I’m back, baby! After a long journey (in planes, trains, and automobiles, no less) from Bielefeld –> Dusseldorf –> Cancún –> Isla Mujeres –> San Cristóbal de las Casas, I’m finally en casa yet again in Chiapas sweet Chiapas.
I dreamt many times of this return over the course of my six months in Germany, certain that, as I had experienced before with my querida Jovel, as soon as I stepped foot on these cozy colonial streets, it would feel as if I never left.
I like surprises.
I don’t know if it’s new love, the new Mayan cycle, the new-and-improved RKA (or all of the above) but this time around, I’m a stepping a little lighter on these beloved colonial streets. The days are brighter. The winter is warmer. And I am happier than ever to be “home.”
And to celebrate my extra happy homecoming, I’ve put together a little list of thirteen new (and renewed) things I’m grateful for in 2013. ¡Feliz Año Nuevo!
1. New home
After three years of living in closet-sized cuartos, my partner Roberto and I now are enjoying our top floor castle in the sky, where I finally have my own office for RKA ink (and a bonus view of the magical Mexican mountains).
2. New adventures
In 2012, I spent two weeks in Xela, Guatemala for the 2nd Latin American Reunion of the Theatre of the Oppressed, a month in good ol’ Chicago, Illinois for general emotional housekeeping, six months in Bielefeld, Germany on workcation + boyfriend wranglin’ (brought him home with me to Mexico), a weekend in Berlin, Germany, a week in Budapest, Hungary at the Hotel Zsuzsifornia, a half-day in Cologne, Germany to clink elbows with the ancient Albers, and two days in Isla Mujeres, Mexico on our way back to Chiapas sweet Chiapas. (To be clear: I might have spent most of the year eating Cup ‘o’ Noodles and washing my clothes on an emergency-only basis to make this travel happen. Totally. worth. it.)
I am looking forward to a 2013 full of bigger and better aventuras,
starting with my trip to Mombasa, Kenya this July!
3. New school year
2012 saw the all-girls Las Jades theater group transform into Las Jades y El Cielo: with the addition of the young men, we not only presented a new play for high school graduation, we produced our very first telenovela, Amores Chalchihuitecos, and I was invited to be a 2013 graduation godmother for one of my students. This year, Las Jades y El Cielo is geared up for more mold-breaking art and theater! Woohoo.
4. New music
2013 marks my three year music-versary with Angel Velasco, my all-time favorite trovador. To close out 2012, we sang at a benefit concert for Ángeles de Amor, an organization that provides a safe space for individuals with disabilities in San Cristóbal de las Casas. Check out Angel’s music at AngelVelasco.com.
5. New friends
I’ll never forget the week I spent with Puffy before Santa brought her to my nephew (!!!) Alex. Puffy and I share a mutual love for late night TV, belly rubs, and jumping on peoples’ beds early in the morning. Oh yeah. I made some pretty badass new human friends, too. But none that felt comfortable with me rubbing their bellies…
6. New traditions
And by traditions, I really mean food. Lots and lots of Mexican food (and uncles named Memo). I won the in-law lottery.
7. New family
I’m a tía! In Mexico, your partner needn’t put a ring on it for you to be considered one of the family. With two more bebés on the way in 2013, I’m wondering where knitting has been all my life.
8. New goals
Last year, the seeds were planted for a partnership with the young women of Girls Shift Africa, and I’m excited to announce that I’ll be in Mombasa, Kenya this July to help lead a 10-day art and theater workshop with the girls of Tudor Primary School. Keep up with the project on my sister blog, Awesomepreneur.
9. New partnerships
In August, I launched my new biz-centered blog, Awesomepreneur (work with heart) which turned out to be an incredible odyssey of awesome sauce and relationship-building with some of the coolest people I know. Watch out 2013! Along with my partner and creative mentor, Kim Leamer Maleski, we’re giving Awesomepreneur its own home and expanding the concept to give awesome people all over the world a space to share their heartwork. Stay tuned!
10. New projects
Thought I missed out on participating in the FemiNazis art exhibition in San Cristóbal de las Casas and Tuxtla Gutiérrez, led by Brenda Obregon and Gely Pacheco, but huzzah! They have postponed their project–focused on violence against women and the villification of feminist leaders–until early 2013. Now to translate my spoken word video I Want You To Hit Me into Spanish…
11. New perspectives
See: this video.
12. New love
One year ago–exactly!–Roberto was my best friend/heartthrob/fantasy boyfriend. One year later, he is all of those things minus the fantasy part. God blessed the broken road, folks. Suerte doesn’t describe what I have with Roberto.
See: Introducing the Silent R in RKA ink.
13. New me
On my way back to San Cristóbal de las Casas, I met a Cherokee woman who shared that, at 28, I am at the end of my first life cycle and beginning the second: a time to live into my Truth and apply all the wisdom I accrued over my first 28 years of life. Her words exploded in front of me like fireworks in the sky–I have never been more excited about nearing my third decade of life. To quote Bernstein, “Something’s coming!” (Who kno-o-o-o-ws!)
