5a) "A Pic of Somewhere I Have Been", or, Why We Wander When We Want Wide World Windows [Part the First]

This is is blog post 5 of 30 from a list of writing prompts.  So far, I've blogged about these things:
1.  A recent pic of me and 15 interesting facts about me
2.  The meaning behind my blog name
3.  A picture of me and my friends, and,
4.  A habit I wish I didn't have

Now, "A pic of somewhere you have been."  This post will feature a handful of pictures and short memories from international trips I have taken, and probably a bit about places I'd like to go in the future, as well.  I am choosing to highlight the international trips I've been on to give myself a limit.  It would be long (albeit fun) to go through pictures of fun times spent in various states with family, camp staffs, friends, and by myself.  I value these trips and vacations very much and I'm very grateful for all the opportunities I've had to travel and see this wonderful world, both in this country and out.  Again, for the sake of establishing a limit, I'll only be featuring international visits here.  Also, it's no secret that the ship I'm on tends to list towards the exotic.  In fact, right now I'm listening to an African/Asian chill out music mix.  If you feel so inclined, feel free to put on your own favorite international/ethnic/exotic music while you read.

Also, here's a cool jacket.  This was in an awesome store near my metro stop in D.C.  I just read that it's unfortunately gone out of business.  This store was awesome!

And so we begin.

I have been to 10 different countries in my life.

First, the United States of America.
Population: 314,913,000
Area: 3,794,101 square miles

I looked at pictures from my time spent in Washington, D.C., thinking that showcasing this country's capital would be apropos for this post, but decided instead on a photo from where I call home.  My parents and I (and perhaps others?) were greeted one early morning, pre-boating trip, with this beautiful, fiery sky.

Everywhere you go is beautiful, just like everyone you meet.  I don't think I fully recognized or appreciated all the cool things about my own home state until I lived across the country and missed being back out in my homeland, not to mention how everyone mentioned how cool it would be to live in Utah.  People can be a lot like places.

"Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone."

It seems like a good time to mention this quote, as well. From The Geography of Bliss, by Eric Weiner:

"We can't love a place, or a person, if we always have one foot out the door."

Onward to the next stop on our journey, Canada.
Population: 35,003,000
Area: 3,854,085 square miles

I don't have a picture of my time in Canada (at least not here on my computer).  It was during a trip back east with my parents, sister, and grandma that I went to Canada.  We spent time just over the border viewing Niagara Falls and exploring the surrounding areas.  The Falls are very impressive.  It's cool to stand so close to where the water roars over the edge, and learning of legends explaining the existence of the falls was interesting.  After our time at Niagara we traveled through many states to various Mormon history sites.  It was my first experience in another country and my first experience flying in an airplane.

I'm very grateful for this and the many other trips that my family went on.  Perhaps this should've gone in the first section, but here it will stay.  My parents did very well at showing and teaching us kids an appreciation for the world around us.  I was lucky to spend many nights camping and many days hiking in this beautiful corner of the Earth.  Thanks mom and dad!



The summer after graduating high school I went to France and Italy with my brother Tyler.
France
Population: 65,350,000
Area: 260,558 square miles

Italy
Population: 60,813,326
Area: 116,346 square miles

This picture is from when we were goofing around and "climbing" the Eiffel Tower.  It would be fun to take this picture and superimpose it on another to make it look like we were really climbing it :)

France was a lot of fun.  I had taken French in Junior High and it was neat to go there and hear the language being used and see the places and culture I had learned about in class.  I remember on the first day we were looking for a church.  After going through the sentence over and over in my head I went up to someone at a booth and spoke it as fluidly as I possibly could (it was something like "Est-ce que vous savez où se trouve la rue (something)?").  The guy replied with an answer speaking full speed ahead.  I tried hard to hear and remember any words I'd recognize and I watched where he was pointing, hoping to glean the desired information.  I thanked him and walked back, proudly informing my brother that I had no idea where we were going (ok, I did have the general idea...kind of).


Another cool moment was when we were wandering around Paris just after arriving and we were looking at the side of a church.  We turned around, and right in front of us, was the Centre Pompidou, which houses one of the most famous modern art museums in the world (second in collection size after New York's MOMA).  It's such an exciting feeling to actually be at a place that you've seen and learned about in books and movies.  Plus, the Centre Pompidou is a pretty cool looking building.

