You hear it all the time, "Travel broadens the mind". But what else does it do? Well for me, travel expanded my friend circle. I know feel an instant bond with those from other countries or people who share my love of adventure. If a discussion with me has lasted more than 20 minutes, then we must be talking about travel! However, recently I've realized a negative effect of travel on my personality.
In the last two weeks I have come in contact with two very nice women who have traveled more than me... which is not something I'm use to. We've began to swap stories and experience and I found myself filled with at evil green beast called jealousy! I couldn't believe it. Here I am, feeling story-topped and insignificant when I should be completely excited about finding people who share my passion. It has made me stop and realise that I have so much more to see and do in this world.
Travel should do more that broaden the mind, it should humble the soul. Travel should be a gateway to experiences and friendships. Travel should be only the start to an adventure. I vow to travel more, learn more, and share more. I hope you do the same.
~Greet
Showing posts with label journaling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label journaling. Show all posts
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Dear Grandma
This post is about the importance of a proper postcard. Something every traveler needs to know!
I've never been much good with family communication. I've skipped a lot of family events over the years. It's not that I don't love them or that I'm not welcome, there's just always been reasons. It seemed like it was only going to get worse when I told my family I was dropping out of College and moving to Europe... Yeah, that's a big ol' bomb! Especially for my Grandmother. All of her other 8 grand children have college degrees, as do their spouses. Why did I have to be such a wild child? I was breaking her heart, she thought me a quitter and didn't understand my urge to roam at all.
I vowed to make her see that I was still getting an education! She was always a fan of a well written letter, usually LONG ones. I'm not much good for more than a paragraph or two, so I settled for Postcards. Killing two birds with one stone as it were. She would read about my adventures and learnings, while experiencing the same beauty I was witnessing first hand. I sent her one from each city I visited. I think in that 8months they totaled 10 or so. And they contained my whole heart.
So what goes into a great Post Card? It's simple, really.
1. Greet your audience. Make it familiar, something you would actually say. "Yo Bro!" or "Hey Lady" It doesn't need to contain their name since that will be in the address area.
2. Wish them well and that they were here with you! It leads right into the next part.
3. Explain the greatest thing you saw that day and how it made you think of them in some way. Let's face it, as much as they want to hear about what you're doing on your journey, they're still human! They wanna hear about themselves!
4. What's next? Are you catching a train or looking forward to a tour. Let them know there's more going on then could possibly be summed up here. They'll be looking for that next card!
5. Closing. Goodbyes and laters are the traditional ending. I, personally, use "Until next time!" it's just something that's stuck with me.
There you have it! Simple, but effective postcards. They mean more than you know to your friends and family.
Grandma has been gone 3 years now. I don't know if she ever forgave me for quitting college? I did go back, so that soothed her some what. After she passed, we cleared out her house and my aunt found all my postcards in a bundle along with letters from my Grandpa from WWII... I still write one for her on every trip, it's just that now I don't have to pay the postage.
I've never been much good with family communication. I've skipped a lot of family events over the years. It's not that I don't love them or that I'm not welcome, there's just always been reasons. It seemed like it was only going to get worse when I told my family I was dropping out of College and moving to Europe... Yeah, that's a big ol' bomb! Especially for my Grandmother. All of her other 8 grand children have college degrees, as do their spouses. Why did I have to be such a wild child? I was breaking her heart, she thought me a quitter and didn't understand my urge to roam at all.
I vowed to make her see that I was still getting an education! She was always a fan of a well written letter, usually LONG ones. I'm not much good for more than a paragraph or two, so I settled for Postcards. Killing two birds with one stone as it were. She would read about my adventures and learnings, while experiencing the same beauty I was witnessing first hand. I sent her one from each city I visited. I think in that 8months they totaled 10 or so. And they contained my whole heart.
So what goes into a great Post Card? It's simple, really.
1. Greet your audience. Make it familiar, something you would actually say. "Yo Bro!" or "Hey Lady" It doesn't need to contain their name since that will be in the address area.
2. Wish them well and that they were here with you! It leads right into the next part.
3. Explain the greatest thing you saw that day and how it made you think of them in some way. Let's face it, as much as they want to hear about what you're doing on your journey, they're still human! They wanna hear about themselves!
