Exactly what the Hell do I think I’m doing?
This morning, as I was preparing to break the news of my departure to my boss, I read a very thought-provoking post by Graham Phoenix about not wasting your time with your round the world trip.
Image credit: laurakgibbs - creatve commons
This is part 4 of a four part series, in which I chastise myself for past experiences and give advice on fixing myself for future travels. Yes, I can give myself advice without being crazy. If you’d like to catch up, you can read:
The sin
Okay, I can’t really say that being “shy” makes someone an idiot. The problem comes in when you are situationally shy, like I am. In business meetings or when I’m with friends, I’m not quiet at all. If you were to ask my friends about my “shyness” they would give you a look like you just asked about the political significance of the music of Miley Cyrus.
Image Creative Commons: Katie Tegtmayer
This is part 3 of a four part series, in which I chastise myself for past experiences and give advice on fixing myself for future travels. Yes, I can give myself advice without being crazy. If you’d like to catch up, you can read:
Cultural Idiot Lesson #3: Participate
I’m a habitual watcher.
My nerd cred goes back up with this.
I love people watching, dog watching, whale watching, girl watching. I’ve never tried bird watching because it seems like if you wanted to do that, you could just grab some day old bread, sit in a park and let the birds come to you. When you add in binoculars and ornithology books, it knocks even ME down a few rungs on the nerd ladder.
As a somewhat shy solo traveler it’s easy to spend too much time on the sidelines, worried that people might judge me or rebuff me in some way. The fear of rejection when you’re on your own can be pretty daunting. To make things worse, I’m also a card-carrying non-conformist. Okay, that’s a lie. I don’t actually carry a card because that would be the opposite of being a non-conformist. The point is, I generally avoid anything that’s been done by millions of people before me, whether it’s watching Avatar or using dental floss.
» Read more: Confessions of A Cultural Idiot Pt. 3 – Participate
This is part 2 of a four part series, in which I chastise myself for past experiences and give advice on fixing myself for future travels. Yes, I can give myself advice without being crazy. If you’d like to catch up, you can read Part 1: Eat Stuff.
Lesson #2 for cultural idiots: Don’t just take photos, take inspiration.
I’m setting up a contest on the site called “Identify This Photo.” Because I need serious help with about 7,000 photos that are a total mystery to me. Seriously, I don’t even think I took most of them. My working theory is that they just came with the camera like that generic family in a new picture frame. You may not know them, but damn, they sure look pretty.
Do you know where this is? Me neither.
I am the anti-Bourdain. When I watch him, I see someone who turned Fear Factor into a full time career.
Where's the expiration date printed?
I confess. Foreign food terrifies me. So much of it is slimy and chewy and squishy.
Seriously, have you SEEN a 100 year old egg? It’s an unnatural translucent green that you suspect incubates something that would stalk Sigourney Weaver. If I had eaten it, there would have been a translucent green coating on everything within 30 feet.
The most lavish feast I’ve ever seen was when I attended a traditional Chinese wedding (it was in Chinatown in Los Angeles, but that’s besides the point). All the main courses came out with heads still attached, so I had to survive entirely on fried rice and a slice of the marital cake. » Read more: Confessions of a Cultural Idiot Part 1: Eat
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