Jon of the Skyline

Like many martial arts practitioners... Jon was a fledgling nerd who, in his early childhood & pre-teen years, simply watched way too many action movies, woke up earliest during ungodly hours for Saturday morning cartoons, played too many video games & read one too many comic books. It also doesn't hurt to possess the know-how to defend oneself should a dire situation of promising threats arises. Also, everyone needs to harness within themselves the avenging prowess necessary to protect the weak & defend the just.

AVANT - How did you get into martial arts?

Jon - When I was younger I was inspired by action films, old school Kung Fu movies from the 80s, and of course books, video games, anime, comic books and manga as well as epic heroes from lore, mythology and legends of old. As I grew older, I met along the way several individuals from school and work who studied martial arts themselves. All of this culminated in my high school days where several friends and I used to spar in the park and practice moves we've learned and train together.

AVANT - Did you have any prior martial arts experience before signing up at Progressive Martial Arts?

Jon - I had two years of Judo experience. While only achieving a rank of Orange Belt during that time, it provided me with the leverage to continue studying and pursuing other martial arts. Along the way I picked up some tips and methods of training from friends of mine who were able to train under such diverse fields such as: Boxing, Taekwondo, Aikido, Krav Maga, Shaolin Kung Fu and Karate.

AVANT - Why Progressive?

Jon - To be honest it's only a few blocks away from both my college and my current job. Since I don't have a car, it's commuting made simple for me. I can easily navigate to and from work/home/school by bike or bus. I was considering the NuBreed Academy; however, it seemed too far out of my way and a bit pricey for my current financial situation, but who knows about the future?

AVANT - What invaluable lesson did you learn from being a member of a martial arts school?
Jon - I learned never to judge a fighter by their appearance. Physical appearance will oftentimes betray skill level.

AVANT - What kind of martial arts do you study?

Jon - I'm formally studying Jun Fan Gung Fu better known as Jeet Kune Do or the concepts of Bruce Lee's martial art system, the fundamental basis of 'Mixed Martial Arts', Muay Thai which is the brutal kickboxing style from Thailand, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu which is an art immersed with grappling, throwing and limb locking.

AVANT - Do you have to learn any of the terminology for the respective arts in their native languages?

Jon - While many hold the misconception that Martial Arts training is all physical, it's not. You have to remember these fighting systems were developed in their respective countries and are deeply rooted in their culture. In some cases it was used in warfare for millennia, if not centuries. It's important to know the origin and historical significance of anything you study--martial arts is no exception. To be a more educated and learned individual and also as a respect to the founders of the art itself it's vital in any field to have awareness of those who spearheaded the field and created the knowledge pool from which you drink. When studying medicine, do you not learn of Doctors from antiquity and the treatments they developed which we still use today? When studying painting do you not learn of painting techniques and styles used by Renaissance artists which many painters still find irrevocably useful? The same holds true for Martial Arts, though it varies with the Sifu (instructor), for the most part we must learn the proper terminology in the native languages of the important strikes, maneuvers and footwork.

AVANT - Describe, define & elaborate upon your training regiment. How many days/classes do you go?
Jon - I attend on average three classes per week, sometimes up to four or five and other times as low as two. It really depends on my work and school schedule. As I'm taking 19 credits this semester it is sometimes difficult to balance everything while still having time to sleep and eat. My regiment is, well, not very regimented but I'll tell you. I usually wake up around 7 and before anything eat something, usually oatmeal and some fruit or yogurt. Before showering and getting dressed for my day I stretch to promote flexibility. Since I bike virtually everywhere (school/work/MA) I get plenty of cardio (and yes I bike in the bitter cold of winter). Since I have plenty of breaks between class I usually try to work out at the gym twice a week, one day focusing on upper body, the second day; lower. When I have free time at home I have free weights and a pull-up bar that I use as well as a jump rope and other exercise provisions.

AVANT - How much is it per month?
Jon - That information is classified. Find out for yourself.

AVANT - What benefits have you reaped from practicing/undertaking the martial arts?
Jon - Besides learning how to defend myself and kick ass in several flavors, I am stronger, more confident, my body is in shape and I feel good.

AVANT - What are your favorite martial arts moves & combos?

Jon - I'm a fan of the back spinning hook kick, as well as the Jun Fan lead hand and rear hand combo series', my favorite moves are synonymous with those that are most effective and most painful.

