First stop: Berlin

Berlin is a very special city to many for many different reasons, to me it is special because this was the very first stop of my travels, and the people I met there became very dear to me. I was both excited and nervous, I have to admit. I didn't know what to expect from the city, its people, or the ashram (temple) I would be spending a considerable amount of time. I think it is important to know that prior to this trip I have not spent any time in an ashram, so whatever I was getting into was all very new to me (at least in practice).

So what does a regular day in the ashram look like?

For starters it begins very early in the morning, even before the sun comes up. Normally we wake up around 4 in the morning, get dressed in devotional clothes (picture below), and attend a ceremony called Mangala Arati. As I learned over the course of my time visiting different temples, each temple sets their own time. In Sweden, for example, arati is at 6am! A whole two hours later!

I didn't quite know how to put this Gopi Dress properly (notice how off the scarves are in each picture)


After the mangala arati we have some time for personal meditation and japa chanting. The latter has become a personal challenge since I am quite slow and I struggle to chant the required 16 rounds. It is supposed to take 2 hours to accomplish but it takes me many many more! 

After the meditation and arati are finished we take prasad, or prasadam (offered food) at around 9:30am. Remember we wake up around 4am, so it is around 5 hours of empty bellies until breakfast time. Meditating and reading vedic literature are best done when the mind and the body are clear. For the newcomer, this is quite the task, and one can hear the symphony of growling bellies as the morning progresses. Morning fasting is normal for those who make waking up before sunrise a habit, and they are also quite active and energy and surely more productive for those of us who were used to college life. Before, I would probably be going to bed this late/early if there was a project or essay due the next day.

Clearly there has been a major change between having a college life and a spiritual life. Life after graduation for me has taken a 180° turn. Has anyone else's life after college taken a major turn?

I will be back with more!

Blog expectations

Before I began my journey I had planned to update the blog as often as possible in order to keep everyone who reads it informed and for me to remember the details that easily fade away with time. Unfortunately, a few things came up and I was not able to do so. I managed to write a few posts, but too few for my liking. First, there was the issue with the internet connection, then the discomforts of not having my own laptop where I could work more comfortably. I brought an iPad instead, and found that working with it is not as efficient as I would have hoped.

This brings me to over a month of my travels later and very few things written about my experiences in the different ashrams I have visited.  I will write a post for each of the countries I have visited so far: Germany, Sweden, Spain, Czech Republic and Hungary.

I made a two-week stop in Puerto Rico, working with a professor and her daughter from Amherst.

The news I have is that I will be staying in India for 6 months rather than 2 months, and as you can image I am more than excited to be in India for this long.

So what comes next? The latin American portion of my journey. I will be making a stop in Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru! 

I made sure to bring my laptop with me, so expect more news from me.

Technology, my friend / Mi amiga la tecnologia

Finally I´ve gotten a hold of a laptop and I want to share and post as much as possible. In order to do this I must go back to the beginnning.


As some of you know, I left for my journey on June 26th at 7pm, and arrived in Berlin the next day at 2pm. It sounds like a whole lot of hours traveling but thanks to time differences my time in the air was only 9 hours. Which was no so bad. I slept a bit, and was even able to get some vegetarian food on the plane (cheese lasagna) which was a pleasant surprise (when I traveled to Costa Rica this past Spring break my choices were chicken or beef).


So far I have spent my time in Berlin, Sweden, and Mallorca. Berlin has become a sort of home base because I always return to Berlin, and because the people that live there already feel like family. I haven't left Berlin yet and I already feel like I will miss this place, a lot.


Two things about technology I have realized: I need the comfort of using my own laptop, and I need a tripod (I was surprised to find out that after a few weeks of intense camera work, my hands are exhausted, especially my right hand, that or I'm getting old).


On a side note: typing on a German keyboard (or European keyboard of any kind) is more challenging and a bit more annoying than I had thought. There are minor differences between the American and the European keyboards that are not as noticeable. A few things are out of place like the question mark or the apostrophe, but having the Y and the Z switched up slows me down quite a bit.

Lots of pictures...coming up soon!

I've already filled a 16GB memory card with photos and videos and I've only visited 2 countries! As soon as I get a computer I will be sharing and spreading the love. Also, I created a Facebook page for my travels also called Between Two Worlds, for easy sharing, but there are no pictures yet unfortunately. Soon I will be able to share more with you more often. So hold on to your chairs! I'll be back with more!

