The Travel Bug

So, today is April Fools. I was trying to think of some witty hilarious thing to post on the blog to celebrate it, but I really can't think of anything that isn't offensive or easily misconstrued, so I decided to forego any sort of shenanigans like that. Sorry, I ain't no comedy writer.

Speaking of comedy, I went to a comedy club last night for the first time ever. The bar is called Rudyard's, and it's basically awful (dirty bathrooms, dingy lighting, beaten up decor), but awful in that dive bar sort of sense. I have a fondness for places like that. Well, I went to see a new friend's friend perform standup, which was actually really good. Some of the other comedians were mediocre, but for the most part these guys seemed to know what they were doing. I'm a comedy nut, so it was really fun for me to go see standup live, which I've always wanted to do. Afterward I ended up at Little Big's, a burger joint that specializes in sliders. It was incredible. Their beef sliders (which I should not have eaten since I'm currently on a no gluten kick) were perfectly cooked and topped with caramelized onions... yum. The french fries were pretty incredible, too. I usually don't eat those sorts of things since I'm a bit of a nutrition nut, but I didn't want to pass up the opportunity. Say no enough times and you'll find that life has passed you by.

Today was a bit lazy and long. It was a friend's birthday yesterday, so we all went to brunch at a pretty nondescript, relatively awful restaurant. It did not stand out to me, except for the awful service. After lounging about this afternoon, I went to dinner with my family and one of my father's friends. She was so lovely and well traveled, breezing in wearing a dress she had just bought on a trip to Ghana. I listened to her and my father (who is also very well traveled) talk about the places that they've gone and upcoming trips that they have planned, which sent me into a bit of a mental frenzy.

Just some background info (again); I have been fortunate enough to travel a lot to different countries. When I was younger it seemed that every spring break or summer my dad would take my sister and I to some exotic destination; the Nile, Europe, Guatemala, etc. My mother also fueled a love of travel by taking me to Portugal and planning our trip to Jordan last year. Our family has always looked outward for inspiration, intrigued by other cultures and destinations.

But I'm no longer whisked all these places by my parents. It's one thing to be a kid and have your parents take you to Cozumel or Ecuador. It's another thing to be in college and traveling internationally on your parent's tab. Thus, my travels have slowed down quite a bit. I have left the country only three times since the age of eighteen, which would have shocked me as a kid to think about. I still love road trips, camping, seeing new places, checking out different parts of the country. But there's a huge difference between going to Las Vegas to go climbing or New York to see the museums and going to a foreign country.

And the travel bug gnaws at you. Whenever I've heard of an amazing trip overseas, I am consumed by the desire to go myself.

But it's scary to go alone. And as a young person on a tight budget, the landscape changes. I have held myself back for all those reasons, but I have been completely shamed into realizing that I can go do this stuff on my own with very little money by this girl. She's one of my dear friends from college who has taken to traveling on her own like she was born with a passport in one hand and Lonely Planet in the other. She inspires me... (that's right, girl!).

So, my resolve has hardened. I'm so ready (and TERRIFIED) to go and explore more of Jordan and hopefully after that, the world. I don't want to feel tied down or restricted by how I'm getting there or where I'm going or how I'll manage. I need to step into my confidence and realize that I can do it. I'm smart enough and headstrong enough to make it happen.

Well, I guess that's it for the night. I'm pretty tired (last night was another late one, of course). I will leave you with this song, though. It's sort of my chick power ballad.

Cheers!