AVANT - What equipment do you use & what is your favorite? Any favorite brands?

Jon - To avoid sounding like I'm endorsing a specific brand I like gear that's very plain but doesn't sacrifice performance. In other words, gear that does the job, is comfortable and doesn't have logos all over it. Everlast, Ringside and Title are all fine martial arts paraphernalia companies, I'd recommend those.

Photo Credits: Johnny Wolf Photography

____________________________________________________________________

On a more personal note:

Jon is such a bad ass he leaves our Facebook conversations with such parting words of fine, avant-caliber:

3:26amJonathan

Yo, I'm gonna get some shut eye but I'll catch you later after the dawn of Apollo's victory. (morning)

Alexandra of France

Above: You definitely won't believe me... but this girl's dangerous.

All of my best friends are privileged, worldly members of the venerable jet-set few.

Alexandra is arguably my heart's favorite of them all. She's a dedicated collegiate scholar, ever-chasing academia. We met at Hunter College in New York City in the Spring of 2007, we were classmates in both our private & lecture hall media courses. Prior to her studying in Hunter College, she went to college in Rome immediately after graduating from her high school in France. Right now at this very moment as earth's northern hemisphere spins on its axis promising the arrival of spring & all its beauty... Alexandra is studying at the esteemed, world-renowned London-based auction house known as-- Christie's, pursuing her Master's Degree.

Alexandra & I are college sweethearts. I was always up to no good & she was always romping about doing her worst, feverishly engaged in lawless activities. What can I say? We’re both young outlaws-at-heart. We were rivals in the fine art of bad assery & expert professionals involved, familiar, acquainted & submerged in all things cool: art, music, fashion & even the seedy, darker, private underworlds of it all. If I had to actually sit down & write a book on Alex, the title would be: 'Alexandra's Essential Handbook Guide to Free-Spiritdom'.

You know when you have two favorite characters but they’re like, from completely different universes & you wish they would totally meet—hang out & be friends ‘n stuff? Like… Catwoman from DC Comics & Marvel’s Spider-Man. Well that’s what Alex & I were like. Only cooler. On our month long winter breaks & 3 month long summer vacations, hell, even our measly 3-day weekends, she would seize them for all their potential & never hesitated in traveling half-way around the world to Europe, South America, Asia & California. It was absurd! All of her crazy adventures entertained me with enough daydreams for months on end!

Above: Alexandra; Sky-Princess of France's lone, elite faction of ace cloudship pilots, 'The High-Valkyries'.

AVANT - Will you still be in London this Summer?

Alex - Yep. I'll be writing my thesis.

AVANT - How many pages?

Alex - Not too many, around fifty pages.

AVANT - What's your address in London? In case I feel like surprising you.

Alex - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Road _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. I live with 6 other people, there should definitely be someone home.

AVANT - Is your new neighborhood anything like Bushwick?

Alex - Hahaha, nooooooooooo! Thank god. It’s more residential. Much nicer.

AVANT - Front lawns & stuff?

Alex - More suburban, absolutely.. I have a beautiful garden!

AVANT - What did you graduate from Hunter with?

Alex - BA in Art History.

AVANT - Any minor?

Alex - Nope.

AVANT - What are you getting your Masters in now?

Alex - Business of Contemporary and Modern Art.

AVANT - What's your goal? Is it your dream to become a world-renowned Gallery Curator?

Alex - That is accurate, although I think I might want to work in different industries, like the auction for a little while, maybe become an art dealer, or an artists agent... There's plenty to do. I want it all! ALL I TELL YOU!!!!

Alex - So what's the deal with your blogspot?

AVANT - It's my writing portfolio. To get an internship with Vogue &/or GQ. I have connections. I might as well use them.

Alex - Cooooool mos def!!!! My best friend here works for Vogue.

AVANT - What does she do?

Alex - She sells advertising space for the moment.

AVANT - I love how between us, we always know people in high places.

Alex - You know how we do.

AVANT - What school are you attending now for your Masters?

Alex - Christies education. You know Christie's the auction house?

AVANT - Yeah. Of course!!

Alex - It’s tha shit.

AVANT - http://www.christies.com/ --That's it, right?

Alex - No. It's http://christieseducation.com/.

AVANT - Is Christie's the auction house that deals with Damien Hirst?