Talking to strangers can be fun

This will be another short post (since I have not found a way to successfully upload pictures from my iPad to the blog) BUT I wanted to share my 12 hour train ride experience from Berlin to Gothenburg, Sweden. As a heads up, the pictures I got I think are great, though some windows (because they were dirty) did not allow for great quality. But imagine beautiful green countryside landscape from three different countries and a train that rides on a ship to cross the ocean, and the fun that can come from talking to strangers and you got yourself a happy camper that did not sleep or read on said ride because she was having great fun getting the know other fellow human beings. I even got myself two beautifl tiny fans (two adorable little girls from Uzbekistan) who smiled at me pretty much the whole train ride, and insisted on taking pictures of me on my camera. I met a Canadian boy who was on his way to continuing his Europe trip, a Swedish Jazz musician who walked with me through the streets of the 'in the process of renovation' Copenhagen, and a couple of German kids who were on their way to meeting their grandparents in northern Sweden. There is a whole lot more to share, but this is just a sneak peak for now. I will try to find a kind person who can lend me his or her computer and share all the love with you all.

Experiment of the day: talk to a stranger and get to know another fellow human being, you will certainly be pleasantly surprised! Haribol! 

--- Esta va a ser una nota pequeña, ya que no puedo subir fotos desde el iPad, pero queria compartir con ustedes mi viaje en tren desde Berlin hasta Gothenburg, Sweden. Este viaje duró 12 largas horas, pero sepan que la vista desde mi ventana era maravillosa, eso hizo que el largo viaje valiera la pena. Otra cosa que hizo que mi largo viaje valiera la pena fue la gente que conocí durante esta travesía. Conocí y conversé con un chico de Canada que al igual que yo esta viajando y conociendo Europa. También conocí a un musico de jazz con el cual conversé sobre muchas cosas por horas y unas niñas hermosas de Uzbekistan.

If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you are with.

Hello everyone! This will be a short post since I am still adjusting to being in Europe, in the ashram (temple), the 6 hour time difference, and the internet connection, but I  wanted to let you all know I arrived safely. So far I love it here! The people I have met are very wonderful, the city (or what I have seen so far) is beautiful and clean, and everyone here seems to know at least more than two languages, which is really quite impressive! 


Thankfully I have not succumbed to being jet lagged (but I have slept a bit during the day.) Someone I met on the plane suggested I walk barefoot in order to adjust to the electromagnetic field of the country, and following his advise I have been barefoot most of the time and long and behold I think it might work. Someone else try and do this and let me know if it works for you too! I have been working around the temple doing all sorts of chores -Gurudeva arrives tomorrow and we are all very excited to see him!


This is it for now, I will post pictures of Berlin and the temple soon, my friends!
(This weekend I'm heading to Sweden)


Haribol!

This is a little snack we had yesterday (though I believe I'm having a little bit of trouble uploading pictures from my iPad - I decided not to take my laptop because of it's weight, and now Im kinda regretting it. Im borrowing people's computers and the European keyboard with the 'Y' and the 'Z' switched up can get troublesome after a while)

How to get a Visa for India / Cómo solicitar una visa para la India

To obtain a Visa for India I contacted Travisa, a company which deals with the Indian Consulate in the United States. I requested a 10-year multiple entry visa, and besides filling up two basic forms, and obtaining two passport pictures this was not a difficult process. Except I made a minor mistake, and this delayed the process by a few days (instead of "multiple" entries, I selected "single" entry). Travisa's website is pretty clear and the steps are easy to follow. They are very clear about their fees as well.

Para obtener mi visa para la India use los servicios de la companía Travisa. Aunque creo que es importante mencionar que los requisitos exigidos en la página web son para ciudadanos de los Estados Unidos, por lo tanto ciudadanos de otros países deberán verficar con el Consulado de la India en su país. Yo solicité una visa por 10 años con entradas multiples. Sólo tuve que llenar dos formularios sencillos y sacar dos fotos tamaño pasaporte.

Because I'm leaving for Europe in a few days, I had to request the rush service (Fast Track Premium Service). This service allows me to see exactly where is my passport and to track the status of my application. According to their tracking the process should be finished tomorrow, and then they should be mailing me my passport and my brand new India Visa! Fingers crossed it gets to my hands before the 26th of this month, which is when I depart to Berlin, Germany!

