Tag: Life Updates
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The End
I’ve been back in San Francisco for about a month and a half now, spending way too much money on everyday things, dealing with some mild post-travel depression, and working through a laundry list of errands and chores to get myself back on my feet. (I’m still trying to figure out health insurance in this country.) But I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve also been enjoying cool weather, sidewalks, reasonable traffic, normal bathrooms and showers, consistent Internet connections, and a lot more ease when catching up with friends and family. It’s bittersweet to be back, but I’m happy.…
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Southeast Asia Part II
Before transitioning into a brief discussion of my return to Southeast Asia, I think a summer debriefing is in order. Total travel stats for my Murrikan summer: 19 cities in 14 states/provinces in 2 countries, 10 flights, 9 train trips, one high-speed ferry, and one seaplane. Add to that many new friends, a nebulous number of craft IPAs, three weddings, and dozens of reunions with high school friends, college friends, SF friends, Thailand friends, and almost my entire extended family. In fact, all the quality time with people I care about has set a frighteningly high bar; traveling solo in…
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Some Final Thoughts
I’ve been putting this post off for a while because I’m not quite sure what to say here. Maybe to get things rolling, I’ll talk about boring logistics and what resources I used, if only because this could be useful for other travelers. And here’s some random advice: Rather than attempting some free-form rambling about my trip, I’ll instead answer the questions I’ve heard the most since I’ve been back. What was your favorite place? Impossible to answer. I liked many things about everywhere I went. I will mention that I spent the most time in Thailand, specifically Chiang Mai,…
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Southeast Asia Adventure
As I start to type these words awkwardly with my thumbs on my tablet, I find myself on a 747 somewhere over the middle of the Pacific. The noise of the engines is unusually loud and my stomach is growling because the only choices for lunch were chicken or beef. I am homeless and all my necessities are crammed into two backpacks. I’m feeling emotional from leaving my friends, family, and city behind. My eyes, red from tears, are hidden behind a pair of sunglasses. And this was all my choosing. An explanation is probably in order here so let’s…
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Three Week Update
It’s been about three weeks since my last post, so I figured it’s time for a brief update. I’ve got a couple longer, more interesting posts in the works, but those life items aren’t finalized yet, so in the meantime I’ll humor you with some smaller updates. I’m still working through the most stubborn to-do list ever, but thankfully it’s getting smaller every day. I’ve finally settled all of my new insurance (medical, dental, vision, and accident) and I’ve continued selling some random items (mostly electronics) that I no longer use or won’t need for much longer. In fact, I…
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A New Hope
“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” Truer words have never been spoken, Minnesota alternative band Semisonic. In my life, this particular lyric refers to my decision to quit my job and take an undetermined amount of time off. The professional term for this period of perceived laziness is a “sabbatical”. While I’m sure some sabbaticals are indeed wondrous examples of sloth, I sincerely hope that mine is enlightening and busy (in a good way). I feel the first order of business here is to give a bit of background on me and my current state of mind.…