Alex - Sure thang.

AVANT - Wow!! Have you met him!?

Alex - No, but we do get to meet a bunch of famous artists, they're über contemporary, like Anne Hardy, Cullinan and Richards, Melanie Manchot. They might be known in London only for now.

AVANT - ...For now. (!!!) Cue the suspenseful music saturated in dramatic intrigue!

Alex - Haha! We study a lot of installation art, video & photography.

AVANT - You're one person I never have to worry about in this world. You'll always stay on top.

Alex - You would love it, I can’t wait till you get here.

AVANT - In your profile pictures for Christmas 2009, you had a sand snowman. Was that during your vacation in Portugal?

Alex - No, it’s in Qatar. …Yeah, the locals there were like "What the fucccckkkkk."

Below: Alex's original artwork featured sand sculpture nestled along the Qatarian coast.

AVANT - At the beach? What body of water is that.

Alex - It’s a lagoon, on the Persian Gulf.

AVANT - PERFECT. THE END. This marks the end of our impromptu interview.

Alex - Hahahahahahahahahahhahahaa!!

AVANT - I will be borrowing pictures from your Facebook Defaults.

Alex - I’m ecstatic! Help yourself, mein liebling!

AVANT - I already have the title: Alex Deyzac's Illustrious & Essential Handbook Guide to Free-Spiritdom

Alex - I’M LAUGHING OUT LOUD RIGHT NOW!! It’s tooo perfect for words!

AVANT - 

Alex - YOU ARE THE BEST CEASAR.

AVANT - YOU ARE.

AVANT - I love you. Take care, mon cheri.

Alex - KEEEP IN TOUCH MON PRINCE ADORÉ.

Love you to the moon and back.

xox

Above & Below: Pirate-Captain Alexandra the Seafarer! Setting sail for winter-born ocean adventures!

To this day, Alexandra + I are still friends & always will be. After all, she is one of the few girls in this whole world that I know can comfortably keep up with my wild dreams & vice versa. We are star-crossed, as destiny has it written, in its stead shall our fates follow with interwoven paths of kismet.

I will visit her this Summer in London... even if it kills me!

__________________________________________________________

*BONUS FEATURE*

Alexandra was so impressed with my writing that she felt it necessary to send me her personally scribed autobiography via electronic mail.  I had always known only the briefest of glimpses into her past that I had to roughly piece together from our scattered conversations spurred from our chance encounters over time-- but I really had no idea of the complete extent, depth & magnitude.  She really has traveled to more places than most people would ever hope to experience in a single lifetime!

Without any further delay, enjoy her transcendental history  in all of its honest, truthful, unabridged, unedited & uncensored glory!

Ceasar!!!!!!! yess!!!!!!!!!

Your blog is terrific! i'm so proud of you!!!! You' re a brilliant writer!!

I’m gonna go ahead and upchuck my life to you in a chronological manner. It’s fun for me to do this and probably therapeutic as well, so that I can establish what kind of person I’ve become, due to traveling like a madwoman.

So I was born in Toronto, which is quite random I must say, since my entire family is full on French. My parents just happened to be living there when they had me, and this is how I got to start my life in a bi-lingual environment. I only spent the three first years of my life there, and needless to say, I don’t remember a god damn thing.

Then my dad got moved to Abu Dhabi, in the wonderful middle east, where they build 50 story skyscrapers in 3 days under the blazing sun. My parents placed my older sister and I in an American Academy, and although we spoke French at home, we were completely mesmerized by the expatriate American culture that surrounded us at school. Obviously the local culture was cool as well. We were learning Arabic and learning how to barter like there’s no tomorrow. Negotiating has been in my blood ever since.

After 5 years in the U.A.E, we moved to a country nearby, the Sultanate of Oman, a luxurious oasis, so glorious and beautiful it’s hard for me to describe. My dad is obsessed with boats and fishing massive baracoudas, so every weekend we’d hop on his boat and discover all sorts of empty islands. At that time, my most precious treasures were corals, different types of sands and shells of every shape and color.

The souk was also like entering Ali Baba’s carvern. This was a place where we could purchase the most ridiculous and unnecessary things. What I mainly remember from roaming around the souk was inhaling mad sorts of incense, and being blinded by the shine of silver, gold and random colorful objects.

