The Evolution of Schtuff

I traveled internationally for 4 months wearing a 45 liter pack on my back and a smaller backpack in the front through 15 countries. I had to be prepared for all climates – the nauseating heat of summer in Australia, the bitter cold of dead winter in Poland and Germany and the downpours of spring in Italy. I sent my ex-boyfriend back from Italy with a few extra items in his luggage and shipped a small package from Madrid a month before returning. I had posted a list of what I carried when I departed in January so I figured it was only appropriate to show what I returned with. Items in red were lost, broken or sent back to the states. Items in green were purchased along the way.

in 45 liter pack:
-1 pair of stylish boots – these got tossed in late April into a trash can in Leiden, Holland after quite literally being worn until disintegration
-1 pair of sneakers
-1 pair of black sandals purchased in a size too small (apparently they don’t have big footed women in Western Europe) in Lisbon to wear to the Moulin Rouge
-1 pair of black flip flops – these were tossed in the beginning of my trip in Australia to save space knowing I was headed into the winter months of Germany and Poland
-2 dresses (1 casual & 1 fancy) – I ended up with a different formal dress purchased in Lisbon for the Moulin Rouge after sending my ‘fancy’ dress back with Jon
-1 thin, stylish hoodie
-1 nice, outerwear jacket – this jacket ended up not being warm enough nor as waterproof as I thought and was replaced with a purple Northface in Rome
-1 cute cardigan sweater
-1 fashion scarf
-1 pair of jeans these jeans grew too big and were sent back with Jon – I bought a new pair of denim and a grey pair of pants in Florence – a pair bought in Berlin was shipped back from Madrid
-1 pair of jeggings – sent back with Jon
-1 pair of shorts – sent back with Jon
-1 pair of capri pants – shipped back from Madrid
-1 pair of pajama pants purchased in Berlin
-1 Paddington Bear pajama set purchased in London
-1 fancy tank top – ruined during a laundry incident in Prague
-2 tanks tops / under shirts – shipped back from Madrid – replaced with 2 tank top bras from Lisbon
-1 long sleeve shirt – ruined in Prague – new one purchased in Lisbon
-2 blouses
-3 cotton blouses – 2 shirts ruined in Prague – replaced in Lisbon
-2 cotton t-shirts – 1 shirt ruined in Prague
-1 workout tank top
-1 sports bra
-1 tan bra
-1 bathing suit
-1 camping towel – sent back with Jon
-21 pairs of underwear – ended with 16 pairs of underwear
-14 pairs of socks
-1 reusable shopping bag for dirty laundry
-1 toiletry bag containing: deodorant, a razor with extra blades, shampoo, facewash, lotion, toothpaste, toothbrush, floss, QTips, tampons, nail file, prescribed anti-anxiety medication, comb, extra hair elastics, a headband, bobby pins, makeup and some jewelry
-1 blue hat haggled for in Rome – sent back with Jon
-2 pairs of earrings purchased in Seville
-1 bracelet gifted by a co-worker in Paris
-1 ring purchased in Florence
-1 trinket bracelet gifted to me in Galway
-1 new claddaugh ring purchased in Cork at Blarney Castle

in backpack:
-purse (containing ID, passport, hand sanitizer, sunglasses + wallet) – purse was destroyed – new one purchased in Seville – new sunglasses were also purchase in Florence and then again in London to replace lost pairs + 1 leather sunglass case purchased in Florence
-computer + charger for work
-iPad for work-phone + charger
-mobile phone charger purchased in Australia
-wall outlet adapter
-headphones
-sweet leather fanny pack – sent back with Jon
-leather journal – shipped back from Madrid
-hello / goodbye book for memories + notes from people I meet along my journey
-blank watercolor postcard – shipped back from Madrid
-watercolor travel kit – shipped back from Madrid
-1 reusable plastic water bottle – broke in Germany
-travel pillow purchased during layover in London on the way to Australia
-2 books from Amsterdam, 1 was purchased and 1 was gifted
-1 beautiful hand crocheted ping gifted to me in Germany – lost in Prague
– 1 book gifted to me in Poland  – sent back with Jon
-1 book gifted to me in Augsburg – re-gifted to a friend in Frankfurt
-1 small Astronomical table clock gifted to me in Prague – sent back with Jon
-artwork purchased on the streets of Prague and Venice – sent back with Jon
-stainless steel Italian espresso maker purchased in Venice – sent back with Jon
-personalized wax seal kit with gold wax given to me in Venice – sent back with Jon
-small trinkets and presents purchased through traveling (some stayed with me) – most sent back with Jon or shipped from Madrid
-4 chocolate bars purchased in Belgium
-37 pins purchased from each city visited in Australia and Europe
-1 of each coin in the 7 currencies I paid with
-1 CD purchased from a band playing in a park in Barcelona
-1 spoon – stolen in Germany – used to take selfies throughout Europe