Ya que viajo para Europa en unos días tuve que pedir que apuraran un poco el proceso. Realmente espero que mi pasaporte y mi visa lleguen a mis manos antes del 26 de junio, que es cuando parto para Berlin, Alemania. Dedos cruzados hasta entonces! 

Things for the road/Cosas para el camino

As I wait for my visa to India (application has finally been submitted!) it hit me that I do not have the basics for my travels, or at least what I think are the basics for traveling. This is my best attempt at coming up with a list of must-have items. Here it goes. (Experienced travelers please leave me comments on these items, whether they are essential or plain old unnecessary, or if there is something else I left out.)

Mientras espero por mi visa para la India (solicitud que ya fue enviada) me di cuenta que con la emoción del viaje no me he preparado adecuadamente! Asi que hice una lista de cosas que creo yo son importantes e indispensables para mi viaje. Claro, esto está basado en mi idea de lo que es necesario, ya que no tengo experiencia en viajes de más de 4 meses a más de un país, asi que si piensan que algun articulo no es tan necesario dejenmelo saber. Si piensan en algun producto o cosa que no se me ha ocurrido tambien dejenmelo saber en un comentario. Bueno, ahi les va mi lista:

A wrist watch. I've relied on my phone/electronic devices that get updated upon arrival in a different time zone, which makes it difficult to figure out whether the time belongs to your place of origin or your destination. I'm not the type of person who wears watches, but I realize that I should get a good waterproof-glow-in-the-dark-alarm-do-it-all watch to help me stay on time. (Any advice on watches people currently own/know about? These watches have resin bands, is this a good product?)

Un reloj de pulsera. No soy de usar relojes ya que desde que tengo telefono celular, éste hace de reloj por tiempo completo. Me gustaría uno que sea resistente al agua, que tenga alarma, y con luz para poder ver la hora en la oscuridad. Alguien tiene algun reloj favorito el cual me pudieran recomendar?

All of these are sport watches

Appropriate backpack/luggage. No wheels. Something that can fit what I need and allow me to explore around while having my hands free. I'm not really sure what to look for in a backpack. I know I want it to be light weight with an internal frame pack, and that will allow me to stay organized when I'm on the go. There are many options online, and not too many stores nearby where I can try them on. Anyone have recommendations on which backpack I should get?

Mochila grande. Me encanta tener las manos libres cuando viajo y aunque las maletas con ruedas son practicas y te evitan que cargues con mucho peso, pienso que muchas veces pueden dar un poco de problema ya que pueden estorbar (especialmente si son muy grandes.) La mejor opción para mi creo que seria obtener una mochila para "mochileros." Hay muchas mochilas en el mercado, todas de  diferentes precios y yo en realidad les confiezo que estoy en el aire. Muchas se ven lindas y otras un tanto no muy atractivas. Cual elijo?

Alps Mountaineering Orizaba 3900

Sleeping bag. Looking to get something like the red one. Mom doesn't like that the first one looks like a coffin. It is more expensive and more suitable for below freezing weather, which I will not be experiencing.

Bolsa de dormir. Escencial especialmente cuando no nos hospedamos en un hotel o hostel y no sabemos donde pasaremos la noche. Pienso que la bolsa roja se ve bien. Mi mamá me dijo que definitivamente NO a la primera bolsa de dormir conocida como "Bolsa Momia," a ella no le gustó que se parece a un ataud. Que piensan ustedes?

Both from Alps Mountaineering

First aid kid/personal care: pain killers, neosporine, cold medicine, feminine products (luckily guys never have to worry about these items.)
*A friend already suggested I get (Flagyl) metronidazole (Thanks for the info, Manny!) 

Primeros auxilios/Cuidado personal. Cosillas como medicina para el dolor, o medicina para la gripe o la tos. Además de productos femeninos que nosotras las mujeres siempre tenemos que tener en cuenta (suerte la de los hombre que no tienen que preocuparse por cosas como esas cuando viajan no, chicas?)

A water bottle with a build-in filter. Not sure if this is extremely necessary, or if it could replace drinking out of plastic water bottles in countries like Mexico, for example. 

Botella de agua con filtro. En muchos países el agua no es segura para beber directamente, así que pensé que tener una botella con filtro incluido sería una buena idea. Creen que en países como Mexico, una botella con filtro podría reemplazar el tener que comprar agua en botella?

