Inclusion

Nepal, a place where inclusion and acceptance isn’t taught, it’s believed. The simplest “Namaste”, which means, the soul in me, greets the soul in you. It is a magnificent thing to witness and be a part of. The love and adoration for everything that crosses your path. These are the people in the world that know the meaning of honesty. Honesty to themselves and honesty to others. It’s really an amazing thing to learn from. I know that I have definitely been reminded of my blessings, and all the things, material or not, that I began to take for granted. It’s really funny to notice every year something new that I take for granted. Truly, it is the smallest things that are the most important. I’ve been taught so much on this trip about happiness and how to be the best version of myself, and I can’t wait to teach everyone at home.

                Class 4, probably the most diverse group of personalities I have ever met. To name a few, Sandip, a trouble maker who begs for attention, and can also get his work done to a “T”. Aayesha, a small innocent girl with bright eyes and the eagerness to answer every question. And also among my favorites, Raj, a boy with a curiosity so big that it doesn’t fit in the classroom. These were three out of my 20 amazing students. All of whom taught me, how to make being uncomfortable, comfortable. Along with these students I also taught class 10’s Health class. I stood in front of them and talked about “Safe Motherhood” and I know it wouldn’t have been possible to teach them all the required information if I hadn’t stepped out of my comfort zone. This teaching experience was by far one of the best and one where I really grasped the talent of teaching. Going from a shy lecturer to a fun, using my body, chanting, singing kind of teacher. I have really found my element and my way of expressing my teaching and I’m so glad I did. It has been so energizing and rewarding for it to finally just click. I think I truly didn’t know the potential I had as a teacher until I started using it.

                These past two weeks have gone by so incredibly fast. The timeline of meeting the classes we were teaching, painting the preschool, to more teaching, to doing a scavenger hunt around Bhaktapur with Class 10 and then finally visiting three of the most famous temples in Nepal. It has been extraordinary. All these activities paired with the service are a perfect combination of satisfying and enjoyable. It’s always interesting to see how much we have grown not only as individuals, but as a group, as a family.

                Danyabad (Thank You), Nepal.

Namaste

Walking into a concrete room with two windows on the side, and one in the back. A whiteboard at the front, and 20 nine year olds all awaiting your next move. Teaching and being taught are both blessings. Teaching gives you a power to distribute knowledge, and get a reaction. Partnered with a fluttery feeling in your stomach and a sense of accomplishment. Being taught also has a sense of accomplishment, this time accompanied with understanding. I consider teachers, and being able to be a teacher, a privilege. It’s exhilarating to be in front of a class and be able to give them all of my energy and attention so they are able to comprehend something. Our English language gives them a chance. It gives them a piece of us. And teaching it to them, well, that gives us something priceless. Being in Nepal at Lisha Secondary School has given me the motivation and appreciation for every single thing in my life.

                Speaking of privilege, our rights also indicate how much of a chance we have. Our chance at success. Our chance at equality. And our chance at surviving. These chances are dealt to us very much like our lives are dealt to us. When we are born, we get a number of different combinations and opportunities. We are all unique. I have also noticed because of that, the human race is flawed, like many things on Earth. This is what makes it both beautiful and interesting. My only question is why can’t we just live and acknowledge one another? We are given rights, we are given bodies, minds, and we (usually) use these things for the better. There is power in positivity and creating the best for everyone. This power is given to us daily, we are given the choice daily to be the best version of ourselves and make the wisest decisions for our human well-being. How will you be your best self? How will you bring everything you have, every single day? I have learned that starting your day with what you want to accomplish, and confirming your power and your strength can get you anywhere you want.

                There’s something so magical about being able to provide service. Hearing or just feeling “Thank you” from people when you’ve been able to help them is that much more rewarding. There was a house we visited this week. This was the home of Reeyah, her brother Ronak, and their mother and father. They had dirt floors until the first room, which had two beds with were made by mattresses on plastic crates. They had a small stove area and a table with a couple of chairs. They had just moved back into this home a few days prior to our visit. They lost their old home in the 2015 earthquake, and are still working on finishing the second floor of this new house. They plan to rent out the first floor to make more money. While we were there, their hospitality really shined. They brought us tea and paired it with some biscuits. Although they might not have had much, they gave everything to us. We all had a memorable conversation about how their father was a driver in Kathmandu, and how the boys would wake up at 6 in the morning to go play soccer. They even sang us their National Anthem and taught us a traditional Newari dance. It is experiences like these that really let us see a different perspective, and begin to imagine and understand what it’s like for other people in these fascinating countries. They show resilience and strength when there seems to be none. That alone drives me to keep working hard and keep pushing myself here in Nepal and at home. I hope to keep learning new amazing ideas and practices from them in this next week I get to spend with them in their wonderful country.

