Well. How do you start writing something like this? Where do I begin? When I stepped out of the door at 4:30 in the morning on September 9, 2010, the day I left my home? Or did it begin when I stepped off that plane at 4:30 in the morning the next day in Santiago de Chile? Or did it really begin, such a long time ago (it seems) when the seed of an idea took root in my head. The idea to do this crazy thing I’m doing. So here I am, with just one bag on my back, intending to live out this year and learn as much as I can.

Just so we’re all clear about what it is that I’m doing, I intend to pass the entire year in South America, working and traveling in many countries (but not all of them-love to, but can’t afford to, in time and in money). I’m here to learn Spanish, and to live a bit. To breathe the air of another place. To taste the water. To see notice the differences between my life and the lives of other, but more importantly, to see how similar our lives really are. To see if I can find the answers to some questions. I am here to work with my hands. To see as clearly as I can. And with the understanding that what I have initiated is a transformational process. We’ll see where it gets me.