While attempting the other day to answer some 17,000 (okay, slight exaggeration) questions at once, I had to stop and hit the brakes.
It had become very apparent just how huge the lack of general awareness and understanding about what the fresh hell I am doing is. And how plenty inarticulate I am when it comes to describing ‘the big thing’ to others.
Here’s my sense at this point.
Most of the people I encounter are already familiar with at least the knowledge that I am moving to India as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar. Even fewer know that I am working toward my MA in Human Rights at the University of Calcutta. About six people are aware of how frightened I am and that I have initiated something that has already taken off in a direction I never intended. And that I have this wacky panic-driven idea to return for my MFA in Acting or (gasp!) Musical Theatre.
Now then, everyone is basically up to speed on… the basics. I’ll briefly pause for questions.
So it kind of seemed like it might be time to a) pull back b) add to the general knowledge base on what shiny wares I will be peddling and why India and c) just try to give you a better sense of where I’m at amid the sleepless nights deluge of scarinesses in entering the unknown and up-and-moving to a landscape that I know nothing about.
All this to say: I need to clarify to you what is largely still unclear to me and learn the ways of the shameless self promoter.
There’s no question about it: I’m officially on the wild ride of change these days. Everything is moving so fast and I’m nowhere new yet.
But enough already! Onto the facts!
Fact #1: I am not working in collusion with Club Med. Luxury, first class and elegance are indicative of one certain type of travel. One of many many types. Mine, however, is a bit messier. Exotic? I suppose. But certainly a far cry from refined and sophisticated. There are no on-call masseuses included in this package, no theme nights or monochromatically clad group excursions planned days, often years, in advance. For those of you who have followed my adventures through Amsterdam, Bulgaria, Turkey, Dubai, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar, thank you. We learned Thai and how to bathe in public together. We endured two very bizarre counts of identity-theft while in Vientiane together. We protested slum eviction, potash mining, hydroelectric dams and military violence together. We squatted in the Surin rice fields, boiled/threaded silkworms and scavenged the landfill of Khon Kaen City together. We were invited into the Abbott’s home (I didn’t think he was allowed to have girls over) and fed monks together. We battled ants, hairy spiders, angry grasshoppers, then ate them together. We became vegan together. We Arabic danced and whirled with Dervishes together. We uncovered the stories behind the medicines and herbs in the forest, bathed in the sweltering hammam and participated in Ramadan together. We fell through the roof sunbathing (topless) together and left our passports on planes together. We rock climbed together and we boogie-boarded together. We noshed on fried ice cream, Oliebollen, bear tongue and pho together. We hosted multiple stomach parasites together and suffered countless colds and mysterious skin infections together. We taught English and escaped monsoons together. We marveled at the work of Van Gogh and Gursky together. We got in motorbike and car accidents together. We got attacked by baby monkeys together. We fell in love with teachers, friends and hostel-managers countless times together. We discovered a passion for Eastern philosophy and spirituality together. We karaoked ‘Evita’ together. We watched the stars and pondered at our place in the Universe together. And we shared multiple sunrises and sunsets together. You laughed with me. You cried with me. You danced with me. You learned with me. You supported me and you believed in me.
I look forward to the dizzy spell of India and writing to you, my home, my family, about what She has to teach me.
Club Med has nothing on me. Because I bring the thunder.
Fact #2: I am paying for ALL my travel expenses. Please don’t think for a second that I’m prancing around on Daddy’s plastic. My parents “taught me the value of a dollar” by letting me pay for a significant percentage of my university tuition (at a private school no less). Not a chance they are about to finance my world stomp. I still have thousands of dollars in school loans yet to be paid back—one can usually defer school loans for up to three years—and have worked during my gap year to save enough for three years worth of monthly school loan payments. There are many jobs available worldwide (GoAbroad.com); bartending, experimental education, teaching, scavenging. Why am I telling you about my financial situation? Because I want to emphasize that anyone who really wants to travel – can. But it takes foresight.
Fact #3: My trip is open-ended. As of this writing, I have bought a one-way ticket to Kolkata, India, and have no set time frame for my stint ‘off the grid’ nor have I an expected date for my return home. I’ll let those details sort themselves out on their own.
Fact #4: I am traveling “alone”. Am I traveling with one person (or friend) during this trip? No. I prefer to travel “alone.” But that’s the funny thing about traveling: by traveling ‘alone’, I will actually meet a gazillion more people. Travelers seek each other out. But what is probably more important, is that on the road, you are surrounded by others who share the same passions in life and who find the same excitement in the pursuit of something ‘different’. On the road, we’re all alone, all ‘in between’ careers, all ‘out of our element’, and all vacationing from societal influence. And as wonderful as being ‘independent’ and ‘alone’ and ‘different; are, there is also something so very special about finding a community of people who share your same tastes at the dining table of life.
Fact #5: I will never give advice on where ‘you’ should travel. It makes me feel strange inside to do so and I am unqualified in such matters. I’m sorry, but I do not give out any specific advice or recommendations on places to go for one very good reason: travel is extremely circumstantial. Each person’s adventure is totally unique and completely dependent on multiple factors including, but not limited to: weather, health, holiday, attitude, company, length of stay, and financial situation. If you want advice on specific places to go, I recommend you simply research online (LonelyPlanet.com, Fodors.com, BudgetTravel.com) or browse the Travel section at your local bookstore. As for travel guidebooks, I recommend the Michelin travel guides, and both Lonely Planet and Rough Guide series.
Fact #6: Two weeks is never enough. Let nothing get in the way of your desire to travel. Buy the ticket now and worry about the details later; They will fall into place. Travel while you’re young. You have no commitments, your parents are healthy, and you have the back that can withstand a pack and legs that can climb a volcano. This is the only time in your life that you will enjoy staying in dorm rooms or have the gut to drink the locals’ poison or get high on betel nut into the wee hours of the morning and wake up when the rooster crows at 5am the next day to catch a bus to another country.
One of the biggest myths of American society that I’ve uncovered in my travels is this; “Two weeks of vacation each year is enough.” Two weeks will never be enough. Adequate time for emotional, spiritual, physical and extracurricular development IS necessary in mature adult life too! And this doesn’t mean you have to cross any actual US borders to engage yourself; leave what you know, and you’re travelling. Take time for yourself to discover and develop your passions. You need it. You deserve it. And as Americans, it’s high time we put our foot down and stomped out this socially-supported falsehood that the quality of your life should not be prioritized and fostered. Try questioning “the rules” with your boss, parents, school, etc. Push a little. Pry a little. Stretch a little. Fight a little. You might be very surprised with the results.
I have always been.
