Whirlwind Travel in BARBADOS

I am so excited to announce that I am starting my new year off in a big way! A few months ago I was accepted to do a study abroad experience for my final semester of my degree. Studying abroad has been a dream of mine since I was thirteen but after being told study abroad opportunities were slim in my university program, I had put the idea out of my mind until I received an email in the summer presenting two international study abroad options. I didn’t even have to think about whether or not I wanted to go, it was an instant yes in my mind. The only question was which option to pick: Australia or Barbados?

Each option held a number of great reasons to go and I could think of no downfall to either. In the end, I chose to apply for the Barbados program. I’ve always wanted to go to Australia, I have a rough plan of what I want to do there/how long I want to stay and I know that eventually, I’ll get myself there. On the other hand, I had never given much thought to traveling the Caribbean and I knew that if I didn’t snatch up this opportunity now then I would probably never see the islands it has to offer.

The application process was a constant alternation of rushing madness as I tried to get all the documents needed to hand in on a short time frame, a long and anxious pause, and more rushing madness as the next hoops to jump through presented themselves. Over the course of three months I applied, received a phone call of acceptance, sent in a whole bunch of documents, letters, more applications, and was finally accepted to live in a hall of residences at their university.

I have thirteen days left before I board my flight that will take me away from the bitter cold Edmonton air and drop me in Bridgetown, Barbados. I’ll be gone for a semester, so roughly four months. While I’ve been away from home for longer periods of time than that, I have never spent four months in a single place. During those four months, I’m going to be working at a full-time social work placement (details to come, as of now it’s still a surprise!) in the local community and attending a seminar in the local university.

As this will be a new experience for me and having never been to the surrounding areas before, I have a small list of goals and intentions for this trip.

Study Abroad Goals and Intentions

•  Be open minded — take in the culture and way of life with an open mind and join in!

• Make friends with the locals — as I’m doing a practicum there and will be living with other students, I’m hoping this won’t be too difficult. Learning from the locals is the best way to explore a new place.

• Try new things — this is everything from foods to activities. I want to push myself to do things that I might not do while at home. I want to be open to all of the new experiences this opportunity is going to bring me.
• Balance — balance school and fun so that I don’t get overwhelmed by everything that’s going on.
• Explore! — I have evenings and weekends off for myself and I plan on using this time to thoroughly explore Barbados but also the surrounding islands (especially St. Lucia and Aruba!)

 

It’s a new adventure and one that I’m embracing with open arms.
I’m also excited about having some real content for this space, so stay tuned for more posts, photos, etc.

Have you been to Barbados? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!

When Your Love of the World is Stronger than Your Desire to Love a Person

“I don’t know where I am going,
but I am on my way.”
-Carl Sagan

Every time I check my news feed I am bombarded with couples madly in love with each other. There are engagement announcements, girls showing off the new diamonds on their ring finger, wedding dates, pregnancy announcements and baby photos. I realize that the age I am now is a perfectly acceptable age to get married and have kids… but that is the farthest thing from my mind. Hell, I can’t even commit to a relationship without my brain piping in and asking “what’s the point?” Having my brain dictate this part of my life is unusual for me. I’m an overly emotional person, I react and make choices based on my feelings about things and what my heart tells me, not my brain. In a way I am following my heart in this area of my life as well, it’s just that my heart always takes me away from possible relationships and further into the parts of the world I have yet to experience.

My poor parents are desperate for me to fall in love, settle down, and find someone to share my life with. Sure, that sounds nice but it also sounds terrifying to be trapped in a life with one single person, to have to consider that they might miss you if you want to get up and go to another country for months at a time, that your love for the world might trump your love for them. People constantly ask “why are you still single?” “haven’t you met someone yet?” “aren’t you lonely?” or suggest that my standards are too high. It’s not that I haven’t had the chance for love to happen, it’s not that I haven’t had the opportunity to get into a relationship with someone, it’s that there is always a reason not to and that reason, almost every time, is travel. And no, I’m not lonely thank-you-very-much.  As an introverted person to begin with, I rarely get lonely. I can spend days by myself and enjoy every second of it and I’m thankful for that. It makes these decisions a lot easier than it might be for someone else.