Before
10897123_10152605566823045_4940656262075224389_n
10570328_10152605570683045_8046952106497023193_n
After
packing after trip
11069597_10152733573703045_496570013423016456_n

Sunshine State of Mind

A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.

-George A. Moore

There isn’t anything like being in the presence of my grandparents. I am looking forward to the next few months of adventure, but I already know that nothing will be better than just being with Mama and Pa.

Two weeks has passed too quickly. It’s incredible how quickly you can become accustomed to a person, place or feeling again, as if you’d never left, but how long it takes to recover in the absence that is inevitable. I feel my best with them, as if anything I am and do… is more than enough. I am my best self…. my funniest self, my smartest self, my kindest self… with them. Everything is clearer, the world makes sense. The wisdom, honesty and love that flows in their company… There is a sense of invincibility, as if I can face anything as long as they are with me.

I tried to relish in every moment of it, tried to store up some of that energy to carry with me in my travels. And really, in the rest of my life. I want more than anything to be the person in the world that I am with them.

Top 5 moments in Florida:
-The first Christmas morning with my grandparents in over 15 years.
-Seeing an old friend truly happy and the best version of herself.
-The photos. Of my childhood. Of my mom’s. Of theirs. Of my great grandparents. Of everyone I’ve known and loved… The memories both saved and lost.
-My grandmother’s laugh (if you’ve heard it, you know why).
-My grandfather’s view on the world. I love the way he listens and waits to formulate an opinion, I value it more than anything when he is ready to share it.

AIRPORTS: 4
FLIGHTS: 2
STATES: 3
COUNTRIES: 1
DAYS TRAVELING: 21

IMG_8701IMG_8672 IMG_8726  IMG_8727

Merry in Maryland

The first week of traveling has flown by. I got to spend a week in absolute baby bliss with one of my oldest and dearest high schools friends in the beautiful life she has created. I couldn’t have imagined a better way to start this journey. A large part of the decision to travel was knowing that this would be one of my last opportunities to do it – foreseeing the creation of my own family in the next few years. Being 28, there’s a sense of youth but also of awareness of the speed at which time passes. I want to savor every moment of this time and freedom, taking full advantage of it so that I have no regrets once I am ready to settle down. Spending this time with Kaley was precious in more ways than I can even comprehend at this moment.

Top 5 favorite moments from Maryland:
1. Kaley and I spotting a shooting star on the drive home from the airport when I arrived (a wonderful sign that I was right where I was meant to be!)
2. My two year old niece, Evelyn, hugging me as tight as her little arms could hold me and whispering, “I love you, Auntie Jackie”
3. Running errands with Kaley mid-trip – just us and the random, profound conversation that happens in the most mundane of activities
4. After a stressful work day, going into the bedroom to pick up my six month old niece, Lily, and seeing her beaming a smile up at me from the crib
5. The surprising calm from my nieces in the back seat and the hum of bluegrass from the radio on the super early drive to the airport as we watched the sunrise over Washington DC

AIRPORTS: 3
FLIGHTS: 1
STATES: 2
COUNTRIES: 1
DAYS TRAVELING: 7

IMG_8494IMG_8609IMG_8604IMG_8594IMG_8614