After All This Time, What I (Derek) Learned Discovering 'The World Beyond'

Yes, it's been more than a few months since we got back from South America. Yes, I have been meaning to write a summary of what I learned and what my favorite experiences were. Tonight I spent some time with Porter.  Talking with Porter this evening, telling stories and jokes from the trip made me think back even more than I normally do. As per usual, he drilled me about not writing my final blog post. I have been meaning to write for a while. However, I let 'life' get in the way. Finally, I was inspired to sit down and start writing.

For me, the entire purpose of this trip was to get away from the day to day I am used to and discover something new. I wanted to connect more to what was important in life. My whole life, I have taken the safe route in almost everything I have done. When I started announcing that I was about to trek across South America with some friends, some people said I was crazy but were in love with the idea of that kind of adventure. My parents were, much to my surprise, extremely supportive of the trip.

As Porter wrote so eloquently, all four of us have been very blessed in our youth. Safety, prosperity, and plenty were no strangers in our households. My Dad came from a rough childhood but now he provides very well for his family. Never can I remember a time that we didn't have food on the table or energy to light the house. I had also been very blessed with a good education, both in school and at home. With comforts such as these, the only thing that I really remember devastating me was getting a bad grade on a test. I have never experienced true gratitude for my upbringing and my current life until I left it all behind with my friends for a month and a half.

true strength is a result of true hope

True strength was redefined for me on this trip. The extreme poverty was sobering. While on an LDS mission for two years in Brazil, I thought I had seen extreme poverty; I was wrong. I remember a family on Lake Titicaca that said it was a dream of theirs to buy even half a kilo of red meat. I saw homeless people in the road begging for money or food from people who could barely afford to feed themselves. Our tour guide through the Andes Mountains in Peru would spend months at a time (mind you he would hike the 5 days up to MachuPicchu 3 to 4 times a month) away from his family to support them. The miners in Potosí, Bolivia would start working at the tender ages of 10 to find the few remaining minerals in the mines in order to scrap together a paycheck for their families.

I felt so bad for the people we would see, but there seemed to be a palpable sense of hope. They could only improve on what they had, so why not work for even the smallest improvement? That completely shattered the ideology of success and failure I had engrained in my mind. All the time in the United States we hear of people sinking into depression and letting themselves go because they didn't get the promotion they had been working so hard for; because they can't afford the newest toys on Christmas for their children; because they can't support their lavish lifestyle anymore and have to cut back on expenses.

Seeing so much hope amidst devastating poverty was eye-opening. I pray I will never again take all I have for granted. I personally have seen the difference between what I have and what others have. In our society some are compelled to compare themselves to others such as status and fortunes. I never bought into that paradigm but was reminded how superficial it is. We gain nothing from this, but we do lose the tender yet powerful attribute of hope. Hope fosters the strength to improve yourself physically, mentally, and/or spiritually.

lessons learned still echo in my life today

When I came back from South America, everyone kept asking about the trip. Words fail to adequately convey the countless breathtaking views and scenery. We saw natural and man-made beauty at every turn. Everyone expressed their amazement and surprise that we were actually able to accomplish a such a feat. Mainly asked what was the most amazing part. The answer is there is no one single part more amazing than the others. 

Rarely was I asked about the lessons I learned while abroad. Daily I find myself describing an experience from the trip and how it pertained to something I learned. I'm not a braggart; however I would do dishonor to myself and this trip if I didn't take every opportunity to share and apply what I learned during my six week experience. I learned things that can never be taught in a classroom or even at home. Some things in life need to be experienced, and traveling while being out of your element is one of them. You will question your real motives and goals in life. You will adjust your outlook on life and what direction you want for it.

That is what I wanted from this trip. I wanted a new perspective on life, and I got more than I asked for. Some of my lifelong goals have been altered and some new ones added. I will always treasure what I experienced and learned while discovering 'the world beyond'. This was one of the best decisions I have made in my life and highly encourage anyone and everyone to do something similar. The things you will learn are extremely hard to put into words, and shouldn't be. They simply need to be experienced. After all is said and done, I will go out into this beautiful world with these experiences and remember: the only limits in this world are those which you place on yourself.

- Derek

There and back again, what I (Porter) learned from the 'world beyond.'

