Alison Trujillo

What’s happening in the Amazon?

Back in 2005, I worked as a volunteer English teacher in Sani Isla, an indigenous Kichwa community in Ecuador’s Amazon region. Located along the banks of the Río Napo, a tributary of the Amazon River, Sani Isla is comprised of a community center for meetings and parties, a small medical clinic that hosts the occasionalContinue reading “What’s happening in the Amazon?”

What’s in a word?

What’s in a word? Well, everything. As anyone who has learned a new language will tell you, words have weight. A perfectly placed word can make or break a joke. A thoughtful word can “hit the nail on the head” and express exactly what someone is feeling. There are the funny horror stories of confidently expressingContinue reading “What’s in a word?”

Dulces Navideños

There are so many traditional foods enjoyed at this time of the year. I’m highlighting two of my favorite holiday sweets here, along with resources on how to make or purchase them. Mexican Wedding Cookies: These are sometimes known as Russian tea cookies. Their powdery covering is perfect for the holidays. I found a niceContinue reading “Dulces Navideños”

Thoughtful Gifts

‘Tis the season for gift-giving, and with the plethora of shopping options available it is easy to become overwhelmed. How to buy thoughtful gifts? And thoughtful to whom? Being an artist, I personally make the effort to support artisans from around the world when I have the chance and want to buy something special forContinue reading “Thoughtful Gifts”

Inspired by “Half the Sky”

This weekend I watched “Half the Sky.” This is a documentary that grew from the book of the same name, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. It aired on PBS in October of this year. We travel with Nicholas and Sheryl to meet strong women leaders who are working to eradicate the systematicContinue reading “Inspired by “Half the Sky””

A Walk Through Día de los Muertos

Welcome to my Día de los Muertos gallery! Día de los Muertos is one of my favorite celebrations. We celebrate and embrace death, welcoming back the people who touched our lives and who are now in the spirit realm. Here in San Francisco we’ve had a Day of the Dead parade and celebration for many years now,Continue reading “A Walk Through Día de los Muertos”