After traveling from France to Italy via the gondolas and trams at Chamonix, we asked for directions from an older lady in a shop.  The language we had in common was French, not English.  This is one of my favorite things about traveling (literally, in the top 3) – trying to communicate in another language.  Any communication difficulty in these situations is easily overshadowed by the enjoyment and the challenge.

We carried on to Milan, where we witnessed very young people smoking (apparently more common in Europe than the US) and ate a pizza that, frankly, I expected to be better as we were in Italy, after all!  To be fair, I only had one pizza.  At one restaurant.  In one city.  However, it did help me to realize that when I say, for instance, that I like spaghetti, I'm referring to the spaghetti that I know and love.  The spaghetti that I ate growing up.  The spaghetti that is my favorite food and that my mother always made, and sometimes will still make, for me on my birthday.

We rode a train across Italy to Venice.  Ahh, Venice!  What a rad city, where everything your average city has an automobile for, you'll find the marine counterpart.  The gondola ride was definitely a highlight.  The fact that it's cliché didn't detract at all from an enlightening and fun experience.  Our gondolier taught us about the history of the city and the workings of the gondolier's trade.  A knowledgable guide can give such value and insight into any visit.  Hiring a good one is well worth the cost.

Since this romantic picture was taken 7 years ago my brother has returned with his wife.  Someday I will do the same...with my wife, that is.  Sorry, Ber :)





After a handful of years at school and an internship at my dream job, I was again out exploring the world.  This would be a good time to mention that I studied Geography in college.  What an awesome thing to spend your time reading and learning about!  I had many awesome professors (both in the geography department and elsewhere) that helped me increase my knowledge, appreciation, and love of the world and the people on it.

During these years I also spent an incredible amount of time researching travel.  I read about places, possibilites and potential adventures online and in the many, MANY books I'd check out from the library.  I spent nights watching travel shows, my favorites being Rick Steves and Globe Trekker (both likely available at your city library).  It is my belief that I spent more time researching travel than I did doing my homework proper.  Luckily for me, the two overlapped quite nicely :)


The next overseas trip for me was to Guatemala.
Population: 13,824,463
Area: 42,042 square miles

This trip was different from all the others I have yet been on.  Tyler and I went to Guatemala with Hug it Forward, an organization that teams up with communities to build bottle schools.  That's right, schools made out of bottles.  It's a really interesting premise that seems to be going really well.  If you want to see and learn more, check out these links as well as this video from a different (but similar) trip.

Spending over a week in one place and getting to know the kids at the school was a lot of fun.  I still remember many of their names.  The picture above is from when Christian and I had matching injuries. Mine was from playing soccer in sandals; I'm not sure what his was from, perhaps the same.

There are so many good memories from this trip!  I remember having a relatively lengthy conversation with one boy and afterwards wondering and marveling at what we even talked about, and how; our language overlap was quite slim.  This trip was an excellent opportunity to learn and practice spanish, especially words like basura, botella, and tenazas :)

Tyler developed the nickname, "Gringo Loco."  I'm very glad we have a video of him teaching the kids how to yodel!  I went by the much more respectable epithet, "Gringo Contento."  I was also known as "Guapo," of course :)  Somehow I became the heartthrob of most grade school girls in the town.  It must have been those luscious locks I was sporting! (which, for those of you who haven't seen me lately, are returning!)  Still in my possession are the bilingual love notes I received.

Simple and consistent, I still crave the food we ate there and from time to time will recreate the feeling with beans, scrambled eggs and a bit of 'crema' to mix in.

We met some great people on this trip, both the Guatemalans and our fellow travel pals, and I'm very grateful to have had this experience.



I didn't anticipate making this such an extensive post but I'm glad of what it has become.  These memories ought to be recorded and this is a fine way to do it.  It seems most prudent to divide this into two parts and, as it happens, make this the conclusion of Part the First.

Tune in next time for notes and pics from the other 5 countries and the places at the top of my list for future trips!


Cheerio!

+Andy


P.S. This is cool, especially this.

