Giving In

Before leaving for our year long adventure, I was aware of the fact that long term travel is not easy. In fact, it's hard. In our favorite book, Vagabonding, by Rolf Potts, he says, "If it were easy, everyone would do it." Well, I have certainly been challenged so far. I always know that with highs there are lows and that in the end, it will be okay. But sometimes, you just need a piece of home.

I can't begin to tell you the number of times we've been pointed, laughed and stared at in countries. We knew that would happen and know that we are the guests in other peoples countries and cultures, but when we were in a restaurant the other day and a woman working there was blatantly making fun of us...I hit my wall. It just doesn't feel good. With tears in my eyes, I kept saying to Ross, "Why can't everyone just be nice to each other?"

But then something wonderful happened. During our meal, there was a little woman next to us who had been inquisitively watching us. We could feel that she was simply just interested in us. But as we were leaving we made eye contact with her and she gave us the sweetest smile and said goodbye. There was something instinctively kind about her eyes and truly heart warming about her smile. Extremely simple, but if she only knew how much I needed that.

Hong Kong has been a challenge for me. I'm a country girl, someone who finds solitude and warmth in the leafy woods or wide open spaces. So, spending a couple of weeks in one of the most densely populated parts of the world can feel hard. But I know that I will look back on this experience and will have learned something...I can't put my finger on it yet, but I know it will come.

Needless to say, when Ross suggested taking a break and hitting the movies...I was in. We gave in, we needed something that felt like home and let me tell you...it. felt. great.

So, I just want to give you a little insight into the realities of long term travel. Hard times, mind blowing times, it's all a part of it. Also, remember to smile...you never know who needs it.