Thoughts
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The Wedding
Returning to Cartagena was like returning to safety. A weight had been lifted off of my shoulders, one I hadn’t realized was there. Just being someplace familiar, someplace I knew, someplace I could easily navigate, was a relief. The rawness I had been feeling since my bag was stolen had finally begun to heal over. The belongings, even the most precious ones, were no longer invading my peaceful moments. In a few days’ time I would be with people I knew. I would get the hugs that up till then had only been virtual. I was coming home, in a sense. Taking a break from the unfamiliar and enveloping myself…
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Behind the Facade
I’m sitting at my hostel, typing this on my phone as my glasses slide down my greasy nose. No matter how many times a day I wash it, the humidity insists on keeping it shimmering. I want to take a shower but there is no A/C until nine and it’s only seven so I’ll wait a bit longer. It’s moments like these that are beautiful. When your body smells like three-day-old cheese that’s been sitting in the sun and your one set of clean clothes is damp from the water that leaked through your rain cover and into your backpack. I have given up on trying to tame the curls…
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Saying Goodbye
Dear Friends and Family, I’ve been thinking about this post for a few weeks and now that the day is finally here I am quite unsure of how to start. Throughout life we are compelled to say goodbye to friends and family for various reasons-some far more pleasant than others. When the time comes, it is often difficult to convey just how their presence has impacted us. For me goodbyes are never final, they are merely a “see you later.” I think that’s because I carry the people I’ve met with me wherever I go. I’ll be eating gelato in Italy and thinking, “Adam would really like this flavor,” or…
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Realizing the Moment
As I’ve mentioned in the “About” portions of this blog, I’m not always going to post about travel. Sometimes I might share a short story or maybe just my thoughts on life or a certain situation. This isn’t just a travel blog it’s a life blog. So today I wanted to talk about realizing the moment. Most of us are familiar with the idea of living in the moment. For humans this is extremely difficult. There is the trash we forgot to take out. The friend we worry about who is struggling with relationship issues, family drama, or depression. The aches from lost love, whether through death or a parting…
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American Abroad
Let’s talk about what it means to represent your country while you are abroad and the perceptions and stereotypes you can propagate via your actions. I’m going to do my very best to not sound like I’m preaching. Also please know that all of my posts are based on my perspectives and opinions. Which if you look up the definition of opinion it is a view not necessarily based on facts. American’s haven’t always had the best reputation when it comes to visiting other countries. Common misperceptions are that we are all rude, loud, and inconsiderate. Yet how did these stereotypes come into play? When I first started traveling I…
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Welcome!
Hey everyone! Welcome to the AMBitious explorER. I’m so excited to share my adventures and experiences with you. Let me start by telling you what this site is all about. Although I may occasionally offer advice and travel tips, for the most part I’m going to be telling stories and sharing perspectives. My goal is to help make travel relatable and to extinguish some of the stigmas about solo and international travel. If you’re looking for the ten best places to eat in Sydney or the top party spots in Rome then this may not be the right blog for you. If you crave adventure, humor, mishaps, and honest to…
