Andrea's Odyssey

New Peace Corps Blog

2008-09-30T17:12:00.003+05:00

Hi, friends and family. Peace Corps stipulates that I have a password-protected blog to record my experiences related to my next two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Azerbaijan. Please visit http://AndreasOdyssey.shutterfly.com/ for my photo gallery and http://AndreasOdyssey.shutterfly.com/blog for my Peace Corps blog. The password is my first name.

See you there!

Just in Case

2008-09-26T21:09:00.003+05:00

Hi folks, I am taking advantage of the internet access at our hotel one last time before we depart tomorrow. We've packed (repacked, I should say) our bags along with the heavy-duty sleeping bags, smoke detectors, water filters and medical kits we've been issued and are excited to move in with our first host families.

Orientation Week has gone well. I am getting to know my fellow trainees better, feeling slightly more comfortable with basic phrases in Azeri (thanks to 2 hours a day with Sabina and Elshad), and understanding a little more about what it will mean to be a Peace Corps trainee and volunteer. My body has not quite adjusted to the new time zone (10 hours from home), so I am a bit tired. Nonetheless, I am excited about jumping in to the next phase!

As I mentioned before, I will be grouped in a "cluster" of a few other volunteers who are also in the Community Economic Development (CED) Program. We will spend 4 hours a day working on language and culture with Elshad followed by afternoons with our fellow CED trainees for pratical training and exercises. From a rough map of the community where we will be living, it will be easy to get around and in the afternoons, we will only have to take a short bus ride to meet up with the other CEDs. I think our community may also have an internet cafe! I have not idea what to expect at the moment, so I find it best to try not to expect anything and be pleasantly surprised. ;)

On a side note, due to Peace Corps policy, I may have to make this website password-protected. If that is the case, the password will be my first name. I apologize in advance for the inconvenience if it comes to that, but I will do my best to ensure that checking in on my blog is easy and convenient.

Week 1 in Azerbaijan

2008-09-25T18:50:00.008+05:00

After two tiring days of travel, 61 new Peace Corps Azerbaijan volunteers arrived in Baku late Tuesday evening to be greeted with several current volunteers and key staff members. We traveled by bus to our resort/ hotel approximately one hour from the capital along the Caspian Sea.

This week ("Orientation Week") we have a fairly rigorous schedule of training seminars, introduction to the language and culture, and opportunities to talk with current volunteers and staff. Despite the entire group being a bit jet-lagged, we are all holding up pretty well, just excited at this point to learn the ropes and meet our host families this weekend. We've already gotten a handful of vaccinations and talked over safety, health and security procedures at length.

We will move in with our host families this weekend and begin the awkwardness of trying to communicate with them given such a significant language barrier. For the training period of almost 3 months, I will be living in a community with a number of other volunteer trainees, including the 4 who I will be training alongside with a native Language and Cross-Cultural Facilitator. We will have language lessons 4 hours per day, followed by lunch with our host family and an afternoon of work training or practice sessions. This will occur (most weeks) 6 days a week with Sunday to rest although during the next 3 months, there are a few outings to Baku or days in which all 61 of us meet up in Sumgayit scheduled.

All in all, things are going great, and I am both excited and nervous to meet my host family and really experience Azerbaijani living! Unfortunately, it looks like our internet access will be somewhat sporadic during training, but I hope to be able to post once 2-3 per month.

And We're Off!

2008-09-22T04:08:00.003+05:00

Along with my fellow 60 future Peace Corps Azerbaijan volunteers, I spent the past two days in Philadelphia doing general Peace Corps orientation and preparing for our next three months of training in Azerbaijan. It seems like a great group of people of all ages and from a variety of walks of life coming together for the common mission of development in Azerbaijan! Approximately 15 of us are Community Economic Development volunteers, there is a group specifically focusing on Youth Development projects and, of course, a large number will be teaching English. It has been such a relief to finally meet some of the people I will be working alongside, and I can already tell we are going to establish some amazing friendships over the next 27 months!

As I have visited with many of you over the past few months as I have prepared for this adventure, I have been unable to specify exactly what I might be doing in Azerbaijan and what my life there may be like. Unfortunately, I am still unable to answer many of those questions, but I can share with you what I know to expect of the next 3 months:

Tomorrow we will ride a bus to JFK Airport, from where we will depart for Frankfurt, Germany and unltimately Baku (the capital of Azerbaijan). After approximately 2 days of travel (fun!), we will arrive in Baku Tuesday evening and remain in Baku for Orientation Week at a local hotel. On Saturday, we will be taken to the communities where we will live during training and meet our host families. All 61 volunteers will be training in communities near the city of Sumgayit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumqayit) north of Baku, and we will be broken into "pods" of 5-6 volunteers per community. For 11 weeks, we will train in the language, culture and various aspects of our positions and are encouraged to spend a lot of time with our host families to better understand the culture and practice the language. On December 10th, we will graduate from training and be sworn in as official Peace Corps Volunteers. At that point, we will be taken to our posts around the country and begin 2 years of service.

I know there are still a lot of unknowns, but that is as much as I know at the moment. I want to thank you again for your encouragement and support. I am very excited about this adventure and cannot wait to dig in and see what happens! At least for the next week, I will not have internet or phone access, but I promise to blog about my first experiences in-country as soon as I am able.

Finally, two great quotes about tackling scary circumstances:

"I have been absolutely terrified every moment of my life and I've never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do." -- Georgia O'Keefe

"The ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where they stand at times of challenge and controversy." -- Martin Luther King, Jr.

A Shout Out to My Peops!

2008-09-15T08:06:00.002+05:00

Just days before lift-off, I am feeling amazingly prepared for my upcoming journey. My bags are almost packed, I have said most of my "good-byes" and, regardless of what is done or undone, I head to Philadelphia Friday morning for a few days of orientation before flying to Azerbaijan early next week.

I want to say a quick thank you to my family and friends, who have gone out of their way to help me prepare both physically and emotionally over the past weeks. The outpouring of love I have received has been overwhelming and truly gives me a sense of peace about what I am about to do. It is through such support and encouragement -- people going out of their way to show they care -- that I am able to take this bold step.

Friends, I will do my best to keep blogging, so that you know how and what I am doing but, as you know, I have no way of knowing or promising that I will have frequent internet access. I will appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers for myself, my new community and my family here at home. I encourage you to send me emails and leave comments on my blog posts as a way to remind me of your support. When I have a more permanent address, I will disperse that for mail and care packages. ;) For more information on what to expect, visit the "Family & Friends" portion of the Peace Corps website at http://www.peacecorps.gov/. If you would like to get in touch with my parents for any reason, you may also post a comment to one of my blogs.

Getting Ready

2008-08-27T21:19:00.002+05:00

I cannot believe how quickly time has flown since I received my Peace Corps invitation three weeks ago, but I must face the fact that I leave in about three weeks for a two-year journey almost impossible to prepare for. As you can imagine, I have so much to do in my time remaining ... there is paperwork for Peace Corps, bank accounts, legal matters, etc. that is necessary for close out my affairs here. Then there is shopping and packing to prepare for a variety of climates and seasons with a very limited restriction on how much I can bring and what I am allowed to wear. Also, there is mental preparation, such as reading through materials Peace Corps has sent, beginning to learn the language and culture, and saying good-bye to family and friends. Luckily, I have been working diligently for the past few weeks to get some of these things taken care of and hope to enjoy some downtown (a little, at least!) before I head out.

I took a quick trip to D.C. last weekend and had a wonderful time! It was so nice to have an opportunity to see the people I care about one last time and feel at peace leaving that part of my life. This weekend, I have two of my best friends from childhood in town (with their babies!), the next weekend I am going on a work retreat (my last official responsibility at work), and the weekend after that, my family (including my sister!) will be at a family reunion.

I've had the opportunity to begin to community with some people who have served as Peace Corps volunteers before, including one who served in Azerbaijan and still works there. It has been very helpful to hear their perspectives on what I should expect, what I should bring and what I should be sure to do in my last weeks here.

Overall, as I've said before, I am both excited and nervous about my adventure. I understand that it will be a challenging experience in many ways, but I look forward to growing in those areas and becoming a stronger, more well-rounded person because of it. Mostly, despite my anxiety, I feel blessed and joyful that I will be realizing one of my dreams and doing what I believe is God's will for my life in the process. I see this experience as a jumping-off point for a new chapter in my life, and it is time to take the plunge!

Conflict between Azerbaijan's Neighbors

2008-08-12T05:59:00.003+05:00

If you've listened to international news or seen an online news forum recently, it is hard to miss mention of the escalating conflict between Russia and Georgia, two of Azerbaijan's neighbors (see map below - particularly section in yellow). While I won't begin to describe the reasons or potential ramifications of the "conflict," I will address a question pertaining to my future that has been raised numerous times since the bombing began late last week. In other words, yes, I am taking a history-making international episode and making it "all about me" ;) . . . in all seriousness, I appreciate your concerns and will continue to keep you posted on my preparations for Peace Corps.

This afternoon Peace Corps posted a news release on their website, stating that volunteers in Georgia have been temporarily pulled and are awaiting further instruction in Armenia. In other words, as soon as the U.S. Department of State began pulling embassy personnel from the country, Peace Corps volunteers were whisked to safety. Peace Corps has a very specific action plan for emergency situations and takes great care to ensure the safety of its volunteers. I trust Peace Corps staff to make a well-informed decision about my security, and we'll just have to wait to see what happens in the next month or so. To be clear, Peace Corps has not talked about pulling volunteers from Georgia permanently or from its neighbors, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Again, I appreciate your concern for my safety and as always, welcome prayers. I find the recent events to be unsettling but not nearly to a point where I would consider abandoning this dream. The way I see it: I am going to continue to plan like everything is on-schedule and if this is not where I should be, God will close the door.

And the winner is . . . Azerbaijan!

2008-08-07T23:48:00.006+05:00

I have finally received my official invitation from the Peace Corps and am set to leave in late September for the Republic of Azerbaijan, where I will be a Community Economic Development Advisor. Here's a map to give you a better idea of where I'll be (Azerbaijan is the green country next to the Caspian Sea):

Azerbaijan is a former Soviet republic in what is called the Caucasus region. It has approximately 8 million inhabitants and is about the size of Maine. It is an oil-rich country; however, as is often the case in developing countries, there is a huge income gap between the elite (with oil money) and the general population. Peace Corps developed the Community Economic Development program that I will be a part of in 2005 to work with non-governmental (non-profit) organizations and small businesses to diversify the economy.

My first three months in-country, I'll be living with a host family and studying alongside 4-5 other volunteers to learn the native language of Azerbaijani (or Azeri), a Turkic language using the cyrillic alphabet. At the end of this 3-month period, I will be transfered to my yet-t0-be-determined town of assignment, where I will work for 24 months.

I'm bogged down in paperwork and preparations at the moment, but I will blog more as I learn more about the country and what to expect.

More Delays (or "My Future Hangs in the Cogs of Bureaucracy")

2008-05-21T03:25:00.005+05:00

As many of you know, I have been nominated for a position with the Peace Corps and am waiting for my medical evaluations to be reviewed. Unfortunately, I recently received word that I need to send additional information before they will continue reviewing my paperwork. I've been told not to expect to hear anything for another month at the least. :(

No one could be more excited about getting the official offer than myself, and I appreciate the support my friends and family have offered thus far. It truly is a blessing to have so many people encouraging me to follow my dreams!

If you've spoken with me about Peace Corps (or even read the blogs), you know how ecstatic I am at this opportunity! As I have said before, I have thought ("dreamed," you could say) of volunteering overseas for more than 10 years, and as I researched and applied for Peace Corps this spring, it just felt right.

The way I like to look at so many things in life is: "if it is supposed to happen, God will make it happen. If something else is supposed to happen, God will make that happen." And that is exactly the attitude I take with Peace Corps as well.

I'll let you know as soon as I know anything, but for now, my future hangs in the cogs of bureaucracy.

Patiently Waiting

2008-05-03T08:46:00.002+05:00

As you may have read from my last post, I have been nominated for a position with the Peace Corps and am now waiting for my official offer and the details of my assignment. All I know at this point is that I will doing NGO (Non-governmental Organization) Development in Eastern Europe and should leave sometime in September. Any more specifics, as in exact assignment, country or town of posting, etc. are unknown.

I had to go through rigorous medical evaluations to make sure I am in tip-top shape to live in a developing country for 2 years. I think I had around 10 appointments with various kinds of doctors and specialists over the past few weeks, I submitted my medical paperwork last week and now it is a waiting game. I am told that because my posting is relatively soon (September is soon in Peace Corps terms), my paperwork should be given higher priority. Nevertheless, I am on "pins and needles" until I hear that I have received my medical clearance and will be given an official offer!