Visas and Formalities

I thought it would be wise for me to research visa information, since I am visiting  countries in different continents. Below are my findings. In short I don't need a tourist visa for any European country using my U.S. passport, so I'm good to go there. South and Central American countries are not a problem either. For the Dominican Republic I only need a tourist card which I can purchase upon arrival. It only costs $10, so not a major expense. For India, however, I do need to apply for a tourist visa, and for some reason it completely slipped my mind! Now I have to rush and figure out how to get one in time.

Antes de empezar mis viajes, pensé que seria una buena idea investigar los requisitos de entradas para los paises que estaré visitando. Usando mi pasaporte americano, no necesito adquirir visas para Europa, Sudamerica ni Centro America. Para la República Dominicana solo necesito adquirir una tarjeta de turista, la cual puedo comprar en el aeropuerto por $10. La única visa que necesito adquirir es para la India, y aparentemente se me olvidó por completo que tengo que solicitarla lo más antes posible!

These results were found on the U.S. Department of State website http://travel.state.gov/

• Germany is a party to the Schengen Agreement. As a U.S. citizen, you may enter Germany for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa.

• Sweden is a party to the Schengen Agreement. This means that U.S. citizens may enter Sweden for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes with a valid U.S. passport, without obtaining a visa. You need sufficient funds and a return airline ticket.

• Spain is a party to the Schengen Agreement. This means that U.S. citizens may enter Spain for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa. Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the period of stay. You need sufficient funds, evidence of hotel reservations or an official letter of invitation if you will stay with family or friends, and a return airline ticket.

• You may enter Poland for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa according to the Schengen Agreement, to which Poland is a party and which allows for free travel between Schengen countries. Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the period of stay. You must have sufficient funds and a return airline ticket.

• You need a valid passport to enter the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic is a party to the Schengen Agreement. This means that U.S. citizens may enter the Czech Republic and other Schengen member states for a total of up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes without a visa. Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond your period of stay. 

• Hungary is a party to the Schengen Agreement. This means that U.S. citizens may enter Hungary for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa. Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond your period of stay. You need sufficient funds and a return airline ticket.

• A U.S. passport is required for U.S. citizens who are not Bulgarian nationals. As a U.S. citizen, you are authorized to stay for a total of 90 days within a six-month period without a Bulgarian visa. This law is strictly enforced. You can file an application to extend your stay beyond the original 90 days for urgent or humanitarian reasons, but the application must be submitted to regional police authorities no later than five days prior to the end of the original 90-day period. Travelers who have been in the country for 90 days and then leave will not be able to re-enter Bulgaria before the six-month period expires.

• For entry into Costa Rica, you must present both a valid passport and a roundtrip/outbound ticket. Your passport must be valid for at least 90 days after your arrival. Because of possible fines levied by Costa Rican Immigration, many airlines will not permit passengers without a roundtrip ticket to board flights to Costa Rica unless they have Costa Rican citizenship, residency or a visa. Immigration now also requires that travelers be able to demonstrate financial capacity of at least $100 per month while they are in Costa Rica as tourists. When you leave Costa Rica, you will have to pay a departure tax of $28 USD. 

• A valid U.S. passport is required for all U.S. citizens, regardless of age, to enter and to depart Guatemala for return to the United States. Even if dual nationals are permitted to enter Guatemala on a second nationality passport, U.S. citizens returning to the United States from Guatemala are not allowed to board their flights without a valid U.S. passport. Certificates of Naturalization, birth certificates, driver's licenses, and photocopies are not accepted by Guatemalan authorities as alternative travel documents. While in Guatemala, U.S. citizens should carry a photocopy of their passports with them at all times due to the high rate of passport theft and leave the original passport in a safe place. An exit tax must be paid when departing Guatemala by air. The exit tax (currently $30) is generally included in an airline ticket price, but may be charged separately. There is an additional airport security fee (20 Quetzales, approximately $2.60) that all travelers must pay at the airport.

• Since March 1, 2010, all U.S. citizens – including children – have been required to present a valid passport or passport card for travel beyond the “border zone” into the interior of Mexico. The “border zone” is generally defined as an area within 20 to 30 kilometers of the border with the U.S., depending on the location. Regardless of the destination in Mexico; however, all U.S. citizens age 16 or older must present a valid U.S. passport book or passport card to re-enter the U.S. by land. A passport book is required to return to the United States via an international flight.

