Seasons Change

I can finally feel the cold that I’ve wanted for so many months. Summer seems to have flown by and fall is cranking right along. The seasons are changing and yet I still don’t know the date or day of the week. Sometimes I just need to take a break, think about the places I’ve been, the places I’m going, take a deep breath and take in my surroundings.

Really, I can’t believe I’m saying this but I find myself missing Asia. Those 6 months represent a fare amount of misery, a little bit of hard work and just a tad too much heat. But, there were so many good things as well and of course I didn’t realize what they were until I left. Here’s just one…

The Thais, the Chinese, the Lao, the Japanese and the Cambodians were by far the most generally jovial people I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. Most remarkably, the people who had the least to smile about did the most of it. The individuals I was lucky enough to get to know really changed the way I saw each country and its people. From the Chinese film producer to the Thai teacher trying to learn enough English so he can get a better job and on to the Japanese graduate who refuses to join his country’s killer corporate culture, I don’t remember many names but what was most important about our conversations will never leave me. What I miss most about Asia lies in its people and I will never see them the same way again. Though I can’t say for certain, something in me says I’ll be back.

Europe is on the horizon and I’m sincerely excited about it. There are so many epic travel destinations and just so much to see that I can’t even wrap my head around it. I cannot even begin to describe how much more I’ve heard about France, Italy, Spain or Greece than I ever heard about Cambodia or Laos. I’m still undecided as to whether this is a good thing but at the very least, all this hype has instilled a great deal of curiosity in me. And plus, I still retain my goal of getting a job in the Alps this winter and few new friends in the right places might actually be able to make it happen. Nothing sounds better than spending a winter at the base of a European ski resort, so let’s just hope that I can make it happen. I’m going into Europe a lot more blind (in terms of research) than I went into Asia but the more I read here on its eastern doorstep, the more I get excited for what’s to come.

Finally, I’m currently in Turkey blasting my way through with Alyce. It’s been quick and I’ve barely had time to breathe but the scenery, food and traveler scene is spectacular. I got to swim in the bluest water I’ve ever seen on a 4 day sail boat cruise down Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. We’ve eaten so many chicken kabobs that any sane person would feel sick at the mere thought of one by now but yet I still crave them on any given afternoon. Since school has started in most countries, the students have left and only the unemployed or long term travelers remain (mostly). This country is currently completely overrun with Aussies and though it can get repetitive at times, we’ve managed to make some great friends along the way. Honestly though, if anyone were to invade Australia, the country would be screwed; everyone is gone apparently. Turkey not only occupies the tumultuous east-west divide but it seems to do so gracefully as well. It’s a beautiful country and though the people leave something to be desired, we have truly enjoyed our time here.

So the seasons are changing and nature’s way of reminding us of time’s passing has definitely resulted in a bit of silent reflection on my part. I’m definitely looking forward too what’s to come but seem to be prematurely missing the places I’ve been. In the end I feel fortunate to have been given (or had the chance to seize) the experiences that rustle up these feelings. I’m just trying to remember not to take a step forward without taking at least taking two looks back.