It has been a little over a month now since the four of us returned from what may very well be the most epic adventure of our young lives. By no means was it some herculean endeavor, but the experience will forever remain in our hearts as an unforgettable road of exploration and discovery. Experience has an unusual capacity to change us and, it is these changes that I hope to capture here. Time has passed rather quickly since being home, but that month or so of separation has allowed these remarkable experiences to sink deep in my soul and take their place in the very fabric of who I am and who I hope to become.

A world of contrasts.

I’m not naïve or oblivious to where I come from. I understand very well that the upbringing I had was something unique, and statically speaking, an absolute anomaly.  Nor do I believe to be speaking presumptuously to say that all four of us, Dustin, Justin and Derek included, come from a blessed life that few can even dream of.

I grew up in a safe suburb just outside Columbus, Ohio. In my youth I rarely had want for anything and admit that my biggest adolescent concern was whether or not I would make the high school basketball team. Surrounded by wealth, safety and other people just like me I spent those formative years of my life protected from the hardships that the rest of the world faces on a daily basis. Thus, the four of us set out on the adventure of a lifetime, empowered by the dreamer’s spirit, seeking something none of us could define with any real clarity. We knew we wanted experience; we just weren’t sure what that was.

We quickly found ourselves wandering like vagabonds through countries that had endured centuries of poverty, revolution and extended periods of oppression. Early on I was overwhelmingly impressed by the profundity of the European footprint distinctly left on these places. It was undeniably clear that countries with more European influence held more power and as a result, held more of the wealth. If you have any doubt about this spend a few days in rural Bolivia, a country where more than half of the population claims indigenous descent. I was fascinated by the contrasts that I saw, both within South America itself and how it differed from its neighbor to the North.

We tried our best to avoid a ‘tourist experience’ and sought to make friends with people at every turn. It was catching a glimpse through the eyes of these people that caused something inside me to change, as if my heart was softening with compassion. In these precious moments, spending time with miners who had been hard at work since thirteen or staying the night with a family on a remote island of lake Titicaca, I realized the exceptionality of my life. An extraordinary sense of gratitude was instilled in me that I pray I never forget.

The infinite power of hope.

As our trip continued, this newfound gratitude became the foundation for further lessons and experiences. A deep respect came upon me for the many people we met, whose circumstances were dire, yet maintained an unwavering sense of hope. Many had nothing but still managed to find meaning and happiness. Everything I had learned from our often materialistic American culture said that this should not be (actually I don’t believe this ‘value’ is strictly American, but is found in every country throughout the world. Mankind in general has a horribly self-defeating habit of seeking what he doesn’t have with a corrosive obsession). At the same time, I saw many who buckled under the burdens of poverty and turned to alcohol and other forms of ‘escape’ to cope.

I often asked myself what is the difference? What separates the eternally happy from the perpetually miserable? And though it sounds cliché, both my personal experience and scientific studies (I am a statistics guy, after all) have shown that there is little correlation between money and happiness. I decided then that the major virtue holding back the ferocious tide of unhappiness is hope. The most inspiring figures that we met on our journey all shared an undying sense of hope. It was hope that helped them find happiness in the present, have faith in tomorrow and accept the past as unalterable.

Invigorated and inspired by this experience I came to understand that the only limit in life is oneself. Our lives lay within our control, and while we can’t change what happens to us, we always have power over how we react. Thus I return home with the desire to develop and harness the infinite power of hope that I observed over those forty, enlightening days.

Breaking the bubble.

As I said before, I grew up in a bubble, a warm incubator of familiarity and safety. I don’t believe I ‘m alone in this experience though. All too often we allow ourselves to get comfortable with life and cling to what is familiar and recognizable. As a result we miss out on potentially life-altering experiences that can enrich and add meaning to life. I learned that the world is so much bigger than the gated communities of an Ohio suburb or a carefully insulated campus in Provo, Utah. It is only limited by us and our capacity to dream. I encourage anyone reading this to find a way to break out of your ‘bubble’ and try something new.  Life is fleeting and should be an adventure; all we need to do is take the plunge.

-Porter

The trailer is up! Check out the first glimpse at the documentary.

el Mundo Más Allá from Porter Jenkins on Vimeo.