Being in the middle east was such a treat, we were close to other growing cities like Dubai. I remember Dubai when it was still a somewhat modest fishing port and to see what it has become now is really unbelievable. It’s like witnessing the construction of NYC in less than a few decades.

After three years in the Sultan’s land, my dad was once again transferred because of his job….back to France, in suburban Paris. I had never lived there before and it was a total culture shock for me. Europe is great but I had to adapt my mentality to be able to communicate politely to Europeans.. Haha that was a challenge.

The French. What a people. They taught me a lot. I learned how to stay in my place, and other times I learned how to let loose. I learned how to write and think in a philosophical way and mostly I learned how to eat like a god.

I was incredibly fortunate because once again, my parents placed me in an international school, where I made best friends from all over the world. My closest friends are from Italy, Spain, Sweden, England, America and this is all because I grew up with them. We’re like a third culture community.

Thanks to that school I speak fluent Italian, Spanish, French and English. Which is tha bomb.

Living in Europe was so practical. every so often I would go to southern france (my family is from Perigueux which is close to Bordeaux) or spain (Alicante, Valencia, Barcelona..)

After high school, I went off to the American University of Rome, where I spent three years perfecting my Italian and learning all there is to know about early art history. I was amidst the most romantic ruins ever. And as cheesy as it sounds, they were my classroom. Rome is also a pretty international city, which made it feel like home. During my stay there, I was also able to travel: Genova, Naples, Venice, even Pompei!!!

Also during that time, I went to Russia, which was tremendous. Saint Petersburg and Moscow are incredible. The vodka was so tasty it was like downing water, the streets were like a live circus, I remember seeing hilarious tourist attractions around the Nieva river, namely full grown bears on leashes or free wandering iguanas, and, to top it off, monkeys wearing nike shoes.

I got to see the Kremlin, which owns the world’s biggest collection of gigantic diamonds. I also saw Lenin’s body, which was just weird.

During my last year in Rome, I felt so sick of studying old art. Studying renaissance and baroque was great but I was thirsty for fresher, more modern works. This is what lead me to apply to Hunter College. I had never lived in the united states before, so this was my chance. AND I DON’T REGRET A THING. NEW YORK IS NEW YORK and It is a fabulous city filled with trends and traditions I wanted to be submerged in, and I got it all baby. Living in Bushwick was definitely awakening and I enjoyed every bit of it no matter how many rats, bugs and killings I had to face. I miss the dodgy neighborhood, During my stay, I was able to visit Philly, Baltimore, Chicago, San Diego, L.A, and I can’t wait to finish off cruising the crazy continent properly.

After getting my degree, I felt a Masters would be most appropriate if I wanted to get a decent job in the art world, but in order to get into the masters program I needed to have a little working experience. Off I went to Berlin, to work in the Magnus Muller Gallery for four months, learning basic German and familiarizing myself with Berlin’s art market. It was a great experience but I have to say 4 months was not long enough for me to fall in love with that city.

Anyway here I am now, living a Londoner’s life. Sorted.

By next September, I’ll be well versed in Contemporary art and have sufficient expertise to enter the art market, or whatever other industry that awaits me. Curating would be ideal but apparently it’ll take me a few decades to obtain that job. KEEP THE FAITH!!!

I miss you my dear Ceasar, I hope this description will entertain you. COUNTING THE DAYS UNTIL YOU GET HERE!! Xoxoxoxox

P.S.

sweetheart i also forgot to mention the places i went to on vacation with my family. my parents live in Qatar, which is so cool cause i get to visit them like twice or three times a year!!!!! thanks to them, i got to see Dominican Republic, Portugal, and this August i'm off to Bali!!!)

looove youuuu

Hannah of Buenos Aires

Above: The ever-elusive femme fatale that is Ms. Miles

Hannah's origin tells of a born & raised Upper-West Sider from The Empire State of New York City who uprooted herself from all that she knew for a teaching career in South America!

Ms. Miles is also by far my most favorite person that I've interviewed. Why? Because I noticed all of the subtle nuances & her utmost minute, intricate & meticulous attention to detail. She replied to my questions via e-mail with a Microsoft Word file attachment. Which meant that she went through the trouble of copying & pasting from her web browser window & not only that-- she changed the color text palette with the questions poised in red & her answers in no-nonsense, all-business black. To say that her replies were responses is a profound understatement-- nearly each answer reading as a solid, solitary short-term essay. She really cared about what I was trying to do & truly grasped the goal of my blog-- helping people... strangers who you don't even know, families & friends alike... realize their dreams.

