Trekking Giraffes

January Term

At my school, we take one course during the month of January.  JanTerm courses range from Harry Potter to Calculus to bird watching.  

And then there are the travel courses.  As a freshman, you are not allowed to travel out of America.  However, as a sophomore next year, I can travel abroad.

Which is why I am literally freaking out right now.  Freaking out from excitement and happiness.

The 2013 travel courses were released today and I cannot be in a better mood.  January Term was one of the primary reasons I came to my college, and after some weeks of severe doubt in my choice this is making everything seem much brighter.  Travelling is a big part of my life.  Much of my exploration of the world has occurred with my family, forming some of my fondest memories of our time spent together.  I love the thrill of getting on an airplane and lifting off to a culture so vastly different from your own.  The food, the language, the clothes, the buildings, the plants.  Even the smell of the air.  Everything is different and that is something completely special that I cherish.  

When I have children, I want them to have the opportunities I did to experience the world.  It has made me the person I am today.  Without travelling, I would not have developed my love for the environment, and an understanding of people from many different cultures.  I am blessed to have the life I do where I live in a time where you can go to these places.  Nothing will compare to hiking up mountain to visit a Buddhist temple…to see the prayer flags flapping in the wind and to hear the bells chiming softly.  Nothing is more personal than seeing the Coliseum - reading the Latin as it was carved years ago.  Nothing will be as beautiful as swimming with wild dolphins in the ocean or watching a humpback whale breech next to your boat. 

So, if you haven’t realized it yet already - I’m pretty excited.  I hope that I can have the chance to travel next year and make the memories that I will really remember from my college.  And now…where shall I go?

Do I want to study coral reefs in Indonesia?

Conservation biology in South Africa?

Buddhism and Hinduism in India?

Literature in Ireland?

The possibilities are calling to me and my biggest problem now is picking one destination.

Why doesn’t anyone use the Oxford comma anymore

seriously.