I have no clue how it happened. I never intended on going against the grain.
After reading Island of the Dolphins in fifth grade it somehow set off a fire inside me. I decided then and there… I was going to see the world and I’m going to start with Barbados.
My mom’s side of the family has a self proclaimed “restless soul”. It appears to be passed on and we have no clue where it came from. My childhood mirrored my mothers – moving around to multiple places every couple of years. For some reason, we just need to be in the constant state of change and motion.
While talking to my abuelita one day, she swears that one of our relatives was a gypsy in Mexico. Besides pawning off her various children to people, she would always be on the move. Do I come from gypsy blood? Is that why this wanderlust courses so deeply in my veins? Could be – or it could have been Island of the Dolphins.
Good thing my husband is highly supportive of me. I married a dreamer like myself (which poses am multitude of other issues lol), and he is so amazingly enthusiastic about my endeavors. He is even being so amazing as to be my editor and main blogger of our website while my ADD self takes pictures of everything.
I was told, on multiple occasions when I was young, “Mija, only rich people travel.” which, as a kid, makes you want to prove the world wrong even more. Oh, sweet rebellion. Although, this does explain why people weren’t nearly as excited as I was when I received my passport in the mail. To me, it was a defining moment of my life. To others, a waste of money and time.
I have met so many people that are so USA-centric. They believe that the rest of the world is pointless to see and that everything you can have is here and that I’m purposely going out of my way to defy social norms. The thing that I need is the human experience, and unfortunately, I feel as though I cannot get it here at home. I somehow feel the need to see how all people are connected. All people cry, laugh, have families, and care. I want to be part of the global community.
So while Shaun and I get confused looks from some people (wondering why we haven’t had kids yet, bought a house, lived the American Dream), I find myself fulfilled knowing that I am trying to discover myself, learn my strengths and weaknesses (in which everyone learns when abroad), and mostly, making friends across Earth. Because above all, we all belong to the same planet and there is no reason we shouldn’t learn about each other.
It’ s great you share your enthusiasm for travelling and discovering the world here, I love reading about it.
My grandmother was part- gypsy and when she was young her family moved with a horse and carriage all over Eastern Finland, Carelia, Lapland, Russia etc, selling their craft and working odd jobs here and there. That must run in the blood because me and my family have always loved travelling. My ony trip outside Europe(I include Russia in Europe..) was in the 80′ s when I was in New York for a month. In Europe I have done the InterRail-thing five times, it was an adventure every time!
Now I’ m planning to move to Lapland in five years and set up a house, working with sled dogs and fishing. The dream of my life 🙂 But will keep on travelling then too. You’ ve never seen enough of the world 🙂
Looking forward to your travels and your stories on your adventures 🙂
-annami
Thank you for your kind words Annami! I am also glad that I’m not the only one with gypsy blood in my veins. Thank you again for following us and I hope we can keep you entertained. <3
Add your Mom’s side of the family’s wanderlust to the penchant my grandfather had for getting up and just going places (often for months at a time) and no wonder you have the travel bug.
No one said the American Dream couldn’t involve a month in Brazil. Keep doing what keeps you alive. I know I won’t be content until I see the world too.
I was doomed from the start!
This post strongly resonated with me- my mother always said that her grandfather was a gypsy guitar player in Spain… and we inherited the traveling spirit from him. I think it’s definitely passed down the generations.
Thank you! I got a sudden inspiration to write it one day. I really am curious what drives certain people to want to see the world.
The American Dream in itself is a flawed philosophy… but that is a topic for another blog entirely. 😛
Well said on all points. I don’t have gypsy blood, but I’ve been obsessed with faraway lands from a very young age. I’ve probably said it a thousand times, but for the longest time I had it in my head I was going to be an egyptologist. That was my plan starting in 3rd or 4th grade. That fascination never left. I plan on doing my traveling this summer. My recruiter finally told me that I should be heading out mid-July and if there are any changes he will let me know.
I plan to be a world traveler but hopefully in a different capacity. I can’t afford to travel a lot working at my job and I can’t find myself ever working a cubicle to make ends meet. I feel like I will die inside. So, I’m hoping teaching English will take me places. I dunno for how long, but at least long enough to feel something be put at ease inside. I can’t explain it really.
Japan hopefully is my first stop. I can’t say what my future will be, but I know it’s not sitting in one place.
Much love to you and this blog.
I’m currently trying to remove myself from the cubicle world. It kills me… even if I work for a video game company lol. They no longer call it that… we are a CALL CENTER and have lost all the spark we had once before.
This is gorgeous writing, Erica! My sentiments exactly on the American Dream. I hope you find what you’re looking for. (and what you didn’t know you were looking for, but it turns out you need) I don’t have the drive or courage to travel like you two do, so until I do I’ll happily live vicariously reading your blog and enjoying your photos. Thank you for sharing your experiences. 🙂
Thank you Bonnye! ♥ By all means live vicariously – I do it through other people and their pretty babies. 😛 I just want to make sure that I live life with no regrets.