenery. 

Take hour canal ride around Copenhagen and look at the beauty. 

Part 9: walk the cute streets, eat, get ice cream. 

Find the happy wall. Climb ladder and write on wall.

Part 10: try and ride horse while eating ice cream.

Part 11: rain. Get back to airport. Get on yellow metro. Goes wrong way. Get off. Get on green. Oops. Get off. Get on yellow again. Get off. Get on yellow going the right way and finally get back to airport. All while following a Norwegian man we met.

Part 12: fly to Vilnius.

Pray I don't puke on this small plane running on no sleep. I smell. 

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How 6 Nights of Travel Changed My Life

I'm shy. Some people will be surprised by that. Some won't believe it. But it's true. I've always hated talking to strangers. Public speaking makes me want to puke and the idea of talking to someone on the phone gives me anxiety. 

Then there's the other side of me. The one that is totally nuts, hyper, outgoing, slightly crazy. My long time friends know that side very well.

So what causes both? It all comes down to my comfort level. Small groups and people I know, text messaging, you get the unshy hyper version.

Large groups, parties, phone calls, new people you get the quiet observer who is freaked. 

I've come a long way but I still had a long way to go until my 6 days of travel. Now I still have some growing to do but I can actually feel and see the change. 

How did 6 days change my life? Have you ever traveled 100% alone? I'm sure it will change your life too!

When I booked my trip it was out of pure frustration that everyone in my volunteer group was poor and wouldn't travel. I refused to miss out on some of the most beautiful parts of Fiji because the others didn't want to and couldn't go. So I booked it. Only when I dropped off my friends at the animal shelter and was in the city alone did I realize what that meant. I. Was. Alone. There was no one I knew, no one to go to for help, no one to talk with, no one to sit by on the bus. It was me, myself, and I. What happened? I. Panicked. I was nervous and sweaty! I was awkward and afraid. But isn't that how we grow? I said a prayer and got on that bus. Go ahead and refer to the mini bus entry for that experience. Anyway in the beginning it sucked! I hated every second. But all it took was for one stranger to change it all. One stranger to set in motion six days that would forever change my life. He has no idea what an impact he's had on my life and he did it all simply by laughing at me. For reals.

He laughed when I couldn't get into the hammock and then introduced himself to me and a group he had just met. 

That's it. That's all it took. I went and sat with them, struck up conversation, asked questions, shared my story, listened to their story and had an amazing night. 

The next morning we went our separate ways. I talked to a lady on the bus. Let's hear that again: I talked to a lady on the bus. Me. 

Then I  talked with a woman on the boat. The next days I met people from all over the world. Every island a new group of friends. Everyday a new person met. I traveled with these strangers, borrowed products, shared things, swapped travel stories but most importantly I grew in ways that 28 years in America never offered me. Was it terrifying? Yes. Was I uncomfortable? Yes! But I changed.  One of my Fiji friends posted a quote on Facebook last week. "There are no such things as strangers. Just friends we have yet to meet" 

Powerful. 

Who will you meet this week? How will you grow? Step outside your comfort zone. Take a chance and see what happens. 

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America: 12 Days of Gratitude

Coming home. Ever lived the same day twice? Well I have. Thursday in Fiji I went to orchid gardens, bathed in mud, got massaged by the village women and spent 11 hours on a plane only to do it again. Thursday that is. I arrived in CA at 6:45 am on Thursday. Tell me that doesn't trip you out. Thursday in Ca was spent cuddling animals, sleeping on pillow top mattresses, eating Cafe Rio and watching live TV with family in an air conditioned house. 

Thursday. Twice. Trippy. 

Now 'merica I have 12 precious days with you until I am off on my next journey. Let me tell you how grateful I am for you and my privileged life. That's serious not sarcastic. 

I use to think that my 5 bedroom house, 4 car family, 26 pair of shoes lifestyle was normal. We took yearly vacations, traveled to see family, and went out to eat once a month. Seems normal enough. Until you get to know people. Until you live in a third world country. Until you interact, learn, and realize that your normal life is a distant dream, a fantasy to many.

You don't have to travel far to realize this. In most instances you can go within five miles and realize how much you have. 

