We are just a handful of hours from departure time and our emotions are all over the place.
We experience elation, euphoria, the high of anticipating a new adventure, epic fear, dread, worry, uncertainty and sadness often within the span of a few hours. In short, we are losing our damn minds. Which I honestly think is normal when undertaking something like this.
This is not to say we don’t realize what a phenomenal life changing experience this will be. We do. Or that we won’t be able to relax and enjoy it. We will. Or that we doubt our ability to sink into the experience, soak it all up and learn the ropes as we go. We don’t. It simply means that we are human.
A couple of weeks ago, I asked everyone in the family a few questions about how they were feeling about the trip and recorded their answers. It’s an honest look about where we all are, who is most emotionally stable (plot spoiler, I am the hottest mess of all) and what things we are most looking forward to. Be warned however, once you get inside our heads, the world won’t quite look the same. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Mason
What are you most looking forward to?
Being with family and eating great food. I can’t choose between them. They’re on the same level.
What makes you the most nervous about the trip?
The thing that makes me the most nervous is, like, dealing with the actual travel. Just dealing with sitting on a plane for eight hours (he’s funny, our first flight is 10 hours). The weariness of, ok, we have to pack our bags again. What’s the actual question? ‘Cause I’m not really nervous about a lot of things, but I have some anxiety about those things.
What will you miss most about home?
Probably, in the end, it will be like, the couch. You know, it makes me feel welcome when I’m sleepy, it comforts me when my feet hurt. I’ll also miss Des Moines though. I love Des Moines. The people.
What do you wish you could take with you?
Ummm, some friends from work as guides. We have guy from Cambodia and one from Vietnam. Books. You need a single word answer? Books.
What country would you add if you could?
I’d like to see Machu Picchu. What country is that in? (Peru, lover. It’s in Peru.)
If you were to pick an anthem for our trip what would it be?
(Leans back, crosses his arms and chooses a Lou Reed song) “Walk on the Wild Side”. It’s laid back and that’s what came to mind first.
Ian
What are you most looking forward to?
I’m looking forward really to being part of the culture. Like we are going are to do really touristy things and see cool places, but at the same time, I’m really looking forward to the days where we just walk around the market.
What makes you the most nervous about the trip?
Dying. Like about life in general or about the trip? (Lily chimes in here “I don’t want to get into your existential crisis. Focus on the trip.”) There’s nothing really major that strikes me that I’m going to be nervous about. I’m just ready to go there and see what happens. Mom’s got enough anxiety and nervousness for all of us combined. (TRUTH!!!)
What will you miss most about home?
Seeing friends. Like, seeing people that I hang out with every day. Not seeing them will be weird. Like being pulled out of my comfort zone I’ve lived in for the past 19 years.
What do you wish you could take with you?
That’s a hard question. There’s nothing that I need to bring with me that I’m not. (We seriously argued with him for three full minutes and he couldn’t come up with anything. We were sure he would say his XBOX.)
What country would you add if you could?
Romania. Because the Eastern European countries have always been interesting to me. The topographical features. Which is really just a fancy way of saying forests are cool.
If you were to pick an anthem for our trip what would it be?
We kinda talked at one point about “Island in the Sun” by Weezer and it just kinda works.
Staci
What are you most looking forward to?
I am most looking forward to unstructured time. Where we don’t have to be anywhere at a certain time and our days aren’t filled up with having to do this at this time and this at this time and this at this time cause it’s exhausting.
What makes you the most nervous about the trip?
In this order, I am most nervous about, getting through customs, squatty pottys and being murdered by terrorists.
What will you miss most about home?
My friends and family.
What do you wish you could take with you?
A Western toilet. And a germ resistant bubble of protection.
What country would you add if you could?
Tanzania. Because my heart broke when we had to cut Africa from the itinerary.
If you were to pick an anthem for our trip what would it be?
“Send Me on My Way” (Singing. Loudly and off key.)
Lily
What are you most looking forward to?
I am most excited about the markets and food. YEAH! Spice markets! I could buy so much saffron!
What makes you the most nervous about the trip?
Stuff getting stolen. I’m really concerned about our packs getting cut or people taking stuff from us. Carrying bags terrifies me. People slipping things into our packs. (Insert HUGE sigh.)
What will you miss most about home?
School. (This was met with comments like “weirdo” and “freak”. We’re very supportive of each other in this family.) I’ll miss friends, but I’ll miss school most.
What do you wish you could take with you?
School supplies. Multiple purses. I’ll miss pizza rolls. Does that count?
What country would you add if you could?
Nepal. ‘Cause like it was on there and we cut it and it just makes me sad. It seems like a really cool culture. Good ole Nepal. I just really wish that we had kept Nepal.
If you were to pick an anthem for our trip what would it be?
The sarcasm in me wants to say “It’s About Time” by Young the Giant. (Mason asks “What will you be singing in your head when you are getting on the plane?) Well, because I’ll be nervous, I’ll probably be signing “Wells Fargo Wagon” when I’m getting on the plane because that’s what goes through my head when I am nervous!!!
“Renegades” by X Ambassadors.
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