Coming Soon. A documentary of youthful exploration and discovery...
http://thereisaworldbeyond.blogspot.com/

What I (Justin) Learned: South America In Review

If I could do it again, I would. If I could do it differently, I would too. Just like life, there are a lot of things I would change. But after all that happened, looking back and seriously considering how miraculously blessed we were with safety, local experiences and meeting genuinely real people, I feel an overwhelming gratefulness for a healthy body that allowed me to accomplish something that will be remembered as an amazing chapter in my life. Whether interpreted in a spiritual or scientific sense, our bodies allow us to do amazing things, we should all be grateful to whomever we believe is responsible for our blessing of this short time on earth.

We learned that the body carried Incan runners across days of terrain to deliver messages to priests. Tribes at Lake Titicaca build their own islands from plants that also serve as there homes and transportation. Columbians built an entire cathedral in the earth, a huge mine that made it (technically) the largest in the Catholic church, displaying an example of man's abilities and gifts available to God's children. Brazilians were given one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and instead of building massive mansions on its mountains looking down at the city, they built a monument to our Savior, hoping to build celestial mansions in their own way.

I would love to understand everything. It would take multiple lifetimes to grasp some of the worlds most basic constructions and designs. However, over the last month and a half I have discovered there will be an eternal lifetime to understand more fully the why's and how's of this life and the next. With the short moments we have been given on this earth, we should constantly search for purpose and although we may not find "The Answer", the journey will bring more joy than settling and accepting mediocracy ever would.

The funny thing is, I am making it sound like traveling gave me purpose, or that I met people that found the most beautiful way of life in adaptation and a constantly changing surrounding environment.
That's not what I found. I discovered one of the most amazing experiences of my 23 years, but purpose I almost feel I had left the second my plane took off from the Salt Lake Airport. Let me explain...

As I stated earlier, we are in a constant search for purpose, it's the reason we are here and the reason to continually strive to progress. My destination is not this earth, neither was it Ecuador or Bolivia or even our last country, Brazil, they were lovely countries with wonderful people with their own dreams and endeavors, but wandering South America put me no where closer to my purpose.

Backtracking a bit, I want to explain something to the few but close friends and families that have followed our experiences. How often do we look for something and have no idea where to begin or even a plan for how to find it? That is the beauty of what I believe is my purpose and the purpose of every human being here searching with me, we have a plan. There is a roadmap for all of us. My experience in South America reminded to never, if possible, get lost on the way. We had a map, and a plan, and we stuck to it. Sometimes we realized our original ideas would be slow or costly, so we changed them and were blessed with extra time in the places we wanted and more resources to do more things. People helped us on the way, we avoided those that would hinder our progress and seeked out those that knew the terrain and could offer us direction. I realized our trip was a wonderful reflection of a more celestial journey that we experience here on earth.

The locals on those tiny plant islands seemed much happier with the little they had and families they were raising then some of the travelers that had been away from their homes for years and years completely alone. Some backpackers I could tell made it a part of their purpose, but traveling was never a search of meaning for us, it was simply an amazing experience in a blessed time in my life where my circumstances permitted me to leave behind responsibility for a short time and to see the world.

I may do it again and I implore everyone reading this to travel as much as possible. I see myself visiting foreign countries and living abroad rather than owning a bigger home or having a ton of nice cars. The memories we made will be ours forever, and everything else seems so much more valuable than a new new car or a huge HDTV. But, while you're traveling, don't go looking for purpose and meaning. Those things can be found much closer than a 26 hour plane ride away.

The blessing of being back with my family and able to do the things that make me feel happy and strong seem magnified when I compare it to the backpackers lifestyle. I have everything I need right here!

Travel, discover, explore, these things are a part of life. Just remember, there is a roadmap, God gives us moments to unearth some of the worlds most beautiful truths, but in those moments of revelation, don't let them distract you from your spiritual path. Only let them remind you where you want to end up and what it takes to eventually get there.

Nate was on a little senior trip, I still love him, but this was the fam picking me up at the airport.  