I have met men that make me stop and re-evaluate things. I think that maybe I should give it a chance, maybe they would make the perfect partner, maybe something great could come out of this. But then I remember I’m leaving again in a few months time and that I’ll be leaving again and again until one day I’m gone for years at a time on my quest to see the world. The pull to travel is what fuels me in every aspect of my life and I don’t think that they fully grasp what that means. I am constantly coming and going and that is simply not fair to any man that loves me. Until I feel so strongly that I need to be with someone, I will always put travel first. Some may call that selfish but that’s just the way it is and how it will continue to be until one day, I’ve felt that I’ve seen and done all that I wanted to see and do.

There will come a time for settling, for committing to a relationship that’s longer than a couple of months, for nesting and children, a nostalgia-inducing spot in your city that is “your place”. But for now, I like being independent and free to go wherever I please, whenever I please. I enjoy being able to watch my friend’s kids and then -hallelujah- give them back! I like the possibility of living in another city six months down the road. I like waking up to the different sounds that make up a beach town, or a village, an elephant sanctuary or a bustling city. I like falling in love over and over again with sunsets in different parts of the world. I like the connections, freedom, and spontaneous moments that traveling brings. That is the life for me right now and that is the life that I love. That is where my heart truly lies. I am certain that there are more young women who feel the same way and that is okay. We shouldn’t have to apologize for it or explain it to those who don’t understand. I for one refuse to apologize for where my heart is taking me when it feels so right.

So You’ve Got a Reaaallly Long Flight… Now What?!

“When you get into an airplane by yourself and take off,
you find yourself in this lovely, three-dimensional world
where you can go in any direction. There is no
feeling any more exciting than that,”
– Gene Roddenberry

The harsh reality of travel (for some) is that it can quite literally take days to arrive at your destination, even by plane. For those on a budget, this is even more of a reality in which you end up having to take a plane, bus, and donkey just to get from one city to another in order to save a couple dollars. Even without all of the transportation switch-ups, it can take a 24 hour flight to get from, say, Canada to Australia. So you’ve decided where you want to go and that no amount of distance can stop you. Congratulations! You won’t regret it, but there are a few things you can do to make the travel time a little better.

1. Stay hydrated!
It can be easy to forget to drink when you’re on a flight because you’re not particularly exerting yourself. Take advantage of those little cups of water that come around every so often, but also try to bring a larger amount of water for yourself. We should be drinking half of your body weight in ounces every day and it makes all the difference. Once you land, your skin won’t appear so dull and tired as it might feel.

Also, carry facial wipes to wipe your face on the flight. This will remove excess dirt and oil from the day and it’s just better for your skin to breath without makeup blocking up your pores.

2. Dress for comfort.
I’m always one to dress for comfort on planes. Leggings, a comfy top, a sweater in case it gets chilly (and it always does!). A scarf makes for an excellent accessory to use as a cushion for your head or blanket to keep warm.

Wear clothes that allow your body to sit comfortably, to fall asleep in without snagging, squeezing, or being generally annoying.

Pick shoes that are easy to slip on and off. If you’re on a long flight, slipping off your shoes is wonderful.

If you can dress for comfort and style at the same time, then do it! It will help you look and feel a little more put together after sitting around for 10+ hours, in and out of sleep.

3. Move around.

Try not to stay seated the entire time. This can lead to sore muscles, stiff joints, and a numb butt. Stand up, walk around, do a few simple stretched to get your limbs loose and your blood flowing.

4. Entertainment

There is nothing worse than being stuck on a 10 hour flight with no form of entertainment. Not all aircrafts come with TVs on the seats (you may want to check for this when booking a flight). Other forms of entertainment include books, ipads/tablets, games on your phone, music, pen and paper if you like to draw or write, and of course the tried and true… CARDS! Pull out a deck of cards and be friendly, chat with the person sitting next to you (as long as they’re not trying to sleep).

5. Make your meal requests beforehand.

If you have specific dietary concerns (vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, allergies, etc.), its important to mention this before the flight. Usually you are able to do this during the booking process and thankfully most airlines are accommodating when it comes to dietary restrictions or preferences.

6. Opt for food that is light and healthy prior to boarding.

You don’t want to be stuck in close proximity to a bunch of other passengers with your stomach feeling like it’s been loaded full of rocks.

