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Semana Santa in Antigua, Guatemala
April 1, 2013
in Antigua, Central America, Guatemala, Latin American Adventure, Round the World, Semana Santa, travel

Alfombras de Semana Santa en Antigua, Guatemala

Throughout Lent, and throughout Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Antigua, the streets would be covered in elaborate alfombras carpets, made out of colored sawdust, fruits, vegetables, and a wide range of other materials. Some were quickly thrown together. Some took hours upon hours of work....

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Alfombra: Semana Santa in Antigua, Guatemala
March 27, 2013
in Antigua, Central America, Guatemala, Latin American Adventure, Round the World, Semana Santa, travel

La alfombra. Creating an alfombra for Semana Santa in Guatemala.

Horns were bellowing a death march. A loud drum kept the beat. Boom. Boom. Boom. It was an eerie orchestration that had been the soundtrack to Antigua, Guatemala, throughout lent, throughout Semana Santa. If you weren't hearing the deific tones from one of the frequent...

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Antigua, Guatemala
March 22, 2013
in Antigua, Central America, Guatemala, Latin American Adventure, Round the World, travel

Traditional Guatemalan Clothing Demonstration in Antigua

I'm currently studying Spanish at a Spanish school in Antigua, Guatemala. Nearly every day the school offers some sort of free local activity. There was a walking tour, a bicycle tour, and a visit to a nut farm. Yesterday's activity was a Traditional Guatemalan clothing...

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Antigua, Guatemala
March 21, 2013
in Antigua, Central America, Guatemala, Latin American Adventure, Round the World, travel

A free walking tour of Antigua, Guatemala.

I’ve been taking Spanish classes for a week now — four hours a day, five days a week, one-on-one — at a small Spanish school in Antigua, Guatemala. My Spanish is far from good, but, considering a week ago I could barely say “hola,” I...

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Football Match in Antigua, Guatemala
March 18, 2013
in Antigua, Central America, Guatemala, Latin American Adventure, Round the World, sports, travel

Saturday morning football.

I'd never seen a football match in person. Football, or soccer as we call it at home, has never really been my sport. Not that I really have a sport. I used to watch a lot of American football back in college. But, really, I...

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Antigua, Guatemala
March 14, 2013
in Antigua, Central America, Guatemala, Latin American Adventure, Round the World, travel

Square One

A year and a half ago I sat on a park bench in Berlin, crying. I was overwhelmed by it all. From being so far from home. From being alone. From the thought of long-term travel. I didn't think I could make it for three...

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Wicker Park Going Away Party
March 11, 2013
in Chicago Life, party, Round the World, travel

Of Pac Men and Tamale Guys: My Going Away Party.

On Saturday night I said goodbye to my friends (again) with arcade games, happy villages, and some much needed 2am tamales...

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Starbucks in Istanbul, Turkey
March 6, 2013
in coffee, travel

I should probably just change my name or something.

No matter where I am in the world, there is one thing I can count on: Starbucks will not get my name right.   Barcelona, Spain.   Istanbul, Turkey (In the first one, the dude wrote down two names and asked me which was correct. I said the top one...

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White water rafting at Shotgun Eddy's in Wisconsin
February 21, 2013
in Latin American Adventure, Life List, rafting, Round the World, travel

I’m so excited! I’m so excited! I’m so…scared!

My first ever camping trip got rained out, a malady that would plague every other camping trip I ever took with my college friends from that point on. It was the summer after my sophomore year of college, and we had crossed the state border...

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Steak and Fatty Flank Pho at Pho Viet Anh in Seattle, Washington
February 13, 2013
in food, North America, Round the World, travel, United States, Washington

Suppers in Seattle.

Really, all I ended up doing in Seattle was eating. And that I am OK with...

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Hi, I’m Val. I spent most of my 20s in a standstill, unable to pick which path in life I wanted to take. I wanted the nomadic life of a traveler but also wanted the husband, the condo, and the teal couch. Unable to decide which life I wanted more, I did nothing. I lived my life in limbo. When I turned 30 I’d had enough of putting my life on hold and decided to start “choosing my figs.” So, I quit my job and bought a one-way ticket to Europe. After 3 years on the road I’m back in Chicago, exploring the city, learning guitar, decorating my apartment in too much teal, cuddling my cats, and planning my next adventures.

            

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO IN YOUR LIFE?


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2006 –

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WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO IN YOUR LIFE?


Feeling stuck? Sick of living your life in limbo? Want to finally do all those things you always say you're going to do? Sign up for the Choosing Figs newsletter now to get a FREE e-book with tips on starting your own life list, inspiration for things to do in life, and worksheets to get your life goals out of your head and into action!


Your information will be used to send you our Life List e-book and subscribe you to our bi-monthly newsletter. View our full Privacy Policy.



            


MEOW | Is Val in Chicago?