Right now I am trying to stay optimistic (I know this is what I am supposed to be doing; I just have to keep the faith that it will all work out) and open-minded (I don't get to choose the country anyway, so I don't want to form a preference). This next few weeks (hopefully it won't take longer) is going to be tough for two reasons: (1) I think I will continue to feel like my future is up in the air until I see something in writing and know the specifics of what I will be doing; (2)I can't help but recall the statistic that 15% of people who have made it as far as me are not given medical clearance. Nevertheless, this is a time for waiting patiently with the faith that God will work things out exactly the way they are supposed to be. That is enough for me!

Peace Corps

2008-04-25T00:51:00.002+05:00

A lot of you have probably been wondering what the heck I am up to! I have been back in Oklahoma since October with little progress to show on my career development, and my last post was more of a cry for help than a wealth of information. I won't deny it's been a tough road; I spent 6 months working every job angle with no success. I applied for dozens of jobs I was overqualified for without a bite. I enlisted the help of friends and family from all over the world to gather advice and harvest contacts that may lead me to what I thought I wanted to do. And to those who provided help, I thank you.

At the end of the day, however, I felt like I was trying to force a square peg into a round hole. It finally dawned on me a few months ago that half of the jobs I had applied for were not even something I'd be happy with. Most likely, they would be unchallenging and not fit my ideal job description well enough to keep me interested. As the country song tells, "some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers." I thank God for not handing me a job here in Oklahoma or others I pursued around the U.S. because he had much greater plans for me. I am ecstatic to tell you that I have been nominated for a position with the Peace Corps!

As I mentioned earlier, a couple of months ago it dawned on me that things weren't working out because I was pursuing the wrong things. I have always had this idea in the back of my mind that I would like to do volunteer work at some point, but I never knew how that would fit into my career path and was never completely convinced I could make the sacrifices it would take. But I believe the way to determining one's purpose in life has to do with how you answer the question: "If money (and reputation and status) were not an option, what would I do?" As I wrote on my Peace Corps application, if I could do anything with my life, I would travel around the world and help others.

That Sunday afternoon when I sat on my bed feeling sorry for myself and contemplating what a huge failure I had become, it occurred to me that I was "failing" because I was not pursuing what I was supposed to be pursuing. If I had always dreamed of doing volunteer work, why not now? My situation (not being committed to a job or spouse or many material positions) is perfect for taking the leap, and I cannot bank on being able to do it in the future.

It took a couple of months to complete the lengthy application process, and at the end of probably-the-most-pleasant-interview-I've-ever-witnessed, I was told I would be perfect for Peace Corps! I have been nominated for a position in Eastern Europe doing NGO (Non-governmental organization) Development. I won't know any more details about my assignment until the paperwork is processed and I am medically cleared, but the plan is that I should be leaving in September for 27 months in Eastern Europe.

I am so excited about this opportunity, and I can only describe it as God putting me exactly where he wants me to be. Peace Corps (http://www.peacecorps.gov/) is a great organization (U.S. government agency) and will allow me to volunteer a developing country, teach me the language and cultural skills I need, and will be an excellent jumping-off point for any number of careers in the international field. It gives volunteers a modest stipend to live on and takes special care to ensure the safety and health of its volunteers. Since I have such a passion for traveling and living abroad, this is both a safe and promising opportunity.

In the meantime, I am working part-time at a property management company here in Oklahoma and preparing physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually for my journey. I have the whole summer to spend time with family and friends, get organized and prepare for a new life!

Update and Request for Help

2008-01-30T22:22:00.000+04:00

This is a long overdue update and, more immediately, a shameless solicitation for help. First, a quick update:

The past year and a half could best be summed up in the word: adventurous! Like any story it has its ups and downs, unexpected twists and turns, moments of sheer joy and those of complete desperation. The summer of 2006 found me at the brink of a wholesale life change. I had completed my Masters degree the August before and was coming close to my five-year anniversary with the Environmental Protection Agency. In my short-lived “adult life,” I had excelled at my job, bought a home, made a plethora of friends in a new city, and generally created a comfortable life for myself. But I was reminded all too quickly of my constant desire for challenge and adventure and soon resolved myself to making a complete life change to explore the person I wanted to be and the life I wanted to have.

In the fall of 2006, I took a 4-month sabbatical, spending two months backpacking around Europe by myself and two months with my family in Oklahoma. I have always been an avid traveler and my most recent adventure was no exception! I visited amazing places, met interesting people, and ultimately realized that my lifestyle and career must incorporate my passion for international travel and learning. I went back to Washington in January of 2007 only to quit my job and rent out my condo. I had decided to go to Italy for a “look-see” trip; that is, I gave myself three months to begin to learn the language, acclimate myself within the culture, and try to make a life there.

My time in Naples, Italy, was a challenging yet enlightening experience. I found I was able to secure sufficient work teaching English, pick up enough of the language to get around, and make a life for myself in an unknown place, but the culture shock was intense! To be honest, I did not like Naples or the way of life, but I was determined to give it my best try! Only after two 3-month stints there did I regrettably conclude that I was never going to be happy there, I was never going to reach my career goals there, and frankly, God did not want me to be there.

I returned to Oklahoma in October to live with my parents, giving myself some time to recuperate, to decide what I wanted to do next, and ultimately to find a job. After almost four months, I have learned a lot about what I want to do but am, embarrassingly, still unemployed.

This is where I would use your help! I am looking for employment opportunities with international companies, where I could gain valuable private sector experience and break into the international business field. Anything you know, any ideas you may have, any people you could put me in contact with could take me one step closer to achieving my career goals! So please, let me know what you know. If you know anyone who works at a great international company (in Tulsa or elsewhere) or has done what I am attempting, I’d love to talk to him or her. No piece of information is insignificant. In fact, from all of those job search handbooks I’ve read, I am told that this is the most certain way to get a job.

I apologize for my shameless self-promotion but thank you in advance, as my friend, for anything you can do to help!

The Job Search Continues

2007-11-30T03:16:00.000+04:00

I obviously haven't blogged nearly as much as I would like recently, and I have no other excuse than making the time to write is not my forte. Having said that, I'll at least give a brief update on what I have been doing for the past (almost) 2 months.

As you know, I returned to Oklahoma at the beginning of October after a total of 6 months in Italy. I have been searching for employment and determining the next career steps I would like to take. One might ask: what have you been doing for 2 months without a job? Well, I assure you it has been a lot more than sitting around eating bon-bons. In fact, the process of finding a job and (possibly even more important) planning your career path is both time-consuming and tedious.

The good news is that although I am not "there" yet, I feel I have come a long way. I have been working through several books that help identify your interests, strengths, ideal positions, etc. and have been able to narrow down significantly what I think my next career move should be. I've applied for several jobs in the Tulsa area and will continue to plug along.

I am still primarily looking at international companies and particularly focusing on marketing/ strategy-planning positions, but if anyone has any job/ company ideas for me, I'd be happy for the advice or a contact!

The Job Search Begins

2007-10-04T21:01:00.000+05:00

Whew, I've made it back to the States after a chaotic final few weeks in Naples and the usual 20 hours of travel! In my effort to leave on a positive note, I spent much of my remaining time there "closing out" my life -- saying good-byes, clearing out my things, and trying to transition my teaching jobs into the hands of American and British acquaintances. After my decision to leave, it was somewhat difficult to take the appropriate time and energy to do this sufficiently; however, despite the usual challenges, I feel at peace with my departure.

Less than 24 hours after landing, I had already begun a full-scale attack to find my next job and plan my career future. I am incredibly excited about what the future may hold, and look to my experience in Italy to only bolster my ability to get a job in the international field. In fact, (although I do not feel at liberty to speak too openly about exactly what I want to do because I am still exploring that myself), one thing I am certain of about my future job in that it is in the international arena. My life-long interests, education and experience lead me to believe that this is the proper fit of me. So, I am currently looking at international jobs in the private and non-profit sectors.

Shameless Self-Promotion: Many of the job-search books I have consulted emphasize the importance of networking in the job search process, so I am shamelessly asking anyone and everyone I know for help. If you have any ideas, know anyone, etc. that may help me gain employment with an international company or organization, please let me know! You can do this by emailing or calling me (if you have my contact info) or commenting on this blog (comments go straight to my email account).

Big Announcement on Andrea's Future

2007-09-16T23:29:00.000+05:00

In two weeks, I will be completing my second three-month stay in Naples, Italy. After much thought and prayer, I have decided not to return to Italy after my trip back home in October but, instead, to stay in the States and look for employment. Although I am sad to leave my friends (and especially my boyfriend) in Naples, I am certain this is the best decision and am excited to get back the good ol’ U.S.A.

Many who have followed this blog are aware that my time in Naples has been challenging. I am proud of the things I have accomplished here (acclimating into a new and different culture, beginning to learn a new language, making a decent profession for myself) and do not regret my decision to give it a try, but I feel very strongly that God is telling me it is not the place I should be now. Most importantly, although many people (Italians and expats) assure me it is perfectly fine to live and work here illegally, I refuse to do that any longer; however, getting the proper paperwork to stay is a long, cumbersome and confusing process. It requires someone really be committed to making Italy their home, which I am not. I have never completely liked it and career opportunities (especially in Naples) are extremely limited (if you don’t want to settle for teaching English).

I will cherish the time I have spent in Italy, but I look forward to saying arrivederci to Italy and stepping back on American soil!

(The picture above was taking on the island of Capri last week, where Mohamed and I attended a wedding as English-speaking witnesses.)

Short Trip to the Amalfi Coast

2007-09-02T22:07:00.000+05:00

The Amalfi Coast is truly a place of beauty and splendor just 1-2 hours from Naples. People from all over the world flock to this area just east of the Sorrentine Peninsula to catch glimpes of towns clinging to steep cliffs or nestled on the water between lush, green mountains. The town of Maiori hosts a coastline of prestine beaches, colored with beach umbrellas and recreational boats. While towns like Amalfi and Positano seem to attract more foreign tourists, Maiori is a bathing resort for local Italians.

In our last attempt to embrace the spirit of vacation (and before I start back to work full-time Monday), Mohamed and I took a short trip to Maiori last week, where we met up with our friends Bruno and Patty and their children. Bruno and Patty have a boat, which gave us an opportunity to enjoy breathtaking views of the coast from the water and endulge in some beachtime on a secluded, rocky beach close to Amalfi.

I got some great pictures of the trip! You may view them at http://www.andreasodyssey.shutterfly.com/.

Hot, Hot, Hot

2007-08-28T03:32:00.000+05:00

The temperature in Naples has been sizzling lately! At one point last week, the temperature at 9:00p.m. was in the 90s. Although Naples is sunny and beautiful, it is almost unbearable to be outside for any length of time. And you can't just jump into an air-conditioned car and drive to the nearest air-conditioned mall. In fact, it would be presumptuous to assume that a someone has air-conditioning - shops, retaurants, wherever. I feel so fortunate to have a little air-conditioner in the apartment! Unfortunately, I have become terribly lazy, not wanting to go out for any length of time and not having much to do to entertain myself indoors. I am looking forward to the weather cooling off even a few degrees so as to allow me to enjoy the last few days of summer.

Job Stuff

2007-08-20T10:03:00.000+05:00

For those of you on the edges of your seats to find out what I'll do next (ha!), I have decided that, at least for this school year, I will continue to teach English as a Foreign Language here in Naples. Beginning in September, I have two teaching positions, one at an international elementary school and another at the private school (for adults) where I worked last spring. At the latter, I will be taking on some office management and advertising responsibilities in addition to teaching some classes. This will give me a 7-hour day with a 3-hour break for lunch in the middle. I may choose to supplement with a few private lessons.

Although I have enjoyed working at the hostel this month, I believe for the long-term that teaching is the better. Not only is teaching more lucrative but it also promises some good experience (especially where I will be doing office management). Plus, a 14-hour night shift at the hostel doesn't necessarily fit with my sleep schedule and, with my boyfriend doing the same shift, I just think it is better for me to work at the hostel on a more irregular basis.

I am still exploring other business opportunities in my spare time and things are looking good to help my boss at the private school with a few weddings (his side business) coming up!

Vacation Month in Italy

2007-08-12T21:58:00.000+05:00

Unlike most other countries where people vary their vacation times throughout the year, almost all Italians take their vacations in August. As early as the end of July, I started seeing shops closing up and people heading for the train station or port.

"Vacation month" culminates in the Catholic celebration of Ferragosto (Assumption Day) on August 15th. I have been warned to do my grocery shopping early and just plan to stay at home since Naples will apparently resemble a ghost town on this sacred holiday. Even in the weeks to come, the city will remain at half capacity and many shops and restaurants will simply be boarded up with a sign stating their reopening in September. For an American, who is used to a capitalist society where you find most places open even on our most celebrated holidays, it is a bit of a shock to me.