This is kind of my signing off from what began two months ago, a little trip of college friends who aren't yet supporting families and found time to take a break, only to be reminded why they're here. We are making a documentary so stay tuned, but I want to say thanks so much to all my loved ones, I am so lucky to know about this plan and to be on the path with so many of you. You'll be seeing other review post's from the other guys and I hope their experiences were very different from mine. Just remember what we called this blog from the very beginning, "there is a world beyond." My only hope now is that our experiences in this journal can not only remind me but also others of all the adventures to be had on the way to the "world beyond."


-Justin

Last stop, Salvador

Like most cities we have visited, we furtively arrived to Salvador by night, greeted by more rain clouds. As we got off the bus a strange feeling of finality and nostalgia come over us. This was it, our last stop. Still wet from the torrential downpour that hit us on the way to the bus station the night before, we collected our things and set out to find housing and a place to meet up with Derek. Unfortunately the rain persisted and our clothes stayed wet until the following day.

Acarajé da Dinha. Acarajé served by Bahian women.

That first day Justin and I were left to our own devices. Although three weeks in a county is hardly enough to learn any language, we found that we were more or less able to get by, at least together. We made arrangements to stay at a hostel in the Barra district, one of the nicer parts of town that lay just a few blocks from the beach. Having picked a location we notified Derek, who would arrive the following day. Though slightly marred by the shadow of ominous rain clouds brooding high above we spent the day getting to know Brazil's once majestic capital, trying to tap into the spirit of the place by aimlessly wandering its streets. We ate breakfast at a statue of christ we found overlooking the bay, visited a lighthouse that was constructed in the 1500's and sought out the most "local" places to eat. One little hole in the wall, Acarajé da Dinha, came highly recommended by everyone we talked to and is known for serving the best Acarajé in all of Salvador. A typical dish of the Bahia, Acarajé is a delicious blend of African and American spices that is added to shrimp and a deep fried bean-bun. It has also become somewhat of an icon of Salvador's African heritage, almost always served by black women dressed in traditional clothing. We ate acarajé nearly every meal, until I got food poisoning, once again.

The main altar of the Igreja de Sao Francisco

The next morning Derek met up with as our hostel. We were glad to see him again, and even more elated that no one would have to be traveling alone. Having lived in Salvador previously, he played tour guide for the rest of the day. Our first stop was the Pelorinho district, home to one of the most famed churches in the Americas. The Igreja de Sao Francisco, built in the 17th century, stands as a symbol of the pomp and grandeur of the Roman Catholic Church in the colonial era. We were amazed at what we saw. Nearly every inch of the whole cathedral is plated with 24k gold. After a while we ran out of adjectives to describe the scene and just settled on 'crazy.' I found myself slightly pensive once again, putting myself in the shoes of a typical citizen of Salvador when the church was in its prime. I wondered what the Indians, whose homelands had been stripped from them by foreign invaders, thought of this strange new religion that professed piety yet built idols of gold. Or if the Africans slaves, who had only known abject poverty, resented the gaudy amount of wealth poured into a sanctuary they would likely never see.

Justin marvels at the intricate gold molding of the cathedral's walls

We finished off the day taking in more sights, breathing in more ocean air and sweating through our last pair of clean clothes as we trudged through dreadful humidity. That evening we saw another samba band but wisely decided that we would hold off on dancing this time around.

The beach on our last day.

Clara and her family

Our last full day in Salvador was relaxing. All of us were tired from traveling and in many ways ready to go home. We killed most of the day at a beach just dear downtown. For lunch we met up with a friend of my sister, Clara Balthazar, and her family for lunch. Like nearly everyone we have met, they were terrific and opened up their doors for us whole-heartedly. We ate our last home cooked meal of the trip with Clara and her family. Since she had gone to high school for a year in the US we were eager to hear how she thought the United States compared to Brazil and discussed at length her experience in Ohio. No doubt, she found the little Ohio suburb I call home to be very different from her urban lifestyle in tropical Brazil. She said that she found the US to be very organized and efficient. However, she expressed frustration that sometimes it was 'too organized' and even restrictive. She also missed how affectionate people were in her home country, where people greet one another with kisses. We identified with what she said, but perhaps from the other end of the spectrum. We sure felt awkward every time a stranger came up to kiss our cheek!

We spent our last evening in Brazil at the lighthouse once again, watching the sun set both on the day and our trip. Tomorrow we fly home!

