Michelle Margaret Fajkus

I’ve lived what feels like many different lifetimes since then. The frustrated communications specialist in a boring office. The overwhelmed alternatively certified bilingual third-grade teacher. Fresh-faced ex-pat in Guatemala City working at a posh private school. Retreat coordinator. Blogger. Yoga teacher. Mother, partner, writer, editor, translator. Interpreter of Mayan fire ceremonies. A 41-year-old woman who lives in the woods and off the grid but on the internet.

My daily life in Guatemala is sweet, natural, colorful, and educational. I’ve lived here for 12 years, including three in the capital (Guatemala City), and 9 at Lake Atitlan in the western highlands.

My mom often asks if I’ll live in Guatemala forever. Although I am a “permanent resident,” my answer is:

¿Quién sabe?

Who knows?

My main motivations for moving to Guatemala were adventure, work, and better Spanish. Living in Guatemala has taught me countless lessons, the 8 most prominent of which...

Some facts about South America are standard. It’s the fourth largest continent on Earth and covers a land area of 17.84 million square kilometers, for example. Packed with picturesque places to visit from mountains to beaches, exhilarating activities to take part in, and beautiful cultures to get to know, South America is a gem for travelers.
The 12 countries in South America are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Th...

Spanish quotes, sayings, and proverbs motivate you to live your best life! Plus, they’re beneficial to Spanish learners and language lovers on the path toward fluency.
Oftentimes, proverbs and idioms in one language make no sense if translated directly into another. That’s why I’ve listed the original Spanish quotes with English translation, as well as a brief commentary.
Are you seeking motivation in life and in Spanish learning? Keep reading to access 44 excellent and inspiring Spanish quot...

Here are the top three life lessons my 30s have delivered. While we each must live our own lives and experience our own falls and get back up again, I hope that sharing my personal experience will be of benefit.

Camping in South America under the night sky is a magical way to connect with the great outdoors. Sleeping under a canopy of stars is a mystical experience.
The continent is full of vast deserts and plains, spectacular volcanoes, lush rainforests, and stunning coastlines. Its diverse and picturesque terrain makes it perfect for campers.
Read this post to explore several awesome camping spots in South America, from glamping in relative luxury in Venezuela to wild camping in Patagonia where all...

28 amazing pieces of wisdom

Let it go

Having a strong core enables us to stand tall, sit up straight, be centered and walk our talk with purpose. Often, when we think of “core strength”, we think exclusively of abs. Yet core strengthening is about much more than attaining a toned six-pack. We must also pay attention to the back of the core, as well as the oblique abdominals — the muscles on the sides of the lower torso. With sustained practice, these poses will increase the strength and stability of your whole core — front, sides...

Our bodies are a marvel. Our brain’s innate stress response system is there to help us recognize when a situation is dangerous and needs to be dealt with. The term “stress” originated from physics and related to physical pressure, or stress, being placed on an object and causing it to change. In our fast-paced modern times, the majority of the stress we generally feel is more psychological than physiological. It’s also relative rather than absolute, meaning that the same stressors can affect ...

There are a lot of diseases that can result from lazy or poor culinary choices and consumption behaviors, including toxic, infectious diseases, which may be microbial (salmonella, listeria monocytogenes, e coli, and clostridium); parasites (taenias, flatworms, nematodes, and toxoplasmosis); or viruses (norovirus, hepatitis A, and rotavirus).

Did you know that yoga not only improves muscular flexibility, it can also improve our internal systems? Certain poses actually massage our internal organs and intestines and help improve digestion — as well as circulation, coordination and much more.
As you practice, it’s important to maintain deep, conscious breathing. Move mindfully and gradually, flowing with grace and inner peace. Invite your muscles to stretch and contract in a gentle and caring way. We never want to push ourselves into...

As humanity wakes up to the suffering of animals, humans and the environment as a direct result of meat production and consumption, more and more people are moving away from a diet based around animal protein and toward the vegetarian lifestyles. Implementing gradual change is a simple method for sticking to the diet by slowly discovering and incorporating nutritious and delicious vegetarian foods.
Choosing not to eat meat that comes from factory farms is the first, most obvious step to becom...

108 Ways to Heal Your Chakras. | elephant journal