Even as I started to date again I have realized how lucky I am. As I tell my story over and over to so many people the tale of travel always comes up and I am surprised and saddened by how many people have never left the state, have never been to another country or even on a plane. I never realized how priveleged I was and how many places I have traveled to. Those of us who get these opportunities to travel should be ever so grateful. We get to flatten the walls of our home and see homes all over the states and world. We learn so much and meet so many people. What an opportunity. I hope each time we travel that we look for a way to help someone and leave an impact no matter how small. I hope those who have financial freedom take time to travel and see other cultures. I wish that evey college student could do a semester abroad. It's life changing no matter how cliche that sounds.

There is also a huge difference between traveling to a place and living in a place. I lived in Suva, Fiji. I traveled to the Yasawas in Fiji. Those travelers on my latter trip didn't even experience Fiji. Yeah they saw beautiful beaches and the beauty of the land but they missed Fiji. You can see beautiful beaches anywhere. What makes a culture are the people. I am glad they got to meet a few Fijians and experience the happiness of the people but it's not the same. Makes me wonder what all the places I "traveled" to are really like. 

Okay there I go again on a tangent. Why I am really writing is to talk about my gratitude for America and the little things which are not so little to many.

Since coming back from Fiji I feel on a life high. I feel ontop of the clouds. Happiness. Joy. I feel a new sense of purpose and of hope for the future. I feel blessed. I read this Facebook article the other day about humans doing good things in the world and it made my heart swell. 

http://www.passitdown.co/acts-of-kindness-random/

Bookmark it.

Come back to it when you are having a hard day and then go do something nice for someone. It doesn't matter how small or big. Leave a comment on someone's photo, compliment a stranger, drop a note in the mail, anything!

So gratitude. I have so much. So much. Sooooooo much. That's one thing I learned in Fiji. The amount I have is ridiculous. 26 pairs of shoes I counted when I moved. 26. Really. And you know the types of things I complain about? I don't have any shoes. Seriously. Pathetic.   My closet is swelling to it's edges with clothing but I never have anything to wear. I use to go through my closet, okay I still do this, but I would try to donate clothes. What came to mind... Oh but what if I need this, what if I lose weight, what if I gain weight, what if this style comes back. Dude. It's been in the closet for six years. Let. It. Go. Do you know how many people don't have clothing in general? How many people would love to even own 1/10 of what we have. Let. It. Go. 

On my bed right now I have literally 6 down pillows and 2 more on the floor. Why? Because I love them. Do I need 6? No. Can you have 6 down pillows? Sure! But are you donating monthly to charity? Are you helping those in need? Can you do both? Of course.

All I'm saying is please be thankful, daily, for what you have. Look around and count your blessings. Be nice. Help those in need. Find ways to serve. Thank those who help you. 

Be grateful for your hot water and thankful that you have running water.

Be grateful for yor pillow top mattress, be thankful that you have a bed at all.

Be grateful for your summer coordinated outfit and accessories, be thankful you have clothing. 

Be grateful for your dinner party, be thankful you have dishes and a table. 

Be grateful for your fresh squeezed juice, be thankful you see fruit in your diet.

Be grateful for your multi bedroom house full of furniture and decor, be thankful you have a place to live.

Gratitude. 

It's a daily thing. 

Don't forget it. 

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The Kit Kat Review.

Among the many things we learned in Fiji we learned that chocolate is way better. Upon arrival I was immediately introduced to: The Boost and Kit Kat Chunky. Boost... not my favorite but Kit Kats...

yum.

In the states I am not a big candy person and could count on one hand the candy I will eat. Kit Kats is one of them. But lately I have found that American chocolate, particularly Hershey's is gross. So when I arrived to Fiji and the house raved about the chocolate I knew I had to try it.

One bite and I was hooked. I managed to keep the amount I ate countable on both hands which is saying a lot seeing as how most of my housemates probably couldn't count on both hands and feet. These things were eaten by the dozen by us Americans and I am pretty sure that the market next to our house only kept them in stalk for us. We probably made up half their revenue on a weekly basis.

So why are they so different? I wondered the same thing. So upon arrival to America I decided to investigate.

Let's look at my findings.

1. Location. The America ones are made in America. The Fiji ones are made in Australia. Both by Hershey!

2. Size. The American one is significantly smaller.

3. Color. You could tell right away that the Fiji ones were creamier just by the milkier color. 

4. Ingredients. This is it people the big difference. Both start with sugar. Obviously. But the second ingredient in American is wheat flour whereas the second ingredient in Fiji is full cream milk. 

Winner winner chicken dinner. Fiji WINS! 

Then the family had a taste test and Fiji came out on top by far. Besides look how much more chocolate the Fiji one has!

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