-Porter

We enjoyed catching a street football game on our way home on night.

Salvador's famous city elevator.

Cool art behind a fruit stand.

The presence of Catholicism is everywhere. Brazil is home to more Catholics than any other nation in the world. 

The sun setting over the Bay of Todos os Santos

We caught a 'cool' jazz show our last night in town. There are even hipsters in Brazil...

Home Sweet Almost Home

The moment we arrived in Porto Seguro, I felt as if I had returned to a second home. I served a two year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the south of Bahia, Brazil from 2009-2011. I spent a little over a year in Porto Seguro and the surrounding regions, so this place holds a special place in my heart. During the bus ride from Rio de Janeiro, I was remembering everyone I had met and become friends with in this area.

We arrived in Porto Seguro around 4pm and headed straight to where we would be staying for the next few days. The Branch President (or local ecclesiastical leader) of the local LDS Church, João Pires is a dear friend and he opened his house to us. The first night was not very exciting as we had just finished an 18 hour bus ride and just wanted to relax. We showered and picked up some dinner. On our way back to the house we stopped by a few of my friend's houses for a few surprise visits.

João Pires and his wife Maria Santa kindly let us stay with their family 

We all had the same plan for the next day: BEACH TIME. This region is known for its beautiful beaches. We took a city bus and stopped at a random beach along the coast. After walking down and scouting the beaches, we found a place to set up camp. It was close to perfect. Decent waves, clean, warm water, few people. The only thing that was lacking was the perfect weather. It was slightly overcast, but still a beautiful day. We found a few coconuts to play catch with. We figured we would teach Brazilians an American way to have fun. Later in the afternoon a group of three men came running down the beach, yelling and laughing. Apparently they had just caught a fish with their bare hands. 

Porto Seguro is pretty much a peninsula. There are huge stretches of beaches. 

Justin wishing for the wind to die down. Or contemplating the vastness of the universe. We really never know what's going up there. 

You have no idea how excited these guys were. The guy holding the fish was FREAKING out. It was hilarious. 

The hours passed, and a brisk wind brought the smell of rain on the horizon. We grabbed a quick bite to eat right on the beach and rode a bus back into the city. That same night, we found out about a large activity at the Church. We attended and were able to see many of my friends from 3 years ago.

The next day was a split adventure: Porter and Justin stayed in Porto Seguro while I traveled an hour inland to the city Eunápolis to see more friends. 

Our time in Porto was great, but the weather didn't allow for as much beach time as we had hoped for. Itching for more sand in their toes and hair, Porter and Justin left a day early for Salvador while I stayed to visit and hang out with more old friends. 

Funny enough, the day I spent alone was gorgeous.

It was a beautiful day. Later I heard that the day Porter and Justin spent in Salvador was pretty rainy. Patience pays off, eh?

Seriously. It couldn't have been a more perfect day. 

In the morning I visited the city's aquarium. It is on its own private island, called Ilha dos Aquarios. The guide, Marta, was great. She has studied marine biology for years and years. She is actually planning a trip to visit Mexico and California. When I told her I lived in Monterey, she got so excited and told me she was planning on visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The tour was with a high school group. So, naturally, all the student swarmed me with questions and pictures. I will miss the feeling of every single girl staring at us wherever we go. We  feel like rock stars.

Marta the Marine Biologist. Side note: For some reason every person we ask to take pictures for us thinks we want our whole bodies in the picture. Some people take the pictures from so far away.

Example A: You can barely see anything in these pictures. However, that is a pretty good looking fence... I am split on this picture actually. But you get my point.

While walking through the center of the city, the streets were decked out with decorations for the upcoming São João parties planned for the end of June. I wish were able to stay for São João. This time of year is especially fun. The streets are filled with traditional decorations, music and food.

One of the small squares near the coast decorated for the upcoming festivities

This road is a few miles long. The whole thing looks like this, with varying patterns. 

The rest of the extra day I had was spent visiting as many people as I could. It was great seeing so many people, but it was also sad. I wasn't able to see everyone. With those I was able to visit, I would walk in the door and say "Hey! I'm back! But I have to leave tonight!" The next time I come back to Bahia, I will be sure to stay long enough to see everyone and spend time with them. 

