Here I come, world!
Mischievous, my natural state
The last time I struck out on a traveling adventure without my wonderful family was in the summer of 2008 when I went to India with a volunteer program for a month between my junior and senior year at USC. At times I was very homesick and lonely (despite having a group of awesome volunteers from all over the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. with me) and at other times I was ecstatic and in awe of the country, its people and history, everything was so new and unexpected. But most of all, I was glad that I had the opportunity and the drive to travel that way and be “self-reliant” for the most part.
I volunteered at a daycare in Dharamsala
Traveling to the Taj with two friends I met in the program
The awesome group of volunteers I lived with for a month
And that remembrance gets to the heart of the biggest question I get from family, friends, even strangers about my upcoming trip: “wait, are you going alone?” I always answer with a defiant “yep!” And although it is daunting to “go alone” especially being a petite woman (insert the argument about personal safety I know well), I won’t be truly alone for most of the trip as I’m staying with friends in most places. Besides, I take some amount of pride from being comfortable with going it alone/semi-alone. I’m fiercely independent, hung up on doing stuff myself, and of course it dovetails nicely with the whole control-neat-freak-thing I do.
But no man is an island (thanks, John Donne). That’s true of me too. I am always buoyed emotionally by the warmth and kindness of my friends and family. Thanks for believing in me, opening your home to me, lending a sympathetic ear and being there for me. I know many of you read my ramblings on this blog which also is an awesome act of support and love. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I can’t wait to take you all with me while I travel. Also, do message me if you want a postcard with some rockin’ foreign stamps on it.
Much affection,
Misha