The fun-loving, free spirit in me admires the Italians for taken their vacations so seriously. I've often lamented that part of source of many Americans' unhappiness and discontent is our inability to take time off, have fun and relax. Well, having seen it firsthand, one thing Italians do like clockwork is take breaks (a long "siesta" lunch every afternoon, not working on the sabbath, and, of course, the vacation month of August.

The more practical, business-minded side of me, however, yearns to explain to these Italian business-owners what income they are losing by closing shop. Especially in the midst of tourist season, it amazes me that so few Italians want to capitalize on it!

Nevertheless, for the next few weeks, I will be one of the few "working" people in Naples and will welcome a slightly quieter and less-crowded Naples.

Harry Potter Mania

2007-08-08T10:39:00.001+05:00

I am a huge fan of Harry Potter (the books, the movies, everything). I have been known to even read the same books several times, and my boyfriend know that if I had the chance, I may just leave him for the actor who plays Harry Potter!

In all seriousness, I was concerned that when the seventh and final book of the series was released on July 21st, I may have trouble getting a copy here in Italy. Luckily, the local chain bookstore did pre-ordering and had a stack of books just a few days after their release. So, I have been sitting around for a few hours each day immersed in my beloved fairytale.

Still trying to get onto one of the Navy bases to see the new movie in English!

Church Search

2007-08-05T22:08:00.000+05:00

I was very active in my church in Washington, D.C. (National Community Church) and considered myself very blessed to find a church that I felt matched personality and spiritual needs. That is not always easy to find, especially if one is as picky as me in that regard!

Well, a change in location obviously means that the church search recommences. I guiltily admit that, until recently, I have not been diligent in trying to find a new church home. And I am fully aware that this could be part of the reason that I struggled quite a bit in my first few months here. Since there is no reason to linger over past mistakes, I recognize my fault and am moving forward.

There are a handful of English-speaking churches in the Naples area. One is Anglican (Church of England) that I visited in April right before I came back to the U.S. for the summer. It had a ton of great people (English and American) but it just wasn't exactly my style. Now that I am back in Naples again and feeling the need to find a new church home, I tried one of the churches affiliated with the U.S. military (there are two U.S. Navy bases outside the city) today. It was quite difficult to get to (not accesible by public transportation) and, anyway, wasn't exactly a place I'd feel comfortable.

Next week the search will continue. The number of remaining English churches is dwindling, and they are all outside of the city (mainly for military people close to base), but I am hoping that I may be able to find something that feels like home and is not a nightmare to find! Otherwise, I may have to go back to the Anglican church (in town) or rely on podcasts from NCC!

Life at a Hostel

2007-08-04T03:38:00.001+05:00

I realize that (although I cannot even count the number of hostels I have stayed in over the years) many of you have never experienced life in a hostel or backpacker's inn. I'll give you a brief introduction and explain a little about my job at one:

There are many different kinds of hostels and each is unique, but they, basically, provide a cheap bed in a dormitory-style room for backpackers and other travellers. The hostel where I work (Hostel of the Sun) is particularly nice, having been ranked Hostelworld's second best hostel in 2006. We provide a kitchen, nice breakfast, free internet, DVDs and international television, plus the staff is very helpful (if I do say so myself!) at helping people plan their stay in the Naples area. It is colorful, lively and fun; we cook pasta once a week for a free meal and take large groups to a famous pizzeria in town. Even if someone is travelling alone, it is easy to meet other travellers and develop instant friendships with people from all over the world! Many hostels, including HOTS, also have relatively inexpensive private rooms for rent.

Since August is the month when almost all of Italy goes on vacation but tourists flood the towns, I am working a lot. I do the night shift, which lasts from 6:30pm to 8:30am (but I get a few hours of sleep between maybe 1am and 6am). I am having a lot of fun with it so far! As I said, you meet people from all over the world and just help them enjoy their time in Naples. I get to explain to them about the city and its top sights and help them organize trips to Capri, Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii and other tourist destinations around Naples. Luckily, at the moment, I don't have a whole lot I have to do during the day, so I can catch up on sleep a bit at home.

I am not sure how long I will work here, but it is entertaining and helping pay the rent for the moment!

On My Own (For a Few Weeks)

2007-07-30T02:13:00.000+05:00

Two somewhat significant events occured for me today. First, my boyfriend left for two and a half weeks at home with his family. This leaves me to fend for myself for awhile. It may not seem like a big deal (especially for someone who lived on her own in DC for 5 years), but for a person living in a foreign country who has a relatively small network of acquaintances, believe me, it is significant. Although I am naturally sad and a bit nervous, I am trying to be optimistic about the next 18 days. I have a list of things I'd like to work on, including continuing to search out job prospects, work on my Italian and a variety of other personal projects.

Thankfully (point number 2), I started work this evening at a hostel in Naples (the one where Mohamed also works). I will be working a lot (especially in Mohamed's absence), so that will keep me busy and occuppied. Also, I'll have good internet access to keep in touch and (hopefully) blog regularly, so stay tuned!

Progress . . . Finally

2007-07-24T18:32:00.000+05:00

I've now been back in Naples almost 3 weeks and am finally beginning to feel more comfortable in this crazy, crowded, unpredictable town. As many of you know, I struggled a bit with culture shock when I was here in the spring. Moving to another country is a lot to get used to, especially when you don't speak the language or understand the culture. Not only did the way of life feel very foreign to me, the way Naples operates is much different than the approach I was used to. If you always feel you need to have things organized, have a plan for each day or if you feel out-of-place in such a vocal, in-your-face society, Naples is not necessarily the place you'd feel comfortable living.

Well, the above would describe the Andrea of, say, one year to a tee! Some could argue I was too organized and efficient, forever a slave to my calendar and commitments. One year later, I can proudly say that I've made definite progress towards breaking that mold and learning to survive in a completely new environment. In the past week especially, I finally feel like I have come to feel more "at home" (as much as possible, I suppose!) here in Italy. I am slowly learning to appreciate the Naples and its culture for all it offers, I feel I can better communicate with the people, and I realize I can operate without things perfectly planned out and packaged. Let's face it, Naples is a different world from Washington, D.C. (or even Oklahoma), so I need to learn to deal with it or leave!

Part of this progress is due (finally!) to some career opportunities coming into view. As many of you know, my boyfriend works at a hostel in Naples (where I stayed when I was travelling last fall). I am now the newest staff member! I have been training over the past week and will start work on Sunday. Another very promising turn of events: I did my first tour of Naples today for a group of Americans. It seems that there is a lot of opportunity for private English-speaking tours, especially with all the cruise ships docking at the port. I am looking into how I can try to make this into a business. I think it could provide pretty decent money and it has been fun to learn more about the city and its history! And in the fall, I can always return wholly or partially to teaching English, if I choose.

2007-07-20T15:30:00.000+05:00

I know it has been an extremely long time since I have blogged. I can only apologize and move on. So here it goes. . .

I spent a wonderful two months (May and June) back in Oklahoma with my family. We spent the majority of the first month preparing for my sister's wedding in early June. The wedding went off beautifully, and I gladly welcome a new brother-in-law! After the wedding, I spent several more weeks at home, hanging out with my family and planning out the next few months.

I returned to Naples on July 6th, exactly two weeks ago. I am relieved to be back with my boyfriend and am working on job prospects. There is no work as an English teacher in the summer, so I need to get a bit more creative. I will work at the hostel, where my boyfriend also works, at least for the month of August. I am also setting up some private tours for people coming to Naples, for example, on cruises. I have several ideas for businesses here as well that I am exploring. Last but certainly not least, I am desperately trying to improve my Italian. Even after not speaking it for two months, I see some improvement already!

Mission Accomplished! (. . . I Guess)

2007-04-29T00:11:00.000+05:00

This will be my last blog from Naples (at least, for a few months). And, of course, in busy-Andrea fashion, within 36 hours of arriving on American soil this coming week, I'll be jetting off to Tucson with my mother for a bridal shower for my sister and, soon after, heading to D.C. to visit friends and take care of some business. Nevertheless, as I say my temporary farewells to Naples and my friends here, I am terribly excited about coming home!

The last few weeks have provided me a more relaxed schedule, which has fortunately given me time to do some very important things: (1) continue to search for work (opportunities for both summer and fall) and begin to try to figure out some of the bureaucracy and paperwork required to live here, (2) relax and focus on getting more acclimated to Naples, and (3) (last but certainly not least) spend time with my boyfriend and continue to nurture other friendships I have made here.

I must admit, even in my last days here, I am still very undecided on my next steps. As I mentioned in my last blog, I have decided that even though the past few months have been difficult, I believe I owe it to myself (and Naples and my boyfriend) to give it another try. Three months just aren't enough to really experience a place and sense whether you are meant to be there or not (unfortunately!). The current question in my mind, however, is when to come back to Naples. The answer lies in how much (and what kind of) work I can find in Naples for the summer (since the possibilities for teaching English will be more sparse) and, for paperwork, if it would be better for me to stay in the U.S. (not to mention financial concerns).

Regardless of the many questions and unknowns, I am trying to remain optimistic that whatever is supposed to happen will happen and that God will provide the right opportunities and signs for me to follow. :) It is not only a lesson in faith, it is also a lesson for me in patience and tranquility.

Culture Shock

2007-04-20T23:38:00.000+05:00

I will soon be entering the last week of my 3-month "experiment" in Naples. When I began to consider moving here several months ago, I opted to, rather than commit to the unknown, do a 3-month "look/see" trip to give myself a chance to decide if moving here were really do-able (and desirable). Well, after almost three months, my results are a bit mixed (unfortunately). I am now very attached to the man I came to "get to know better" and less-attached to the city I came to.

I have tried to be optimistic about living here in Naples, but I must admit that the past 3 months have been quite challenging. Not only is it still very difficult for me to communicate, I have had a little bout of culture shock, getting used to the Italian (and Neapolitan) culture and trying to feel comfortable in such a "foreign" environment.

So, it is not with complete sadness (and, in fact, far more eagerness) that I depart from Naples on May 1st to return to the grand ol' U.S.A. Now those of you who may be hoping that means I've completed my "rebellious stage" and will come home and settle down, I am afraid you may be disappointed. Despite not being crazy about Naples and still being quite uncertain about what I actually do want to do, I will most likely give Naples (and Italy) another try this summer. I felt very strongly that I was making the right decision in January to do this, and I believe I need to give it a fair shot. Plus, I cannot help remember my first few months in Germany also being rocky years ago as an exchange student, and then I fell in love with it! I've been fortunate lately to come into contact with many Americans living in the Naples area, and they assure me that I will love it once the initial shock phase has passed (and that leaving forever now would prevent me from experiencing la bella vita I keep hearing about).

Please don't get me wrong, I have had some good times here and seen some wonderful and interesting things (view my pictures at http://www.AndreasOdyssey.shutterfly.com). It has been a stretching experience for me, which I will be positive in the end. But I do look forward to reuniting with my friends and family and enjoying a hamburger and American-style pizza!

Easter on the Islands

2007-04-15T22:03:00.000+05:00

Easter is a holiday Italians take very seriously and one in which many take time from school and work to take a vacation. Being in Italy, my boyfriend and I decided last week to do the same with a little vacation of our own!

The Bay of Naples is home to several beautiful islands, which allow one to connect with nature and enjoy the nice weather of a southern Italian spring! On the morning of Good Friday, we took a 45-minute ferry-ride to Ischia, a volcanic, mountainous island in the northern part of the Bay of Naples. Interestingly, Ischia is a popular vacation destination for Germans, so I found myself translating some signs and menus! We stayed in the town of Forio (one the largest on the island with 20,000 inhabitants), but it only being an island of about 46 sq. km, we were able to easily take buses to other parts of the island for daytrips. We visited the medieval Castello Aragonese, a castle built in 474 B.C. on a rock near the island, and even got some beach time near the port in Forio!

Next, we headed to the island of Capri, a vacation spot for many celebrities (and now I understand why!). Capri is just off the sorrentine coast, a little south of Naples. The town of Capri being ridiculously expensive (a tea was 4.50 Euros on the main piazza!), we luckily found a relatively inexpensive and nice hotel outside of the smaller town of Anacapri. We took a chairlift up to Monte Solaro for some amazing views of the entire island and rode a row-boat into the famous blue grotto, a half-way submerged sea cave of an unusual fluorescent turquoise blue. Luckily, Anacapri is a small, peaceful town, relatively unscathed by tourism despite a few shops along the main street. We passed tiny vineyards and children playing soccer in abandoned piazzas as we wound through the narrow streets. We took a bus to the far corner of the island to watch the sunset near the lighthouse (and almost got stranded) and spent an afternoon braving the more crowded town of Capri to see ritzy hotels and spas and restaurants boasting pictures of celebrities with the staff. Most importantly for both of us, it was quiet and relaxing and completely different from Naples.