• All U.S. citizens who are not also Colombian citizens must present a valid U.S. passport to enter and depart Colombia, and to return to the United States. Dual U.S-Colombian citizens must present a Colombian passport to enter and exit Colombia, and a U.S. passport to return to the United States. U.S. citizens traveling to Colombia do not need a Colombian visa for a tourist stay of 60 days or less. Travelers entering Colombia are sometimes asked to present evidence of return or onward travel, usually in the form of a round-trip plane ticket. Americans traveling overland must enter Colombia at an official border crossing. Travelers arriving by bus should ensure, prior to boarding, that their bus will cross the border at an official entry point. Entering Colombia at unauthorized crossings may result in fines or incarceration. Travelers planning to enter Colombia over a land border should carefully read our information on Traffic Safety and Road Conditions below.

• A valid passport is required to enter and depart Peru. Tourists must also provide evidence of return or onward travel. Travelers to Peru will receive a card from Peruvian Immigration upon arrival stating the length of approved stay (usually 90 days). Extensions are not available, and overstays will result in fines. Visit the Embassy of Peru Website for the most current visa information. Peru does not require any immunizations for entry, although it recommends vaccination against Yellow Fever. 

• Any person who can legally travel or reside in the United States, Canada and the European Union (including Great Britain) does not need a visa to visit the Dominican Republic for tourist purposes and can enter the Dominican Republic with a tourist card. It can be obtained directly at the airport upon arrival in the Dominican Republic and payed for in US Dollars. (from http://www.domrep.org/visa.html)  Tourist cards cost ten U.S. dollars, which must be paid in U.S. currency.

• All U.S. citizens need a valid passport and valid Indian visa to enter and exit India for any purpose. Visitors, including those on official U.S. government business, must apply for visas at an Indian Embassy or Consulate abroad before entering the country. Visas are not available upon arrival for U.S. citizens. If you don’t have a valid passport and visa you may be immediately deported. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India cannot assist you if you arrive without proper documentation.

Un mensaje para mis amigos latinos

Después de hacer público este espacio pensé que sería muy importante para mí incluir a aquellos lectores y/o amigos/devotos de la comunidad latinoamericana. Siento que su aporte y comentarios sobre este largo viaje que voy a dar a partir del 26 de Junio con Gurudeva (Swami B.A. Paramadvaiti) es muy valioso. Especialmente porque gran parte de los países que estaré visitando son países hispano-hablantes, y es mi deseo compartir con todos estos momentos tan importantes de mi vida.

Esta es sólo una introducción explicando el por que habrán comentarios en español e inglés de ahora en adelante. Para aquellos amigos que hablan ambos idiomas, sepan que los comentarios en español no serán traducciones directas del inglés, ni viceversa. En cada uno de mis comentarios podrán encontrar algo diferente, que espero refleje mis interacciones unicas con cada país y sus habitantes. Después de todo hay cosas que se pueden expresar mejor en español y otras en inglés. Y esa es la belleza de los idiomas!

Muy pronto estaré incluyendo un segmento contando cómo nació la idea de este viaje.

Espero que aquellos devotos que visiten este espacio me puedan brindar sus consejos, enseñanzas, y quizas alguna crítica constructiva que me ayuden a prepararme para este viaje. Todo es muy nuevo para mí y sé que tengo mucho por aprender. Asi que agradezco cualquier comentario que me puedan brindar de antemano.

Muchas gracias a todos los que visiten mi blog!

Hare Krsna!

Destinations

We will be visiting many cities and we will be staying in different temples in all of these cities. The temples will look something like this:

This is the Eco Truly Park in Peru

And this is my tentative itinerary:

Tickets to and from Europe are finally purchased and this dream-like journey seems more and more real!

The future is getting closer

It's been a little bit over a month since I first heard anything about this trip/journey/tour around the world. In all honesty, I never imagined it was possible for me to do such a thing. Of course I've always dreamt of it, since I was very little, but I always thought it was an absurd fantasy of mine. Where I come from this dream almost never comes true, specially if you come from a poor family like me. So please understand that I feel very very grateful and blessed that such thing can actually happen to me. That the world conspired in my favor is more a result of a greater positive energy that has continuously been watching over me than my talent alone. Or at least that's how I feel now.