4) "A Habit I Wish I Didn't Have", or, Finally Finishing Feats Feels Fine

About a year ago I started a blog challenge to write on 30 different prompts.  I did three of them and really enjoyed the writing, but then I quit.  Since then there have been times when I've wanted to start up again but haven't.  A couple of days ago I told a friend that I would be posting a blog post soon and we made a deal to both post something by the end of today.  I was thinking of it today then totally forgot after getting home from the Thanksgiving break.  Thankfully, she messaged me reminding me of the approaching deadline.

And so it is that I'm again writing in this blog and working on this blog challenge.  And what an apropos item to have as the vessel of my renaissance; I am to write about "A habit you wish you didn't have."  I have a habit of beginning things and not finishing them, not seeing them through to their full potential.  I feel that in so doing I am not completely pursuing my own full potential.  Like this blog challenge, there have been many things that have gone from ideas to brainstorming, development, and even through the completion of some first steps before falling by the wayside, inadvertent casualties of fresh and exciting new ideas.  This is a habit I wish I didn't have.

What's the point in writing this sort of confession if not to serve as a reminder of an opportunity to improve?  So, how should one/I/you go about finishing things that we start?  I welcome any comments on ideas that you have.  Here are some of my ideas that, while perhaps basic and seemingly obvious, I plan to use to help:

Make a habit of completion
The more we are able to complete tasks, challenges, etc. the more we will...be able to complete tasks, challenges, etc.  Perhaps it will be by seeing how relatively easy and exceptionally rewarding it is to complete something and see it through to its finish, or, at the very least, its maturity.  I feel that this would especially be the case for those, like me, who feel as though there are more instances of unfinished undertakings than completed projects.  This may seem like a catch-22; if you're having trouble finishing tasks, how do you finish tasks in order to become better at finishing tasks?  That is a great question.  However it happens, once it does, I feel that it will get easier and easier with repetition.

Dedicate time to the tasks at hand

Blocking off an hour a day, 30 min. every Saturday, or whatever you choose will help in making the project more of a reality, an actual part of your life.  This can make a great test–if you're willing to dedicate some of the limited time available to you, it's obviously important to you and deserves some allotment of dedication.  If not, this may be a project that it's ok to leave unfinished.

Focus
Much has been written debating multi-tasking vs. single-tasking.  For some, multitasking is the way to go.  Tristan Higbee, author/creator of The Backlight as well as multiple other blogs, etc., finds that the variety provided by multitasking allows him to shift between projects with a net result of being more productive (read it here).  Zenhabits makes a great argument for single-tasking.  I can understand both views and it probably simply comes down to personal preference.  Regardless of your preference, there is a certain point where having too many things going at once will keep any of them from getting finished.  Focus on the one (or two, or three) most important, valued, or urgent projects until they are complete.  Rinse and repeat.

Set deadlines
Setting deadlines (and sticking to them) can also help in following through on ideas.  No elaboration needed here.

Be wary of perfection (at first)
This is an interesting idea (and perhaps deserving of its own post(s)).  I have found that my desire for perfection in a project, design, or plan has kept me from making any real progress.  I deliberate and wait to make the first move until I'm sure I have the best plan.  This is at risk of becoming trite in certain areas of the blogosphere but, nevertheless, I will say it here: the most important thing to do is simply to start.  If you want to write a book, limit (or stop) deliberating over the title and the cover and the PR.  Sit down and write.  If you want to read more, limit (or stop) creating your reading list, reading book reviews and shopping around.  Pick up a book and read.  I fully support the pursuit of perfection (if you, too, like this idea, read Jonathan Livingston Seagull).  Perfection comes with time.  Don't be afraid to begin before you have the ideal idea, the model model :)

I should note that I am by no means an expert (or even a practitioner, in some cases) of the ideas I suggested above.  I have no proof of their efficacy.  They are simply ideas that I have (not entirely my own) that I think will help.  I am writing them for my own benefit as much as for the benefit of a reader.  When all is said and done, the goal is to finish more of the projects that I start.  Again, feel free to share your ideas and comments.

On that note, I will be continuing with this blog challenge.  I plan to write somewhere between once a day and once every year :)  Wait, what was that about setting deadlines?  Alright, I plan to finish this blog challenge before my birthday (about three months away).  I may really get going and finish sooner.  That's fine.  But I will finish before my next birthday.  Oh, hey, that's another great thing to do–share your goals and deadlines so your friends can hold you accountable :)

Cheerio!

+Andy