View the pictures at http://www.andreasodyssey.shutterfly.com/!

Spring in Napoli

2007-04-01T22:38:00.000+05:00

I apologize for not blogging for quite some time, but what can I say, I suppose even la bella vita here in Italy can become busy. I will give an update on how life in Naples has been the past few weeks, and I encourage you to view the photo gallery I've just posted with tons of pics of the city (http://www.andreasodyssey.shutterfly.com/).

This coming Tuesday marks the last day of my Italian class, and Wednesday I will take the final exam to determine if I receive a certificate. I am relieved to see this come to an end although I must admit it has been invaluable in helping me learn Italian, meet new people and, generally, feel more at home here. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to not spending a large chunk of my afternoons sitting in a classroom and fighting the traffic and crowds of central Napoli.

Praise the Lord! I have recently found an organization of American women who live in Naples and the surrounding area called the American Women's Club. I went with them last Sunday to tour a winery owned by one of the members' husband's family. They took us deep down into the cellar to show us how they process the grapes and store them in large barrels and, of course, gave us a little of each kind to taste with bread and cheese. Afterwards, the group of approximately 20 people went to lunch at a restaurant that serves the wine. I had a great time and can already tell that this is going to be a real blessing for me to have some Americans friends, who have experienced some of the same challenges I am now!

After a few weeks of chilly and rainy weather, it is finally beginning to feel like spring! Yesterday, Mohamed and I enjoyed a sunny afternoon walking around the city and pretending to be tourists, taking pictures around town and strolling around the narrow streets of the historic center. We found some great buys on clothes for him (can't beat shirts for 3 Euros and jeans for 10!) and saw bits of a concert being performed on a square. Today, we took the funicular up to Castel Sant'Elmo up on a hilly part of Naples and enjoyed truly breathtaking views of the city (see the pics on http://www.andreasodyssey.shutterfly.com/)!

This Wednesday begins a one-week vacation for Easter, when most Italian take off from work and go on a little vacation. I am so excited . . . Mohamed and I have decided to visit some of the nearby islands that are supposed to be truly wonderful. On Friday, we leave for 3 nights on the island of Ischia followed by 2 nights in Capri! Although I suppose I must admit Naples is growing on me, I am always in favor of some time away from the big city.

Travel the World - Teach English

2007-03-14T14:05:00.000+04:00

I would like to put in a quick plug for the opportunities that abound for native English speakers! When I said I was going to move to Italy and "capitalize on my mother-tongue," I think some of you thought I was crazy. True, when you are in the U.S.A. surrounded by fluent English speakers, it seems strange to imagine a place where that would be a novelty. But the truth is, there are so many places in the world you can go to simply capitalize on speaking English!

I have been in Naples for one month now and already have more offers for work than I can manage! Since very few people here speak English, a native English-speaker seems to be a hot commodity. Everyone wants to learn and improve their English, so I am getting paid for basically having conversations with people!

As I mentioned before, I have started teaching English at an independent school in Naples (for adults). I am doing both private lessons (basically an hour of conversation) and group instruction. In addition, once a week, I teach youngsters at an after-school program in a suburb of Naples. After posting a few advertisements online, I have had several inquiries for private lessons and just got a call this morning about teaching Business English at a company in town. I am very excited about getting some varying kinds of teaching experience, but at the moment I am trying not to overload myself too much. I want (need) to learn Italian too!

This should be encouragement to a few of you who have considered going abroad to teach English! There are so many opportunities out there that will allow you to see the world and learn more about it! Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how to look into teaching English abroad.

Day Trip to Caserta

2007-03-09T01:21:00.000+04:00

One great thing about living in Naples is its close proximity to a plethora of interesting towns and sites. I was able to visit a few nearby attractions when I was here in November - the ruins of Pompeii, a town completely destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 67 A.D., and Maiori, a little town on the Amalfi Coast. I look forward to traveling more around the Campania region, where Naples is settled, on my weekends and free days.

For our first excursion together, my boyfriend and I spent last Sunday afternoon in Caserta, a town about 45 minutes north of Naples. Caserta has a large palace and sprawling palatial parks and gardens, where we enjoyed the unusually warm Sunday afternoon. I've posted pictures at http://www.AndreaOdyssey.shutterfly.com.

Although the sky was slightly more overcast on the Saturday before, we nevertheless had a fun day exploring the area of Capodimonte in Naples. We first visited a street market, where I purchased two shirts and a pair of pants for less than 10 Euros combined! Next we had lunch at a Chinese restaurant/ pizzeria, where a 3 course meal (including fried ice cream!) amounted to 15 Euros. After lunch, we made our way to the park and wooded areas of Capodimonte for a nice dip into nature.

While Naples is a fun and lively city, little breaks from the chaos are perhaps what will help me remain somewhat sane while I am here! The city is unbelieveably crazy at times -- traffic and motorbikes whizzing past you as you push your way through the busy sidewalks, the scream of an ambulance passing by every few minutes, the confusion of trying to navigate through the maze of streets and small alleyways, etc. This is much of what fills my days -- scenes that are almost so surreal that I have to laugh when I remind myself that I chose this plight. Napoli is both beautiful and ugly, exciting and tiring, intriguing and terribly frustrating.

Lucky for me, there are years' worth of weekend get-aways nearby when I need a break from reality!

Working Woman

2007-03-03T23:16:00.000+04:00

After being (happily) unemployed for a little over a month, I have good news: I am reentering the working world! I met with the director/ owner of a small private English school in Naples on Friday, and I begin "training" Monday to be an English teacher. I am extremely excited about this opportunity! I believe it will be a good learning experience and has the potential of opening up many other professional doors.

My boss (an Italian married to an American) has been running the school and teaching all the classes himself. As soon as I spend some time training and sitting in on classes, I will take some of the classes from him. Then, when we recruit more students (we will begin an advertising push shortly), I will take most of those as well. In addition, he does some side work (for example, occasionally offering some intensive business English classes), which I may be able to get involved with!

It will be a great way to help me get "settled" here in Naples (and, of course, start bringing in some money) while still giving me a flexible schedule. In addition to my Italian class, which is 3 hours each afternoon, I will probably teach 3-4 hours at the school. Some of those may be in the evenings, so I may still be able to sleep in a little, get to the gym (hopefully!), and occasionally meet my boyfriend at the university for lunch before I officially "start" my day.

I really feel like things are coming together! Getting this job was more of a confirmation to me that I am supposed to be here -- it happened surprisingly easily (it was only my first real attempt to find a job). And through my Italian classes, which cost almost nothing for a university level class, I am quickly learning the language and making some great friends. I feel really good about how my life here is settling out right now. :)

Back To School

2007-02-27T19:19:00.000+04:00

I am officially back in school! I enrolled yesterday in an Italian language course at the Universita' degli Studi di Napoli and begin classes tomorrow! Over the next four weeks, I will have 12 hours of Italian instruction per week at a university. By the beginning of April, I hope to have a much better understanding of the Italian language and a university certificate recognizing completion of my first Italian course. Trilingualism, I am on my way!

Although I realize it may be challenging at times, I am looking forward to not only improving my Italian but also to "settling in" a bit more here. For the past 3 weeks, I have felt more like a visitor than resident since I cannot communicate well with my fellow Neapolitans and have had no schedule of things to do. For those of you who know me well, you know that I operate best when I have a slightly more structured schedule. Granted, I don't want anything too stressful -- this is supposed to be a somewhat relaxed time for me to reflect and plan my future a little better, but I think having a littl more of a routine will be positive. It is time to really start living here.

Bella Napoli

2007-02-23T15:18:00.000+04:00

I have somewhat mixed feelings about relaying this next piece of news (to those of you who do not already know), but seeing as how it would be impossible to describe my time here without mentioning a major reason why I am here to begin with, I will: the reason I decided on Naples is because my boyfriend lives here. I met him while I was traveling in the fall and we stayed in touch when I went back to the States. Now, we are enjoying this time to get to know each other! I won’t say much more now than he is a student at the university here in Naples and works at the hostel where I stayed in the fall.

Please don’t be alarmed, my friends! I did not decide to quit my job and move halfway across the world for a guy I knew for a few months! No, I assure you, most of you know that I have been wanting to move back to Europe ever since my study abroad year in Germany years ago. I just wasn’t sure where I wanted to go next. When I met my boyfriend, I decided Italy wouldn’t be a bad place to try!
Naples, in particular, is an interesting city. Hoards of tourists do not flock here like they do Venice or Florence. I believe it is a beautiful city in its own right if you can look past some dilapidated buildings and trash piling up on the streets. Southern Italy is considerably poorer than the northern part. Few people speak English here, which has made it even more of a challenge for a person who started with zero Italian, and unemployment is extremely high (around 20%). Although considerable renovations were made to the city in the 1990s, it is basically a big, crowded, dirty city!

But if you can look past some of those less-aesthetically pleasing aspects, you see a city rich in culture and a beaming example of the non-glitsy, non-tourist-riden Italy. One of my favorite pastimes here is to simply take walks around town – browsing the storefronts of the bustling vias Toledo and Chiaia, ducking into the narrow, alley-like streets of old Spaccanapoli, strolling along the seaside with a gorgeous view of Mt. Vesuvius across the bay, or roaming the residential areas of Vomero or Materdei, where fresh laundry is hung outside to dry and venders set up fruit stands along the sidewalks.

Naples is a lively bustling city, where you can experience a number of interesting and distinct neighborhoods if you are willing to brave the moped-filled streets, where following traffic signs is more of a recommendation than a rule! It is also home to a large port, where ferries and boats head off to a number of appealing southern destinations, such as the islands of Capri, Ischia or Sicily. In short, I don’t believe I will be at a loss for things to do and see while I am here – in between teaching English lessons and taking an Italian class, that is!

First 12 Days

2007-02-18T12:38:00.000+04:00

I have officially completed my first 12 days in Naples, Italy! After an excruciating 2 days of travel, I arrived in my destination exhausted but ready to begin my adventure! I have spent much of the last two weeks recuperating, taking care of some necessary first purchases (cell phone and internet), and just trying to learn more about the city.

With the weather relatively mild during the day, I have made it a point to take walks around town each day. This helps me to learn my way around the large city and take notice of the particulars of living here -- where to buy my groceries, how to recharge the SIM card for my cell phone, and what products I can find here (and how are they different than what I am used to at home). Becoming truly comfortable in a new place will take time, but each day I take one step towards understanding this new place a little better.

I am now on a full-time search for employment and will begin with Italian classes soon. Until then, I am trying to enjoy myself, relax and teach myself as much Italian as possible!

If you are interested in learning more about my new place of residence, check out one of the following websites: http://www.napoli.com/english, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naples, or http://www.italyguides.it/us/napoli/naples.htm

Happy

2007-02-03T09:49:00.000+04:00

The following is taken from Andrea's personal journal (2/2/2007):

I feel in general that the strides I have made towards becoming the person I want to be have been great in the past 6 months! I was looking through an old notebook today and came across some things I had written at a church retreat last June, when I started to really examine my life and realize I needed a change. Some of the "goals" I had haphazardly written in that journal -- thinking at the time how silly or unrealistic they were -- have helped shape the trajectory of my life. And amazingly, I am on my way to accomplishing several of those short-terms goals already (things like "live in another country," "do more traveling," "learn another language," "learn to focus more on myself," "do more journaling.") It is amazing to me how I have followed my inner-most desires without even fully realizing what they were!

When I look at myself now compared to the me of one year ago, I feel like I have come so far! It was at that church retreat last June that I realized how truly unhappy I was with my life. I had everything I needed or would have hoped for (good job, beautiful home, wonderful friends, many accomplishments), but those things did not fill me. I was too caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, trying to use money or friendships or job security or frivolous successes to fulfill me. I didn't even realize how far I was from pursuing my dreams. In fact, I can remember being astounded as I examined my life throughout the course of last summer and realizing that I didn't even know what my passions were!

I still may not know for certain all that I want to do with my life or where it will take me (do any of us really?), but I am discovering more each day!I have been able to reexamine my life and unearth some of those desires that I had almost forgotten existed. While I was traveling this past fall, I felt as if I was awakened from along slumber. Suddenly, I looked at life with a fervor and passion I had not felt in years. I realized that life could be so much more that what I had taught myself it should be!

I've been asked several times in the past weeks how it felt to quit a good job and say good-bye to the life I had created for myself in D.C. My answer is (no offense to all my friends in D.C.) : I feel great! I am unemployed, don't even have a next job lined up, am uprooting my life and moving to a country where I cannot even communicate, and I could not be more ecstatic about what opportunities life holds for me! Yes, I am slowly growing into the person I would like to be, and I feel truly happy, which is something I could not claim one year ago.

The Odyssey Continues . . .

