The Trials of Packing

Our departure date is fast approaching. And by fast approaching I mean we are down to less than 4 weeks. I may or may not be freaking out a lottle. And by a lottle I mean, I am not sitting among lists and lists of stuff and trying to figure out what in the name of Aunt Jemima's delicious syrup I am supposed to PACK?!

Have you ever had to pack for an entire 3 months? 3 months of being in 4 different countries, with completely different climates and you aren't entirely sure what you can buy that you need.

I mean, first up is Europe. This is the weather report for Euope:

London: Rain
Paris: Rain
Germany: Rain

Yes, I am traveling through Europe during the rainy season. I have a good rain jacket. I am looking for some nice waterproof walking shoes. But I have to pack for somewhat chilly, wet weather.

India? Hot. Hotter. High humidity. Hottest. More very high humidity.

So clothing wise? I am packing most of my clothes for Europe, with a few items for India. I am just going to buy all of my clothes in India. (Any excuse to buy clothes, right?!) Not to mention it is more respectful of the culture there to dress in traditional Indian clothing.

But if you get past the clothing issue we come to something a bit more serious. Like, how much contact solution do I bring? I can't for the life of me figure out how much contact solution I usually use in 3 months. And toothpaste. And, something very important (sorry men), tampons.

Ok, I don't know about anyone else but I can't ever really predict how many and what kind (light, regular, super?) I am going to need. Some women are as predictable as cuckoo clocks. I am about as predictable as Spring in Utah. (For those of you who don't know, Spring weather in Utah is so unpredictable that I keep a parka in my car, along with a t-shirt, a rain jacket, boots, umbrella and 24 hour survival kit.) I've been told I"ll want to bring all the feminine things I can with me. So... that will be a fun guessing game.

Other things I need to look into? Shampoo/Conditioner, face wash, toothpaste... you know, things you actually use a lot. I'm sure India does in fact have face wash, but what about MY face wash?! (In truth, I use the awesome castor oil/coconut oil face wash that I make myself. But what if I run out? Do they have the stuff to make it there?!)

Needless to say, I've got a lot to figure out. And I've got to make it all fit into my backpacker's pack.

Anyone know where I can find Mary Poppins? I think I might need to borrow her carpet bag.

The Adventure Before the Adventure

So before we fly to India we actually get to spend 2 weeks in Europe. We will fly into London and fly out of Frankfurt. So we've got several days planned in London, Paris and several cities along the Romantic Road in Germany. 

It is strange because I think I am most excited for Germany. I have been to London once, but I had to wander around by myself. And I definitely didn't see everything I wanted too. I did my thesis on Henry VIII's 3rd wife Jane Seymour, and I have spent years studying English history. So I am rather in love with London. I've never been to Paris, and I have always wanted to go. And by always, I mean it is on my bucket list. But Germany.... it has this great unknown, wonderful quality to it. 

I've had so many people tell me about Paris. I've read about, seen movies about it and even learned French (I've forgotten most of it. But hey, I tried.) And so i think I am excited about Germany because I get to go to cities no one has told me about. And we will have a car to drive around in. And that will be beautiful and wonderful. No trains or buses to catch. Just being able to get totally, wonderfully, magically lost in a strange land full of castles and a language I can't comprehend.

Maybe that doesn't sound so great to some. But I love the idea of no itinerary. We will have a pretty strict itinerary for London and Paris. There is so much we've been told we have to see. But in Germany, traveling through Rothenburg, Heidelberg and seeing all that we want in between.

Hidelburg

It is kind of funny to travel with my husband. We view "vacation" differently. He wants adventure and exploration and doing. I want to rest and see and refresh and not do. That is why we like cruises. I've got hours to sit by a pool, or on a deck, in the sunshine. Next to the ice cream machine (the most important part). And I read. Book after book. And I nap. And I soak up lots and lots and lots of sunshine.  And then, we come to port and we get out and we explore and do and see and walk and move. It allows both of us to be happy. 

Rothenburg

So this trip, I feel like Germany is going to be my kind of place. We will kill ourselves walking and doing and seeing all over London and Paris. And then we will get to Germany and get lost just the way I like. We will meander. We will experience. We will breathe it all in.

I'm sure that by the time we arrive in India we will be exhausted from traveling across Western Europe and seeing all we could see. Plus the time difference... I am expecting a major crash and burn and several days spent on sleep. But that is a topic for another time.

We are still setting up our itinerary for Europe. Where would you suggest we go? If you could go anywhere in England, France or Germany where would you go? Any place we absolutely have to see?

Where We Shall Live in India (and pictures of my cat. Just go with it.)

So India is going to hold a lot of adventures. I mean new people, food, places, new languages, no toilet paper or air conditioning.... So much change and difference!

When people ask what I think India will be like I simply say, "I expect a lot of different." And that is the truth. 

But before you think we will be living in a little thatched roof hut, think again. Think more.... 3 bedroom apartment, with marble (you heard me, marble, how fancy-pants is that?!) floors. In all honesty, I would take just a regular floor if I could have toilet paper. Strangely, that wasn't an option. So I'll just go with it. 

Another difference? I'll have people doing my laundry, cooking my meals and cleaning the apartment. Waaaaaayyyy different from my current lifestyle. (Please note, I've had cereal for dinner multiple times this week. So I am really looking forward to the whole provided meals thing.) I'm excited for the laundry doing as well. I mean, laundry and dishes are my least favorite things that exist besides the dentist. Really. So to have someone do that for me?! Best three months ever.