Thank you so much, Hannah! & Without further ado... on with her interview...

Above: Hannah, disarmingly warmhearted princesse lointaine

AVANT - Congratulations! You're in Buenos Aires right now looking for a teaching job! How did you first get started with your globetrotting endeavor? Did you speak to any advisors at Hunter, did any of your family or friends teach overseas before? Or did you take the entire initiative upon yourself and searched the internet for a website-- if so, what was the website?

Hannah - I decided to move to Argentina last August. I was about to finish college and I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life (I still don’t) so, I decided to take a leap and go somewhere unfamiliar. I really believe that people can easily fall into a pattern and spend their entire lives in one place without ever experiencing something else. I am also the kind of person who is very eager to stay in a comfort zone, in this case my hometown of New York City, and I decided that was not the way I wanted to live my life. I didn’t talk to anyone at Hunter, I just decided to do this and did all the research myself. I have a friend who taught English in Taiwan for a while and told me amazing stories about it. However, I knew I didn’t want to go to Asia and I have already been to Europe a number of times. South America was a place I had always dreamed of going so I started looking here. I originally wanted to do some charity work but realized I needed to be making money so I thought of teaching English and began my research. I learned I needed a certification called the TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) and so I looked for companies that offered it in South America. The company I wound up doing my training through is called EBC. They are based in Madrid, Spain but have “campuses” all over the world, one being in Buenos Aires. Their website is www.ebc-tefl-course.com. It was really beneficial taking the training in the city I wanted to then teach in because it gave me the opportunity to be here for a month before I needed to find a job. It also allowed me to meet people and familiarize myself with the city, which made it easier to get around and go on job interviews when it was time to do that.

AVANT - Last we spoke, you told me how you graduated from Hunter College last Spring with a Bachelor's Degree and your major being Political Science. Did that have any influence on your journey? Also, what was your minor for under grad, if any?

Hannah - I actually just graduated this past December and made the move to Argentina right after in January. I thoroughly enjoyed studying politics but I knew a few years ago that I didn’t want to go into the field so it didn’t have any influence on my plans to come down here. I didn’t have a minor.

AVANT - When did you start planning for your journey & when did you finally arrive in Buenos Aires? What was the first thought that crossed your mind when your plane landed in Buenos Aires & you'd realized what you've gotten yourself into?

Hannah - I did all the research and signed up for my program last fall and I flew down here January 1st of this year. My first thought was “Wow I’m tired, that was a long journey” and my second was “Thank god I can finally take off this bulky sweater because it is 80 degrees and sunny outside.” I was definitely a bit out of sorts when I first got here because I don’t speak any Spanish and I didn’t know anyone, but it didn’t take long for me to settle in. Luckily there was a great group of kids in my teacher training so I made some really amazing friends very quickly.

Below: Hannah & her new friend, Brianne

AVANT - What did your parents, family & friends think of your adventuresome goals?

Hannah - Everyone I know was so supportive of my decision. As I said before I am definitely the kind of person who does not like to stray outside my comfort zone. Therefore for me to leave New York was a huge decision and one that I didn’t make lightly. Every person I told, all my family and friends, and even strangers, were so thrilled and supportive that I was embarking on this adventure.

AVANT - Why Buenos Aires? What other options were on your mind, or was it always Argentina?

Hannah - It wasn’t always Argentina but it was always South America. My program also offers the TEFL in Peru so that was an option but Buenos Aires turned out to be the most enticing place. Argentina is a beautiful country with so much history and a different culture that I wanted to experience. Being in a city was really important to me because I’m from a city and love city life, so I knew I would be able to adjust really well here.

AVANT - Have you been to Buenos Aires before? Or was this your first time?

Hannah - This was my first time to Buenos Aires and to any place south of the equator.

AVANT - Why do you want to teach English?

