Dress it up any way you want. Call it “green season” if it makes you feel good. Call it “winter” even though it’s not cold, and heaven knows, it’s not going to snow. But, the reality is - rainy season means flooded streets, muddy sidewalks, increased traffic, honking horns, thunder, lightning, more traffic, decreased patience, more horns… and at times, days and days without sunshine. We arrived in the middle of rainy season last year, and here we are, almost a year later in the thick of it again.
Dealing with and preparing for rainy season requires the following:
1. Have a good umbrella. Take that back – have 4 good umbrellas: one for home, one for the car, one for the office if you work, and one just in case. We are an 8-umbrella family, and we have used all of them at one time or another since here.
2. Make sure that at least one of your vehicles is an SUV. Go ahead and buy the little sports car if you wish, but know that you will only be able to rely on it 4 or 5 months out of the year.
3. When encountering flooded streets (and you will encounter them), move slowly and steadily through the water if, and only if, you really think you can make it. If you aren’t sure, don’t go through. Don’t use the brake. Don’t go in reverse. Don't expect that there will be tow trucks to drag you out if you get stuck. Slow and steady.
4. Let friends and family know that now is not a good time to visit. Sure the airfare may be cheaper, but there is a reason for that. That wonderful beach vacation they’ve been dreaming about will probably be spent inside playing cards, especially during the months of October and November.
Nevertheless, there’s another side to this season. It’s romantic and mysterious. The lightning shows make you want to grab a bottle of wine, sit on the balcony (far enough out of the way to avoid the pelting rain), and admire nature at work. Sheltered by the clouds, amid the lightning and thunder, the sunset creates deep hues of orange, red, and purple. Other days, when the sun can’t find the energy to force itself out, everything is steeped in shades of silver, giving the appearance of a 1920s film or Ansel Adams photograph. Those are the days when the clouds creep up on you, seeping into every nook, until you are standing in the middle of a milky light unable to see anything before or behind you. I’m constantly fascinated, amazed, in awe of the beauty of this place. Fascinated by its rich colors. Amazed by the absence of them as well.
Rainy season – in a nutshell - it’s the most beautiful mess you’ll ever have to be in. Aw, what the heck, invite the family down. You can sit on the balcony and chat while saturating your senses.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Akila Yoga - You've gotta try this place!
I'm a tough customer - but when I come across something that I absolutely love or hate, I will give my opinion. And, right now, I'm telling you - I LOVE Akila Yoga.
Three years of pain gone in 3 weeks – literally! As a teacher carrying heavy loads of books and equipment and as a runner, pain was just part of the game, I thought. I had tried everything to get rid of the back pain – physical therapy, chiropractics, and even an injection of cortisone into my spinal nerve – nothing worked until I started personalized training with Mijael at Akila Yoga y Danza.
Mijael helped me understand how important the mind-body connection is in healing physical problems. Through sequences of exercises, postures, and daily meditation that Mijael prepared for me, my back pain disappeared and my inner happiness started to return! (We're always happier when we aren't carrying a ton of pain around, right?) What a wonderful thing to wake up pain-free!
Yoga has been my daily energy boost, my stress reducer, and my mental and physical therapy that has helped me get through some of the tougher times while living abroad.
Oh, an even cooler thing to note about Mijael, my miracle-making yoga instructor, he's bilingual (Spanish/English) and understands what it means to live through the changes that come with moving from one country/culture to another.
You gotta give this guy a try!
Three years of pain gone in 3 weeks – literally! As a teacher carrying heavy loads of books and equipment and as a runner, pain was just part of the game, I thought. I had tried everything to get rid of the back pain – physical therapy, chiropractics, and even an injection of cortisone into my spinal nerve – nothing worked until I started personalized training with Mijael at Akila Yoga y Danza.
Mijael helped me understand how important the mind-body connection is in healing physical problems. Through sequences of exercises, postures, and daily meditation that Mijael prepared for me, my back pain disappeared and my inner happiness started to return! (We're always happier when we aren't carrying a ton of pain around, right?) What a wonderful thing to wake up pain-free!
Yoga has been my daily energy boost, my stress reducer, and my mental and physical therapy that has helped me get through some of the tougher times while living abroad.
Oh, an even cooler thing to note about Mijael, my miracle-making yoga instructor, he's bilingual (Spanish/English) and understands what it means to live through the changes that come with moving from one country/culture to another.
You gotta give this guy a try!
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