Once the time came for me to catch my bus to Salvador, it was was even harder to part with the city and people I had come to love. For the second time. A few friends came to see me off at the bus station. I can feel this trip coming to a close. I am ready to go home, but part of me has adopted the spirit of traveling. Many of my viewpoints, opinions, and goals have changed while some have been reinforced. I am already drawing up plans of where I will go next.

Another candid shot of Justin doing what he does best: Posing. 

With love from Bahia,

Derek

PS: I know the main reason you all follow our blog is for our pictures, but we may not have access to our cameras for a day or two. On our flight back to the States, it seems our backpacks were lost. Sorry, but for now you'll just have to imagine three very tan, good looking guys surrounded by beautiful Brazilian women on the beach. That's pretty much what happened. We'll let you all know when we upload pictures!

Getting Famous and Making Names in Sorocaba

I am not to sure about the legality of this, but I have translated the article published about us and our trip in the newspaper Cruzeiro do Sul. Here is the link to the original article (in Portuguese). We take no credit for writing this article. We only take credit for being awesome. 

-Derek

Headline: Students from the US travel around South America to learn from other realities

Written by Andrea Alves andrea.alves@jcruzeiro.com.br

Upon traveling around South America to further understand the cultures present, a group of four young US citizens made an interesting finding: it doesn't matter what kind of opportunities life gives you, but you must find your own happiness. That statement brings no surprise, however what they did find intriguing is the fact that many people in such unfortunate situations of safety and comfort were able to achieve happiness. Each student - Derek Sloan studies business, Porter Jenkins studies statistics, Justin Ashby studies communication, and Dustin Welch studies medicine - have been keeping a blog with texts in English and pictures of the places they visit and their new experiences - one being trying caldo de cana (sugarcane juice)! The final project of the group is, after returning to the United States, to produce a documentary of the trip and make it available on the internet. The newspaper Cruzeiro do Sul was one of the final places they visited last Saturday in Alto da Boa Vista.

The four young men were greeted in Sorocaba, São Paulo by the couple Eugênio Rocha and Fernanda Peixe. All are members of the same church - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints - and got to know each other through missions served in the past. It is the custom for young men at the age of 19 to serve missions, and this was how Eugênio and Porter's father got to know each other. Derek, for example, served his mission in Bahia, where he lived for two years, and thus speaks Portuguese fluently. The other three served missions in varying parts of South America and the United States and have mastered Spanish. "We are very impressed by the Brazilian culture. The people are very happy and festive", said Derek. The four North-Americans, now 23 years old, have already completed missions for their religion and on this trip, they say, they came to believe that coming to know other customs will be useful in helping them become individuals better prepared for the professional world.

Within Contrasts, the Search is the Same

Derek, Porter, Justin, and Dustin left the United States on the first of May, and planned to travel through South America for approximately 40 days. The purpose was to get to know other cultures, other languages, other customs, and get a closer look at the contrasts betweens areas of this large continent. From Sorocaba, they traveled to Rio de Janeiro and after will continue to Bahia. Before arriving in São Paulo they went through Mato Grosso do Sul and Santa Catarina. Before Brazil, they went through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. In the last countries listed, Derek told, they saw extreme contrasts to live in North America. Near Lake Titicaca, on the border of Peru and Boliva, they met a woman who lived with her family in very limited circumstances compared to the live the four students live in the US. 

"She told me they mainly eat potatoes and grains and when I asked if they ate red meat or chicken, she said it was a dream of hers to afford a half-kilo of meat," said the young man who practically became the spokesman of the group. "But was caught my attention was that it doesn't matter if you are rich or poor, you can take control of your life and be happy. I see so many people in my country that live such comfortable lives, with many cares and beautiful houses, but are depressed, they are sad." During this trip, Derek and his friends have seen the complete opposite. People that are so poor, living in very complicated situations - like what they witnessed in the Devil's Mine, in Bolivia, where miners work in precarious and unhealthy conditions. Finding the people strong and happy is one of the motives of the young men on a trip of observation and fun. 

Those who wish to follow these travelers can access their blog at thereisaworldbeyond.com. They still don't know what to name their documentary, but believe they will name it after their blog, being translated to "there is world beyond".