I am actually beginning to turn into a serving tray. I can feel my face rounding and my back stiffening into the circular shape of the tray that I hold approximately 7 hours per day.
Let me elaborate: For the past month, my life has been utterly consumed with wine glasses, steak knives, the phrase, “Can I interest you folks in a bottle of wine? Maybe an appetizer?” and the classic fine dining playlist that consists of too much Norah Jones and even more Jack Johnson. You might still be confused. If so, I am currently serving tables at a little five star restaurant downtown Nampa, working too much and saving every penny for my upcoming adventures in South America. The tips are good and the people are great, and for those who dine at Copper Canyon, they get to pretend for a moment that they don’t live in Nampa Idaho and order a thirty dollar plate of seafood. Sound pretentious and very first world? I assure you, it is.
Speaking of assurance, I am lacking every bit of it in my readiness for Buenos Aires. For now, I have done absolutely zero planning and all saving. I have vowed to put every penny away and, so far, I have done it. Okay… not every penny. I have allowed myself to make one purchase which was, even according to my mother, a smart financial decision. I am now the owner of a new, beautiful Panasonic Lumix Digital Camera—the pictures are unreal and the camera itself is beautiful. And all those beautiful landscapes and people in South America? They will be verrrrrrrry well documented for all of you.
Just as a small update: money has been coming in from very exciting (and unexpected) places. After a long wait, I was awarded the Castaneta scholarship for a nice chunk of my program cost, and that helped substantially. The essay and application was tough, but the congratulatory email made it all worth it. I still have a long ways to go (money wise), but I am hoping to make a lot more while working and am planning on selling everything I own, other than what I am taking. This summer has been great for new experiences in the work force for me, also. Other than waitressing, I have been getting paid to give swim lessons (Thank you Southwoods), sign shaking (yes—I shook a sign), and nannying. Every bit of work has been terrible and wonderful all at the same time.
I estimate I need about 4000 more dollars altogether. This will include all my fees for the research that I am planning on doing while backpacking, the rest of my program and tuition cost, food, etc. I am hoping on becoming a Glimpse Correspondent (Glimpse.org) and doing some travel publications before I write my first book, which I am hoping to publish upon return from South America.
I am collecting donations for my South American adventures at http://www.gofundme.com/donate-to-bry and anything helps. It’s easy to donate and you will not be forgotten on my travel adventures. Thanks and I love you!
I am out for now, on my way to sell some more wine, actually.
And, as my crazy boss says, LOVE OUT.
B
Ps, congratulations, New York!
