I believe in Jumping....

By MaryKatherine, wandering seventeen year old


I believe in jumping in to life and the experiences that come with it. When you jump into something new and unknown, you take a risk but at the same time you learn more about yourself and the world around you.

This year has been a year of jumping. In the summer while I was at a lake with friends I decided to jump off a tree that stood high above the lake. It was a popular tree and many of the kids from the small town jumped off it. As I watched others jump from below I began to feel a desire to take the plunge and jump. After announcing it to the group, I began the climb up the tree. Everyone encouraged me, telling me where to put my feet. As I reached the small branch that stretched out over the water and looked down, fear took over my body, but I knew I could not let the fear stop me. Pushing my feet against the branch, I jumped and for a moment I flew.

My friend quickly grabbed my phone and took a picture of me suspended in mid-air. Later when I showed the picture to my mom, she said in astonishment, "When did you become such a jumper?" I did not want to tell her that part of the reason I had jumped had been because of the cute boy who was standing at the bottom, because of how in love I was with the way he shook my hand and how good he looked with his shirt off. However, as I thought about it, I realized I had not jumped to gain my mother's pride or for the cute boy. I had jumped for me, because it was something I needed to prove to myself and the slightly bigger person I became after doing so.

Then came jumping into life. In the fall, I left the comfort of my small, all-girls school in the city I had grown up in to go to big public school in a small town two states away. the experience was just like jumping off the tree. First there was the excitement of doing something new, then encouragement from friends, and finally right before the jump the fear. As the doors opened to the high school gym and I saw the crowd of high schoolers, I remember turning to my friend and whispering, " If I faint, will you catch me?"

"Of course", she replied with a smile, amused by how overwhelmed I was by regular high school.

Just like that I jumped into crowded hallways with couples holding hands, into skiing on Saturdays and going to church on Sundays. I watched the leaves turn vibrant yellow and orange and then the soft white snow fall. Before I knew it I had landed and it was time for my next jump into a semester in South America. I packed my bags and stepped onto the plane. I met fifteen amazing girls, saw countries that had previously just been a shape on a map to me and learned things about myself I could have never learned at home.

I have cried for the world's sorrows, laughed at its joys and been swept away by its endless beauty.  I have touched mountain tops and ocean floors. I have witnessed the strength of women and become a part of communities I did not know existed. I fell in love with life and humanity. All this because I jumped.

At seventeen, I believe in jumping but I know that this belief will change and mold as the winds of the world blow their truths upon me. 

This I believe...

The Traveling School Vacation Home Auction

Hi TTS19!

Friends of The Traveling School have generously donated the use of their unique vacation homes to support changing the world...one girl at a time.

With summer just around the corner check out the wonderful, affordable vacation homes that The Traveling School has to offer for your summer fun!

 

Check out the beautiful homes and place your bid!

The Inca Trail / An Invitation...

Trudging through bouts of strong sun and cold rain, over steep and scenic Andean passes, TTS 19 embarked on the challenging and sacred Inca Trail pilgrimage with an adventurous group of parents, porters, and four expert guides, one of whom was the celebrated shaman/ everyone´s ¨bestie,¨ Puma. A 43 kilometer, 4 day trek deemed by one brave soul to be ¨tougher than childbirth,¨ the trail wound high above the Urubamba River, over the 13,860 ft. ¨Dead Woman´s Pass,¨ and through the breathtaking Incan ruins of Llactapata, Runkurakay, Sayamarca, Wiñay Wayna, Inti Punku, and finally Machu Picchu, one of the world´s wonders. Though feet, knees, and legs ached by the end, everyone finished strong- and most importantly- with a smile on their face and love in their hearts. It was an incredible personal accomplishment for all. Puma kicked off the adventure with an invitation to his family´s home where we took part in a weaving demonstration and traditional Andean smudging ceremony to clear any lingering anxiety or fear about the trek. After the trek, we spent a restorative night in Aguas Calientes where we took the most amazing shower of our lives, shopped, visited the hot springs, and enjoyed sleeping in a bed rather than a tent before returning to Cusco. TTS 19 took two different routes to Machu Picchu- one group hiked and rode on horseback over even higher passes and one group hiked the traditional Inca Trail. Parents who participated in both treks: please post to the blog about your experience and share all that you learned with our larger TTS 19 community! We would love to hear your story. To help inspire you, here are a few direct quotes from Puma, our Shaman guide, who sprinkled his wisdom onto all of us throughout the trek, keeping our spirits high and helping us find the strength needed to complete the tough trek:

¨Every thousandth of a second in life is sacred and a miracle...¨

¨In life, nothing is yours but everything is for you...¨

¨There is no word for religion or spirituality in the Andes, it is just life...¨

¨Your soul transcends all things and is a part of eternity...¨

¨Never say you are tired. You are too young to be tired, but it is ok if sometimes you are sleepy...¨

¨Climb a little bit past the mountain top because there is always a little bit more to go...¨

¨You are here to do service...¨

¨Everything you do for someone else, you are also doing for yourself...¨

¨You are never prepared but always ready...because each step prepares you for the next...¨

¨Life is a miracle and so are you...¨

And of course: ¨TODAY IS THE BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE!!¨

Parents who joined us on this life-changing pilgrimage, please post and share your stories!

With Love and Light,

TTS 19

Gratitude

We just finished an Andean feast with dancing, talking, and the inspiring company of 35 people coming together with The Traveling School to celebrate this magic. We ate chocolate cake and guinea pig while sharing stories of laughter and learning through travel. tomorrow, we have been invited for an Easter celebration withe Puma and his family. They are graciously hosting all of us, and we are thrilled. As Puma says, today is the best day of your life. And, we agree... with gratitude for all of the friends and supporters of The Traveling School. -Gennifre

We are here!

HI all...

We are in Peru at Lake Titicaca with a wonderful group of parents and friends. We arrived this afternoon to blue skies and big yawns. We are going to spend the next few days acclimating, and we are catching up with the girls for a big feast on Saturday night. We promise to give all of them hugs and stories and lots of love... we are thinking of all of you at home!

With love,
Gennifre and Shannon

Backpacking, For Real

The tunnel of girls yelled at the top of their lungs singing "We Are The Champions," and Miley Cyrus' "The Climb" as they cheered on the rest of the group to summit the pass. It was the fifth day on our seven day long trek in the Cordillera Blanca. That morning we had left what many TTS girls know as The Most Beautiful Campsite in the World at 13,800 feet and began hiking up the many switchbacks to the summit at 15,700 feet. The morning hike brought rain and snow. It was cold and it was challenging, but we arrived to the pass around 11:30 AM, Snickers bars in hand ready to celebrate our victory.

The girls did an incredible job on our week long trek in the Andes of Peru. They fell in love with backpacking; they cooked delicious food; they laughed; they cried and they pushed themselves to their limits. Yesterday we arrived back in the city dirty, smelly, and filled with unforgettable memories of the past week spent in the wilderness. The wilderness taught us lesson after lesson; it showed us its profound beauty and held the space for each girl to come into herself in a new way. After this past week our group is stronger and closer than ever. We look forward to the upcoming adventures that lie ahead.


With Love and Gratitude,

Phoebe