Ask Why Instead of What

Ever woken up to the sound of drums at 6 in the morning? What about next to a loved one? Or even just woken up? Well, here’s a wakeup call: Gratitude. Every day of our lives we are stuck in a routine, whatever that routine consists of. We stay stuck in a “Go…repeat” sequence, that it is often difficult to stop. That routine becomes comfortable and it’s usually hard to pay attention to the little details surrounding us. Our lives are composed of countless beautiful things, each of which has its own significance, which lets us grow as people.

                It’s day 4 in Nepal and I have learned so much in our time here that will help me in my lifetime. I have the learned the art of giving and receiving, the importance of a smile and how much happiness can stem from the people who know the true meaning of being joyful. They have shown me the importance of having true, genuine feelings. Being able to feel something so real can be a life changing experience. I’ve found that the people and culture here fill everyone’s soul. Their love overflows to fill a void you didn’t even know you had.

                That is how Class 4 welcomed Carter and I. They took us into their lives and brought us a newfound acceptance and comfort. I felt an instant connection to the students and their personalities. They carry themselves in a mature way, even for 9 year olds. Their eagerness seeping into every move they made. It was contagious. It made teaching them an honor. Every time I would hear their voices pipe up to answer a question or hearing them ask to be seated, makes me feel that much more thankful. They are beyond respectful, and show gratitude for everything, they see and touch. The way they nod their head from side to side to indicate “Yes, I understand” and how that light goes off when they learn something new, is so fulfilling, as a teacher and a friend. It is such a euphoric feeling to experience. I can’t wait to keep enhancing the lives of the people who have already changed my life forever.

Building Blocks

A small town, boasting rodeos, a casual diner, and more roundabouts than one can count. A little town, 30 minutes away from the chaos of the world  renowned skiing resort, Vail. This town has shaped the way I think and I navigate around the world. It has enclosed me in a bubble, that wouldn’t have been bursted, if I didn’t travel. This bubble is built by the feelings associated with being away from the “business” of the city. It closed us off from the ideas of a big city. There’s not much diversity, or crime. We’re stuck in the ideas of safety, and ignorance. Living in a small town has it’s personality. Being able to break through from the ideas and the close circle of people, to another part of the world and another part of understanding gave me a whole new view and enabled me into being able to inform and educate others about it as well.

The person that I am has also been built on the closely knit culture that small towns have built for themselves. The families built within our small population. This has made a new sense of trust. Growing up, and waking up to a view of the mountains everyday is beautiful. It gives you a new sense of appreciation for nature. The sticky smell of fruit, the calluses on my hands after being at neighborhood park all day, knocking on friends doors to go play, and going downtown for slushies. These experiences turned into memories and those into personality. I was becoming the extroverted, curious person that I am now, because of these activities. There were moments that I enjoyed being secluded from all the noise and commotion of cities and their trends. The fact was that living in the mountains provides us with barriers to the weird trends you find elsewhere. There’s a consensus on how to act not based on the internet as much, but more on the culture of our community.

We are taught that society rules over all and that we obey it to keep in the norm. We are also aware of how diverse and multifarious the ideas of society becomes. With its different customs around the state, the nation and worldwide. That only some customs bleed into all aspects of humanity. I adapted and created my own knowledge of being who I was always, not just because I was from a small town that speaks its mind but because of my family. Being biracial is one of the coolest and sometimes a confusing part of me. I’m Bulgarian-Mexican, not a combination you hear of very often. But with that and living where I have, I built a character for myself and how to let my opinion and my beliefs dictate how I created my path, not letting others steer me away. I brought my opinions to the table and the ways I acted to become self aware and reflect on how much I respect myself and others. Coming from a closer community, my gratitude has been immense. I have a population surrounding me that I can trust and support during my life, it’s something priceless that I have enriched with my experiences around the world.

