On My Way

My friend Laura loves photo shop and made this photo to celebrate our departure for Hong Kong to celebrate Chinese New Year. Yeah year of the rabbit here we come!
This morning as I was thinking about my HK adventure and other upcoming adventures and this song popped into my head. Korea is the first country I have been to outside of North America so I am totally psyched to visit another place while I am here.



This song also is running through me because my life plans have recently changed again. For a while I have been planning a cross USA trip with Liz for when I leave Korea. We planned to start in Seattle and work our way down the Pac coast then across to New York. Well  with a recent look at our budget, recent employment changes for her and a drive to always explore we have decided to scrap that trip. We have decided to travel through South East Asia instead. We will spend two months backpacking through Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Indonesia and anywhere else our little hearts desire. I do plan to spend a good deal of time during our trek volunteering. I've found a program in Thailand where I can help with sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation. There is a different program where I can work with elephants. I'm also interested in taking regional cooking classes throughout the trek as well. I don't know exactly what I will be doing for the travel time but I do know that I will be relaxing, making memories and exploring our beautiful earth. You may be asking yourself about my other future plans. Camp? School? Marriage? Kids? 401K? I can honestly tell you I don't exactly know. All of those things interest me but my "plan" is to live my life in the best way possible and live it for me. I have been trying to learn to be more selfish and make decisions for me. Make decisions about what is best for me. I know that might worry some of my protectors out there and I love your concern but just know that it is because of your support that I am able to do things like this. I cannot tell you how many friends and family members have told me how much the envy me or have expressed how they would NEVER be able to do what i'm doing. I know it's not for everyone. I know a life of hostel jumping and communicating only through smiling and hand gestures is not appealing to many but for me it is amazing. It gives me energy and excitement. When I am an old lady and I am sharing stories and photos with the little people in my life I can't wait to inspire in them what the world travelers in my life have done for me. So thank you everyone who has helped me want to eat strange food, swim with sea turtles and live out of a back pack. You Rock!

all in a year

A year ago I came to Korea for the first time. It was not only my first time living in another country it was my first passport stamp. I really jumped in head first for this adventure and what an amazing adventure it has been.

I used to only like super ripe mushy bananas
  and my food could never touch
I couldn't imagine a subway where my money didn't pay for turkey on wheat
   and I knew more about hail storms than hailing a cab
I used to only want Butch's wings, my dad's scrambled eggs and my mom's taco salads..
  well that hasn't changed but I crave gabli, gimbop and kimchi chigae.
I used to never imagine that i could be so far away from home
  and I would have never missed a wedding or the chance to be a bridesmaid
Now I know that home is anywhere that has the right cast and being an international consultant for a wedding can be fun too.
I used to only dream of the future when things would be better
 Now I understand how to be happy now and live each day each each day
I used to know how to love everyone else so much better than myself
Now I know that when you find the person that you love more than anyone it's because you finally love yourself.
I miss so many things about my life at home and I can't wait to eat some Vermont cheese with New York Apples and California Wine. I can't wait to drive around the back roads of Chenango County singing my heart out. I can't wait to listen to my dad and brother sing at the pub while everyone sings along. I can't wait to drink a bucket of margaritas with my sisters. I can't wait for dinner at Nina's with my other sisters. There are so many things that I miss about being home but there is so much of the world that i might miss if i were. Thank you everyone who has supported and continues to support me on this journey because as hard as it might be to hear I don't plan on stopping no I'm having such a  good time!
Cas