Here I stand, at one of life's many crossroads, waiting to embark on my own adventure - a round the world trip, centered around a 4 week volunteer experience in Rau, Tanzania, surrounded by a globe-trot to visit all of my extended family. How exciting!

In the Waiting Zone ...
I write this as I wait in the airport, on my way to Europe. The physical act of traveling is sooo drawn out. Ironic how traveling is such an active experience, but in order to travel we must wait. Life consists of the joy we experience through action, and its sustainability through the Waiting Zone. So many people dread waiting, whether its as minuscule as for a red light, or as monumental as for our soul mate. Thats something I hope to improve on during this trip ... patience. In all degrees and aspects of my life. As Sir Augustine said "Patience is the companion to Wisdom". If we arn't comfortable in our own skin in our Waiting Zone, how can we be ready to do anything? It is so hard to find balance, which aggravates me so, being an analytical, perfectionist Libra. I think the key to balance is to maintain a steady emotional state through all parts of life. To find peace. Sustainable peace and joy.
The support I've gotten from my family and friends has been amazing. I really couldn't have done this without you! It gives me strength, renews my desire and invigorates my energy.

And so it goes...

... and so it went!!

I'm home safe and sound now, settling into life after the whirlwind of the last year. Graduating university, traveling America's northwest coast and China earlier in the year (sorry, no blog on that one, but I do have stories and pics if you're interested), working all summer to secure my present job (which is AWESOME), then jet-setting around the world really gave me some new perspectives. Its amazing what you learn while traveling. I have been very lucky in my life to get the opportunity to travel, but I do it because I LOVE it. Our world is so beautiful. We have so much to be proud of, from our ancient history in England, our rainbow buildings along the streets of København, masses of bicycles along Amsterdam's canals filled with long houseboats, schoolchildren running through the fields next to Kigangoni to greet me, banana trees sprinkled across the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the African sunset over the Indian Ocean or Table Mountain, misty mornings in Pinetown, pristine coastline and unique flora of Australia. We are lucky to embody such diversity, traverse such landscapes, and experience different cultures. Traveling gives me inspiring perspectives and amazing sights, not only on my beaten path, but in my life. It helped me realize the beauty in life, everywhere. One of the most influential parts of my trip was meeting people with my same love for traveling. Whether they've traveled to other countries, lived in other countries or come from multiple countries, there are many diverse people out there. Growing up as a South-African Dane in America, I can't deny that a part of me has felt displaced. MN is notoriously known as a state where people stay, whole extended families nearby. But when I travel, I meet people with similar stories to me. Suddenly my unique diversity is understood by others with their own. I met South-Africans in Denmark, Danes in Tanzania and Australia, and many other worldy people. It is a small world afterall :)
Oh, and after the 24 hour flight from Sydney to London, followed by the 24 hour layover in Gatwick airport (yes, I lived in the airport for a whole 24 hours - Yotel is the new millennium) and a final 8 hour flight to Minneapolis (I'll admit, I started getting antsy on this one), I think I mastered the patience thing.
I arrived home in a winter wonderland 2 days before Christmas.
It was wonderful seeing all of my family and friends abroad, THANK YOU SO MUCH for all you did for me, you really made my dream possible, plus it was fun seeing you!! I'm sure I'll be back soon :)

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