How old are you, where are you from, where are you living now and what took you there?
I am 58 years old. I was born and raised in Canada … starting with 20+ years in New Brunswick, and 20+ years in Calgary. I am now living in the jungles of northern Guatemala (those 3 places form an equilateral triangle on the map). I came south with my 11 year old son and our dog, looking for the place that was “calling” me … a place with palm trees and thatched huts with dirt floors. I knew it would be in Guatemala, but until I started driving north into Peten, I didn’t know where it was exactly. The energy of this jungle Mayan paradise attracted me from the beginning and has held me in thrall since.
How long have you lived there and how long will you stay? What keeps you there?
I have been here about 17 years now, and have no thoughts of ever living anywhere else. I love the climate. I love the pace of life. I love the people. I love my work. I love everything about living here. Barring some unforeseen event (not an impossibility) I figure I will die here.
What do you do to make a living?
My main income source is as part-time manager of a small eco-hotel, Hotel Gringo Perdido. However, my passion is my work as volunteer coordinator of Project Ix-canaan, a social development project in the heart of the Biosphere Maya. Our goal is to support the people of the jungles to become “Ix-canaan”, a Mayan word meaning “guardians of the rainforest”, through improving health, education and opportunity.
Describe your average weekday and weekend day.
My days usually start early … about 4 a.m. I work for 2 or 3 hours at my laptop checking mail, answering reservations requests and volunteer applications. If I have a group at Gringo Perdido, I get ready to be there for the breakfast hour, and, often, to spend the day guiding the group and overseeing their stay at the hotel. If not, I continue with my work on the computer, interspersed with some gardening or cooking or errands outside the home. Sunday is the only day that is different from the rest of the week as I close my doors and, although I do continue to work on the computer (a lot of blogging about the project), I also spend a lot of time on personal things that energize me for the next week.
What skills have you learned while living abroad?
Spanish, patience.
What are you missing (professionally) by not being in your home country?
Nothing.
If you could live anywhere, where would that be and why?
I CAN live anywhere (as anyone can who really wants to) … and I have chosen to live here, because it fits my lifestyle desires / needs.
What is your favorite gadget that makes your work life abroad better?
My Mac.
Do you have a favorite book that inspired you to travel or consider a different way of living?
No.
Other than yours, do you have a favorite expat blog?
Expat Alley and New Globals by Maya Frost.
