Some "final" thoughts

May 2007

It’s hard for me to believe that my trip around the world is almost over. It is really bitter sweet. I’m excited to go home and see everyone that I have been missing but at the same time I don’t want to say good-bye to all of the wonderful friends that I have made on this journey. We have been though so much together. They have become my classmates, my friends, and my family. It is sad knowing that we will probably never all be together again. Ranging from the west cost to the east coast and places in between, there is just no telling when we will see each other again (although we do have a reunion trip to Greece in the works).

For the first time, I feel that I have truly realized that there are so many things in my life that I have been taking for granted. I am so blessed to have loving and supporting family and friends, a roof over my head, food on my plate, a bed to sleep in, clothes to wear, and a job that I love. I have been taking for granted that I can vote, get a good education, have access to good healthcare, marry who I want, and wear what I want. I have been taken for granted even the basic necessities that a lot of the world goes with out, such as electricity and running water. Most only hear or read of the things that I have seen even though it is also present back in the US. We are just blind to it.

I am honestly also really afraid to go home and back to my life or “reality” as some may view it. I really feel that going back isn’t going back to reality. Reality is what I have been living these last few months. I have learned so much on this trip and I guess that my biggest fear about going back home is that I will so easily fall right back into my old habits; that everything I have learned will be forgotten in a way. That everything I have seen and experienced won’t matter. That it will no longer have the same impact on me that it once did. I am now part of an extremely privileged group of society. Less than one percent of the world’s population has gone all of the way around the world. Now I feel as though I have this responsibility that I need to fulfill.

I am afraid that I will drop the ball.

I’ve been told that the greatest culture shock I will have will not be in South Africa, India, Vietnam, or Japan. It will be going back to the US and back home. I believe it. For starters, it will take me a while to re-adjust back to having a normal routine. Here on the ship, I literally have to take it one day at a time. There is no normal schedule by any means. I have 2 days of classes here, a trip here, 6 classes there, another week break, and then I get tested on material I learned a month ago. I sleep when I am able, which in general is rare. It doesn’t matter if it is 4am or 3pm. My physical, mental, and emotional limits have been tested to the max both on and off of the ship. My body is about ready to fall apart. I honestly don’t think that it could handle another port of sleepless nights, strange foods, and constantly being on the go for fear of missing something. (I actually felt guilty when I did manage to sleep in port.) On the ship, there were always papers to write and tests to study for. I usually felt sick on top of it all. But don’t get me wrong, I loved it all and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. But I think that the culture shock will come from the American lifestyle and everything that I had but never realized. I just hope that you all stick with me as I re-adjust. It is not going to be easy. I may ask you to drive me around at night so that I can fall asleep since I now need the rocking of a ship, train, or plane to sleep. I have been keeping my blog updated so that you could follow me on my journey even though I found it impossible to explain what I have experienced. I know that you will not understand although you will try. Just understand that I am not exactly the same person I was when I left. I mean I am, but I am just a new and improved version (I hope).

With this new responsibility to help change the world, I realize that I have to start small and I have to start with myself. I want to be a better daughter, sister, granddaughter, girlfriend, and friend. I want to walk more and drive less. I want to consume less and volunteer more. I want to eat healthier and actually exercise when I say that I am going to. I want to take full advantage of my education and make an impact with it. I want to paint and read more. I want to pay more attention to what is going on in the world.

There has not been a single aspect of my life that hasn’t been impacted in one way or another by this trip. I’ve thought about what has happened in my past, what I am experiencing in the present, and what I want to do in future. And there is so much I want to do in the future. So the question is: has this truly been a life changing experience? I’d say so, but only time will tell.

Love,
Laura