A Rambling Mind...A Wandering Soul

I was a little disappointed that I didn't have my new camera for the Scotland trip, but I will be able to take it to Tunisia next week, so that's okay. Tunisia, oh my god, I can't believe I've booked there as well. I've gotten braver, living overseas, that's for sure. If you would have told me two years ago that I'd be booking trips to Africa and Asia by myself, I would have said you were crazy. I like to tell people how adventurous I am, but I'm really not. I am impulsive though, which is how Tunisia happened and why I booked my first Asia trip (and first long-trip).

Asia! I've always wanted to travel the world and I'm finally going to do it. I booked 12 days in March and April 2019 - 1 day in the Dubai (United Arab Emirates, my first Middle Eastern County), 4.5 days in Vietnam, 5 days in Cambodia, and 1.5 days in Thailand. I kind of wish I'd added a day or two in Thailand, but I've got extra time in Vietnam, so I guess that's alright. Honestly, I can't believe I did it. I've only told my classmates as it's not for a few months and I don't want my parents to freak out until right before I go.

I've booked a tour group for 9 of the days in Asia, so it's as safe as I could make it. I'll be careful and research as much as possible, but right now I'm just running off the excitement. That leaves South America, Australia, and Antarctica to visit and then I'll have been to each continent! To be honest, I wasn't even thinking of that until right now. I'm super excited for Asia...the Mekong Delta, Angkor Wat, floating markets...just thrilling! As for Dubai, I'm hoping to see my cousin, who lives in country, but really, the flights were cheaper than flying through Germany and safer than going through Turkey.

So, that means by the time I graduate (if I pass Statistics LOL) I'll have gone to 22 countries (although I'm hoping to get to even more)!

N. America:
USA

Africa:
Tunisia
Morocco

Asia:
Cambodia
Vietnam
Thailand

Middle East:
United Arab Emirates

Europe:
Iceland
Norway
Sweden
Netherlands
Belgium
Germany
France
Hungary
Czech Republic
Austria
Slovakia
Switzerland
Italy
United Kingdom
Portugal

I'm really hoping to add Spain, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Tibet, and maybe Nepal or China before heading home, but that might not happen because of time and cost. Asia is expensive to fly to and I'd prefer to do Egypt with my husband. I know he doesn't much care for Asia, but he liked the Egypt tour I found, so I'm hoping to convince him. More goals I guess. I'd love to tour the world. If I found a way to make money travelling, I'd do it. I'd be happy with a small flat and an awesome itinerary. :)

Home.

I find it interesting how much the definition of that word has changed over the last two years. It use to be where ever I was living was 'home,' but the farther away I am, the more Florida becomes 'home'. I am really feeling the distance in France. I'm not sure if it's because the Netherlands was easier to navigate in English or because I had more of a social life there, but I'm really isolated feeling in France. "Sabishii," in Japanese. Lonely. I miss everyone, especially my husband. I actually booked a flight home in January for two weeks so I could see everyone, that's how bad it is. I've only been in France for three months and I'm already lonely. I think part of it is the timing also, as we get closer to Christmas I get lonelier. I have a trip to the Netherlands in February (for an exam), the big SEA trip in March/April, and probably a trip to the UK (for research) in May, so it's not like I'm not going anywhere, but still...