The Real Dora the Explorer

Music, Beer, Food Enthusiast. Lover of nature and foreign culture. Always looking for an opportunity to meet people who can help me be a better person. Join me while I explore our beautiful Mother Earth!

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The Healing Crystal Latte You Need To Try (And Exactly How To Make It At Home)

Good energy + tons of antioxidants: What else could you need?

I’m so excited that this is a thing!

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The Secrets To ACTUALLY Making A Long-Distance Relationship Work

Turns out, it's not impossible. Here are the tools you need to get through the long-distance phase of your relationship.

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Did you teach English in Chile? What was your experience like? Thinking about going next year.

Yes! It was great!

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This dish of Eggs, Plantains, and Chimichurri sauce is making me so hungry!

If you click on the photo, it will take you to the recipe. 

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Current Travel Bucketlist

1. Tangier, Morocco

2. Mexico City, Mexico

3. Copenhagen, Denmark

4. Nova Scotia, CA

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Stop Trying to Fix Yourself and Start Enjoying Your Life

We can get so caught up trying to fix ourselves that we don't give ourselves space to just be. But we don't need to be perfect to enjoy our lives.

Life is about slumbering and awakening. It’s about falling off the wagon, the exercise routine, the diet, the spiritual practice. Anyone who appears to always be perfectly aligned is most likely not being fully authentic. We are human, and this is what being human means.

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Sometimes it’s difficult to remain in a compassionate place with our partners. It requires a certain level of emotional intelligence for us to recognize when they are suffering and to show them loving kindness. Find out how you can increase your emotional intelligence by focusing your awareness on being more attentive, affectionate, appreciative, and accepting of your partner.

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Bitter cold outside Tropical place in my heart Your love brings me warmth

Written By: Erin A.

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I like that he is pushing someone out of the way before his video starts. Haha!

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The best!

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Part of my day included this! She is so cute!

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Some of my students!

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A penguin...and then a sea lion!

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My favorite!

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Some of my food experiences in Ecuador!

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My first day Volunterering on Isabela, Galapagos Islands

I woke up to the call of a rooster. I looked out my window and the sun was rising. I got up, brushed my teeth, got dressed and did my hair. I exited my room and the daughters were already up going about their day. The smell of fried plantains made me really excited. I wasn’t sure exactly what I was going to eat, but my host mother told me to be ready for breakfast at 7am. I never miss breakfast, so I was on time. Breakfast was Bolones de Verde de Chicharron y Queso. I drank coffee. I was finishing up my coffee when my driver arrived to take me to the school. After about a 5 minute drive, I arrived at a fun looking place. There were about 8 stone “yurt” looking constructions, a few tents, and a sports court. I asked around for my Project coordinator. While I was looking for him, I saw many children poking their heads through the window of the stone yurts to get a look at me. I smiled and then they smiled. I finally found my coordinator, Julio. He was teaching his first English class of the day and he told the students to ask me anything they wanted to know. I got questions like “what’s your favorite color, food, hobby, etc + how old are you + are you married. I then asked them the same questions. Once they found out that one of my favorites types of food was "eggs” a group of boys in class kept repeating the word “eggs” over and over. It was funny. The topic of class was countable and non countable nouns. I helped the teacher by going around the room and making sure students were working in their workbooks. Later on we worked on pronunciation. We had class for about 2 hours then I had a break. My second class was a bit more challenging. The students werent listening to the teacher. They were cute though. The teacher is really patient with the children even when they arent Iistening. We worked on using “to + base verb” to mean reason or purpose. For example “i go on the internet TO LEARN” “i go to the park TO EXERCISE”. We drilled some pronunciation afterwards. After that class I was done for the day but I helped Julio create some charts that he will turn into puzzles in the future. We then walked to town to eat lunch. Julio dropped me off at a restaurant where my host mom and her sister n law were waiting for me. She explained that I should come to this restaurant everyday for lunch and that the owner will remember me. I ate soup and an entree. It was good, per usual in Ecuador. After that it started to pour so I raced home, only to realize I didnt really know where I lived. It is a small town so everyone knows where everyone lives. I was able to find a few people in the street and I asked them where my family lives. They helped me. Soon I was back at my house, dry, and exhausted. I took a nap for a few hours and then chatted on whatsapp as I waited for dinner. Dinner was rice, meat, and corn. After dinner I went to my room, read, and relaxed. It was a really nice first day.