So, here is an introductory paragraph (or more) to clue you in on what's going on here. Basically, I have created a goal for myself. I have decided to start this goal in January of 2006. I have given myself a two years to learn Spanish, Portuguese (and English again for that matter) languages and to tour parts of Mexico, Central and South America. That is the gist of this whole thing.

This will be much more then a vacation or sight seeing trip, however. I have a lot to do during the two years prior to going. Besides learning two languages that are mostly spoken in Latin America, I am also jump starting on meeting people thanks to the internet and it's communication technologies such as Skype where I can audio chat and web cam with people, email, SMS (cell phone text messaging) and snail mail.

In addition, I also plan to learn about Latin America from people who currently live in Chicago but are originally from Latin America and document them and their views on life there versus here in the United States via video blogs (which will be integrated within my own personal video blog (LimeBlog).

At the end of this, I hope to have met a lot of wonderful new people that I would have never met before. To have lasting memories of experiences I never thought I would ever have. And, finally, to have my 'project' documented for my own personal enjoyment, as well as, to share it with the rest of the world.

I haven't traveled much in my life. For me, to do something like this is huge to say the least. I realize for other people, this might not be such a big deal who may travel a lot or are 'worldly'. But, if I can accomplish this, I know that it will further me along in many ways in my own life such as socializing in general and being more knowledgeable with a part of the world that I honestly did not pay much of any attention to just a few years ago. I don't know exactly at this point on how I'm going to pull it off, but that is part of the adventure for me as well!

This part of my web site will be updated and overhauled a lot over the next few months and years. This is where I will organize my thoughts, goals and accomplishments. It's all about people, so I would love to hear what you think about my little project. Feel free to leave a comment (on the right side), email me, IM me or Skype me your thoughts, suggestions, concerns and/or anything else in between.

More to come soon!
Kev!


POINTS OF INTEREST
(a sort of Q&A from what people have asked me)

HISTORY
I get asked how serious I am about all of this and if it's just a phase I'm going through. Well, I ask this of myself on everything I do, all the time. The fact is, this is something that I have recently started to organize (January 2006) but, I have been interested in something like this for many many years. One of the main reasons is of a guy (Andreas) that I have chatted online with for almost 6 years now that lives in Santiago. Over the years, I can honestly say that he is a 'real' life long friend and it is such a shame not to ever meet him. I became very interested in how his life is either very different from mine or extremely similar. He has educated me a great deal and again heighten my interest in Santiago. It only makes sense to be able to meet him in person, as well as, visit his homeland and learn more about it first hand. Incidentally, he plans to visit and tour the United States in about the same time as I want to visit his country. What a great opportunity for him to show me his home and that I would be able to show him mine in roughly the same time! So to make a long story short, this project has been in the making for 6 years now. Furthermore, a year ago, I joined ALMA, a gay latino men's organization here in Chicago. At first it was to redesign their web site, but soon developed into a great relationship where I have further learned more about the latino community here in Chicago and feel welcomed into their nitch of the world and their causes. I hope to correlate this project with them to further each other's mission of education and experience.

PROJECT NAME
What does Beijos Do Projeto mean and where did it come from you ask? Well, the first world i learned (aka stuck in my head) was from a friend in Brazil that he used when ending our conversation, beijos. Beijos is Portuguese for kisses. One of the things that I admire about the cultures generally in South America is how one another treat each other. One of the ways they great each other is with kisses on the cheeks. Now, we do some of that here in the states, but far from how it is normal to them there. When two strangers meet they usually do the hand shake thing if they are so lucky to get that far. I feel our culture is extremely stiff compared to many cultures around the world. So, the project name for this has two important meanings to me. First, it was the first word in Portuguese that I have learned. Second, and most importantly, it represents the friendships that have made so far and will make in the future. Besos del Pryecto is the Spanish translation.

THE GAY ANGLE
A good question that I have been asked a few times is if the reason that I am so interested in these areas are because I have a 'thing' for latinos. The truth is, I do have a fancy for latino men, but is definitely not the sole reason for doing this project. From the latinos that I have met, I realized that I have been ignorant on a major part of the world. After learning more about them, I have become intrigued with their background, which eventually ended up in my fascination in their countries and cultures. Their cultures are so much more people centric then what I see here in the United States. I envy that and want to see it first hand. Being that I am a gay man, I am naturally interested in how gays live in other countries. It is vital that what I learn, I also teach to others in hopes that education can help the gay communities grow and are more excepted in all countries and the United States, as well, for immigrants to be equally excepted. My meeting people certainly is not limited to only gay men, as I am just as equally interested in everyone who can teach me more. It's just easier for me to approach a stranger, when we already have something in common. In this case it's because we are gay.

OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD
I'm asked if I travel a lot around the world. No, not at all, and this is why this project is so important and exciting to me. The furthest that I have been is Hawaii, which was wonderful, but still theoretically, the United States. I used to dream of traveling to London. Though I remain wanting to visit London some day, I rather visit a land that I don't see on TV everyday, or that so many people visit like it's a stroll away. I feel I know a lot about London without ever visiting, where I know so little about Santiago for example and have a hard time of finding people that have visited there before. Someday, of course, I would love to visit many other parts of the world, but my first priority is the Latin America area. It just makes sense to me.


TOUR
(places I definitely want to visit, at this point)
Mexico City, Mexico
Bogota, Colombia
Santiago, Chile
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Sao Paolo, Brazil
Brazilia, Brazil
Rondonopolis, Brazil

(places I am debating on wanting to visit)
Meridian, Colombia
Guatemala
Costa Rica
Aruba
Other parts of Mexico and Central America
Peru

Future Tours
Spain
Portugal