2007-01-25T08:26:00.000+04:00

By now, I have had the opportunity to tell most of my friends and family in person of my future plans. As you know, when I embarked on my "odyssey" in September, I had been contemplating my next life move for some time. Being away from the normal grind of life allowed me to really think about who I want to be and what I would like to do. It helped me to rediscover some of my passions and interests (namely, those associated with traveling and international relations) as well as begin some personal growth and exploration.

Well, after 4 months of being out of my normal life routine, I decided I didn't want it to end! Of course, there are many perks to not having to go to work for 4 months, but anyone who knows me understands that I would not choose to make a major life decision based upon laziness. Nevertheless, I was never happier with my decision to leave my job and my home of 5+ years than on my first day "back" to work (the start of my final 2 weeks at work) when I found myself crowded onto an aging metro car at 8 o'clock in the morning surrounded by tired and seemingly jaded runners in the rat race!

Yes, I have finally decided that I need a break from Washington -- the politics, the bureacracy, the hustle and bustle, the hoards of Type-A personalities who only seem to care about what you do and who you know. Washington is a fascinating city, and like so many others, I was drawn to it upon graduating college as the place where everything happens, the place where you are watching CNN and realize, "hey, I am just down the street from all the action!" It is the place where so many important events occur and for that, I appreciate the time I have spent immersing myself in its ways and culture. Nevertheless, I must admit, driving through the city yesterday and taking an admiring gaze at the capital building, the Jefferson Memorial and reflecting pond, various monuments and memorials, and finally my long-time neighbor, the Pentagon -- I felt completely at peace as I said "goodbye" to this chapter of my life.

So, what's next? I am officially unemployed, having tossed the secure government job for the unknown, and technically homeless, having rented out my condo to help pay the bills, and I couldn't feel better! I have decided to once again embrace my adventurous self and follow a dream I have held since arriving back to the States after a year abroad in Germany: I am moving back overseas! Yes, my friends, at this time two weeks from now, I will be arriving in Naples, Italy, my home-away-from-home for (at least) the next three months!

Do I speak Italian? Not exactly. Do I have a job lined up? Well, some ideas. Does that count? With these practical questions, I cannot be bothered right now! I have made the first big step, and that is, simply, making the decision to do it, committing wholeheartedly to this leap of faith that I believe will reap dividends in experience and adventure! I am essentially heading to Italy to give myself a 3-month trial run -- to allow myself to learn the language, explore work opportunities, continue my process of personal growth, and just see if I like living there.

As I mentioned before, I have longed to move back overseas (to Europe, in particular) since studying in Germany (wow!) 7 years ago. I absolutely love learning new languages, learning about new cultures, interacting with people different than myself. And my travels this past fall reminded me of just how much I love it! This passion has been a reoccuring presence in my life since my first trip abroad at 17; I have discovered that no matter what I do to occupy myself with other endeavors, it remains a driving force in the decisions I make and, ultimately, in the way I live my life. If my "odyssey" did nothing more, it helped me to reconnect with something that fundamentally defines who I am and what I want to be. Do I have all the answers? NO. Can I predict where I will be 5 years from now? Heck no, I can't even predict one year out! But I feel that I am truly blessed to be persuing my God-given interests when it seems that so many surrounding me settle with what is practical or comfortable.

So with this, I begin the next phase of "Andrea's Odyssey." It is a challenge that I unblindly accept, one that I recognize could be uncomfortable and scary, one that will surely push me in new ways. Do I know how I'll come out? Not exactly, but I feel very strongly that this is the right thing for me right now, and I ask only that as my family and friends you support me in what may seem a bold and perhaps illogical move. As my pastor has said many times, "God's plans for our lives don't always seem logical," but I recognize that God is leading me to embrace the unknown and to take a risk. As I like to remind myself daily, if you never take any risks, you'll never reap the benefits, which could be some of life's greatest pleasures and triumphs.

So, welcome to Part II of Andrea's Odyssey, and I hope you enjoy the ride as much as I think I will!

New Year, New Me

2007-01-09T01:23:00.000+04:00

Happy 2007 to all! To those of you who are still faithfully following my meanderings (of both body and mind), I apologize yet again for my delinquency in blogging. I will forego the lame excuses and simply say that this sadly characterizes me oh too well - not that I am lazy or unaccomplished, but that I often have a great many insights into fabulous things I should be doing and unfortunately not enough hours in the day to implement them sufficiently. In a strange way, I believe it points to a positive personal improvement - that I have been able to relax and enjoy my time with my family as opposed to creating "work" for myself to do.

In short, after arriving home from my trip in late November, I spent the holiday season with my family in Oklahoma and then went on a family trip to Florida for Christmas and New Year's. And now, after an absence of 4 months, I am temporarily reacclimating myself to life in The District. Beginning today, I am back at work for my last two weeks as a federal employee. Yes, you read that correctly: I am ditching the government job in favor of spreading my wings even more.

"Crazy" some may say, but I am excited to try some new things and continue to explore who I am and what I want to be doing with my life. I am too young and life is too short to stay somewhere I am not crazy about. I've had a good run in D.C., but I feel like it is time to move on to another adventure.

More to come on my future plans soon...

Happy Holidays!

2006-12-19T04:51:00.000+04:00

Since I was negligent at writing a Christmas letter to send to friends and family this year, I will post a blog of a similar nature, which gives an update on my life and what I have been up to the past year.

This past year has been a year of rediscovery and exploration for me. It began with my continuing to enjoy the spoils of having completed my Master’s degree the previous August and settling into a familiarity with my relatively new position at the EPA. Although I was busy at work – juggling a demanding job as Budget Officer for my office and dealing with some staffing shortages, I was still enjoying new-found free time outside of the office, having grown accustomed to spending every free moment outside of work keeping up with a rigorous graduate program. Having a little more time to myself allowed me to delve into some personal interests as well as just kick back and enjoy life a bit (well, as much as a person like me is able to “kick back!”). I began co-leading my women’s group through my church, National Community Church, and continued volunteering as the nursery coordinator for one of my church’s locations. I also began volunteering as a kitchen assistant at Sur La Table Cooking School, which gave me the opportunity to work in the kitchen alongside experienced chefs and learn more about cooking and baking for free!

Shortly after ringing in the new year, I went back to Oklahoma City for a weekend to attend the wedding of college friends and have a reunion with some dear friends from my days at Oklahoma City University! My sister became engaged around Valentine’s Day and the family hurriedly began planning the wedding (still in progress), which will take place June of 2007.

As many of you know, I am an avid traveler, and the latter part of 2006 has given allowed me to get back into the swing of traveling. In April, several friends and I traveled to Jamaica to visit friends who are stationed there as Peace Corps volunteers. We spent a week and a half traveling around the island, enjoying some time on the beach but also exploring the local culture in more remote, less-traveled areas. In late July, my family met up in Red River, New Mexico, to attend a family reunion. I was back in D.C. for only a few days before my sister and I jetted off to Europe for a week and a half. We spent a few days visiting friends of a friend in Paris and then stayed in Zurich, Switzerland, where my sister attended a conference, for a week.

By the time I left for the August jaunt in Europe, I had already decided to take some time off from work in the fall. When I got back to D.C. mid-August, I had only a few weeks to finish up assignments at work and find a short-term renter for my condo before I began a 4-month leave of absence in September. After saying my temporary farewells to D.C., I spent a few weeks in Oklahoma with my family and finished last-minute preparations for my next big trip: two months backpacking in Europe!

In mid-September I left on my “odyssey,” where I traveled to six countries and approximately twenty cities, visiting some friends along the way but doing much of the trip completely on my own. What an amazing experience! Not only did it give me an opportunity to see and experience some amazing things, it also gave me some much-needed time to think about next steps in my life and reinvigorated in me a desire to travel and explore the world! Pictures from my trip can be seen at http://www.Andreas Odyssey.shutterfly.com.

Since late November, I have been back in Oklahoma with my family. We will spend Christmas and New Year’s in Florida with my sister’s fiancé’s family this year and before I know it, I’ll be headed back to D.C. in early January to partially pick up the life I left there.

Reflections on Andrea's Odyssey

2006-12-05T08:33:00.000+04:00

Once again, I must apologize for not blogging in the recent past. My only excuse can be that I have been enjoying being back home and spending time with my family after my two months away. Now that I have had sufficient time for reflection, however, I thought I would "close out" the European trip portion of my blog with a final review:

I've been back in the States for two weeks after my backpacking adventure in Europe. The map above shows my two-month journey: 6 countries, around 20 cities, and an infinite number of memories and experiences. When I tell people of my adventure, I often hear an element of surprise in people's voices when they say something along the lines of "wow, you are so brave" or "oh, I wish I could (or could have) done something like that."

Well, folks, the honest truth is that you can and should do some traveling in whatever form you feel comfortable because it is an experience that can shape your life and provide life-long memories to cherish! To the assertion that I am somehow more courageous than most by doing a trip along like this, I can only say two things: (1) there are actually a lot of other people out there doing the same thing... I met many of them; and (2) sometimes the best thing for you is to do something that takes you out of your comfort zone.

I know I have already harped a bit on the "risk-taking" idea, but I will restate it briefly. It really shows you what you are made of to be put in some somewhat uncomfortable situations and come out just fine. When I would get to a new city -- not knowing exactly where I was supposed to go, not having a map, and not even speaking the language to adequately communicate with people, I could have very well freaked out. I realized I had two options: I could either sit on the side of the road and cry, or I could use some common sense to do my best to figure something out. And even though I experienced some scary or kind of embarrassing moments trying to find out where to go and what to do, I made it through all of them. And better still, I proved to myself that I could do it!

I believe that one of the many positive outcomes of this trip was that I have begun to let go of my death-grip on being in total control of everything all the time. Many of us suffer from the "control freak" mentality - as long as we can plan everything out to a tee and things go exactly as we have planned, life exists in a delicate state of harmony. But, honestly, how often does everything go exactly as we have planned? And, even more, how often are our plans perfect? I've often heard my pastor joke that if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans. Whether you believe in a higher power or not, the truth remains that we live most of our lives being at least slightly out of control. We can either sit around and cry about it or make the most of the resources we have and live with it.

Another positive outcome of my trip is that I am on my way to being able to kick back and enjoy life for what it is a little better. We so often race through life, from one stressor to the next, that we don't "stop to smell the roses." We don't take time to enjoy those little things in life that are actually what make it worth living. Well, I discovered about six months ago that I was not happy with my life because I was forever living in a state of "when this happens, everything will be great." Well, the harsh truth is that if you live with that mentality, things never will truly be great because you will always be looking for the next "high." As soon as you accomplish one thing, your eyes will be opened to the next item on your list of things required for happiness. The difficult lesson we all must learn (and believe me, I am still working on it) is to enjoy the journey. Take time to embrace what life is offering you right now because if you are forever searching for the next promise of fulfillment, you could be searching your whole life. Happiness and contentment with life are more about attitude and perspective than what you have or what you accomplish.

As you can see, I love to travel! And while the personal benefits of this trip have been well worth it, I hope that through this blog, I have encouraged some of you to consider doing some traveling of your own. There is no better way to learn more about the world around us than to get out there and see it! Each day you find yourself immersed in a new and interesting culture, geography, history, language, cuisine, etc. As so many avid travelers have discovered, the more you see and experience, the more you realize what a fascinating and exciting world there is out there to explore! Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how to plan a trip, where to go, what to see, where to stay, etc.

Phase I of Andrea's Odyssey (the European vacation) is officially complete. Please stay tuned for Phase II, where Andrea will continue blogging about life and her next steps.

Southern Italy (November 12-17, 2006)

2006-11-18T20:04:00.000+04:00

After spending a few relaxing days in Florence (I had been there before, so I did not feel the need to do much sightseeing), I headed down to Naples in southern Italy. Even as a big, crowded, dirty city, Naples has some charm to it and is a great base for trips to nearby tourist attractions.

I spent Monday and Tuesday exploring the city. A guy who works at the hostel took me to coffee on Monday after breakfast and ended up spending the entire day giving me a grand tour of the city! It was fun to have someone to hang out with and see the city from the perspective of someone who actually lives there. Tuesday, being my birthday, I had originally planned on taking a ferry to the island of Capri but instead decided to hang out in Naples and take it easy (After 8 weeks of traveling, I was beginning to grow weary of sightseeing). After walking around the city for almost another full day (except for a nice, long afternoon nap), I bought myself a traditional Neapolitan pizza for dinner and watched a movie in the common area of the hostel with some other travelers.

On Wednesday I went to the ruins of Pompeii, where Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD to completely bury the city. I met an Aussie while there and spend the afternoon walking around the ruins with him and having coffee at an outdoor cafe in town before heading back to Naples.

