10 travel tips

I have the magnificent good fortune to have a job that requires occasional travel to the Caribbean. Although this has created a good bit of stress for me, it is also an incredible experience that allows me to enjoy my wanderlust while maintaining a (fabulous) relationship with my Adam. I leave for my first trip to the Dominican Republic in less than 2 weeks, so for me, that means I'm starting to pack.

Having spent months living in the woods of California and carrying all of my belongings on my back, I'm aware of what it means to travel light. I have spent a good deal of money on gear that is meant to make travel easier, and I'm lucky that I have plenty of skills and knowledge about packing to be prepared.

Some new things that make me a bit worried: contaminated water, malaria and dengue carrying mosquitoes and the threat of hurricanes and flooding. Of course, we had to filter all of our water in California, but we didn't have to worry about fresh fruits and veggies. We also had the pleasant experience of being eaten alive by mosquitoes (we went over Mosquito Pass several times that summer). Only once have I experienced the rains that come with hurricane season, my second time in Puerto Rico. But all of those things together create a new situation for me. I'm also slightly nervous about being vegan in very rural communities. Should make for an interesting challenge. I'm bringing luna bars and nutritional shakes, so I shouldn't be deprived.

Some things I'm thinking about as I pack:
1. It's going to be wet. No doubt about it. That means everything, especially my underwear, goes in ziplock bags. In addition to keeping things dry, they also make packing much easier. Decompress the air and the bags slip in nicely. We'll have vehicles to keep our belongings dry, but it's just good to be on the safe side. I'm also bringing a lightweight rain jacket and pants. My sandals will be fine, since it will be hot. If it were cold I'd bring waterproof boots, but I'm not concerned for this trip.
2. It's going to be hot. We've been getting humid 90+ degree days, but it could be hotter in the DR. I'm happier if I have fresh clothes to change into, but I need to limit space. That means I'm bringing quick drying materials that will allow me to use two outfits, one to wash and one to wear. This also helps because I have to spray my clothes with insect repellent, but there's only enough spray for about 3 outfits. The spray lasts through several washes. I should be just fine.
3. I will need field work clothing and resort clothing. We're doing a two day training at the resort, then field work for a week, and then 4 more days at the resort. I need versatile clothes that will be appropriate for a more professional setting as well as doing informal interviews in poor communities. That means one or two dresses/skirts for the resort, and a few pants/long shorts that will keep me protected from mosquitoes, and not too hot, while maintaining a modest appearance.
4. I need space for lots of supplies. That means I'm being skimpy with my personal items. I'll bring a small bottle of liquid castile soap (for body, face and hair) and my creme leave-in conditioner will work as a hair product to tame my curls. Toothbrush, toothpaste, FLOSS!, sunscreen, insect repellent and deodorant will be about all that I need. I will probably also bring a small bottle of water and about 10 drops of tea tree oil. I use it on blemishes and cuts as an anti-bacterial solution. It also smells good! Tea tree is  AMAZING for foot funk, if you're hiking a lot. Soak your feet in water and epsom salts and mix in some tea tree. Foot funk be-gone!
5. I'm probably going to get sick. I'm going to take anti-malarial medication (chloroquine) and I've been vaccinated for Typhoid, tetanus, Hep A and B, and all the other required vaccines. But I nearly always have stomach issues when I travel. We got a zpack prescription, but I'm also bringing Immodium and chewable fiber tablets. A coworker who traveled to Africa said she had anticipated diarrhea, but not constipation. Hence, the fiber. I'll also bring plenty of ibuprofen since I'm prone to sun headaches and I'll bring some 24-hour allergy pills. We're supplying first aid kits for all of our teams, so other items will be included in that.
6. On a long trip, I'm going to want to look pretty occasionally. That means I might bring mascara, concealer and my perfume stick. I use a great roll-on perfume oil that I can find at most food co-ops and other hippie shops. I use "Egyptian Goddess" but there are other nice scents, like Vanilla and Patchouli. I may also bring some jewelry, because it's a big part of how I express myself. I notice that I can sometimes lose touch with my Emily-ness when I travel, and it's nice to have a pair of earrings and a necklace that feel like "me". I think of it like a talisman of sorts, protecting me from getting lost in this wild world.
7. Comfort is key. Therefore, I'm bringing only comfortable shoes, clothes that I like wearing and some creature comforts like an i-pod and a good book. Comfort for me also means a good pair of sunglasses and lots of clean underwear.
8. Nothing goes as planned. That's why I like to be prepared for any situation. We might end up in the middle of a tropical storm or someone might get seriously hurt. No matter where I go, I bring some rope, my pocket knife and extra underwear (how many times has that come up now?). Some people are resourceful, but the key to that is resources. You can't use it if you don't have it. My time in the wilderness made me aware of how much we depend on Nature's mercy, and I don't take for granted that we are all still alive today because of the survival skills and instincts we depend on daily. This sounds very morbid, but I just think it's practical to think about ways that I could be more prepared in scary situations.
9. Routine is important. I am horrible at this one. When I travel, I get wrapped up in the newness of everything and forget that the Emily at home really needs some morning peace, and lots of sleep, to function properly. I usually eat at certain times and I'm very particular about balancing my meals. I am sensitive to eating too many carbs, not enough fruits and veggies, and especially getting enough water throughout the day. I drink more water than anyone I know, and I sometimes skimp when I'm traveling because it's expensive or because I forget that I need to keep that normal hydration level up. I also need to remember to brush my teeth and take more showers than I'm inclined to (when possible). 
10. Bring some tea! Although the DR is going to be ridiculously hot, it doesn't hurt to bring a few bags of mint tea. I might brew it at night and then I'll have a refreshing cool drink for the next day. This is especially important because all of the water needs to be boiled in order to be safe (or bottled or filtered). I like traveling with tea because you can ask for free hot water almost anywhere and have a nice beverage. This is wonderful in expensive airports. It's also a good idea to bring your own mug because often they give you hot drinks in styrofoam, which I try to avoid. Tea is great for making friends and helping people feel comfortable. I'm a big fan. Keep it in a ziplock bag!

