“Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames.” Rumi
Where do I start? To be honest, I’m not sure. This is a journal, a sort of documentation of the myriad of experiences I’ve had and will continue to have, so that I may carry these experiences in my heart (and the internet, of course). It probably won’t be poetic or masterly written, but that’s not the intent. This is merely to remind myself, always, of the things and the people along my journey that have shaped and continue to shape my life. I hope it helps to remind me to see beyond walls, beyond reservations, beyond the unknown. I hope it reminds me of how fearless I can be, even when I am afraid. And that fear is nothing to be ashamed of, rather a means to learn and overcome. I hope these entries and photos remind me of how big and beautiful this world is, despite the ugliness it may sometimes spew. But above all, I hope it reminds me of the hope that is always there, whether I feel it or not, and that it is because of this hope I am able to see the best of this world.
I’ve been meaning to write a journal of some sorts for a while now. But of course every time I start something, I almost immediately forget all about it. Whether it’s due to time constraints or forgetting a password (and user name!) or leaving the damn diary on a bus somewhere, journaling seems to want nothing more than to mock my every move. In the end, it was always easier to take some pictures and think, “I’ll definitely remember this! How can I not?!” Then I forget (I obviously give my memory way too much credit). Unfortunately, a lot of my memories are now muddled together and I can’t tell the difference between one experience and another. The photos are of no help either. After a while all the landscapes meld into each other and you can’t tell if it’s Tanzania or Kenya… or is it Indonesia?? Time to remedy this problem! And so, here goes my foray into blogging…
I’ve always had the travel bug. Hell, it was more like a travel elephant, huge and obnoxiously screaming in my ears. I felt it early on. But before I could express in words (which in all honesty I feel I still cannot) my desire to explore the world, I had my introduction to the diversity of it though my hometown of Clarkston, GA. This little town in the shadow of Atlanta has been a safe haven for refugees from all over the world for more than 30 years. This tiny paradise was my home, the place of my growth and education. So you can only imagine what going to a school where over 50 languages were spoken can do to young adventurer. The fundamental elements of all my deep seeded desires were born in this tiny refuge I called home. My friends and classmates hailed from Bosnia, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Mexico, Sudan, India, and others still! We had our own religions, languages and foods: But when together, all those differences melted away to form a United Nations of sorts in the Deep South. We were one in the same really, kids venturing out into an unknown culture, shouldering the burdens of our weary parents and fighting to carve a place for ourselves in the new while retaining some of the old. The desire to travel was made a lot easier with the face to face interactions of the whole world in my own backyard. Always there was this whole big world with so much to see, so many people to meet, foods to try, and languages to learn. I wanted to be there, everywhere, all over, where ever.
Dream as I did, it was not until University that I finally lit that bug on fire. During my second year, I studied abroad in Tanzania for a month. After years of dreaming of East Africa (completely romanticized, of course), learning Swahili (via the Lion King, duh), and wanting an adventure all my own (living vicariously through fictional characters was growing tiresome), it finally happened. How utterly surreal it was. To know you are capable of making reality your deepest most desires is as great as being a witness to a revolution, or seeing a star’s birth, or riding a unicorn- that good. I think it was then that I set my eyes on what I wanted most in life and decided for sure to follow my heart… all over the world. Despite a few setbacks, I have been fortunate enough to follow through and live, a thousand times over.
Since Tanzania, my travel bug (elephant) has continued unabated. I work tirelessly and passionately to find new and meaningful adventures. I revel in the challenge of traveling in a foreign place with no understanding of the language or customs. Everything becomes much more interesting even the most mundane (try taxiing in a Tuk-Tuk in Thailand). Things, big and small, suddenly carry a new value or lack thereof for you (who needs an IPod when you can make new friends on the 14 hour bus ride?). In the past couple of years, I’ve had the privilege of visiting and living in many parts of the world, including Kenya, Jordan, Central Europe and Southeast Asia. I’m sad to say I did not write about those experiences in a blog or journal, but alas mistakes have been made. All I can do now is learn and move on, with the intention of making better decisions from now on. After all, the fun has just begun. In a few short weeks, I will be journeying on my biggest adventure yet, traveling through Europe and living in Cairo, Egypt! I am holding myself accountable for following through on this blog. I will write as much as I can about each and every adventure I delve into.
