This Wednesday’s release is another short from Quito, this time a look at some classic Ecuadorian cuisine with best pal Amy of www.amyblogschow.com.

This is love. My soul is better because of these two women.

Learn more about A Chance for Peace – and donate if you can – at www.achanceforpeace.com

This week sees the release of another episode from Quito – “Get Out of Town”.  In this week’s episode the cast decides it’s time for some change. Freddie and Ryan head out of town and end up meeting a pair of girls to share an adventure with while Jenna and Laurene explore the city with new friend/guest cast member Amy Cao.

Oh, and everyone quits their jobs.

NEW EPISODE HERE

Look at that video above. That is a perfect example of a dream come true – which I’m all about. What I did there was a figment in the human imagination at one point. Then, time passed, and it became an idea, that idea became a dream, and that dream a reality for thousands of people, including myself.

I have gone from a quiet, withdrawn, and – let’s be honest, suicidal – person (following the death of my Dad at age 11), to someone that can see the endless beauty in all forms of life. Falling through the sky over Switzerland was the first time I ever cried out of joy. It was the first time I was willing let everything go to embrace the world. It was the first time I realized that anything is possible, that love is everywhere, and that neither death nor life are to be feared.

This may be a simple realization to you’re average person, but I’ve battled displacement and cultural hybridization, homelessness and near-death experiences most of my life. Throughout, I’ve managed to not only survive, but thrive within the consequences of change. And you know how? I gave up. I stopped caring. I slung the bullshit and focused on sharing what I consider the core of human existence: love, freedom, beauty, peace, and bliss at its purest. And I wouldn’t change a minute of it if I could. Without faith in my very own existence and awareness of how I impact the world on a daily basis I wouldn’t be who I am today: a skydiving, joy-crying, creative, and loved vagabond philosophizer!

So next time you get bored, just think of all the ideas, dreams, and images swirling around in your head and make some magic happen. Stop rationalizing them away; stop saying you don’t have time. You do. Beautiful changes are happening all around you. Join in. We’ll shed a tear together.

In our first short from Season 7: Italy, enjoy a brief peak into the cooking of an idyllic Italian family dinner.

As I look ahead to the next season of JS0, I look back on how this wanderlust started – and consider the value of a good story.

How did you catch the travel bug?

(Version française plus bas)

Nine months with Jet Set Zero already. It’s been a wonderful experience in countries I had never been to, with people I had never met before. A truly rewarding experience. I have proven to myself I can do it, so it’s time for me to hit the road on my own. I’ll be in South America a few more months, heading south.

And I’ll be blogging: photos, videos… Come check it out: http://laureneworld.wordpress.com/ And please leave comments, questions or suggestions!

Here’s a short video to remember the goods moments in Quito and Ecuador. A compilation of photos you have seen, and others you haven’t- yet.

Traveling is a fulfilling experience. Make it your own.

Peace

Laurene

(more…)

Introducing myself from Los Angeles en route to Cambodia? Brazil? Or northern Thailand? Hmm…

Poll: What do you think? Where to next?