Hannah - Teaching English was the opportunity that presented itself because it was a way for me to work in this country without having to know Spanish. The training, however, was much more rewarding and interesting than I imagined it would be. When you learn how to teach English, you learn about aspects of the language that I, personally, had never learned before. It was a different experience than studying English in school for example, because in this context there is a much greater emphasis on grammar and the technicalities of the language. As a teacher, you also have to be able to explain to the students why we say certain things and not others, and as a native speaker I found I didn’t always know why, I just knew what was right and what was wrong. I learned something new every day about my own language, which made it a very intriguing experience. Teaching is always something that has interested me so it was a perfect way to learn new skills while also being able to use my native tongue.

AVANT - How is the environment of Argentina different & similar to places you've visited in past travels? i.e. The sandy/pebble-stone beaches remind you of the shorelines in France & Portugal. The city streets are cobblestone like the ones in Venice.

Hannah - Argentina is truly one of a kind, and I can honestly say not much has reminded me of other places that I’ve been to. Even the city life of Buenos Aires is much different than the city life of New York or Paris or Rome. The architecture is also different, there aren’t as many old buildings and historic places as there are in a lot of European cities. But there also aren’t skyscrapers and towering office buildings like those found in New York. The overall vibe of the city is much more relaxed than New York, people aren’t in such a rush and they take more time to enjoy their surroundings.

Below: The Japanese Gardens in Buenos Aires

Above: A flower sculpture in Buenos Aires that opens and closes with the daylight

AVANT - How is the food, coffee, music & shopping in Buenos Aires? Also, how are the people of Argentina treating you?

Hannah - There is a huge coffee culture here and coffee is considered an integral part of each day so the quality of the coffee is really high. The music culture has also been a new experience. I’ve been to a couple of live music shows that have blown my mind. There is one show that happens every Monday called La Bomba de Tiempo. It is a group of 20 drummers who play in an outdoor event space in front of a huge crowd. The musicians feed off the crowd just as much as the crowd feeds off the music and it is an unforgettable experience, I’ve been three times already and plan to go many more times. The food, however, takes some getting used to. There isn’t the organic/natural movement here that is so present in the US, which is something I’ve struggled with a little bit. There is also a lot more cheese and ham, the latter of which I don’t ever eat at home. The food culture is also very different because meals are never rushed, they are leisurely and long so people take their time enjoying themselves. Argentines don’t eat dinner until around 10 or 11pm and everything is done much later. So far, the Argentines have been welcoming. I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting a lot of natives yet, though I’m hoping that will change once I learn some more Spanish. But I’ve never felt like I was unwelcome here because I’m not a native.

AVANT - You're currently looking for a job in teaching. How is your search going?

Hannah - I actually just got a job earlier this week, which is very exciting. I will be teaching English to employees at IBM here in Buenos Aires. The job search took a little bit of time because the past couple of months have been summer vacation for the Argentines. Therefore, schools and businesses are just starting to open up again and get back into the grind of work.

AVANT - Do you have any friends or family with you in Buenos Aires right now?

Hannah - One of my best friends from New York is here studying abroad so it has been really great having her around. I’ve also made some fast friends from my training that I spend a lot of time with, and my family and friends from home are planning to visit while I’m here.

AVANT - Oh, yeah! Before I forget. What was the MUST item(s) from home for you to pack for your departure? i.e. Your favorite coffee mug, a framed picture of your family

Hannah - The must have item that I needed to bring was a photo book that my friends had made for me just before I left. It's a photo album they put together accompanied by notes from all of my friends wishing me luck on my adventure and my new life. It was so beautifully done and it means so much to me, knowing all the time and effort they must have put into it. It's a comfort to have it with me and I read through it whenever I miss my friends back home.

AVANT - I want to end this with expressing my thanks & sharing my awe-inspired visage of you: Not many people have the courage to leave their safe, comfortable homes in exchange for the unknown & unfamiliar. You're very brave. Thank you for inspiring me & others to pursue their faraway dreams. I really hope you do know how awesome you are. Do you feel awesome to yourself? Haha! Be honest!

Hannah - I guess I do feel awesome. This was definitely a huge, huge decision for me to make. Although I’m a very independent person, it does take some getting used to being away from home, my friends, and my family. But so far that hasn’t had a negative effect on my experience here. The timing worked out perfectly because I was graduating from college mid-year and I kept thinking that if I didn’t do this now I didn’t know when I would be able to. So far I haven’t been disappointed and the welcoming culture has made the transition smooth and also quite fun.

Below: Ms. Miles (far left) and two friends serenely enjoying the last morning of their vacation in Uruguay