Those who know me, who have witnessed my struggles over the past 9 years, have told me that I "deserve" this. Perhaps because I have worked hard and have never given up. And of course it makes me really happy that they think this way. But I don't necessarily agree. I couldn't possibly be the only person that has worked hard in her life and is now getting a reward. I can think of a few others that I personally know that deserve a break much more than I do. I have seen them raise families single-handedly. I have seen them fight disease. I have seen them work 2 or even 3 jobs to provide for their children. I have seen them go through a lot and I have seen them smile and move forward despite it all. So I can't help but wonder what I did that was so special. Certainly I haven't raised a family, nor have I faced a major health condition. At most I had to learn how to take care of myself, improve my English, and find a way to get an education. Nothing special there, right? A typical immigrant story. However, I think, I hope, mine will be an immigrant success story. One that one day can perhaps encourage someone out there to follow their dreams.

So I mentioned that it has been roughly over a month since I knew that I would be traveling during the summer. This happened during winter break, after the New Year's celebration. I was impatiently waiting to hear back from a fellowship that if awarded it would have taken me to Kyoto, Japan for a year instead. As fate would have it I was not awarded the fellowship, although I came to a close second place. Not bad, but not good either. So there went my after-graduation plans. I panicked. I didn't want to go to grad school right away (because I was not sure what I would do there), and I didn't want to work for a bank or become an "analyst" as most Econ majors go on doing after graduation. Not because there's anything wrong in their decision, but because I didn't feel I would be happy there.

I panicked some more. I thought of my future a lot and felt the pressure every senior in college feels when thinking about their future. It is a very stressful time. And one does not simply graduate college without a "plan." If you are a senior you must come up with one, and fast. I was bummed. I was mortified. Why didn't the committee choose me? Why? Why? I complained to myself a lot during this time of uncertainty. I felt bad for doing so, but I really couldn't help myself. Soon enough I snapped out of it. It was not worth it to cry over spilled milk, or so the saying goes.

I did have some help. And very good news followed. One of my many adoptive families (I have many families who welcomed me in their homes as a result of living in the United States alone from such a young age) offered to buy me tickets to travel as a graduation present. I did mention I was quite bummed for a few days, right? They also offered me a job in their company, and with these offers they offered me a sense of security. So far so good. Two days later I heard news that my guru, Swami B.A. Paramadvaiti, would be visiting Miami for a few days. What better opportunity, I thought. He travels constantly and as a result it is hard to meet with him, specially if you don't live in a city that is not in his travel itinerary. (I currently live in Massachusetts, where I attend college and he does not come here often.)

I drove for an hour and got to the temple with no expectations, other that see him and perhaps talk to him a bit, which to me was more than enough. I had not seen him in 2 years, since the day I met him and took initiation, and to be honest I feared he would have forgotten me. Most people would have forgotten someone whom they met once, right? Not him. Even though he has hundreds of students (or devotees) he remembers every single one of them. He not only remembers your name, but who you really are. He is a great soul, someone who makes you happy just by looking at him, or hearing him, someone who makes you feel at ease. It is very difficult to describe the feelings I have when I'm in his presence. The only word that comes to mind, although inaccurate, is magical.

I met with him, and it was a very emotional moment. I didn't say much. He held my hand, offered a small prayer, and then looked right into my eyes. "Would you like to travel with me?" I could not believe it. I really couldn't. Even now I don't think what happened there was real. Without my expressing of how I was feeling, he knew exactly I wanted most even if I was not aware of it myself. He knew I wanted to spend some time in a temple, to have time to meditate, to explore my spirituality, to become familiar with an Eastern faith. I wanted to learn more about him, and how to become a person in tune with herself. So to hear that he was extending an invitation to me, seemed like a dream come true. I cried. I was really moved. Visiting many countries I've never visited before, I have to admit, is definitely a great opportunity. But to me what is really the essence and this journey is traveling alongside with him.

Think about your favorite actor, or someone whom you admire the most. Really think about it. You have someone in mind? Now, imagine this person is inviting you to travel with him/her for a few months. How would you feel? Surreal, right? That's how I felt, and still feel, and will probably continue to feel throughout the whole journey.

