Zen and the art of travelling
We’re leaving for Africa two weeks from tomorrow. And you know what I’m spending most of my time doing? Trying not to think about it. I’m really quite nervous, and every time I think about it (like right now), I end up with a knot or two or fifteen in my stomach.
I’ve never been tents-camping. (I’ve been snow camping, but somehow I doubt that will be a skill transferable to Africa.) I’ve never really been backpacking at all. I’m never been to Southern Africa. I’ve never been travelling for more than a couple of weeks. I’ve never been somewhere where there’s a real risk of catching a dread disease or getting caught up in a tense situation. I’ve never done any travelling where I didn’t have *any* places to stay booked in advance.
… And this is our honeymoon. ::shaking her head::
I mean, it’s going to be great, I’m sure. I know that I’ll come back amazed by the experience, hopefully with lots of lovely photos to show for it. I’m fully expecting it to be wonderful through and through. But that doesn’t mean that I’m not nervous.
… Oh yeah. And I have to take the GRE in a week and a bit. Ohbloodyhell.
Boo, GRE! This is one reason I am so happy to be in the arts. :-)
...Although I confess that I test pretty well, and perhaps the limited and specific stress of taking it would have more than compensated for the monster that is Portfolio.
I think that, concerning Africa, you really have to look at it as a kind of pre-20th-century adventure, rather than a vacation (or, still more dread, a honeymoon). Have you read Barbara Kingsolver’s “The Poisonwood Bible”?
I would be much less worried about the GRE were it not timed. I can DO the math, I just can’t do it quickly. ::sigh::
Yes, heavens forfend, a honeymoon! I have not read “The Poisonwood Bible,” although I read and greatly enjoyed her “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.” Different thing, though.
I don’t think it’s going to be “pre-20th-century” - I mean, my cell phone will work and all. I’m actually doing my best to go into it with as few preconceived notions as possible. :-)