Janelle and Carolyn are on their way to Bogota, Colombia...send them your Love!
Friday, January 6, 2012
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
What has already begun....
As friends and family will (hopefully) continue to follow this blog throughout our journeys, I felt it was appropriate to contribute a little something before we all (The Travelers) actually start meeting up in "who knows where".
My personal journey has already started in a physical sense considering I am writing this post from Groningen, Holland as a professional athlete (never thought I would be able to say that). However, it was not a decision made alone or without the influence of many people who are close (Jason is a big one) and even some who are not so close to me. That is the beauty of it all in my opinion, and the reason why us travelers are about to embark on a some-what unknown adventure..... to try and gain inspiration, and in the process, hopefully change someone else's life in ways we may not be aware of. Whether you (the reader) are a person of faith or not, I hope you can agree that sometimes in life there are callings that need to be pursued and the people on this blog are absolutely no different. We are young, eager, excited, (maybe a little naive), nervous, uncertain and above all READY! Here we go!!!!
The Emotional Build-Up
I feel...
Excited when I think of all the great people I'm going to meet. Everyday is going to be different, unpredictable, and life changing. New places introduce different smells, cultures, and people, all of which are going to influence me in positive ways. What foods will I like... remember? Who's going to remember me...and vice versa? I can't wait!
Scared when random people, who hear about my upcoming adventure, start with their terrifying travel experiences and with their (hopefully exaggerated) second hand reenactments of stories they've heard over the years. I've heard about busses getting taking over at gun point, a couple getting kidnapped, separated, and the woman getting raped, and many first-hand pick-pocketing experiences. Ok! Good talk...?
Safe from all the threats. I'm traveling with friends who are experienced and street-wise and that gives me so much comfort. It's nice to know that I not only get to share my travels with great friends first hand, but I also get the pleasure of knowing they're going to be there if and when I need them! True friends are not always easy to come by and that's what makes the trip so special. Plus...I have travel insurance ;)!
Anxious every time I realize how close I am to departing. I'm leaving my family, my culture, my luxuries, and my comfort zone! Did I do this? Do that? Where's my list? Have I checked this off? How about that? What am I FORGETTING!!!! These are the questions that emerge randomly and inconveniently, and the ones that have been causing my seemingly incurable breakouts. Ugh!
Curious about so many things. I'm actually avoiding going through my guide books for fear I'll plague myself with too many options. Indecision becomes inevitable when a million doors are presented to you...Will I see an Anaconda? I'd like to meet a local entrepreneur, what will that be like? I've never been to the Caribbean, scuba dived, or crossed an international boarder via bus...I can't help but be intrigued by the endless possibilities.
Annoyed with visa application processes and the useless third party company that failed to meet their advertised level of service. From canceled "Protocolo" numbers and 6 rescheduled appointments to a third party service that couldn't get my visa and passport returned until after my departure date...I'm happy to say I only spent 10 minutes at the Brazilian Consulate on 1/3/12...big sigh of relief!
Panicked about what to bring. Though, more importantly, what NOT to bring! The funniest conversation I've had yet was in regards to how much underwear I should bring. I thought, ok, I'll be gone for six months...how about 5 pair? Megan and Janelle laughed and said "more like 20 Jason!" I thought 5 was better than the zero I took on my two-week trip to Costa Rica in 2005...I'm thinking 12, maybe 15 at the most. Chick underwear is tiny...20 seems unrealistic, thats probably all I can fit in my bag, haha. My bro would go Costa-Rica-style for 6 months no prob. I probably should be more concerned about which Malaria medication to bring as opposed to undies!
Happy in general. No matter what emotion I start with...I always end up feeling happy. I'm doing what I want to do, and that makes me happy!
Excited when I think of all the great people I'm going to meet. Everyday is going to be different, unpredictable, and life changing. New places introduce different smells, cultures, and people, all of which are going to influence me in positive ways. What foods will I like... remember? Who's going to remember me...and vice versa? I can't wait!
Scared when random people, who hear about my upcoming adventure, start with their terrifying travel experiences and with their (hopefully exaggerated) second hand reenactments of stories they've heard over the years. I've heard about busses getting taking over at gun point, a couple getting kidnapped, separated, and the woman getting raped, and many first-hand pick-pocketing experiences. Ok! Good talk...?
Safe from all the threats. I'm traveling with friends who are experienced and street-wise and that gives me so much comfort. It's nice to know that I not only get to share my travels with great friends first hand, but I also get the pleasure of knowing they're going to be there if and when I need them! True friends are not always easy to come by and that's what makes the trip so special. Plus...I have travel insurance ;)!
Anxious every time I realize how close I am to departing. I'm leaving my family, my culture, my luxuries, and my comfort zone! Did I do this? Do that? Where's my list? Have I checked this off? How about that? What am I FORGETTING!!!! These are the questions that emerge randomly and inconveniently, and the ones that have been causing my seemingly incurable breakouts. Ugh!
Curious about so many things. I'm actually avoiding going through my guide books for fear I'll plague myself with too many options. Indecision becomes inevitable when a million doors are presented to you...Will I see an Anaconda? I'd like to meet a local entrepreneur, what will that be like? I've never been to the Caribbean, scuba dived, or crossed an international boarder via bus...I can't help but be intrigued by the endless possibilities.
Annoyed with visa application processes and the useless third party company that failed to meet their advertised level of service. From canceled "Protocolo" numbers and 6 rescheduled appointments to a third party service that couldn't get my visa and passport returned until after my departure date...I'm happy to say I only spent 10 minutes at the Brazilian Consulate on 1/3/12...big sigh of relief!
Panicked about what to bring. Though, more importantly, what NOT to bring! The funniest conversation I've had yet was in regards to how much underwear I should bring. I thought, ok, I'll be gone for six months...how about 5 pair? Megan and Janelle laughed and said "more like 20 Jason!" I thought 5 was better than the zero I took on my two-week trip to Costa Rica in 2005...I'm thinking 12, maybe 15 at the most. Chick underwear is tiny...20 seems unrealistic, thats probably all I can fit in my bag, haha. My bro would go Costa-Rica-style for 6 months no prob. I probably should be more concerned about which Malaria medication to bring as opposed to undies!
Happy in general. No matter what emotion I start with...I always end up feeling happy. I'm doing what I want to do, and that makes me happy!
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