I took a local bus south on Thursday to two towns along the Amalfi coast. What an experience going in and out of small seaside villages and curving along the mountainous coast! I encountered basically no tourists all day, giving me time to myself to enjoy the beautiful scenery and sunny weather, a nice change from the hussle of Naples! That night, the hostel was offering a free pasta dinner, so I made it back to the hostel in time to hang out with some fellow travelers and the hostel's staff for the evening.

Well, with that, I ended the tourist portion of my trip. I took a train to Rome on Friday afternoon to catch a flight back to Frankfurt on Saturday. I fly from Frankfurt back to the States and Sunday morning.

For the photo journals for Naples, the Amalfi Coast, and Pompeii, visit http://www.AndreasOdyssey.shutterfly.com.

Stereotypically American

2006-11-14T22:59:00.000+04:00

(Written November 12, 2006)

I have a confession to make: I am in Italy, the origin of some of the world’s most delicious foods, and I have eaten McDonald’s three times in the past week. For those who know me, you know that I very rarely eat McDonald’s. In fact, I don’t even like their food, but over here, it is just about the only place to find a hamburger or an American salad. And (I will blame it on being sick) I have been craving American food desperately! Yes, the person, who usually tries her best to keep from doing anything too typically American while traveling, was seen scarfing a Colorado Cheese (a cheeseburger with mayonnaise) and fries at the McDonald’s in the Florence train station at 11 o’clock this morning before boarding my train to Naples.

Yes, in my mind, I am admitting to some sort of defeat. But to justify my actions, I have been very good about trying local foods while on this trip, which is exactly what I believe anyone visiting a new place should do. One thing I can’t stand about some American travelers is that they expect everything to be just like they have it at home. They go to McDonald’s or even a local restaurant to request food exactly the way it would be prepared in the States, and they expect their lodging, transportation, shopping, etc. experiences to cater to what they are used to in the States.

Europe is in many ways similar to the States (thanks –or no thanks—to globalization) but in other ways it is very different. It doesn’t mean that one is better than the other; they are just different, and how you react to the differences depends on what you are used to and how comfortable you are with trying new things and going outside of your comfort zone. I believe that anyone traveling to another country should be ready and willing to live outside of their comfort zone, to embrace the culture of the new country, but unfortunately, Americans are seen in Europe as some of the worst at doing that. I don’t know how many times I have been embarrassed to see Americans (and consequently tried to hide my nationality) because they were acting so “stereotypically American.” I don’t mean to sound unpatriotic. In fact, I think I am being very patriotic in hoping that my fellow Americans won’t act in a way that justifies negative stereotypes about us.

While on this trip, I have been asked several times if I have gotten any slack for being American, and my answer to that is a resounding no. Although people around the world (many Europeans included) do not hold the highest view of the United States right now, they do not have any animosity towards individuals and are open to giving us a chance to prove them wrong. I believe acting respectful and trying to “blend in” (that means, attempting to communicate even when you only know a few words in the language, following their lead and doing things the way they are accustomed, and not expecting things to be the way you get them in the States) go a long way towards altering negative impression. In a way, I see myself (and every traveler) as an ambassador for America. The way we act while we are traveling helps determine the way they see our country. So please, if you travel overseas, which I encourage everyone to do, be willing to embrace the cultural differences. It will give you a more realistic understanding of the country, and it will speak volumes to lookers-on.

If anyone has any comments or questions on what I have said, I’d be happy to discuss. Having written my Master’s thesis on America’s image abroad, this subject is particularly dear to me.

Cinque Terre, Italy (November 7-9, 2006)

2006-11-11T22:30:00.000+04:00

I didn't originally plan on going to the Cinque Terre, but after hearing several outstanding recommendations for the five villages on the western coast of Italy, I decided I should see what all the fuss was about. The "hostel" I had hoped to stay at had a sign on the door that said they were on vacation (November being low season), but I quickly found accommodation by asking a few doors up the street. I was placed in an apartment that had five beds and a kitchen and bathroom (not bad for 15 Euros a night).

By the time I reached Riomaggiore, the village where I hoped to stay, Tuesday afternoon, I was not feeling well. My throat was scratchy and my sinuses were beginning to act up. I took it easy that evening, hanging out in the kitchen with a few of my "flatmates" and going to bed early and then slept most of the next day. By Thursday I had a full-blown cold (or flu or something) and after going to the village pharmacist for medicine, decided to try to do part of the walk along the coast that links the five small villages. Riomaggiore, Manarola, Cornilgnia, Vernazza, and Monterossa were quaint (although a little more touristy than I had hoped) little villages perched in the mountainous area along the coast with breathtaking views of the sea! I got about half-way through before calling it quits and rested the remainder of the day. The Cinque Terre was a perfect place for a couple of down-days as there is really not much to do other than the walk between the villages. In fact, they take a "siesta" for about four hours every afternoon and the town pretty much shuts down after dinner, except for a few locals hanging out at the only bar that is still open.

Although I was feeling even worse on Friday, I had the travelers' urge to move on, realizing how little time I had left in Italy, so I decided on Florence, mainly because it is easy to get to other places from there and there are a ton of lodging options.

For the photo journal for the Cinque Terre, visit http://www.AndreasOdyssey.shutterfly.com

Northern Italy (November 3-6, 2006)

2006-11-10T20:56:00.000+04:00

UPDATE: The photo journals for Venice and Verona are now posted at http://www.AndreasOdyssey.shutterfly.com.

I spent last weekend in Venice, one of the cities I was most excited about visiting on this trip. It was everything I had hoped it would be and more! Venice is like no other place in the world! Around every corner, you find the most picturesque of scenes, be it a narrow, cobblestoned road or a canal lined with old buildings. There are no cars in the main section of Venice, so it is intriguing to watch life take place through other means, such as boats (for example, to get around you hop on a boat bus and each morning the garbage boats come by to collect trash) and on foot (it is not uncommon to see people wheeling or carrying goods along the streets to their stores or restaurants). And Venice is the absolute easiest city to get lost in! Luckily, the best thing to do in Venice is to wander around aimlessly because if you were actually trying to get somewhere in particular, it would be terribly frustrating (I will never complain about D.C. again!). All this adds to the charm and novelty of the city.

I enjoyed very much my stay in Venice, but was not terribly sad to leave on Monday for two reasons: (1) Venice is expensive and to best enjoy it, you need to be willing to spend money carelessly, (2) it was starting to get really chilly and I did not bring proper winter clothes. Plus, Venice is, I think, more of a travel destination for couples or the slightly older crowd. Nevertheless, Venice is definitely a place I plan on going back to!

After Venice, I planned on immeditately heading to the western coast but having missed my train, decided to stay in Northern Italy for another night in Verona. Verona, the home of Romeo and Juliet, is a delightful and beautiful city. I only spent one night there but was able to explore the city Monday evening and early Tuesday morning before making the trip to Italy's western coast.

For the photo journals for Venice and Verona, visit http://www.AndreasOdyssey.shutterfly.com.

Quick Update

2006-11-09T20:54:00.000+04:00

I am now in a small fishing village on the western coast of Italy (the area is called Cinque Terre) after spending several days in Venice. Venice was fantastic, everything I would have hoped, but rather expensive and starting to get cold. I have come down with a cold or the flu or something, so staying in this tiny town has been a good break.

Internet is insanely expensive and I cannot upload photos to the computer anyway, so I will write a proper blog for Venice and the Cinque Terre, including photos, soon.

French Riviera (October 31 - November 2, 2006)

2006-11-02T21:42:00.000+04:00

After three solid weeks in Spain, I finally moved on to the French Riviera in southern France. The idea was to break up the trip between Barcelona and Venice (my next stop). My train trip Monday took a particularly grueling 10 hours with several quick changes and three hours on something that looked more like a D.C. metro car than a real train. But I miraculously (seriously, there were several points throughout the day that I never thought I'd make all my connections) arrived in Nice, France, around 8pm and quickly found my hostel (although I had forgotten to write down the directions to it, so I had to make a stop in an internet cafe). The only other girl sharing my 4-person room with me is a chef in D.C. (what a coincidence!); we spent Monday evening talking and hung out the next two days together before she left on Thursday morning.

Nice, a beautiful seaside (Medditeranean Sea) town, is beautiful and surprisingly reasonable despite the French Riviera being known for its luxurious beachside towns, one of which, Monaco, we visited Wednesday. Haleigh and I spent Tuesday exploring Nice (and even helped some guys move a couch) and as said, Wednesday took a day trip to nearby Monaco, its own principality.

There are a surprising number of foreigners in Nice, and Tuesday night we celebrated Halloween by going to Wayne's, a British bar, and listening to a British coverband (the guitarist was one of the guys we had helped move the couch earlier in the day). After Haleigh left on Thursday, I spent the day walking around Nice's old town (another example of winding, narrow streets) and catching up on emails. Thursday evening, I dragged my new Italian roomie to Wayne's to hear the band play again.

On Friday, taking the train to Venice, Italy.

For the complete photo journal for Nice and Monaco, visit http://www.AndreasOdyssey.shutterfly.com.

Barcelona, Spain (October 26-29, 2006)

2006-11-02T17:16:00.000+04:00

I think the best way to describe Barcelona is crazy and over-the-top. The rest of Spain seems reserved and quaint in comparison to this bustling party mecca. It is no wonder that every backpacker in Spain talks so fondly of their time in Barcelona! A mid-day stroll along La Rambla greets you with eccentric street performers, hoards of strolling tourists, and, of course, ridiculous prices for food and souvenirs. You hear English (or other foreign languages) spoken as much (if not more) than Spanish or Catalonian (Barcelona is in Catalonia, a Spanish state that also seeks independence and claims a different culture and history).

During the day, you can get lost for hours in Barri Gotic’s (the old town) winding, narrow streets, spend an afternoon sunbathing along the beach, or explore the city’s many modernist buildings (most by the eccentric, Dr. Suess-like Antoni Gaudi). At night, Barcelona truly comes alive. Dinner is not until 9:00pm and don’t even bother going to a bar or nightclub until midnight or later.

I have to agree with the many other Barcelona-lovers in saying that Barcelona is an intriguing and awe-inspiring city. With that, however, I have to admit that my first few days there were rough. I didn’t meet any cool people to hang out with at first, so I spent my first few days exploring the city by myself, which was fine but can get a little lonely. On Friday night I was supposed to change hostels to (supposedly) the coolest one in Barcelona, where I had a reservation for three nights. I was really looking forward to staying there, but when I arrived there on Friday, I was told my reservations had been messed up and they had to send me to another hostel (one I had heard was not very good). Sure enough, it was not ideal—old mattresses in a 10-person dormitory, push button showers, no WiFi or kitchen, but it was only 15 Euros per night.

My luck changed on Saturday evening, when I went on a pub crawl and met the partial-owner and her Kiwi (New Zealand) boyfriend and his friend. We ended up spending all of Sunday (along with an Australian guy I had met at my hostel in Madrid and had arrived Saturday night) together. They took us to a local restaurant for lunch, on an hours-long tour through the city, and to an excellent wine bar that evening for drinks. I had such a great time on Sunday that I was sad to have to leave Barcelona on Monday morning, but I had already made reservations for my next destination, Nice, France.

For the photo journal for Barcelona, visit http://www.AndreasOdyssey.shutterfly.com.

Seville, Spain (October 25, 2006)

2006-10-29T14:40:00.000+04:00

I originally planned on staying in Seville for several nights, but since I was not able to get lodging at the Seville Oasis and it was supposed to be raining for most of the week, I cut my visit short. I ended up staying just one night in a less-than-stellar hostel, spent the next day fighting the rain to see some of the city, and taking the night train on to Barcelona. Seville is an interesting city of approximately 700,000. Despite several travelers telling me not to bother with Seville, I am glad I went (and, in fact, would have liked to have stayed longer).

Despite things going differently than I had hoped, I ended up having a nice time in Seville. I met a cool American girl at one of the hostels I considered staying at, and we spent the entire day together, trying to see some of the sights of Seville and escaping into cafes when the rain got bad. We had a fun time talking, and it felt nice to have a real, deep conversation with someone.

For the complete photo journal for Seville, visit http://www.AndreasOdyssey.shutterfly.com.

Last Five Weeks in Review

2006-10-24T16:14:00.000+05:00

Today marks five weeks since I arrived in Frankfurt, Germany, to begin my Odyssey. The map above shows the route I have taken thus far in red.

My first stop was Goettingen, Germany, to visit the town where I studied as an exchange student several years ago.

Next I went north to visit friends in the Swedish cities of Lund and Gothenburg and, from there, took a day trip to Copenhagen, Denmark.

After Scandinavia, I headed to southwestern Germany and then to the Loire River Valley in France.

After France, I spent a week in the seaside town of San Sebastian, Spain (in the Basque Country) and then several days in Spain's capital, Madrid.

Next was a quick stop in Cordoba before heading to another Andalucian city, Granada.

