Ok, so it's about 32 days before I take off and never come back. Just kidding (that is of course assuming I don't meet a rich, handsome, European man - but I'm not holding my breath on that one).
On my last post I sort of explained how this whole trip came into existence, but at that point (bear in mind it was two years ago) it was really nothing more than an idea and a promise to myself. So when this all started I hadn't really told many people. I told told my family of course, and I think with it being so far away they didn't get too worked up about it because, as the expression goes, "Shit happens," and it could have fallen through. But here we are.
I think it was about last spring early summer I actually started to tell more people about this trip. There were a few who knew already: my Mom, brother, sister, my friend Brian S., and his mom Tess S. (I actually met with them two Christmases ago to start getting travel ideas). Since I was coming up on my graduation from college, people were asking me all my plans. Here is script of how most of the conversations went (R.P. = Random Person; ME = ME)
R.P. "So you're graduating in December [2011]?"
ME "Yup."
R.P. "So what's your plan for after graduation? Going to look for a job?"
ME "Not right away. I'd like some time off, plus I'm going to be gone for a month, and I have my sister's wedding this summer."
R.P "You're going to be gone for a month?!"
ME "Yeah."
R.P "Really? What are you doing?"
ME "I'm going to backpack around Europe."
R.P "REALLY?!" (at this point the volume of their voice has gotten louder)
ME "Yup."
R.P "Cool! Who ya goin' with?"
** After the first few times, I've started pausing in this place because I know exactly what's going to happen: Watch - or better, read the following.
ME "Myself."
** And it's at this point I get what I have coined, Parakeet Necks. Whomever I'm speaking with bobs their neck out, their jaw drops a bit, their eyes widen.
R.P. "YOURSELF?!"
ME "Yup."
R.P. "Aren't you scared?!"
ME "I'm a little nervous."
R.P "But all by yourself."
ME "All by myself."
R.P "Wow, I don't know if I could do that!"
** And from this point onward I get bombarded with a very common question "Have you seen the movie TAKEN?" and in addition to that, I also get a lot of what I think people think is 'helpful' advice and stories about bad stuff that has happened to them or people they know or stuff they've read in the paper about traveling. Awesome.
And if anyone reading this is doubting that this conversation doesn't happen, try it out yourself, and I'd be willing to bet, a very similar one will take place. It is sort of reassuring though. After everyone gets over their shock, they wish me the best and tell me they'll be thinking of me. It is nice to know that I have a lot of support. Even from the Parakeet Necks. I love all my avian friends and family.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
43 Days
Hello Good Peeps!
Alright, so as you can tell by the title of this post, it is only 43 days until I take off for one month to make my way through Europe!
Here's a little background about how this whole trip came about:
During college (full-time credits) I worked full-time hours. I took only 2 vacations each year, the first at Easter when my entire family gets together for about 4 or 5 days and the second vacation has usually been out to Hill City South Dakota to stay with my aunt and uncle. Don't get me wrong, I love these vacations and wouldn't trade them for anything, but I've always had a bit of an itch when it's come to travel.
It was my Junior year in college and I realized I had never taken a "Spring Break." (The infamous week where college students all flock to Florida and spend the entire time drinking, sleeping on the beach, and mostly not worrying about a single thing). The nerd that I am, I always worked. But this is where the whole thing started: I realized I wanted to go somewhere, and not flippin' Florida. I wanted to see something REALLY REALLY COOL and make all the money worth it. That was when I decided my next Spring Break would be spent in London, England. Ok, well there are a bunch of boring details from then 'til now, but long story short, I decided a week would not be nearly enough time and I wouldn't even get to see even the tip of the historical touristy iceberg that is Europe.
So, skipping Spring Break the following year (although I did head out to L.A. with a girlfriend of mine for a week), I had started planning this huge 1 month trip on the other side of the world. Which means this has been in the works for about 2 years.
Other than knowing I was going to need a bunch of money for this trip (which I started saving immediately) I really had no idea what I was doing or how I was going to survive a month abroad with no connections and no companion to work things out with. However, my wonderful friend Brian Schroeder has given me a TON of great advice on how to survive for a good length of time (he made a similar trip a couple years ago and was gone for about 3 months). So between picking Brian's brain, independent research, and advice from others who have traveled, I have become a leading expert in traveling abroad (apart from not having traveled yet).
Alright, well this post is getting plenty long but there will be many more to come. I'm going to do my best to keep a countdown until the day I leave. In addition to that, I'm going to be putting up some pictures and posts and talk a bit about all of my fun preparations.
Good-bye for now!
Alright, so as you can tell by the title of this post, it is only 43 days until I take off for one month to make my way through Europe!
Here's a little background about how this whole trip came about:
During college (full-time credits) I worked full-time hours. I took only 2 vacations each year, the first at Easter when my entire family gets together for about 4 or 5 days and the second vacation has usually been out to Hill City South Dakota to stay with my aunt and uncle. Don't get me wrong, I love these vacations and wouldn't trade them for anything, but I've always had a bit of an itch when it's come to travel.
It was my Junior year in college and I realized I had never taken a "Spring Break." (The infamous week where college students all flock to Florida and spend the entire time drinking, sleeping on the beach, and mostly not worrying about a single thing). The nerd that I am, I always worked. But this is where the whole thing started: I realized I wanted to go somewhere, and not flippin' Florida. I wanted to see something REALLY REALLY COOL and make all the money worth it. That was when I decided my next Spring Break would be spent in London, England. Ok, well there are a bunch of boring details from then 'til now, but long story short, I decided a week would not be nearly enough time and I wouldn't even get to see even the tip of the historical touristy iceberg that is Europe.
So, skipping Spring Break the following year (although I did head out to L.A. with a girlfriend of mine for a week), I had started planning this huge 1 month trip on the other side of the world. Which means this has been in the works for about 2 years.
Other than knowing I was going to need a bunch of money for this trip (which I started saving immediately) I really had no idea what I was doing or how I was going to survive a month abroad with no connections and no companion to work things out with. However, my wonderful friend Brian Schroeder has given me a TON of great advice on how to survive for a good length of time (he made a similar trip a couple years ago and was gone for about 3 months). So between picking Brian's brain, independent research, and advice from others who have traveled, I have become a leading expert in traveling abroad (apart from not having traveled yet).
Alright, well this post is getting plenty long but there will be many more to come. I'm going to do my best to keep a countdown until the day I leave. In addition to that, I'm going to be putting up some pictures and posts and talk a bit about all of my fun preparations.
Good-bye for now!
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