So I have hit the mid-winter blues. It's not even December. There is one cure, and only one, for such an ailment.
Book a trip somewhere! Anywhere! Who cares!
In an effort to stave off certain mood swings brought on by winter and no trips in sight, I have done the right thing for myself and mankind. I am going to Spain. I mean, this is definitely an altruistic move on my part. Definitely. Just looking out for the welfare of others.
But anyway, on with the announcement of my New Travel BFF. It's a handy dandy little feature on kayak.com which allows you to specify your home city and then with one click of a button, a map of the world pops up and you can see airfares to tons of destinations all over the world. I am practically giddy just writing about it.
I first heard about it from the Birthday Boy (the one was responsible for the Turkey Trip. Which, incidentally, I left readers hanging after just writing Part 1 of the birthday story). I guess he felt bitten by the bug after Turkey, and was somewhat miserable, wanting to be anywhere but here. Birthday Boy stumbled across this amazing feature, and next thing I knew, he was jetting off to Italy for Thanksgiving.
Wait a minute here! I AM THE ONE WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE ALL TRAVEL SAVVY AND KNOWS ALL THE TRADE SECRETS. Hmmmpfff.
I got over my angst rather quickly and set off to find my own travel deal. Realizing that a mere $372 from Washington D.C would get me to Madrid round trip, I pounced. No seriously, there was some pouncing. They call me Jungle Cat for short. (not really).
February it is. Madrid I shall see. And hopefully Barcelona? Headed off with a friend and any others who care to join!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
A Year Ago Today..........
..........I was frantically turning in the last of my schoolwork, adding unecessary last-minute items to my pack, sniffling over two weeks without Adam, pondering the stolen money, and finally, jamming on my shoes and comfy travel outfit in flash to hustle to Dulles Airport. Tanzania...here I come!
Well, there I went. What a blast that trip was, and a certain dream come true. I have been pondering my life in retrospect. And just so coincidentally in 8th grade this week, we are studying the early explorers of West Virginia. Perhaps not the most exciting stuff.
Or is it?
As I am lecturing this week and the kids are diligently taking notes, I realize--- these guys (and maybe a few gals) embody the very essence and spirit of travel. They were all about the adventure, the exploration, the unknown, and the excitement of a new place. Just like me!! It dawned on me after the first day of lecture-what a way to get the kids interested in what could potentially be a very dull subject. (Hey, I can't lie to you folks. I may teach it, but I don't have to love it!)
Long story short, I have just assigned them their second of four major projects this year. They are writing a journal from the perspective of one of the early explorers, with all the sordid details of mutinies, hangings, exultations, newly claimed land, and formed alliances. Where do you think I got such an idea? Why, this blog of course! And along the way, we have discussed what it takes to travel, what kind of person just sets off into the unknown, and more importantly, what kind of traveler they think they would be, given the chance. Trust me, I am doing my part to encourage love of our globe, one WV 8th grade student at a time. To jumpstart their forming brains, I printed a post I wrote prior to Tanzania, removed some identifying details, and asked them to read and describe the traveler's attitude. They described me to a "T" and then I told them I was the author. I love a good surprise, and gauging from their reactions, it went over pretty well. I am currently awaiting their two paragraph essay entitled "What Type of Traveler Am I?" If I inspire just one kid, I have done my job.
Speaking of travel...........I have got something in the works and while I am not ready to share the details yet, it would be another dream come true! Hint: summer on a teacher's workschedule=GO GO GO!
Well, there I went. What a blast that trip was, and a certain dream come true. I have been pondering my life in retrospect. And just so coincidentally in 8th grade this week, we are studying the early explorers of West Virginia. Perhaps not the most exciting stuff.
Or is it?
As I am lecturing this week and the kids are diligently taking notes, I realize--- these guys (and maybe a few gals) embody the very essence and spirit of travel. They were all about the adventure, the exploration, the unknown, and the excitement of a new place. Just like me!! It dawned on me after the first day of lecture-what a way to get the kids interested in what could potentially be a very dull subject. (Hey, I can't lie to you folks. I may teach it, but I don't have to love it!)
Long story short, I have just assigned them their second of four major projects this year. They are writing a journal from the perspective of one of the early explorers, with all the sordid details of mutinies, hangings, exultations, newly claimed land, and formed alliances. Where do you think I got such an idea? Why, this blog of course! And along the way, we have discussed what it takes to travel, what kind of person just sets off into the unknown, and more importantly, what kind of traveler they think they would be, given the chance. Trust me, I am doing my part to encourage love of our globe, one WV 8th grade student at a time. To jumpstart their forming brains, I printed a post I wrote prior to Tanzania, removed some identifying details, and asked them to read and describe the traveler's attitude. They described me to a "T" and then I told them I was the author. I love a good surprise, and gauging from their reactions, it went over pretty well. I am currently awaiting their two paragraph essay entitled "What Type of Traveler Am I?" If I inspire just one kid, I have done my job.
Speaking of travel...........I have got something in the works and while I am not ready to share the details yet, it would be another dream come true! Hint: summer on a teacher's workschedule=GO GO GO!
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