Most epic journeys start out with a transatlantic flight into the great unknown. Mine started with a two-hour delayed flight to Chicago, an almost-meltdown in the airport and a night in the hotel Radisson. After running between terminals and back again and trying not to panic as every airline slowly shut down for the night, I found a friendly face at the American Airlines counter. It was clear to me that she could recognize that near-meltdown look in people's eyes. She had never heard of Tbilisi, but it didn't matter, she knew how to get me where I needed to be. Within minutes I had a new flight itinerary and a hotel voucher.
So here I am with 12 more hours to kill in Chicago and when I land in Munich I'll have another 9 there. I'm trying to look on the bright side: yes, I will show up to my training a whole day late, but hey, I've always wanted to see Munich.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
The Places to Go
Every year I look forward to that first week in January when the New York Times' Travel Section tells me where I need to go that year. In 41 short posts you have everything from the extraordinary to the new hot spot 30 miles from your hometown. Then there is the inevitable let down when I realize that I am not going to any of these places and the wanderlust in my heart wimpers a bit and settles back in for another long year. However, something felt different this year when I read The 41 Places to Go in 2011, like my wanderlust had awakened with a persistent buzzing that wouldn't let me sit at home for another year.
I will begin my journey with #6, the Republic of Georgia. The NYT wants me to ski. I do not ski. I spent most of my youth in Salt Lake City, UT (30 miles from Park City, UT, which the NYT has awarded with the #9 spot this year). I repeat: I do not ski. Instead, I will be a volunteer English teacher for the Georgian school system through program sponsored by the Ministry of Education. I have never taught anyone anything, much less English as a second language. However, the prospect of teaching, while terrifying, is somehow still less terrifying than skiing. So teach I will. I leave tomorrow and will stay through June. I am not sure what to expect...though I 've been told to not expect anything because my experience will totally and utterly surprise me regardless. So here I am, almost packed with a nervous tummy and struggling to keep my mind from preemptively composing my adventure. I know whatever if it is that I am greeted with -- my students, my host family, my co-teachers, and fellow volunteers -- will be amazing. I look forward to spending 4 months outside of my comfort zone and exploring a country that is known as the "cradle of wine."
The other places I will visit this year, include Budapest (#40), Beius, Romania, and London (#7). Hopefully I will have the chance to fit in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and others as well.
I will begin my journey with #6, the Republic of Georgia. The NYT wants me to ski. I do not ski. I spent most of my youth in Salt Lake City, UT (30 miles from Park City, UT, which the NYT has awarded with the #9 spot this year). I repeat: I do not ski. Instead, I will be a volunteer English teacher for the Georgian school system through program sponsored by the Ministry of Education. I have never taught anyone anything, much less English as a second language. However, the prospect of teaching, while terrifying, is somehow still less terrifying than skiing. So teach I will. I leave tomorrow and will stay through June. I am not sure what to expect...though I 've been told to not expect anything because my experience will totally and utterly surprise me regardless. So here I am, almost packed with a nervous tummy and struggling to keep my mind from preemptively composing my adventure. I know whatever if it is that I am greeted with -- my students, my host family, my co-teachers, and fellow volunteers -- will be amazing. I look forward to spending 4 months outside of my comfort zone and exploring a country that is known as the "cradle of wine."
The other places I will visit this year, include Budapest (#40), Beius, Romania, and London (#7). Hopefully I will have the chance to fit in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and others as well.
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