The pack is packed and I am ready to go.
About two weeks ago I managed to get over the nerves, you know, not speaking the language, not having a plan, not nearly enough underwear or socks, and just general concerns surrounding a lone voyage into a third world country.
My flight leaves tomorrow morning at 9am from JFK. I'm flying from NYC to Mexico City, where I will catch a second, smaller plane (hopefully not duct-taped together) back north, to the small city of Hermosillo. My 27 lb pack is carry on size, but being that I have 1.7 fl (does the 'fl' imply full, as in you have a FULL 1.7 oz, not like a bag of Doritos where the bag is half full, or does it mean fluid. Head & Shoulders finds it necessary to say on a bottle of shampoo, that it is liquid. What a world.) oz of shampoo, and .85 oz of toothpaste, I'm probably safer giving all of my belongings to strange airport staff, who had better NOT take any of my shampoo, leaving the container not full, than attempting to smuggle it on board.
My mindset while packing was pretty simple, pack as though I will be away for one week (a quick trip from the beach to the desert to the mountains), then strip those items down fifty percent. The result is an adequate pack for five months.
In addition to the bare minimum of clothing and toiletries, I am bringing something wonderful for entertainment! Plato's Republic. I have never read or studied much philosophy, I figure I'll be reading all the time, why not?! I may be crazy, and end up burning the text three days into the trip, but at least I am going to give it a shot.
I have no expectations going into this trip. Since I was twelve or thirteen years old I have told myself, "one day I will pack a small backpack and travel the world not caring about hygiene or personal image, I will put myself in unforgiving environments, and I will leap outside my comfort zone." (I never actually said anything like that, but my thought process was something along those lines) The motto I try to live by is:
"Be Modest, Be Disciplined, Be Wild"
I look forward to seeing how this experience falls within that personal philosophy.
I cannot predict what the content of this blog will be. I assure you, I will not hold back or censor myself :) It occurs to me that mass emails are sooo last week, so I'm going to give it a go with this web blogging nonsense.
I'll try to keep my entries terse and border-line appropriate. I was called crass by my 11th grade English teacher, whom I love still today. I will steer away from those tendencies.
I hope you all find these entries interesting, and do get a chance to glance over them every now and then. I'll do my best to update once a week or so.
While most people find it necessary to wish me luck, I deem it more important to wish YOU luck; surviving that calc exam or a long stressful day at that same old job is far more challenging than the journey I am about to embark on.
Just make sure you enjoy what you do, I'll try to do the same.
Much Love -
(soon to be) Stinky Feet
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
atta boy!! wish i was there with you bro. I'm proud of you...I know i didn't have the balls to do something like this when I was 18.
ReplyDeletebe safe, keep in touch, and have a FUCKING BLAST!!! Take lots of pictures, they're once in a lifetime shots, and keep that damn journal! You'll appreciate it 10 years from now when you start to forget the little details that are so much fun in the moment.
If you can figure out where you'll be during the middle of february, let me know and i'll get my plane ticket asap. Lets try to work something out - would be insane.
Love you. keep in touch, and be safe.
Jesse