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Published: April 20th 2007
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Congrats to ME!
Rachel receives a certificate of survival. Some mornings during this trip in Europe, I would wake up and ask myself, "Why do I travel? What am I doing here?" After establishing what country I'm in, I try to take a moment to answer these questions. But only now that I am back in the United States, have I fully been able to answer them.
Did I accomplish my mission in Europe? What was I searching for?
Myself. My future. Others. Other perspectives. A combination of these: self-growth through daily challenges, personal experience based on travel and interaction.
I have been told that people travel for three reasons: they are running away from something, running to something, or just because they love to travel. I think I am a combination of the last two. I wanted to find myself-to find out more about myself. Sometimes it takes a powerful, life-changing experience to break out of the daily grind in order to discover something new in yourself.
I would also like to think that I came to Europe for reasons other than myself. Looking back, I realized that I helped gain funding for a missionary in Budapest, changed peoples perspectives on the
Dinner Party in Petersfield
Rachel discovers what the English do for entertainment (dress up like kings in paper crowns) United States and Texas, and maybe encouraged some people to learn English or host travelers.
When traveling, you see a lot of places. But I might go so far as to suggest that the most important part of travel is what you see in yourself. You see, when you are traveling, you are taking two journeys: one is outward and one is inward.
In the past 7 months, I have been learning to live. I rode motorcycles, explored mountain-high monasteries, changed my viewpoint on America, picked wild blackberries off a golf course, sailed through the rain, haggled for a Christmas tree, skied around land mines, nearly cut my finger off, and fell victim to two robberies. I made friends in every country, been lost, was found, listened to people with a different view point, met distant relatives, scaled Koka Roka Valley in the dark, and lived off of apricots and water for an entire day. I slept on trains, woke up in a new country, watched the Santorini sunset, was followed by dogs, bought local fish and tried to cook them, and visited 3 foreign hospitals. I realized that everyone has a different outlook on
Biker Chick
Rachel and Iain drive breakaway speeds upwards of 104 mph on an English highway travel, religion, the world, and life-and I learned to respect that.
I nearly died snowshoeing, gained confidence, fed the hungry, lied to customs officials, and learned crisis management. I spoke Deutsch, Spanish, Greek, South Slavonic, French, Polish, and communicated without using words. I managed money, myself, two boys, a relationship, friends at home, transportation and accommodation for 7 months. I expanded upon an open mind, tried hitchhiking, felt optimistic about my generation's outlook on the environment, refused overcooked sausage in Bulgaria, learned how to shuffle cards, drank Absinthe on Halloween, got harassed, saw Hitler's influence on Germany and sympathized with the Germans. I learned it is more important to understand what really moves and inspires people than to know what job they have.
I experienced complete freedom, cleaned a hostel in exchange for accommodation, drank too much Sangria and not enough Muscato wine, became more comfortable talking about money, sex, and guns, realized I need balance in life, accepted the generosity of strangers, watched my relationship morph into different stages, re-discovered psychology, learned about Communism first-hand, swindled bus drivers, experienced my first hangover, and chased the guy who stole my wallet.
I forgave the
Easter Weekend
Rachel is invited by the Liebls in Germany to share their sweet Easter celebration. people who ripped me off/stole/plundered my valuables and realized what was truly valuable. I resolved not to dwell on petty and trivial matters and tried spending my time and energy on the present. I worked as International Relations Ambassador for Texas and America while trying to educate people about my home. I discovered how to listen to my body, treated it badly anyway, ate brain, sought out happiness, lived without a cell phone, learned about myself, my relationships, and the world. And I wrote about it.
I have realized that writing is something I love to do; it has been something I have always done and enjoyed. I am perfectly happy in the company of my journal and pen to scribble a few lines. For me, writing is a release, a way to percolate my jumbled thoughts and a way to connect with others. It has allowed me to share this trip with you, back at home, through words and photos.
I recently discovered the "statistics" button for this website. I learned that over 300 people have viewed some of these pages, and over 50 people subscribe to each entry. This number is astounding. I
don't know who all of you are, but thank you.
Thank you for your interest and encouragement. Thank you for sharing this journey with me.
The enjoyment I felt writing during this trip sparked the idea that I would write upon returning to the states. One thing is certain: you must do a job that makes you happy and fulfilled. And I have realized that writing and sharing with others makes me happy. Upon return to the states, I plan to seek out employment in a job that requires writing. (If you have any leads, let me know) 😉
"It is for this reason, I think, that journalists often make good conversationalists. It is because (on the whole) they are curious about the world and about other people and about ideas. They want to learn; they do not think they have all the answers. It is this inquiring nature that led them to become journalists in the first place. A journalist is not a professional or an expert; he or she is an amateur, a wanderer, a seeker, and has none of the arrogance of an expert." - How to be Idle, Tom Hodgkinson
Thank you for being with me on this journey. This is Rachel, signing off...until the next adventure. It is not the destination that matters, but the journey.
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