Miserable… I guess would be the word. Alone in a hospital operating room in a foreign country, getting my 2nd surgery on my horribly damaged left knee. My Ecuadorian boyfriend at the time comes to visit after I’m discharged from the hospital. He offers his condolences for my unfortunate situation and proceeds to tell me unabashedly that he wants a girlfriend who likes to wear dresses and heels and put on makeup and get her nails done. How it took him this long to realize I’m a tomboy who prefers sneakers and my hair in a ponytail escaped me entirely. Incredulous, I just stare and blink. And no, this is not some story I concocted from a soap opera or some badly scripted rom-com. My boyfriend actually just told me I’m not feminine enough for him and proceeds to break up with me. Happy New Year, Stephanie. Here’s to 2019.
Compounding the fact that I’m completely dependent on others to meet my basic needs and yet utterly alone, my duties as Field Director of WorldTeach Ecuador did not simply go away because I had surgery. It was January and in one month our NGO contract with the Ecuadorian government would expire, and I needed to begin the arduous undertaking of renewing our contract so our organization could continue legally running in the country. I also had a new cohort of volunteers arriving in February and I had to plan and execute their comprehensive month-long orientation program. Not to mention the expense reports, financial reports and volunteer support for my current volunteers in country. 2019 started off with a resounding bang, just not the melodious one I had anticipated.
When WorldTeach announced it was closing its doors due to financial hardship, I was tasked with closing an NGO in an unforgivingly bureaucratic country and breaking the hearts of my volunteers, our host families, our partner institutions, and the students who benefitted from our courageous and hard-working volunteers. 2019 was the most challenging year of my professional career. And yet there is a fire inside me that burns and refuses to be extinguished, even in the face of unrelenting storms. And that fire brings me peace. I’ve learned to strive for and work towards things that bring me joy. And 2019 was indeed rife with joy.
Highlights of 2019
- Summitting Pichincha. This treacherous mountain nestled in the capital city of Ecuador is not for the faint of heart, but I managed to hike to the peak of 15,406 feet (4,696 meters) through the snow and ice. It was the most difficult hike of my life, and one of my proudest moments… only 4 months after my knee surgery.
- Trekking in the Amazon Rainforest. Have you ever slept for 12 straight, glorious hours? No? Try going to the deep jungle where there is no cell service and no internet for a while. It’s the healthiest thing for your mind. Sure there was frog in my bed, but I will carry those harmonious jungle-sounds with me for the rest of my life.
- My 32nd Birthday trip to COLOMBIA. If God told me right now, “Stephanie, pack your bags! You’re moving to Colombia!” I would be like “WOW GOD THANKS SO MUCH!” I love love LOVE that wondrous country. One of the nicest compliments I’ve ever been given was by a Colombian nomad who said “Tienes el espíritu del Caribe.” That even though I’m American, I have the spirit of the Caribbean.
- Exploring Mexico City. Speaking of wonder, Mexico City is a treasure trove of art, history, culture, and gastronomical genius. Long live the red, white, and green.
- 2nd Time’s a Charm – Peru. My 2nd time to Peru consisted of me eating as much octopus and seafood as humanly possible. Did I mention Peruvians have the most incredibly dynamic and unbelievable cuisine? I’d live in Peru just for how they prepare their octopus.
- Redwoods of California and Santa Cruz. Our Wallace family vacation this year took us to the Redwoods, the tallest living things on earth. We camped, hiked, slept in tents, went to the beach and managed not to kill each other. We even have matching shirts to prove it.
- My parents’ trip to visit me in Washington D.C. It’s a pretty special thing to be in your 30’s and have your parents make time to fly across the country to be with you. My mom and I had a blast together during our girls’ week. Then a few days later my dad came for our traditional Thanksgiving feast that we host for all my friends.
- Cuenca, Ecuador. Another solo trip to the old, enchanted city of Cuenca, host to the best food in Ecuador, a breath-taking national park (which of course I hiked) and utter tranquility.
- Hiking the Volcanic Crater Quilotoa. There’s something mind-boggling about being inside a volcanic crater. You’re microscopic. The water is emerald. The towering walls of rock reduce your ego to a pebble and somehow silence your fears. You just surrender to the awe.
- Trans-Siberian Orchestra Concert in Philadelphia. I’m all for saving pennies and being super frugal, but sometimes you just need to spend a buck and GO ALL OUT. I went all-out for my trip to Philadelphia, seated just a few rows back from the stage of the most astonishing concert I’ve ever witnessed. TSO absolutely blew me away. And the City of Brotherly Love never disappoints me.
I went to 4 countries, hiked 5 mountains, attended 3 concerts, 2 wrestling matches, 1 NBA game, 3 baseball games, 1 World Series Parade, hosted 3 parties, rode 6 rollercoasters, got 2 new tattoos, and I read 12 books and watched 97 movies. (and yes, I keep meticulous track of this).
2019 had its share of drudgery. But to steal a quote from The Count of Monte Cristo, “You must look into that storm and shout, Do your worst! For I shall do mine.”
I am mystified by the complete and total uncertainty that surrounds my future in 2020, but I intend to employ a similar strategy that I did in 2019. Find the beauty. Find the joy. Keep the fire ablaze. Revel in the peace that follows.
Until next time my faithful readers,
Stephanie
Awaken the Wonder 