However, I can't help but feel unprepared. To be able to travel with him is a very high honor, and with that comes a lot of responsibility (as does with power). Namely, to be a member of a temple or participate in one involves having a certain etiquette, a certain behavior one must assume. One which I have not received yet. I have read about it in books, but I feel is not enough. I voiced my concerns to Gurudeva, as we often respectfully refer to him, and he reassured me it was ok. That I would learn with time. That I should not worry. But I worry because I don't want to disappoint him, I want to be deserving of this great opportunity he has given me.

So I will make mistakes I'm sure, my only wish is that other fellow devotees will be patient with me, that they share with me a bit of their wisdom and experiences. I promise all the devotees I will meet in the future that I will try my very best in learning about Krishna Consciousness, and to my friends I promise I will share with you all of which I will learn. I will share my experiences, struggles, and visits both in writing and through photographs and videos. Part of my mission during this trip is to record my experiences as someone relatively new to the Krishna Consciousness movement and to record the beautiful work that Gurudeva does for his beloved devotees.

I have left out a few details, but if anyone has a question about anything don't hesitate to drop a comment and I will be more than happy to address any concerns, doubts or curiosities.

I promise I will be including more visual stimulation in future posts. There was a lot that needed to be said and explained and now that that has been done, the planning process begins!!

Haribol!!!

Who am I?

Although a very philosophical question, the answer I'm looking for does not involve any philosophy. At least not yet. The answer to this question is simply looking to briefly share with you who I am in the realm of this physical world, and where I come from.

So who am I? I am currently a senior at one of the top liberal arts schools in the United States, Amherst College. I was born in Lima, Peru, and my permanent residence is in Miami, Florida. I have a plethora of hobbies. I speak a few languages other than English and Spanish. I am a very healthy person. I don't have major vices. And upon graduating from college, I will be doing so debt-free thanks to Amherst College's generous Financial Aid package. Overall, I am a person who is happy with life and has managed to overcome the many obstacles of living in the United States by myself since the age of 15. I have no complaints.

Amherst College during the winter time

So what is this "Between Two Worlds" journey? And what are these two worlds?

This journey is roughly about my experiences and struggles as I learn more about Bhakti Yoga, AKA devotional yoga or the Yoga of Love. A practice that takes roots on Vedic tradition from India. More concretely, this journey is my leaving of modern comforts for 6 months as I travel with my Guru, Swami B.A. Paramadvaiti, all through Europe, Central and South America, to finally reach India. We will be visiting and staying in temples (Ashrams) throughout the course of our journey.

That's me back in 2009!

The two worlds I will be journeying through are the spiritual and the material.

I am really excited and feel blessed to have this incredible opportunity. However, I have to admit that I feel nervous because I don't have any major spiritual preparation to travel side by side with a person who has dedicated his whole life towards a spiritual pursuit. I will face many challenges, I'm sure, but I will try my best to learn as much as I can and keep an open mind. Hopefully I will receive help and guidance from everyone  I meet during these few months of travel. I'm certain that with everyone's help I will be able to have a memorable and pleasant experience.

Wish me luck as I prepare to embark on this life changing journey, everyone! I will certainly need it. Also, as I prepare for my journey I would love to hear from my friends and everyone else who wishes to give me some advise, or have comments or perhaps questions about all of this. This journey will be a new experience for both you and I, you as a reader and I as a traveler. So don't be shy and just say hi!

Haribol to all!

To get to where I want to go, I have to start somewhere

Beginning NOW!

I find myself always waiting for the perfect moment to start anything, as if this perfect moment can happen on its own. I know it doesn't, at least not without a little help. My help. I know I can make a moment "perfect" by changing the way I see it- in the same way I choose to make being stuck in traffic less dreadful by tuning in to my favorite song and starting a mini jam session. So now I choose to see right now as the most perfect moment, for this, for anything.

I was asked by a wonderful person to start a blog about my journey "Between Two Worlds," and while I'm not quite ready to explain what this journey entails just yet, I decided to start it NOW despite my fear, yes fear, of being judged by what I have to say (although that hasn't really happened to me before, that I'm aware of), despite not liking the layout of this blog (because the perfectionist in me does not want me to go "live" without checking thousands of other blogs in order to see what works and what doesn't), despite not feeling ready. The true to the matter is I will always find excuses not to start, I will always feel "not ready," and I can't let that limit me anymore.

So here it is, my first post. After this first step, the next ones I'm sure will be a little less intimidating, specially when all things considered what the blog looks like is not really that important, the message is, right?

Cheers! And Haribol to all!