4. What's next? Are you catching a train or looking forward to a tour. Let them know there's more going on then could possibly be summed up here. They'll be looking for that next card!
5. Closing. Goodbyes and laters are the traditional ending. I, personally, use "Until next time!" it's just something that's stuck with me.
There you have it! Simple, but effective postcards. They mean more than you know to your friends and family.
Grandma has been gone 3 years now. I don't know if she ever forgave me for quitting college? I did go back, so that soothed her some what. After she passed, we cleared out her house and my aunt found all my postcards in a bundle along with letters from my Grandpa from WWII... I still write one for her on every trip, it's just that now I don't have to pay the postage.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Tools of the Wander
There are a few things a Vagabond should never be without. We've already discussed the importance of a travel guide, but there are a few other items that I never travel without.
1. Luggage- They’re big, they’re heavy, and even though they usually have wheels, they can still be a pain to cart everywhere. What’s worse, their size can fool you into thinking that any extra space after packing needs to be filled, prompting you to pack something else you don’t need. Condense your possessions into a backpack for a more flexible, less cumbersome trip. You’d be surprised how much they can hold, and provided you meet certain size requirements, backpacks can also help you avoid the headaches of checking your bags.
I, personally, never travel with more than I can pack into a carry-on luggage and I only purchase a specific form of suitcase. The dimensions are usually 29 in. H x 18 in. W x 10 in. D. Never black... ever. Finally, the wheels must be able to rotate a full 360.
2. Camera- Lots of sites recommend bringing professional-grade SLRs (usually whatever model is new the month the article is published). Unless you’re a professional photographer or photojournalist and you make your living using a camera, you really don’t need a big fancy piece of equipment weighing you down. Pocket digital camera are very affordable these days, are portable, and literally fit into nearly every pocket. Plus the newer ones take really fantastic pictures.
3. Neck Pillow- As a vagabond, you'll never know where you may be forced to sleep ;) Still, there are alternatives to relying on the official neck pillow. Even rolling the soft sweater you brought along can be a suitable substitute. Now, some people do swear by these, and so if you really feel like this item is nonnegotiable, I suggest an inflatable model that can be neatly folded and tucked away when not needed.
4. Journal- This may sound so cliche, but I've found that recording one's thoughts while traveling to be a great read later in life. You'll be surprised what will cross your thoughts while out experiencing the world. When I'm on the road, my thoughts and feelings still flow better with pen and paper.
Add to this list a travel guide and you'll have the 5 key tools of a wander.
1. Luggage- They’re big, they’re heavy, and even though they usually have wheels, they can still be a pain to cart everywhere. What’s worse, their size can fool you into thinking that any extra space after packing needs to be filled, prompting you to pack something else you don’t need. Condense your possessions into a backpack for a more flexible, less cumbersome trip. You’d be surprised how much they can hold, and provided you meet certain size requirements, backpacks can also help you avoid the headaches of checking your bags.
I, personally, never travel with more than I can pack into a carry-on luggage and I only purchase a specific form of suitcase. The dimensions are usually 29 in. H x 18 in. W x 10 in. D. Never black... ever. Finally, the wheels must be able to rotate a full 360.
2. Camera- Lots of sites recommend bringing professional-grade SLRs (usually whatever model is new the month the article is published). Unless you’re a professional photographer or photojournalist and you make your living using a camera, you really don’t need a big fancy piece of equipment weighing you down. Pocket digital camera are very affordable these days, are portable, and literally fit into nearly every pocket. Plus the newer ones take really fantastic pictures.
3. Neck Pillow- As a vagabond, you'll never know where you may be forced to sleep ;) Still, there are alternatives to relying on the official neck pillow. Even rolling the soft sweater you brought along can be a suitable substitute. Now, some people do swear by these, and so if you really feel like this item is nonnegotiable, I suggest an inflatable model that can be neatly folded and tucked away when not needed.
4. Journal- This may sound so cliche, but I've found that recording one's thoughts while traveling to be a great read later in life. You'll be surprised what will cross your thoughts while out experiencing the world. When I'm on the road, my thoughts and feelings still flow better with pen and paper.
Add to this list a travel guide and you'll have the 5 key tools of a wander.
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