With all of that put into coherent sentences, I will now commence packing! If I think of anything else, I'll make another post.

*I thought about including something about language, but since I'm fluent in Spanish I'm not too concerned. I think it's beyond crucial to learn a bit of a language before you go somewhere that English is not widely used. It's for your own comfort and for the sake of the indigenous folk who have to deal with your lack of competence to function in their country. Learn how to say things and to ask questions, but also learn what the responses might be. If you need directions someplace, but never learned "left, right, straight" you'll be useless. That is all...

isn't it ironic...

when i ended my last post, i intended to head out on my bike for the evening, but what i did instead was stick around home and realize plans i had half-heartedly tried to make to attend the uganda lobby days conference in dc. instead of going to women's group, i bought a plane ticket and made arrangements to stay with a good friend from abroad. it was the best decision i've made this spring.

aside from being interesting, informative and inspiring, this trip was also full of irony. for example:

1. while i waited in the rochester airport to head to this peace rally, i was held up in my terminal by a plane-load of WWII vets exiting their plane to applause and standing ovations. ironic, considering i was on my way to protest war. and here they were, former soldiers, being honored by complete and total strangers. bizzare, to say the least.

2. i happened to be riding the same metro line that, while i was in DC, suffered a massive crash that killed 10 people, including the driver. although i was never near the stop and was in the conference when it happened, it was still surreal to take that same line the day after and watch the solemn and slightly nervous faces of my metro companions.

3. in a strange flow of conversation, i was invited to lunch with adam's ex-girlfriend, nicole. one of the girls in my new york delegation had been talking about how she had lost her cell phone and was trying to make sure she could still meet up with her friend for lunch. she discovered that i was vegan and excitedly invited me to go with her to lunch. she and "nicole" had worked for PETA one summer, traveling in a van and handing out vegan goodies, and she couldn't wait to see her again (ahem, she couldn't remember her last name though...) finally i realized it was the same nicole and very abrubtly declined. adam and i had joked about meeting up with her, but i was certainly not interested in having lunch with the woman adam lived with in his house for three years. even if i've already met her and think she's nice...

4. i made a friend at the conference, and we were driving around the city, looking for a gas station, when we ran out of gas. oh irony of all ironies.

