travel

i’ve already said i want to see as much of Canada as i can, but once i get my driver’s license and a decent set of wheels on the road, i’d really like to take in the many seasonal festivals here on the east coast that have always been just beyond my reach.

my relationship with the northern east coast has always been a love/hate one. i find it boring, with traditions lacking in zest and the people a bunch of slack-jawed maladroits. on the flip, i like being amongst simplicity, and opposed to most people who are often wishing for and seeking serenity – i live in it.

i want to venture out and appreciate the those things with celebrations – from harvest/food and wine to air ballooning to film to the truly obscure, i want to be there the open eyes, ears, mouth and especially heart :)

i have this thing with trees. i guess it’s a fascination/appreciation/adoration kind of thing. this may sound absolutely crazy, but the aspect of travel opens up an opportunity for me to experience more trees!

i live amongst prominently maple and fur trees, but i want to see other trees that are only indigenous to their particular environments, like redwoods and palms.

if i don’t make it there at least once in my lifetime, i’ll be gravely disappointed.

Japan is so attractive to me: it’s the birthplace of most of my favorite cartoons & Nintendo, has the perfect cultural contrast – a lush history plus their weird take on modern society, they’re technologically awesome, offer shopping meccas, Mount Fuji, sumo, architectural & garden landscapes, art, ceremonial everything, the Umeda Sky Building, otaku, Amerikamura/Den Den Town, rickshaws, kabuki, museums, bizarre television programming, authentic Japanese karaoke, metropolitan nightlife-induced seizures … and Godzilla attacks ;)

i can’t think of a place more diverse and exciting.

growing up, i never had much of an interest in my cultural background. all i really knew was that i lived in a village founded by German settlers, and that 80% of the people who live here (yes, i still live here) share the same last name.

but over the years, i’ve taken note of so many German marvels of innovation, and rich cultural heritage. i want to learn more.

i also have endured countless instances where i was (and still am) insulted for being German. stop calling me a Nazi! i am not to blame for such a social stain – and neither is Germany as a whole.

i would love to someday travel to Germany, take in its architecture, museums, food (though i’ve never been a fan of the food, but i might change my mind if a had it truly authentically prepared) & people. i’d love to visit some of the old world style villages – they’re so quaint & darling. and i love the language – i find it stern yet humorous.

i think it’s nice that my community has finally begun celebrating Oktoberfest – it’s good to acknowledge our heritage; even if it’s just an excuse for most to just have a few too many drinks ;)

a beer stein sat on a window sill in my childhood home that i always loved. my grandfather purchased it for his mother when he was overseas with the Navy in the 40’s. i’ve expressed to my grandmother that i’d like to have it (she said yes, but it has yet to come into my possession) and maybe someday i too could find a beautiful treasure like that on a German adventure.

i’m a skeptic, and a seeker of truth. all those countries that you see on the news that have disturbing things happening within them – well, i want to explore those places, see things for myself & offer myself as a resource if necessary.

i don’t want to do this until after my children are grown and no longer need my care, but i know that as adults, my sons will support me on this decision – i am raising them to be aware of the human condition: the bad we can cause and the good we can bring.

Canada of course! there are a lot of places i want to experience in this world, but exploring the rest of my beautiful country is a dream of mine – i would be truly happy if i got the chance to spend a summer driving cross-country. ♥