Chile news

Chile Updates!!

Our trip to Chile in September is both to volunteer and to travel. Andy turns 40 in September, and had made a promise to himself that he would visit Easter Island (with all those famous huge stone heads - moai) before he was 40 ... a long held dream .... he'll make it there with 4 days to spare! But after the birthday celebrations, we will be heading north in mainland Chile to spend some time volunteering in conservation - specifically habitat restoration and chinchilla protection. Chinchillas are the cute, small fury rodents with the amazingly soft fur .... unfortunate for them on both counts as they have been hunted to near extinction in the wild for the fur and pet trades. However, a few survive in nothern Chile and that is why we are heading there. Part of the project involves restoring native plants, so Andy's experience (and Evan's too !!) with his thesis research with the endangered plant on Red Mountain, California will come in useful.

We are also busy building contacts for our return to Nepal next year, and are hoping to spend time at the rehabilitation/leprosy hospital and with the Nepal Leprosy Relief Association as well as at the orphanages and Seeing Hands clinic.

Evan's mom visited for his birthday - we made a fused glass plate together and toured Vancouver. Andy's mum and dad will be here next week too.

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"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" Mary Oliver

(Seen on a ferry terminal poster in Vancouver while waiting for the ferry to dock this weekend)

What next?????

Finally added lots of photos to the site - enjoy!!!!

Well, what next?....... Not to let the grass grow under our feet, we have been hard a t work with the next chapter;

1. Our plan for Chile is forging ahead - we will be going in September and will be spending time in several different areas ... including Easter Island ... a long held dream of Andy's to visit! We are now just sorting out the final details ...!!!

2. Looks like we'll be back in Nepal in spriing 2010 - with volunteer work being organized at the orphanages, with Seeing Hands, and hopefully with the hospital and the leprosy groups.

3. Indonesia - also in spring 2010 - Evan has been waiting a long time to return to the where he lived for nearly a year as a 16 year old (yes, Evan lived in Indonesia - surprised?!!!!), and is organizing the trip, including a trip to see Orang Utans ... and possibly .... (possibly) ... an opportunity to volunteer with them!

4. In Bellingham, we are also working towards more volunteer work here - including the Humane Society and the Literacy Council.

Stayed tuned .... September is not far away!!!!

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"Life is an open-ended horizon." (Deepak Chopra)