A Little Adventure?

So I'm someone who always wants some type of adventure in my life. I don't just want it--I NEED it. Two summers ago I went on a humanitarian aid trip to Bolivia for almost 3 weeks and it was an experience I will never forget--but I still felt like I was a tourist and I've never liked that feeling. I mean, I stayed in a five star hotel (which still DOES NOT even compare AT ALL to five star hotels here in the U.S.) and ate at expensive restaurants every night--and this is one of the most poverty stricken countries in the world. I didn't want to be pampered; I just wanted to experience more of what Bolivians experience. Nonetheless, it was still amazing.

In order for me to get this travel bug in me satisfied for the next few years, I decided to take a semester off and leave my Scott for four months to live in either China, Russia, Ukraine, or Mexico to teach English with ILP (International Language Programs). I'm pretty nervous, but I know I need to do this. I want this service opportunity and need these life experiences I won't be able to gain by just studying textbooks. I want to see the world; I only get to live on it once. I'll finish my application and interview process this week and I'll see if I get accepted to China pretty soon! (China's my first choice, then Russia.) Shoot--all the Mandarin I know is "hello," "I'm hungry," "father," "Jesus," numbers 1-10, and how to sing a Chinese folk song. AH!! But it will be amazing, and I am pretty dang sure it will satisfy my need to go on a mission. ha

MEXICO

My dad's childhood friend, Lee, invited my dad and I to go to Mexico with him and two other dentists on a humanitarian aid trip--my dad as the dentist and me as the dental assistant. We were there for four days and what an incredible experience it was!



















We all saw between 90 to 100 people every day. My dad pulled teeth and gave fillings. I found out the effects the flouride in the water has on teeth and saw advanced periodontal disease for the first time in my life. I got to give a few shots in the mouth too!















Not only was the dentistry completely fascinating to me but so were the people. They were all so kind! People would randomly wave and smile to others--even if they didn't know each other! It was such a different experience from Provo... but maybe it's just because of the age group?? Anyway, I was talking to Gaile, our host, and she said that if her tire ever blew out she'd be hoping to be on the Mexico side of the boarder because they will always help and Americans won't. Years ago something happened to her car in the U.S. and she was on the side of the road with six or seven kids (I can't remember) and no one stopped to help her for 6 hours!! When someone finally did help, it was an illegal alien from Mexico. HA. Anyway, my point is that these Mexicans were some amazing people!