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Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Calm Before The Storm...

So, here I am, in the country (i.e. farmland, 10 miles to the nearest CVS) part of Maryland (I didn't even know that Maryland had a country part). But, this is where my sister and her family are located, so this is where I am. I'm pretty nervous about my move to Sofia. Oh yeah, I didn't tell y'all? I'm moving to Bulgaria. You know, Eastern Europe, that country that borders Turkey, Greece, Macedonia, and Serbia. No? Well, you'll soon be introduced to it as it will be my new home. 


Five years in the Middle East and I have a lifetime of memories and lifelong friends. Now, it's time to create more memories and make more friends. But I'm not even there yet. It's not even time to board the plane. It's not even time to check in. The movers haven't even come by to pick up my stuff. I've got a few more days before all this goes down. I've tried to keep busy with these remaining days in America mostly by spending time with friends and family. For the most part, it's covered up the feeling I get every time I travel. Yes, I feel nervous EVERY TIME I travel. The type of nervous that makes you feel like your heart wants to jump out of your chest. The type of nervous that gives you sweaty palms. Even after visiting 42 countries, I still get nervous. It's not about the actual travel part, I'm not afraid to fly or any anything like that. It's about the newness of it all. Amount other things, it's about how I'm perceived as a black man in a country that probably has not had a lot of interactions with people from the African Diaspora. But the best part is, I always overcome my nervousness pretty much as soon as the plane lands. Yes, I've moved to a different country before and it's a headache. Every. Single. Time. But, it's part of the life I love. Forms. Visas. Signatures. Passport pictures. International health insurance. Stool samples (Ugh, I know, TMI, but it's too late now). Arm rest battles on planes. Finding your luggage when you thought it was lost. Losing your iPad (twice). Accidentally traveling to the wrong country (how the hell does that happen? Not so long story. Ask me about it). Eating stinky tofu. Eating crocodile. Climbing Kilimanjaro. So on and so forth. Travel makes me come alive. I love it. There's no getting around it. I'd rather smell the new pages in my passport, or a whole new passport, than a new car. That should be a cologne,"New Passport Smell".*copyrights it*

So back to the ORIGINAL purpose of this post, I'm nervous any time I travel but this is a special kind of nervousness. I've felt it a few times before: moved to Atlanta in 1999, moved to Boston in 2007, moved to Saudi Arabia in 2010, and move to Kuwait in 2012. Now, this will be my fifth move in 16 years. One may ask, "What are you looking for?" Well, that's simple. I'm looking for that feeling you get every time you have a new, awesome experience. Having a baby kangaroo eating out of the palm of my hand in Australia, or eating whale in Iceland, or taking pictures of the Aurora Borealis in the Arctic Circle, or sharing a common life experience with mates from Wales while you're both visiting Cambodia. These are examples of times where I get that feeling. No, not the feeling Marvin Gaye is talking about haha. The feeling of exposure to a truth you never knew existed. The truth that the world is meant to be traveled. The truth that people are meant to overcome obstacles together to bring them closer to each other dispite the actual physical distance. The truth that you will never be the same person again. One of my math professors at Morehouse College often told his classes, "You can never step in the same river twice." 

This post was supposed to be about me preparing to move and overcoming my fears. Yet, it's changed in to rambling about whale blubber, smelling offical government identification, awkward health tests, and sticking your feet in water. This is who I am and how I write. Tangents. It's not just about white guys on a beach. LOL *snorts* I hope you enjoy this blog in its new form (Probably not its final form but so be it). Because the simple fact is that I'll be using it, and you, to vent, share, and explore. May The Force be with you. 

Friday, May 30, 2014

Summer 2014 Travel Plans



*Joey from Blossom voice* WHOA! It's been almost three years since I've posted to this blog. The Book of Face refuses to let me post my summer video directly to their site, so I'll have to do it here. I hope this works. Meanwhile, I'm curious to see if I can resurrect this blog. Now that I'm back on it, I realize that I miss it. We'll see what happens. Enjoy.



Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to any of the songs playing in the video. They just sound cool.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Asian Adventure




OK! I'm finally caught up! Take a look at my pictures from my travels to South Korea, Japan, and Indonesia in November 2011. This trip opened my eyes to a few things. Simply incredible. I didn't even take pictures of half the things I did. It was truly incredible. Can't wait to go back and have more adventures! And no, I've not suffered any affects from visiting Japan after the Nuclear "incident." :-)


Kuwait Rock City



Part 3 of the effort to catch my audience up with my adventures. Here's the link to my pictures from my travels to Kuwait in September 2011. Enjoy! Next, I'll post about my trip to East Asia!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Summertime Excursion



This is Part 2 of an effort to catch family, friends, and followers up on my adventures. Check out the video I made of me touring the United States. This was June 2011-August 2011. Let me know what you think. Thanks!

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to any of the songs playing in the video. They just sound cool.



Om Al-Dunya




Those that have wondered if I fell of the face of the Earth, I have not. LOL My apologies. But I'd like to catch you up on what has happened since my trip to India in February 2011.

In April 2011, I had the opportunity to visit Egypt, or "The Mother of The World." This was a dream trip for me and a life-altering experience. Seeing the Pyramids, Sphinx, other ancient monuments,eating fresh seafood while overlooking the Mediterranean Sea in Alexandria, eating REAL Egyptian ful, seeing King Tutankhamun's sarcophagus and burial mask and other unique experiences left me speechless at times. Here are the links to those pictures. Warning: I took A LOT of pictures. So pick and choose. Don't feel like you have to view them all in one sitting. Enjoy!

Sphinx and Pyramid Light Show

Aswan-High Dam


Cairo Museum

Colossi Memnon


Alexandria Library



Aswan: Philae Temple

More Aswan

Luxor Temple

Nile Cruise

Temple of Queen Hatshepsut


Karnak Temple


The Great Sphinx and Pyramids of Giza

Even More Aswan

Valley of The Kings


Thursday, March 31, 2011

Fresh!


Yeah, I've been gone for a while. Sorry about that. Been living life. Thank you to those of you that have inquired about my safety here in the Middle East. I'm doing just fine. Now, enjoy "Fresh!"