7. Try to sleep.

If I will be arriving to my destination during the evening, then I usually do my best to stay awake for as much of the flight as I can. This helps me pass out as soon as my head hits the pillow at my accommodation.

If you’re arriving during the day, it’s important to try and sleep during your flight. Both of these suggestions help to reduce jet lag. To help get you to sleep, I highly recommend investing in an eye mask and some ear plugs. These are incredibly useful on the flight and if you are staying in shared accommodations like hostels.

What I wouldn’t suggest bringing is a blow up pillow that wraps around your neck. They really aren’t that great and it’s just an added thing to have to carry around with you afterwards.

Some travelers opt for sleeping pills to help them nod off. Melatonin is a more natural sleeping aide that has helped me in the past. I’ve also used Ambien on my flight home from Thailand, which was a little miracle. However, I probably wouldn’t take any type of sleeping aides on my first long-haul flight unless I knew how my body reacted to them already.

8. Handle Turbulence and Nausea.

Not only does turbulence make some folks jittery, it can also cause nausea. Again, refrain from eating fatty foods before the flight. Excess fat plus turbulence can lead to stomach troubles. Same goes for carbonated and alcoholic drinks.

Picking a seat in the middle of the plane, by the wing, will result in feeling less turbulence than sitting in the far back or front.

Ginger pills are a natural option for preventing nausea. Take them before take-off and landing.

Practicing some deep breathing exercises can also help clear your mind and calm your body.

9. Relax :)

You can’t change the circumstances of your flight. Accept this, sit back and relax. Don’t forget, there is bottle service for those who like to have an alcoholic beverage or two. Try not to drink too much though, as you can end up feeling even more exhausted after a flight thanks to the alcohol dehydrating your body. There is always a journey to be had before arriving to your destination so you might as well try and enjoy it.

Do you have any other helpful ways to make a long flight better?

What Do You Desire?

Better to have a short life that is full of what
you like doing than a long life spent in a miserable way
-Alan Watts

There is a brilliant video floating around the internet. I had seen it a while ago and then forgot about it until I came across it again. I feel that it being the new year and all that it would be a good time for everyone to watch it, whether you have before or have never even heard of it. This video is narrated by philosopher Alan Watts and I really do suggest that everybody listens to the message in this video. I love it so I wanted to share it with all of you as well.

Most of us get caught up in this really busy, individualistic lifestyle where we forget about the connections that need to be made. Whether those connections are to other people, yes, even the ones you race past on the street, or whether those connections are to activities or passions. We often times forget about the importance of connection and passion and end up rushing from one hour to the next until the entire week is over and you haven’t accomplished anything but get to school or work on time. Life is about more than university. It is about more than work. In North American culture it is all about money. We focus on what will get us ahead, whether we enjoy that path or not. We focus on the time that we think we don’t have rather than the moments that are timeless. We grow up and we forget about our dreams of being singers, firefighters, novelists, athletes and world travelers.

You should be working to live, not living simply to work. However, if you find what you love and discover what you are passionate about, you can choose to make that your career and your life. Money certainly can get you things but it can never get you happiness. Happiness is solely in the connections that we make in our lives. Connections to others, to our pets, our dreams, our faith, activities, nature. Connections are all around us, waiting to be made.

Hope you enjoy the video.

If money was no object for you, what would you do? I would travel the world, be by the ocean, and ride horses every day.

MOVE, LEARN, EAT

If you haven’t heard of the sensational new video series, Move, Learn, Eat, created by independent film-maker Rick Mereki and his friends Tim White(DOP) and Andrew Lees(actor), then you will now. Move, Learn, Eat is a series of three seperate, minute long videos that capture the beauty of traveling in three main themes. All three of these videos will leave you with a happy grin on your face. For me, I was left sitting in my room with a pen and a notebook, frantically jotting down all my new inspiration for future travel plans and that familiar rush of excitement that always comes whenever I even think about new places. While the videos are only about one minute long each, each of them have been deemed immensely inspirational. My personal favorite is  Learn, I could watch it every day and never get bored with it. It also really makes me want to get on a plane and go absolutely anywhere in the world. I hope you all enjoy the videos as much as I do.