Presence

In a world full of hate, there is also a world full of love. In a world full of regret, there is also a world full of prosperity. In a world full of danger, there is also a world full of safety. In a world full of rock bottom, there is also a world full of success. In a world full of heartache, there is also a world full of lightheartedness. In a world full of mistakes, there is also a world full of learning. Balance. These worlds combine everyday to become balance. Whether it’s on your deathbed, or today, or 3 years ago. There is always something you could have done, why not be able to say, “I’ve done it.” Yes the hate, the regret, the danger, the fear of hitting rock bottom, heart ache, and mistakes are going to be there. But it’s your choice to decide where they land. Either in your past, or your future. They cannot control you if you decide to surmount and turn into a learner, an advocate and so much more. Because of these trips I have been able to create a new sense of harmony in my life. Because opportunity lives in failure. And really, “If mistakes are seasoning, who wants a bland dish?” - Lisa Nichols.

Nepal. In a world full of problems and hate. With a constitutional monarchy and the rise of a federal republic. The monarchy with King Birendra, brought Nepal more freedom with their decision in rulers, but a stagnant economy. As the world transitioned into 2001, Nepal went into a civil war, destroying minds and lives, their rulers were massacred. In 2014, the newly appointed prime minister Sushil Koirala, was quick to face natural disasters. An avalanche in mid-April that killed 16 sherpas, a landslide in early August that killed 156 people, and floods that killed 102 more. But these events were nothing in comparison to the 2015 earthquake northwest of the Kathmandu area. A 7.8 magnitude tremor, spreading about 21 miles, and another tremor following shortly after on the Tibet border at a magnitude of 7.3. Overall, killing 9,000 people, and injuring 16,800 + people. ⅓ of the population lives below the poverty line and make less than $1.50 a day. The future of Nepal holds a lot of growth. With it being the first of its neighboring countries on its way to become ‘total literate’. Which means, the education in their country is striving for literacy among the population. As well as, in 2017, Nepal had 2 successful sets of elections, with ¾ of the population as eligible voters. In May of 2018, their original two parties of CPN and UCPN, merged into the now Nepal Communist party.

Becoming a believer of opportunity, and becoming a creator of opportunity become your choices in the game of life. To become a believer shows your intent on keeping a dream alive. To become a creator shows the results of your dream. This trip of life and this dream of giving. What will it create once we get our hands dirty and create a better future for others around us and not just ourselves? We can build so much more with the intention of helping others become their best and highest selves when we also find who we are. The greatest invention was love. Because love kept us warm. Kept us full. Kept us wondering. Kept us dreaming. Most of all, love kept us alive. In this, where we get the wonderful opportunity to feed that love and that dream. In Tanzania, in Cambodia, in Morocco, in Nepal. Because there is where I’ve found who I was going to be, and who I am. The poverty and the literacy rate doesn’t define the people, but defines our purpose. Defines what we will do. Defines our ideas. Brings our wisdom. To ignite a fire in the people. To inspire them to create and manifest a much better, satisfying life. And empowering others and ourselves to find the greater good and being into our lives.

Art exists because...

Art exists because, there is a formation of words and color. A formation of sound and rhyme. It has a way that only exists through yourself. Art finds a way to be heard, seen, felt. It becomes your best friend or your worst enemy. There are so many things or thoughts that art can create. Art is a creation of life, and life is a creation of art. I have always been grateful to art. Art has always been there for me, a way to go back and let my emotions spill on paper. It has built trust and a legacy of love. There is always a form of freedom. A willingness to be limitless and truthful.

Maybe put this section just after your first paragraph?Traveling should be considered an art form. It’s a form of expression. One that forces you to think and can never be interpreted the same way. Art becomes an experience with unlimited possibilities, one that comes from the heart with a purpose. I remember when I thought traveling was only for vacations, but now I have grown to believe in the well-being of others before myself. I have enjoyed giving back ever since day 1, and hope that can turn into forever.

CGA is an amazing organization, started in the Vail Valley, that lets ages 12-18 join a service trip and give back. To sign up, you have to submit a form, write an essay and attend an interview. The process is hard, but the outcome is the most rewarding I have ever had. Nepal, one of the countries that I have aspired to visit ever since I first signed up with CGA. A wonderful country filled with more than just the Himalayan mountain range. Such loving people and an interest sparking culture. In Nepal, we will be expanding the knowledge of kids in a school by the name of LISHA, located in Bhaktapur. We also get to visit families of the students and assist in the recovery from the 2015 earthquakes.  

