Burning the Midnight Oil
Good morning, afternoon, or evening, wherever you are. I write to you as I wrap up a 12-hour overnight shift. If you had told me three weeks ago that I would be here, as an amateur security guard and volunteer-in-charge,…
Category Stories
Welcome to your life
The Dominican Republic is starting to feel more comfortable to me. I have settled into my room, which adds permanence to my position here. After about a month here, the novelty has worn off, kind of like breaking in a…
A Rocky Start
Dearest friends, family, and strangers, I’m back after a brief hiatus, and we have a lot to unpack. Since my last post, I’ve started my volunteer role at FM4 Paso Libre, a shelter for migrants and transmigrants in Guadalajara. Taking…
Some Courage and a One-Way Ticket
My life has changed completely since I arrived (in the best way)! Everything is still brand new. My friends, community, home, food preferences, language, images of beauty…I’m in a state of exploration and wonder. It’s good to be in the…
Sunscreen & An Umbrella
Hey all! I made it! This past Wednesday, I bid farewell to my family and friends as I took an early-morning flight (2am!) to Guadalajara. Preparations looked like everything from me reaching out to my host mother to preparing and…
Preparing for Takeoff
Hey there, I’m Aaron! Welcome to my Lumos blog. Over the next four months, I’ll be keeping you in the loop on my international development project in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Part of the time, I will be working in a…
My Summer Before the Move
This is a time of back-to-back life-changing experiences. I will debrief my graduation, moving out of my college home, my two-week trip to India, a week at Boston L’Abri, and a KY lake trip with my dad. First on the…
Home safe and sound
Hello from the US – my cat, Steven, and I made it back! There was a delay because when we first went to the airport to fly out, the airline didn’t add Steven to all legs of the journey, so…
Goodbyes and new beginnings
I can’t believe it’s already the end of April! April 30th will be my last day of work, and I will return to the US in the first week of May. It’s really starting to sink in how soon that’s…
Semana Santa
Hola friends and family! I hope you all had a wonderful Easter spent with your loved ones! Here in Guatemala the whole week leading up to Easter, Semana Santa, is filled with celebratory activities and time spent with family. This week…