Next Steps
Today I head to Seville, Spain, my third and final city in southern Spain. My final stop in Spain will be Barcelona. From there, I plan to visit Nice and the French Riveria and then head to Venice and do some traveling around northern Italy. At that point, depending on time, I may head further down into Italy or go back in the direction of Frankfurt, from where I will depart on November 19th.

This trip has been an amazing experience so far! I have seen and done some amazing things and have met some fabulous people along the way. It truly has been an eye-opening time for me, and I feel I am learning a lot about myself and life along the way. I want to thank my friends and family for their encouragement and prayers. Keep checking in on my blog and post a comment!

To view photos from all my stops, visit http://www.AndreasOdyssey.shutterfly.com.

Cordoba & Granada, Spain (October 19-24, 2006)

2006-10-23T21:55:00.000+05:00

I first want to apologize for not having posted my photos from Madrid on my Shutterfly page (http://www.AndreasOdyssey.shutterfly.com) as I said in my last post - they are now up along with my pics from Cordoba.

I am in the southern Spanish state of Andalucia, hanging out in the common room of the backpackers inn in Granada. On Thursday, I had an eventful day getting to Cordoba from Madrid... It was raining, I had to wait for an hour (with my backpack on my back) to make an obligatory train reservation, and then when I arrived in Cordoba, I had to find lodging because I had not made reservations anywhere. Luckily, I was able to get one night in the youth hostel, where I met a cool German girl named Kati. Kati and I went together to Cordoba's main tourist attraction, the Mezquita, on Friday morning, and after walking around Cordoba in the pouring rain for several hours, decided to take a bus to Granada (since we didn't have lodging for the night in Cordoba anyway). We found a very basic pension in Granada for Friday night and went first thing Saturday morning to get beds at Oasis, one of Granada's cool backpacker's inns, where we have been ever since.

Both Cordoba and Granada are beautiful cities of approximately 300,000. Andalucia was "the stronghold of Muslims in Spain for nearly eight centuries," so the towns here are "peppered with Moorish reminders" (Lonely Planet). Cordoba has a beautiful old town with narrow cobblestone streets, and Granada's similar old moorish quarter is actually where we are staying. We spent most of yesterday (Sunday) at the Alhambra, a huge Islamic fortress, palace and series of gardens that tower over Granada, and then capped off the evening with a tapas tour with a group from Oasis (in Granada, you get a free tapa with purchase of a drink in most tapas bars).

I believe I am going to head out tomorrow; I just haven't decided to where yet.

Madrid, Spain (October 16-19, 2006)

2006-10-19T00:28:00.000+05:00

I finally pulled myself away from the beautiful Basque Country on Monday to head to central Spain for a visit to Madrid, Spain's capital. Despite being a large, sprawling city, Madrid is surprisingly walkable, safe and clean. I went walking around town Monday evening without paying attention to where I was going or what streets I was passing and kept ending up back at Puerto del Sol, the central intersection of Madrid, which also happens to be just down the street from my hostel.

Although it rained most of Tuesday, some new friends and I tried to do some sightseeing but spent most of the afternoon hanging out in the hostel once we decided we were tired of being wet. It was a fairly relaxing day and the hostel being a great place to meet people, I had fun swapping stories with my fellow hostellers.

Today (Wednesday) a few friends and I took a tour of the royal palace, an elaborately decorated former residence of the Spanish royalty, and did some more sightseeing around town. We actually happened to be wandering past the parliment building when they let out this afternoon; it reminded me of Capitol Hill with fancy, unmarked cars and TV stations waiting for the "important people" to emerge from the building. Tonight a big group from the hostel is heading out for a night on the town!

Tomorrow I head to Cordoba in southern Spain. I've posted some of my Madrid pictures at http://www.AndreasOdyssey.shutterfly.com.

Pushing the Envelope

2006-10-15T14:17:00.000+05:00

As many of you know, I decided to embark on this "odyssey" not only because I love to travel but, even more importantly, because I felt I needed to give myself some time to rediscover who I am. Almost 4 weeks into my journey, I feel I have already made some amazing discoveries along those lines! One of which is survival instinct and learning how much I can do on my own.

I knew going into it that this trip would not be entirely fun and easy. Yes, I have experienced a lot of happy moments, but there have also been uncomfortable and scary situations that I have encountered that I believe have helped (and will help) me to grow as a person far more than the "easy" times. In order to make gains, you have to take risks and deal with some uncomfortable situations.

No need to worry, I am not doing anything stupid! I am just "pushing the envelope" a little by the very fact that I am traveling alone in unfamiliar places with unfamiliar languages, transportation systems, customs, etc., and I can rely only on myself to get by. When every piece of clothing in my bag had been worn 2-3 times, I had to figure out how to do laundry at the laundromat from French instructions (not to mention the fact that I had to get used to wearing clothing 2-3 times before washing). Each time I travel to my next destination, I have to make sure I am boarding the correct trains and sitting in the right seats (with announcements, signs and tickets in a foreign language, of course). And when I start to feel a little lonely, I have to strike up a conversation with someone even if it means sitting down in the middle of a group of 10-15 French students in the common room of your hostel. Well turns out, they barely spoke any English, but I had a great time hanging out with them one evening in Tours, nonetheless!

I must admit, each time I head to a new city, I feel a tinge of anxiety because I know I am walking straight into the Unknown. As excited as I am to see a new place, (I think many travellers in my situation would understand when I say that) there is part of me that wants to stay in a particular place just because it has become comfortable (because I have figured out how to get around the town, to do laundry, where the grocery store is, etc.). Traveling alone (in unknown places with unknown languages, transportation systems, customs, etc. and not knowing anyone) is not always easy, but it has allowed me to discover some things about myself that I probably would not have otherwise. And the more I can rely on myself to take some calculated "risks," the more I seem to gain!

After that grandiose speech about taking risks and trying not to allow myself to get too comfortable, it may seem hypocritical for me to admit that I have been staying with friends in San Sebastian for a week now. One could argue that I have taken the "easy road" by staying for so long in a comfortable place with friends. My only arguments can be (1) I am enjoying spending time with my friends Joe and Laiene, whom I have not seen in years, (2) relaxation is another important ingredient in a healthy life, and (3) the Basque country is beautiful! Where else could I say I am heading to the beach this afternoon (in the middle of October!)? And since Joe and Laiene have had a 4-day weekend, we took a trip to La Rioja for a winery tour on Thursday and hiked an 800-meter-tall mountain on Friday (I'll post pictures on Shutterfly soon)!

Thanks to all of my friends and family for your encouragement and prayers! Feel free to post a comment on my blog or send me an email to keep in touch; I'll do my best to respond. :)

The Basque Country, Spain (October 8-15, 2006)

2006-10-11T19:57:00.000+05:00

I arrived in San Sebastian (on Spain's northern coast) Sunday afternoon for a visit with my friends Joe and Laiene, who lived in D.C. before moving to the Basque Country (Laiene's home) several years ago. San Sebastian (Donostia in Basque) is a relatively quaint beach-side town in the middle of the Basque Country, which boasts a separate culture, history and language from Spain and has been trying for decades to gain independence from Spain.

So far this week, I have enjoyed the warm weather (about 80 degrees F), exploring the town and relaxing on the beach (not bad for October!). Even though today was not quite as nice, I spent most of the day listening to the rain from inside a cafe (as I read a British magazine) and treating myself to a manicure and pedicure.

In the evenings, Joe, Laiene and I are enjoying catching up and sampling traditional Spanish and Basque cuisine. Last night I even had the opportunity to meet Laiene's parents (with Laiene translating), who are politically involved in the Basque country's fight for independence. Tomorrow is Spain's independence day, which means that everyone has a four-day weekend. Laiene, Joe and I are heading to La Rioja, a nearby wine area for a wine tasting and to view some ancient ruins.

I will probably stay in San Sebastian through the weekend.

To view the complete photo journal for San Sebastian, visit http://www.AndreasOdyssey.shutterfly.com.

Tours, France (October 5-7, 2006)

2006-10-09T13:15:00.000+05:00

I originally intended on making my stay in Tours (on the Loire River, about two hours southwest of Paris) rather short to break-up my trip from Germany to Spain. Frank and his parents had suggested the Loire River Valley for its many elaborate castles and having just been in Paris in August, I opted to stay away from the big city.

I arrived in Tours late on Wednesday, October 4th, after a 10-hour train ride from Mannheim. The youth hostel was basic but good; I had my own room and they offered a breakfast (albeit of stale bread). Thursday I slept in and spent the afternoon exploring the city and then doing laundry (since everything with me had been worn at least 2-3 times!). It was quite an experience to try to figure out how to use the laudromat facilities in another language! I had also run out of my travel deodrant by this point and went all over town trying to find a store that sold deodrant (I'm still unclear what kind of store actually sells hygiene products, but I did find some at a little convenience store for 5 Euros - probably the most I've ever paid for deodrant in my life!).

Thursday night I fixed myself dinner in the hostel and hoping to meet some people, decided to eat in one of the hostel's common areas (although it was full of French-speaking students). I sat down at the table with them and in very broken English, we began talking and hanging out. They eventually invited me to go to the old town (where young people of Tours hang out), where we went dancing at a little basement club. Even without being able to communicate very well with each other, it was still fun to get to know and spend time with some new people!

There are over 300 chateau in the Loire River Valley (30 open to the public), so I splurged on a bus tour Friday to see several of the most famous ones. I enjoyed it so much that I extended my stay in Tours to do another castle tour on Saturday afternoon. I highly recommend the Loire River Valley as a travel destination for anyone who likes viewing fantastic castles, sampling wines, and enjoying a beautiful countryside similar to that of the Rhine River or Tuscany! And if you end up going to the quaint, little town of Amboise on a castle tour, go to a little cafe across from the castle called Bigot... the hot chocolate and quiche were by far the best I've ever tasted in my life!

For the complete photo journals for Tours and the Chateau of the Loire, visit http://www.AndreasOdyssey.shutterfly.com.

Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany (October 1-3, 2006)

2006-10-05T03:56:00.000+05:00

Early Sunday morning, I arrived in Mannheim, Germany (in Baden-Wuerttemberg), on the night train from Copenhagen. My friend Frank, who I had met in August in Zurich, picked me up at the train station and took me to his parents’ house, where a nice German breakfast of rolls, meats and cheeses awaited me. Having not slept much on the train, I slept for a few hours before we headed to a town festival, much like an American town fair with rides, carnival games and stands selling goodies. Frank and I walked around the festival for a few hours with his friend Michael. Later that evening, we sat around the living room with his parents chatting, giving me an opportunity to practice my German.

On Monday, Frank and I walked around Mannheim. Even with the weather a little overcast, we had a nice stroll around town, having lunch on Paradeplatz and then strolling by the Wasserturm with its beautiful gardens and fountains. Monday evening, we rode a streetcar to the neighboring Heidelberg, where we met our friend Angelika. Although it was raining quite heavily by evening, we still enjoyed walking through the pedestrian zone (the longest in Germany) and hiking up to the castle, where there is a magnificent view of the Neckar River and town below.

Tuesday, October 3rd was a national holiday marking the reunification of Germany, so Frank, his parents and I spent the day relaxing, looking at photographs, telling stories, and chatting. There didn’t seem to be much point going out since stores were closed for the holiday and it rained the entire day. It was a nice way to force ourselves to relax and unwind.

On Wednesday, I travelled from Mannheim to Tours, France, southwest of Paris, where I will stay for a few days.

To see the complete photo journal for Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, visit http://www.AndreasOdyssey.shutterfly.com.

Gothenburg, Sweden (September 27-30, 2006)

2006-09-29T22:15:00.000+05:00

My next stop in Sweden was a little further up the western coast in Göteborg (Gothenburg), Sweden's second-largest city, where my friend Sandra lives. The weather has been somewhat dreary with autumn weather truly beginning to set in, but Sandra and I have still enjoyed wandering around the city together and spending time catching up after having not seen each other since college.

Sandra didn't have to work on Wednesday, so we took a boat tour into the harbor, walked around the central part of the city, and stopped numerous times to have a coffee and just chat. The past two days have followed a similar routine while Sandra has been at work; I've taken off exploring the city and spent plenty of time relaxing. Tomorrow Sandra and I are going to Liseberg, Scandinavia's largest amusement park, before I get on a night train to head back down into Germany.

For the complete photo journal for Gothenburg, visit http://www.AndreasOdyssey.shutterfly.com.

Taking Time for Yourself

2006-09-28T14:52:00.000+05:00

I am hanging out in Gothenburg, Sweden, visiting my friend Sandra from college - finally beginning to feel, one month into my "hiatus" and a little over a week into my trip, that I can relax more fully. Sandra and I watched the Swedish airing of Jay Leno the other night with Justin Timberlake as a guest. Justin and Jay talked about Justin's decision to take a 2-year sabbatical from work. Many wondered what was wrong or why he would do such a thing at the prime of his life and in the midst of a successful career. He simply explained that his grandfather had told him he should enjoy life while he was still young and able to do so. So he spent two years playing golf and learning how to enjoy life.