5. i saw my friend alyssa's boyfriend biking around Adams Morgan, where i was staying with miriam (i met alyssa AND miriam in spain). then i found out alyssa had been the same place i was earlier, trying to catch glimpses of reese witherspoon shooting her latest film at the nearby starbucks.

so there you have it. there are other things worth blogging about, but i need to move on.


i quit my job at starbucks. my last day is next sunday. i couldn't be happier. i am a little sad that it limits my traveling abilities, but i can't wait to have those mornings to blog, read up on current events, job search, work on grad school apps and spend time with adam and betsy. our garden is exploding with fresh food and i need to get rid of a lot of things i don't need anymore. and there are many more books to read as well.

i'm getting more excited than ever about going back to school. i've been excited about clark university, but i just looked at uc-davis again, and i have a great feeling about it. i would love to live in davis, first of all, and i think the program would be great for me. i think the work that i'm doing now could really help me in the program, and depending on how i design my curriculum, i could get into agriculture, women's issues, sustainability, etc. one amazing thing about this program is that it's about building great communities that help protect our environment and take care of people, and davis is such an exemplary community. they also do extension work in sacramento, which is the most diverse city in the nation according to Time magazine. so it seems like a great model from which to learn. personally, i love that it is extremely close to the stanislaus, yosemite, tahoe and a host of other parks and forests for weekend hikes. and it's also the most bike-friendly city in the country. i think we're on the right track...

spending a year away from school, especially in environments that are extremely non-academic, i am thirsting for some brain stimulation and a chance to challenge myself. last year i wanted to give my brain a break, and it's been really good for me. i challenged my body and pushed it further than i ever thought it could go. i sat on mountain-tops, meditated on the shores of calm creeks and was nearly swept away in a raging river. i hiked 2 miles into the sky, carried all of my worldly possessions on my back. and now it's time to do all of that figuratively with my brain :) i can't wait to see what new adventures are waiting for me. just a few more months in americorps, and then who knows where i'll end up!

to scotland.

it's about time to leave for the airport.

i'm going to scotland :)

after quite the whirlwind, i've made it to another adventure...one involving passports, airports and time to think. it's my favorite thing in the world. i have a true addiction to it. i'm sitting here in my living room with my luggage in front of me, and there is nothing quite so satisfying as seeing all that work stuffed into a few small bags. i love preparing a suitcase with only the essentials, imagining what kind of journey i will be taking and what things i will need. starting with a large pile and slimming it down to a neat stack. little bottles of shampoo. batteries, snacks and something to read. plenty of socks and underwear.

a long time ago i discovered that this is what i wanted to live for. this is what i wanted my life to be. preparing for the next big adventure, taking the time to explore, grow and learn through challenging and exhilirating experiences. interacting with the whole world. this is what i'm meant to do. i'm not lucky, as one person said, except in that i am american, wealthy compared to the rest of the world and able-bodied. but all other things being equal, you have to want to do these things. it's been a rough little road up to today, losing my passport and finding it again, making financial sacrifices and taking risks, putting in extra hours at work, etc. but i've had so much faith in the beauty of adventure, the value of getting out in the world and taking the time to live, to truly live, in this world, that nothing has made this trip not worth it.

charlie should be here soon to take me to the airport. let's see what scotland has in store for claire bear and me...

begin again.

it is suddenly march.

the beginning. and the end.

last wednesday was ash wednesday, and now we are past the threshold of winter. we may be pummeled by snow storms yet, but winter is losing its battle. the time to start over has come, and there is no stopping it.

in less than 10 days, i will be boarding an airplane, destined for scotland. it will be my first international travel in two years. i won't be there long, but it will be enough. i am so unbelievably excited to see claire. we will get to celebrate her birthday early, visit the highlands and walk and walk and walk and talk and drink coffee. i'm looking forward so much to seeing this new life that she has in edinburgh, and maybe to give her my blessing to stay.

i would like to continue this entry, but i am about to get picked up on my vegan, animal rights, fellow UU-churchgoing friend's bicycle. details later :)

grace.

i have stood in front of impressive cathedrals, awe-inspiring paintings and gigantic skyscrapers.

but nothing will ever compare to the moment i stood in front of a three thousand year old juniper tree, and watched birds flit from branch to ancient branch. when will we ever learn that the only true beauty in this world is a gift of grace, something we don't deserve or expect? it is an ancient conifer, a weather-worn mountain peak and an anthill. it is nothing we can create. it is nothing we can imitate. we can only stand in the presence of grace and soak it up like light from the sun. isn't light the ultimate gift of grace, anyway?