Beginning Thoughts

A few thoughts to start this whole thing off: First, I've never done this whole "blog" thing before (accept for a half-hearted attempt at a Live journal back when I thought that was cool and indie). I had enough people asking me for updates on where I was/where I was going though, that I thought this would be a great way to keep everyone in the loop. We'll see if it's that much more successful than the ill-fated LJ.

On a philosophical note, at the beginning of this trip I had a very deep awareness of leaving the "comfort zone." It sank in right as we were taking off from O'Hare and could see the block I had been staying on for the few weeks before. It was, perhaps, more acute because this trip is something more than the 3-10 days that my two previous trips were, and I'm going to a place where I have no clue on the language etc. It's something that shouldn't come as a surprise since there is no end to the stories of other travelers who have had the same discomfort. It is something, however, that you don't truly understand until you experience it yourself.

Any way, I'll share any insights I stumble upon in the posts of the next few months. Stay tuned if that sounds like fun.