While I am not proposing that I am anything like Justin Timberlake nor that he should be some sort of role model, I believe there is much to be learned from what he did. We (Americans especially) often are so focused in doing what we think we should be doing that we forget to enjoy ourselves along the way. I know I have operated under that mentality for too long. It is almost impossible to "enjoy the journey" when you feel you are in a constant state of trying to be everything to everyone. We are taught that power and money and status are what will bring us contentment and happiness, yet we never reach fulfillment because those things probably take away from it more than lend to it. Is it any wonder that some of the wealthiest countries and people are also the most discontent? The truth is we need to learn to embrace the present, to relax and to enjoy what happens along the way to wherever we are heading.

That is exactly one of my goals of this odyssey: to learn to relax and enjoy life. Of course, not working for four months in itself should go far in teaching me how to relax, but I believe being in Europe also fulfills a vital piece of the prescription. Ever since my first trip to Europe, I have been in awe of Europeans' ability to take it easy and embrace life in the moment. Granted, they have the same stresses as anyone else, but they seem to place more importance on taking a break from work to sit at a street cafe and sip a coffee or closing their shops to take a nap or spend time with family and friends. These, my friends, are the things worth living for... not owning the latest model of cell phone or being the best at everything. Since I seem to forever live in a state of stress - trying to do and be too much - I know this trip will be a healthy reminder for me of what is truly important.

So, for any of you who were concerned about my seemingly rash decision to take a sabbatical in the midst of some of my most promising working years, I assure you that this is the healthiest thing I could be doing with my time. While I am young and able, I am enjoying life to the fullest, and I hope I can encourage others to learn to do the same!

Copenhagen, Denmark (September 25, 2006)

2006-09-26T14:23:00.000+05:00

Since my friend Anders had to work on Monday, I decided to take a day trip to Copenhagen, Denmark, which is about an hour by train from Lund. Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, has about 1.5 million inhabitants, but the inner part of the city still feels rather quaint and only took a few hours to walk. As you can see from the pictures, it is filled with gorgeous architecture, lively squares, and a colorful harbor area (Nyhavn). The Nyhavn, Strobel, and Kongens Nytorv areas bustled with shopping, cafes, and street musicians even mid-day. Even in my hurry to see the city, I had to stop to enjoy the excitment of these crowded open areas! I would have loved to have sat at a street cafe all afternoon, just watching the activity, but I didn't have any Danish krona (money). Instead I settled for an afternoon rest in the Kongens Have (King's Gardens) near the beautiful Rosenborg Slot castle, where locals come to picnic or relax on the lush green grass.

With this little adventure, I successfully survived my first day of hanging out in a city by myself! I consider it a test of strength to not know a city, not speak the language, not have any money in the correct currency, not have anyone to rely on or share it with, and still have a good time! Even being a fairly independent person, who does not mind being alone, I did feel at times that I would have liked to have had someone to enjoy it with. But there are a lot more days like that to come, so this is the perfect time embrace being alone in a strange place and meeting new people!

For the complete photo journal of Copenhagen, visit http://www.AndreasOdyssey.shutterfly.com.

Lund, Sweden (September 22-24, 2006)

2006-09-24T23:20:00.000+05:00

Friday was spent traveling from Göttingen to Sweden through northern Germany and Denmark. Having traveled quite extensively through Europe, my journey was relatively uneventful and unexciting. One point of interest was the ferry ride across the Baltic Sea from Puttgarten, Germany, and Rodbyhavn, Denmark. Our train actually drove up onto the ferry, we were able to walk freely around the ferry for 45 minutes, and then the train continued on the normal tracks on the other side!

Lund, Sweden, a university town of 100,000, is Sweden’s second oldest city. Like Goettingen, it is filled with students, so it has a fun, eclectic atmosphere. My friend Anders and I have spent most of the weekend walking around the town, which is small and quaint and filled with medieval architecture The weather has been gorgeous and unusually warm for this time of year (in the 70s). On Saturday morning, we visited an open-air flea market and today we strolled through the botanical garden. Throughout the course of the weekend, we have met a lot of Anders’ friends; they have been amazingly friendly and, fortunately, happy to speak English with me. Tomorrow, while Anders is at work, I will make a daytrip to Copenhagen, Denmark, which is about an hour by train from Lund.

For the complete photo journal for Lund, visit http://www.AndreasOdyssey.shutterfly.com.

Göttingen, Germany (September 19-22, 2006)

2006-09-24T15:29:00.000+05:00

Getting Internet access has been somewhat harder than I expected, so I was not able to write much earlier. Here's a little more about Göttingen and some pictures.

As I mentioned earlier, I spent my junior year of college in Göttingen, Germany, as an exchange student at the Georg-August Universität Göttingen. Göttingen is a nice college town of approximately 130,000 people. The university, which boasts around 24,000 students, has buildings throughout town as well as a main campus area. Many famous Germans, including 40 Nobel prize winners, have studied or taught in Göttingen. In fact, the famous mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss and a scene of the Göttingen old town were featured on the 10 Mark bill (of course, now the currency is the Euro). Here is a link to the city's website (in English) if you want to learn more about the city or see pictures: http://www.goettingen-tourismus.de/index.php?menuid=2&topmenu=2&keepmenu=inactive.

My exchange year in Göttingen was quite a life-changing experience for me. I had loved Europe since my first visit in high school and had long entertained thoughts of studying or moving abroad. I came to Göttingen without knowing a single person and barely speaking the language. My first few months were truly a "culture shock" in the starkest meaning of the phrase, but I quickly got accustomed to the culture, began picking up more of the language, and met lots of great people. I spent two semesters studying a variety of subjects at the university (mainly, German and economics) and helping my exchange director (an English professor) teach English classes. During our 2 month vacation between semesters, I backpacked around Europe with friends.

I see my year in Germany coming at a very formative time for me. It changed me a lot as a person and had a huge hand in molding me into the person I am today. Not only did being on my own in a foreign land force me to grow up and become more independent, living abroad also introduced me to other approaches to life and ways of doing things. I am happy to say that even with globalization, Europe is still very different from the United States. I loved Germany dearly, and I have to admit, by the end of my exchange year, I was not thrilled about going back to the U.S.

Being back in Göttingen, roaming the streets I had once walked so many times and recalling fond memories from my exchange year was somewhat therapeutic. My friend Angela was working during the day, so I had unlimited time to relax and enjoy (those who know me know that is not easily done!). I had no agenda for things I needed to do or wanted to see, so I spent most of my time "winding down" from the stress that has run my life for too long. In the evenings, Angela and I spent hours sitting at street cafes or pubs, "catching up" and reliving memories my year in Göttingen and the next year, when she was an exchange student to my school in Oklahoma. It was indeed the perfect beginning to my European vacation!

For the complete photo journal for Göttingen, visit http://www.AndreasOdyssey.shutterfly.com.

First Stop: Göttingen

2006-09-20T19:43:00.000+05:00

After almost 24 hours of travel, I arrived yesterday evening at my first stop: Göttingen, Germany. I spent my junior year of college in Göttingen as an exchange student, so I know the city well and still have a friend in town. It only seemed appropriate to begin my journey in the city I consider my "German home."

I haven´t done anything terribly exciting just yet. I slept in today and have spent the afternoon walking around town, recalling memories of my exchange year and reacclimating myself to Europe. It is nice to be back!

First Days of Freedom

2006-09-06T23:14:00.000+05:00

My apologies for already falling behind on my promise to update this blog regularly! My only excuse (and a valid one, I believe) is that my parents' house, where I am residing, does not have internet at the moment (yes, there are places in the U.S. without it!). But rest assured, I am going shopping for laptops and international wireless cards this afternoon. My hope is to have a laptop and internet access while I am traveling, but that will depend on a number of things not excluding cost, wireless capabilities in Europe, etc.

My First Days of Freedom
After a slight delay due to tropical storm Ernesto, I arrived in Oklahoma on Friday afternoon to spend the weekend with my parents, my sister Katie and her fiance Justin. We spent most of the weekend doing wedding preparation for their June 2007 wedding - we met with the caterer, florist, photographer, cake decorator (my favorite!), and spent 7 hours wedding dress shopping. It was pure joy to spend the weekend with my family, and seeing my baby sister in a wedding gown was unforgettable! We also had time to visit with extended family, including seeing my cousin's 3-month old baby girl. It was quite a busy weekend!

Now, I am just running errands to prepare for my trip and trying to relax a little (one thing I am not good at!). It is great to be at home and just "be" with my family. So far I am really enjoying my first days of freedom!

Living with Less

2006-08-30T01:19:00.000+05:00

I first want to say welcome to everyone I have invited to view this blog! I appreciate your encouragement, and I promise to try to keep it updated, so keep checking back. ;) It is still a work in progress - please have pity on this first-time blogger!

So, I am renting out my condo furnished for the next few months to help pay my bills while I am away. This past weekend I put most of my personal belongings in storage, and I am spending my last evenings doing last-minute packing and organizing before I leave. As I've been doing this, it has occured to me that I am never going to fit everything I have left in two suitcases to take to Oklahoma with me. I am sending a box of winter clothes to my parents' and will still be squeezing stuff in my suitcases! This latest development has prompted me to reevaluate my own predilection for material possessions.

I don't really consider myself a materialistic person. I like nice things (of course, we all do), but I never thought I was overly concerned with possessions (at least, not in the American culture). But downsizing the past few weeks and planning a trip, where all I "own" for two months is on my back, has been somewhat refreshing. The truth is: most of us don't need nearly as much as we have, yet we are constantly bombarded with temptations to "get more." I admit, I too succomb to that urge more often than I would like.

So for my trip to Europe, I plan on taking the bare minimum ... a few pairs of pants, a few shirts, some basic toiletries, etc. It will be a nice reminder that we can survive (and perhaps sometimes, we live even more freely) with less.

Of course, I still want to buy a laptop for my trip. hmmm...

4 Days 'Til Lift-Off

2006-08-28T23:26:00.000+05:00

I am finally down to my last days in D.C. before I begin my "odyssey." Although I have been preparing and packing for weeks now, I have still felt a little panicked this week, I think, for no other reason than I feel like I should. I know that may sound a little odd, but I am essentially leaving my job, moving away from my home, and altering my life completely (albeit temporarily, but nonetheless!). Every time I think to myself that I have things relatively under control, I immediately assume there must be something vitally important that I am forgetting to do. I admit this is a symptom of my sometimes-compulsive longing for control and yet another fine reason that I am doing something adventurous this fall. :) I suppose it is always a good learning experience to get outside of one's comfort zone, and bumming around foreign countries by myself will surely be that for me!

Despite a few last-minute things to be done here in D.C., I am ready. I'm looking forward to seeing my family and being back at home for awhile. I will be in Oklahoma for 2-1/2 weeks before leaving for Europe. This will give me some much-need time to destress, plus it will afford me the opportunity to spend time with my family, from whom I have lived apart for almost 5 years now. (I thought I would never say this, but) I think being back "home" will be fun. :)

Enjoying myself/ learning to "enjoy the journey" is really the whole point of this fall. I need to rediscover who I am and what I want to be and to explore what God has in store for my life. I came to the realization a few months ago that despite having almost everything I could ever want (within reason, of course), I am not happy with my life. I have a secure, good-paying job, a beautiful home, wonderful friends, a loving family, an awesome church ... the list goes on. Yet, I am not content. Granted, we can all learn to be more thankful for what we have, but I don't think my lack of contentment has (completely) come from not being grateful enough for the many blessings which have been bestowed on me. I believe it, instead, comes from God urging me to do something different with my life.

Since I completed a Master's degree one year ago, I've felt the urge to "make a move" (careerwise, mainly). But I just couldn't figure out what I really wanted to do next. I toiled with it for months and months until a church retreat in June helped me realize that I didn't really know who I wanted to be or what I wanted to accomplish with my life. Before making any more decisions, I decided I needed some time to explore these things. And despite a compulsion to "stick it out" until I had the answer, I felt like God was telling me to do something a little more drastic: to go off by myself for awhile, completely alter my life, and seek his peace and guidance there. So that is what I am doing - making my first bold step towards a new and improved me!

Here is my basic (tentative) itinerary for the next four months:
- August 31st - Fly to Oklahoma
- September 18th - Fly to Frankfurt, Germany
- September 19th through November 18th - Backpack around Europe (Sweden, Germany, Eastern Europe, Italy, and Spain)
- November 19th - Fly back to Oklahoma
- January 2007 - Back in D.C.