One of my biggest pet peeves is people who talk very LOUDLY about their personal business on their cell phone on a quiet plane getting ready to take off. Just like the guy in the row right behind me right now. I'm tired and have a headache and could really use a little peace and quiet right now.
Ear plugs, anyone?
Jan 20, 2012
Jan 11, 2012
Slavko Comes to America!!
Slavko is a great friend that we met in Prague. Originally from Macedonia, he had moved to Prague for university and then took a TEFL class and became an English teacher- he worked at the same school as Jason. He was a member of our close group of friends in Prague and we shared all too many great stories and funny moments with him around.
Back in October we got word that Slavko was coming to Texas- El Paso/Juarez more specifically- for Christmas. I know, Juarez and El Paso?? To travel halfway around the world to go to one of the most dangerous and least desirable places on earth! I tried to warn Slavko of this, but he was going to visit a friend and was convinced it would be fine.
In the end, it was, of course. He stayed there for the holidays and then made a weekend trip to visit Brandon, Sarah, Jason and I in Austin. It was so much fun to see our old friend and relive some of our favorite memories from the good ol' days. We greeted Slavko at the airport wearing t-shirts designed by Brandon, special for his arrival.
We all wore our t-shirts out on the town that night and got plenty of good laughs and great photos. What a fun night of catching up it was! We spent the rest of the weekend showing Slavko as many Texas sites as we could- everything from BBQ to walking around Town Lake and 2-steppin' at a real country bar.
It was a great visit, but I couldn't help but to think how strange it might have been for Slavko. Slavko still lives in Prague and has a good job (much better than when we were all English teachers...). But still, the disconnect from life in Prague and life in the States is unreal. When we all lived there, we had small (but nice) apartments and owned basically just what we could fit in our backpacks and took public transportation everywhere. Now, both Jason & I and Brandon & Sarah have bought big houses and have two cars with tons of stuff. How different can life be?? Whenever I think about how much stuff I have now it makes me want to take a step back and simplify my life. While I do enjoy being able to buy a new shirt without having to wonder how I will take it back home, I miss the lack of materialism I had while living abroad. Anyway, I just realized how strange it would probably seem to an outsider... especially since we all were in the same boat just a short time ago.
Ahhh... the simplicity.
Back in October we got word that Slavko was coming to Texas- El Paso/Juarez more specifically- for Christmas. I know, Juarez and El Paso?? To travel halfway around the world to go to one of the most dangerous and least desirable places on earth! I tried to warn Slavko of this, but he was going to visit a friend and was convinced it would be fine.
In the end, it was, of course. He stayed there for the holidays and then made a weekend trip to visit Brandon, Sarah, Jason and I in Austin. It was so much fun to see our old friend and relive some of our favorite memories from the good ol' days. We greeted Slavko at the airport wearing t-shirts designed by Brandon, special for his arrival.
We all wore our t-shirts out on the town that night and got plenty of good laughs and great photos. What a fun night of catching up it was! We spent the rest of the weekend showing Slavko as many Texas sites as we could- everything from BBQ to walking around Town Lake and 2-steppin' at a real country bar.
It was a great visit, but I couldn't help but to think how strange it might have been for Slavko. Slavko still lives in Prague and has a good job (much better than when we were all English teachers...). But still, the disconnect from life in Prague and life in the States is unreal. When we all lived there, we had small (but nice) apartments and owned basically just what we could fit in our backpacks and took public transportation everywhere. Now, both Jason & I and Brandon & Sarah have bought big houses and have two cars with tons of stuff. How different can life be?? Whenever I think about how much stuff I have now it makes me want to take a step back and simplify my life. While I do enjoy being able to buy a new shirt without having to wonder how I will take it back home, I miss the lack of materialism I had while living abroad. Anyway, I just realized how strange it would probably seem to an outsider... especially since we all were in the same boat just a short time ago.
Ahhh... the simplicity.
Jan 2, 2012
Why Do You Go Abroad?
It’s a good question, and one that I’ve definitely been faced with before. Friends and family members sometimes don’t seem to get where and why I travel. Why do you want to go to all of those places? How to you communicate when people don’t speak English? Don’t you get scared when you visit those countries?
 |
| Enjoying a beautiful day in Prague, Czech Republic |
I go abroad because that’s how I learn and grow. Sure, I learned some useful things in my college courses and I’m proud of my Journalism degree that I achieved. But those classroom lessons aren’t near as memorable or thought provoking as the ones I experienced while traveling.
I studied abroad in Spain for a semester during my junior year of college. Before that, I had traveled on several family trips around Europe and Central America, but studying abroad was different. To stay in one place for an extended period of time allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of another city, culture and language. It was enchanting to me.
 |
| With New Friends in Spain |
There was only one problem with my little plan: I feel in love with Peru and found a love for traveling unlike ever before. After only being there a week, I knew that my summer abroad would not be enough. I extended my stay in Peru while my parents moved my things out of my college apartment. I took a TEFL certification class and then taught English in Cusco for the next six months. The real world wasn’t going anywhere- that part of my life would just have to wait.
 |
| Jump! At Machu Picchu, Peru |
The travel bug which had started as a small seed inside me continued to grow and expand and I found myself bursting at the seams with a desire to see the world. In all, I spent 3 years teaching English and traveling the world calling Peru, South Korea and then the Czech Republic home. The more I traveled the more new places I learned about and wanted to visit. Laos? I had never heard of that country- let’s go there! Bratislava? A European capital city I wasn’t aware of? Let’s check it out!
 |
| Snake charming in Marrakech, Morocco |
Now, I call the United States my home once again. I’ve been living here for about a year and a half and work as a study abroad advisor, having discarded my old magazine dreams. I don’t think I’ll ever stop traveling- to stop traveling would be to quit learning and growing. I still travel. I may not be country hopping quite as frequently, but traveling the world has also taught me that there are so many places to explore just within my own country. Since I’ve been living back in the US I’ve been to 8 new states and seen some incredible places just within these borders. Sometimes it takes traveling the world to realize the jewels that lay in our own backyards.
 |
| Hiking in Korea |
Traveling has changed my world. I am no longer the person I was before my abroad life. With each new experience I learn more about myself, the world around me and grow as a person. Whatever your reasons for your travel, you just have to get out there and do it. You never know how it may change your life, it certainly has changed mine.
 |
| Admiring the view in Koh Phi Phi, Thailand |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)