International Travel done

Landing in Vancouver, Canada today my International portion of my trip is now completed. I’m really sad to have it be over. I’m definitely experiencing quite a bit of culture shock already, as it’s been 4-5 months since we’ve been anywhere near the “Western world”. To sit in an airport and be able to read and understand all the signs, understand everyone’s conversations around me, and as a white person NOT be a minority - this is all so strange, and honestly, I don’t t like it. 😫 It’s going to take me a bit to adjust.

People have asked what we’re doing now. Jordan is hanging out on Koh Samui, Thailand until the first of the year - decompressing and relaxing in an Airbnb. Then a couple buddies from college are joining her there and they’ll all travel around Thailand for a couple weeks together. After they leave, Jordan is off the South Korea for two months! She’ll be working in a “language cafe” getting free room and board to sit and have coffee with Koreans and let them practice their English with her! Then she’ll head to Japan for 3 weeks just for tourism. After that, on to Australia - she has been approved for a work holiday visa, and will do odd jobs as she moves around the continent for a year!!

Me, well, I’m hanging out on the West Coast for three weeks or so visiting friends and family in Seattle, Boise and Tualatin/Portland! I haven’t been back since I moved to South Carolina in 2019 (Covid). Then heading back to Greenville, SC mid December to get moved back into my townhouse, meet up with Adam for Christmas (haven’t seen him in forever!) and get working.

This has been a tremendous adventure. We will have traveled 9 months - 29 countries, 4 continents, in 4 oceans and multiple seas. We’ve taken 92 major forms of transportation - 43 planes, 16 trains, 24 long distance buses, and 9 lengthy ferries. We learned about so many cultures - my racist thoughts/stereotypes (that I didn’t even want to admit I had) were destroyed, and I learned to enjoy and highly respect so many different races and ethnicities - especially the SE Asian people.

This trip allowed me to spend so much time with my thoughts and to thoroughly contemplate the big (and small) questions of life - to really think about where I’ve come from, who I’ve been, who I am and who I want to be. I am without a doubt a changed person …

My time with Jordan was the biggest gift I received. Throughout this time she has educated me - gently - in her and her generations beliefs and viewpoints. We spent hundreds of hours talking about every subject and world event imaginable. We are more than mother-daughter now, we are great friends. I respect her so much - her heart, her viewpoints, her politics and her passion.

As I come home, all I can think about is traveling again, where I would want to go back to, what new places I want to see. Plans are already forming in my head. Exciting plans. Retirement in a foreign country is definitely on my radar in the next few years. “Where” is the only question.

I’ll continue posting pics of my west coast fun, but for the most part I’m done. Thank you to all who followed me on this adventure - I loved interacting with those who made comments or asked questions along the way. It made it so much more fun for me.

My goal when we set out on this trip was to be brave, to be strong, and to be smart. We definitely did brave things - we hiked/walked thousands of miles - and we were smart about our choices without getting injured, mugged or threatened in any way. I think we accomplished all three!Read more