Travel

This was the title of my friend’s, well, travel journal – his blog. He spent one month in Seattle with family before spending the next two months teaching in South Korea, as well as traveling around a bit.

The thought of traveling is tremendously stressful for emetophobes. Many factors contribute to this anxiety. First, the mode of transportation and the small but existing chance of getting motion sickness. And what about cruise ships? Doesn’t everyone get sick from the stomach virus on those massive floating resorts? Well, no.

I have finally arrived in California for my internship, which begins tomorrow at 9am sharp. Although waiting was a huge part of the process, there was so much to accomplish before I hopped a flight out here. This is probably the most difficult step and although I cannot even begin to cover every little detail, I can let you know a lot of the basics that need to be thought about.

I could take a whiskey sour right about this moment, or even a Tuborg to quench this thirst. I never knew the heat could get to your appetite the way it does mine... or maybe it's my conscience that has me favoring alcohol over real food. But what is that anymore? I don't even think I have to go into context with that.

All I can think about is the tasks at hand for my work.

This is the first of a series of entries about my trip back to my country, Taiwan.*

I am near the end of my trip here in Taiwan. I've only returned thrice since migration to the states 13 years ago, twice of which are related to death of a relative, and all of which lasted less than two months.

With the invention of planes and ocean liners, it has become remarkably easier to travel the world and explore all these different places. People can go from the US to China in a day, or spend the night on a plane and end up in Europe.

While visiting graduate schools this past month, trying to find the perfect fit, I spent my time in the airports, buses and subways reading "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer. I was told by several friends close to me that the movie was amazing and that the young Chris McCandless (the stories protagonist) was a bold, and awe-invoking character.

Okay, I am going to Costa Rica in a few weeks so there have been a few things to figure out lately. However, one that I had not thought of was vaccinations. While Pennsylvania (my home state) requires no vaccinations, the health department strongly suggests it.