301 miles, and state qualifier? 6th grade Gaby would say you’re crazy. There are so many things that I am grateful for. One of those things being cross country. Something about those long runs, tear-jerking track workouts and silly inside jokes that make me want to run five kilometers against other people. Which we can all agree that is masochism at it’s finest. Apart loving to run for fun, I also like to photograph. I started taking pictures a couple years ago, and to be honest I don’t do it as much as I’d like to but I love it. Being able to look at something through a lens and capture that moment lets you into the paradise that is the world. Snowboarding, although I’m not a pro, I love getting out onto our beautiful mountainous home and enjoy from the top, and shredding it down.

I was born to two beautiful loving people. Tsvetelina, and Armando Fuentes. My mom is from Bulgarian descent, her name Tsvetelina meaning flowers and light. My dad of Mexican descent, his name Armando. I was then bombarded with a little brother, Armando. He is a blessing and a pain (as all people would say about their siblings.) I have been very gifted to have such an open-minded supporting family, that cares so much about one another’s successes, as well as the well-being of others and themselves. I also have two amazing half-sisters, Anna who is now a freshman in college and Paola who is a senior in highschool. Without the love and acceptance of this family I would have never been able to accomplish what I have done today. I believe that with all their excitement towards trying new things I was able to get new experiences to shape my life and my perspective into what it is now.

I love that art can be so magical. A story that is personalized. An even better notion that would likely cause a commotion in a wave. Of chorus. A beautiful symphony of colors and words. One that declares itself unique. A free will in itself through others. Waiting to be released. A simple but complex being of madness. You create out of sheer will to create. There is a fire that ignites when you want it to bloom. It becomes possible when you believe in what you have created. What will you create?

The Puzzle Pieces That Make Morocco

“Welcome, welcome! Where are you from? Please come in. Take a look, only student price here.” Oh the joys of being a tourist. After seeing a glimpse of the wonders that this country has to offer has been quite the experience thus far. From wandering the world famous “Blue City” to exploring the oldest medina in Morocco, I have been blown away by not only the physical beauty of the cities but of the rich culture that lies within. The culture here never stops filling its country with love and happiness, very similar to how the people incessantly fill your cup with more tea. The kindness in this country exceeds the amount of cats.

                This past week of teaching has been a great learning experience. With knowledge from past trips, it’s been a lot of help, but taking control and showing who’s boss still takes hard work.  So, I am not only proud of myself and my teaching partner but of everyone on this trip that has worked incredibly hard to be here and teach these eager children what they deserve to know. In an intermediate English class, my students have aspirations of being doctors and even teachers themselves, they want to learn English to succeed in a place where it’s hard not to follow the crowd. So, to be teaching them English makes me feel accomplished and relieved that they have the opportunity to learn another language. One student that stands out to me is a boy named Amine. He always goes out of his way to help kids around him that don’t understand, and is always asking for help and tries to do more than what is asked of him. And for that, I couldn’t be more grateful.

                Being able to see all these new cities has broadened my horizon. I have been able to see new sides of the country as opposed to our usual medina in Rabat. Chefchaouen also known as the “Blue City” full of blue doors, blue walls, and even blue stairs. A sight that you have to see to believe. Then the New York of Morocco, Fes. With 10,000 plus alleys of markets, residential areas and factories, home to the oldest university in the world which was founded by a woman.

                Going from a blue tinted city full of color not only in appearance but in feeling to a bustling medina in Fes, and finally back to our riad in Rabat feels like I’m coming home again. I think that once you experience what being a tourist is like for a couple of days, you get tired of carrying a camera at some point and you want to go back. Because of that, I am so excited to go back to the school and teach the kids English. A universal language that will help them thrive. To be able to witness that? Cause that? It’s beyond priceless to know that what you’re doing is going to help someone for the rest of their life.

                Viewing and learning about Chefchaouen’s beautiful color, Fes’ busy streets, and the excited voices of the students waiting for you to call on them. All these things have helped to motivate me to do my absolute best for the people here in Morocco.