Normally, we wouldn't have this set up at all. But the university is providing it for us! How awesome is that?! I'm pretty excited about all of the fancy-pants treatment.

But there are some things I am going to miss about my house, though I have to clean it all by myself. Like my bed. I love my bed. Being able to drink straight from the tap. And, most of all, my cat.

Guys, I have an adorable cat. Maggie is the best. She is fat and amiable and cuddly and incredibly opinionated. She likes to try and sew with me, and read with me and she would "help" me cook if I let her. 

We rescued her off the streets about a year ago, and she has turned into the best cat ever. 

She will take the milk and leave you She is also a milk stealer (never leave your cereal bowl unattended. with soggy, gross, cat-saliviaed corn flakes. Gross.). And she likes to lick people like a dog. Which is weird, but I love it. Also, you'd think I would just kick her off the table instead of taking a picture first....

Here's the thing guys, we had someone all lined up to sublet our apartment and watch our adorable kitty. But it fell through yesterday. This makes me anxious. I don't want to leave my cat with just anyone! (or my apartment for that matter!) So if you are looking for housing, or know anyone who is looking for housing please check out this ad.

Big Things

So its been a while. A bit, one might say. And in this while and bit lots of things have happened.

BIG things have happened.

Such as: I am a certified yoga instructor.

I moved. Twice.

I got two new jobs.

I'm moving to India for three months.

What, that last one caught you off guard? To be honest, it caught me off guard as well. I mean, my husband and I had talked about it. He has to go for his degree. But for some reason I never thought it would actually happen.

This is Visakhapatnam. Usually called Visak. Where we will be staying. 

It is happening. In 37 days. (Holy crap!) That is really soon.

I'm kind of freaking out a little a lot. A lottle. I am freaking out a lottle.

And I am super excited. And scared. And ready. And not even CLOSE to ready.

So I'll back up.

Stephen is an Anthropology major. To graduate he must do a field study. He is doing his field study in India. Visakhapatnam, India to be exact. He will be doing an awesome field study there that I won't even try to explain because it is to anthropological for my brain.

I am coming along for the ride because... well DUH. It is India. And my husband. And I have spent much too much time away from him as it is. And, now that I am a yoga instructor, it will be the coolest thing ever to actually study yoga in India! It makes me immensely happy. And terrified at the same time. I am terriappy. (That word combo doesn't work as well. Moving on.)

Being a yoga instructor makes it hard to enjoy yoga pictures.
 I see alignment issues and it ruins it. But seriously,
GET YOUR FOOT OFF YOUR KNEE!

We've been doing visas and vaccines (ouch!) and planning what in the world we are taking with us, what we are leaving. Its all a crazy, crazy adventure. All happening at once!

What is super exciting is that we will be spending two weeks in Europe on our way to India. We will be traveling from London, through France and ending in Germany. We've never been to France or Germany and so we are really excited! (Except for the packing part.... I am in a quandary of how to pack for the rainy season in Europe and the blazing hot season in India. All in one big backpack. Anyone own a shrink ray?)

I'm so excited for all of this! I'll be giving more updates as they come along, and you can always follow our adventure here. I'll have internet access in India, so I can keep y'all posted at once!

Spirit of Adventure

Maybe it is cabin fever. Maybe it is my sense of adventure twitching after being shoved in a corner. And maybe it is my secret daredevil deciding that my life is just to damn boring.

I don't know.

But I feel like I have just woken up after months of hibernation. I have a need to be outdoors. I have a thirst for sunshine (it IS winter. I kind of always have this unquenchable thirst for warmth and sunshine). I want to MOVE.

I don't know if anyone remembers this post. Or if you've read why I'm blogging on my about me page. I have a fun little daily battle with my own personal monster, depression. And it has been in full swing for the past several months. I've been so busy, literally buried in things to do, combined with our freezing winter, horrible air quality and complete lack of sunshine... I've had a hard time keeping my head above water.

You can only procrastinate for so long, hide from life with TV and drown your sorrows in food. I saw my therapist last week (I highly recommend therapists, they are awesome) and this morning I woke up with fire. With hope. With the desire to go climb a mountain.

I feel alive! I want to go and do and be and LIVE. And this is a wonderful feeling after feeling numb for so long.

I'm doing all I can every day to fight back. Working out, making plans with friends, laughing with my husband and getting as much sunshine as I can (fake and real). And I think it is starting to pay off.  I am ready for adventure!

And I am SO thankful for that feeling. And to perpetuate and keep the positivity, loving-life attitude here are some big and little things I am looking forward too!

• Running a half-marathon in August with a good friend.
• Easter!
• Almost being done with the history class from hell.
• Doing THIS this summer (it is going to be EPIC)

• Seeing my brother in August (he has been gone for 18 months! AH!)
• Girls night this Saturday
• The Bachelor EVERY Monday. (don't judge, and I'm not sure what I'll do when this seasons is over!)
• Working out every night with my husband.
• Lasagna
• New books to read, and some time to actually read them!
• Watching Pitch Perfect for the fourth time (the hubs gave it to me for Valentine's Day!, I need to do a whole post on this movie...)
• Sleeping in on Saturday (it is the ONLY day of the week I get to sleep in. We have church waaaaayy to early on Sunday morning)
• Making my husband laugh.

What are you looking forward too? What are you thankful for? Is there any daredevil activities you wish you could do?

(Linking up with: It's Almost Friday Thursday Blog Hop, Black Tag Diaries, It's Ok Thursday, Thankful Thursdays)