Trade your expectations for appreciation and your whole world changes instantly. When I left my home to travel for an indefinite amount of time, I had grand expectations of what I would do. I pictured myself becoming a fearless person, hitchhiking to remote villages, making friends with strangers, cooking with them in their kitchens. I […]
Trading My Expectations for Appreciation Read More »
I’ve now slept in the same bed for 8 consecutive weeks – the longest period of time in two years. Time flitters by and anxiety creeps in. Am I wasting my life? What do I want? The transition from traveling full time to working full time has been harder than I expected. I work. A
Baffled Daily By Chinese Culture Read More »
Our brains naturally gravitate toward routines. We like patterns. It makes life easier, which leaves more energy for non-routine things, like navigating to a new destination or solving a complex problem. When Martin and I decided to embark on a traveling adventure, I desperately wanted to break out of my routines, some of which I
The Allure and Trap of Routines Read More »
I start my new job tomorrow. Granted, it’s just training week, but I still have to get dressed up and be somewhere specific for 8 hours continuously. And someone will pay me to do that. Martin and I landed in China nearly a week ago. One week in travel time can be a lifetime. One
Welcome Home: Shenzhen, China Read More »
Sweat dripped down my back and coated my arms. The sun beat down relentlessly as I searched for the shady part of the sidewalk. I had only been outside a few minutes; already, I was drenched. Air temperatures in Malaysia usually hover around 95-105 degrees Fahrenheit with 80-90% humidity. After spending a week sweating in
Langkawi Island Paradise Read More »
No matter how many different countries I visit, I’m always surprised at how different they are from each other. Each country has its own rhythm. It is difficult to put into words. While Vietnam reminded me a lot of Guatemala, it was also uniquely Vietnam. The borders between countries often feel arbitrary to me, and
I have no concept of time anymore. One week on the road can feel like a lifetime. Martin and I spent nearly eight weeks in Vietnam; six of those weeks were on motorbikes. I have no idea what that means. I do know that coming back to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) was like coming
The Pain and Pleasure of Vietnam Read More »
It has been nearly 5 weeks since Martin and I arrived in Vietnam, strapped on helmets, and hit the road on motorbikes. In those 5 weeks, we’ve only made it to the center of the country! Vietnam is long! But we’ve also fallen into a sort of routine. First stop: coffee. Vietnamese coffee is crazy
On the Road in Vietnam Read More »
After two weeks in Vietnam, culture shock has finally kicked in. Cravings for the familiar instead of the novel are running rampant. I found avocados and almost started crying for joy. I have PB&J sandwiches planned for breakfast tomorrow; I can hardly wait. People told me Vietnam would be different. I believed them, and now
That’s Different, Vietnam! Read More »
To summarize my experience in Vietnam on motorbike is really hard. The experience is not made up of just one or two simply expressed stories. Instead it is made up of a bunch of little experiences, each evoking a different emotion. It is because of the varied nature of these little experiences that I feel
Assorted Adventures in Vietnam Read More »