Three things I’ve learned & three things I love

Amy: When we hit the road after selling our home four months ago, we knew we were in for an adventure. We’d have ups and down, good days and bad days, successes and challenges, laughs and tears…and lots to learn.

Earlier this week, we hit the three month point since we lifted off for our first international leg of our journey. Perhaps we are now seasoned enough to reflect on some learnings and reminders we’ve come across along the way. Our posts thus far have documented our adventures, but this one is a bit more reflective and perhaps a tad philosophical (with a few pictures for fun).

Three things I’ve learned:

1. The little moments can mean the most: We have loved getting to see and experience some terrific sites and a few “must-see” attractions along the way. Those have been immensely enjoyable, and it’s also the small and unexpected occurrences, moments, sites, or people that have really touched us. From the rowdy group of men outside a pub in Salzburg that suddenly shared a hauntingly beautiful melody that echoed off the buildings, or a lunchtime chat with our Safari guide about his family, or savoring the splash of the waves on the shore, or walking in a vineyard dog park with some new friends in South Africa, or watching a local woman feed the squirrels on the Royal Grounds in Thailand, or watching the colors dance across the sky during the sunset…these small moments capture the beauty of travel and demonstrate the common threads we have across borders.
2. Embrace the unexpected: For those that know me well, you will know that I enjoy having a plan and when things follow that plan. In life, and especially travel, plans are a good starting point, but also naturally will change. We decided to not make much for pre-arranged plans and just figure it out as we go. Sometimes this is a challenge, but I have also noticed a shift in how much easier it has become to embrace a rough plan and just see what happens and adjust. Things being too planned out can lead to unreasonable expectations for how things “should” be and can lead to undue stress when the plan inevitably changes. Managing expectations and letting go of how I think things should go has been very beneficial. I’ve noticed I’ve been able to enjoy experiences more without the expectation. I have also continued to hone my skills at problem solving (or simply having patience and flexibility) when the unexpected arises.
3. Be positive about people: I’ve somewhat tried to avoid the media while we’ve been travelling, but now and again it’s unavoidable. I have become even more aware of the negativity and fear that can be spread through media during events like elections, with politics in general, and about people who are from different places or believe in different things. We have met some amazing people with varying ideologies, appearance, or beliefs. We have met people from the places that used to seem so far away, but now have a familiarity or closeness that makes the world seem so much smaller. When we hear stories about negative events throughout the US and the world, it’s also important to remember most people are helpful, friendly, and kind. You can have the best conversation about your favorite Netflix series with a couple from Turkey, or be openly invited into a home with people from the other side of the world, or chat with a Muslim man who sang in the local Christian Church choir because he had a lovely voice to share, or you can have touching conversation with a young Cambodian man who was so proud of becoming a tour guide that he welled up with tears. These seemingly distant places are filled with families, young and maturing people, and laughing children, just like the places that are more familiar to our eyes and previous experiences.

We also downsized the majority of our possessions, but there are a few “material” items that have proven quite valuable on our travels.

Three things I love:

1. Maps.me App (on my four year old iPhone): If you haven’t yet downloaded this app, you should. You can download maps and use them without internet access. Brilliant for travelers with limited wifi. This app has saved us a number of times, both with driving and walking around new places, as it can access your location through GPS. When we were diverted off the Autobahn with no idea of where to go, this handy app saved the day!
2. Exofficio underpants: I was asked a few times about what we were packing and specifically how many pairs of underpants were coming along. I’ll share that I brought six pairs and my favorites by a mile are the Exofficio Give-n-Go. They wash easily in the sink and typically dry by the next morning. They are comfy and wonderful.
3. Jon’s camera: Before we left, we had a few disagreements about Jon’s Nikon camera. On previous trips, I disliked the camera as he would need to change the lens for close shots versus far away shots. I would end up having to stand and hold the lens (very carefully) while the sometimes stressful exchange occurred. Ugh. I finally agreed that Jon should buy a new lens for the camera that wouldn’t require the switching and it has been lovely. Jon loves to take photos and he has truly captured the moments throughout our journey beautifully. These pics will make for our most prized mementos from our travels.

We are in Sapa, Vietnam today and both are down with some illness. Jon is in worse shape than me with what seems to be food poisoning, but we plan to share our Cambodia and Vietnam experiences on the blog soon.

Feel free to comment. We get excited when people share thoughts or send greetings. More to come…