Sep 7

5 Months and 12 Goals

Posted in RTW

This time last week I had just landed at LAX and was waiting in line at customs. Though I have unpacked my bags, gone through months of mail and confirmed that I haven’t forgotten how to drive in Los Angeles traffic, I can’t say I’ve totally settled in yet.

Before I left home for this 5 month solo journey, I made up a random list of 12 things I’d like to accomplish during my time away. Since getting home I took another look at that list and I see that I’ve accomplished 6 of the 12 things. Hmm…how do I feel about that? This is where I determine if I’m a “Glass Half Empty” or a “Glass Half Full” person. In the academic world 50% would definitely be a failing grade (Glass Half Empty) but if I look at it from a different perspective, I did 6 things I would not have done had I stayed at home (Glass Half Full). Plus, perhaps my list making skills just were not so good – there were many things that I did do that never ended up on the list.

So what was on my “On my Round the World Trip I Will…”list and how did I do? Here’s the tally:

DONE!!!

1. Go Horseback Riding – while I’m not a consistent rider, I’ve loved being around horses since I was little and started taking lessons in Pittsburgh. There are so many ways to explore a new place, and I knew that I wanted at least one time to be from the back of a horse. This goal was realized while I was in Cappadocia, Turkey.

Riding the trails in Cappadocia, Turkey

2. Stay in at least one 5-Star Hotel – Thanks to a blog assignment at the Four Seasons – Beirut, I had a luxurious stay complete with delicious food and a relaxing spa treatment.

View from the roof-top Pool Bar at the Four Seasons – Beirut

3. See at least one Olympics Game live – In fact I saw 3 (Judo, Volleyball and Handball) so can I check this off three time?

At the Judo Competition for the 2012 Olympics

4. Run with the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain – What a rush! Probably one of the most adrenalin-raising activities on my trip.

In the crowd waiting for the bull run to begin

5. Volunteer – I spent about 2 months in Beirut so I had a chance to volunteer by helping to teaching Capoeira at two schools that catered to disadvantaged children in the area. Taking time to volunteer never disappoints. Even when there was a language barrier, the children found a way to communicate with me and always made me smile. I definitely wish I had more time to spend with those kids.

Some of the school kids learning to play Capoeira instruments

6. Arrange a Sponsored Hotel Stay – while it is not the reason I maintain this blog, it is nice when you can reap benefits from your hard work. Because of my writing skill and consistent postings, I was able to arrange three complimentary hotel stays, two hotel day visits and a guided city tour. And with your help I will be able to arrange more of these. The more people who read my blog, respond to my posts and like my Facebook Page, the more recognition I get as a travel writer.

Checking out the hotel grounds at the Mir Amin Palace

STILL ON THE LIST:

7. Hold a conversation in Arabic – sadly I had to give up on the Arabic classes after about 2 weeks, so I never even got close to making this goal. But if you count using lots of hand gestures and a few Arabic words to fight with a Beirut taxi driver, then maybe I did accomplish this goal.

Still working on this language…may take me a few…lifetimes.

8. Drive on the opposite side of the road – I was in plenty of countries that drove on the left hand side of the road (England, Japan, Cyprus, Australia, and for some random reason 2 streets in Beirut) but rarely with access to a vehicle…or at least one I wouldn’t mind potentially putting in harms way.

I have to get back to one of the blue countries to work on this goal again

9. Sleep under the stars – somehow I managed to always have a roof over my head. While I know this is truly a blessing, it can be nice to have a sky full of stars be the last thing you see before you drift off to sleep. Now that I am home, I suppose I’ll have to drag my sleeping bag out on to the roof one night soon.

A perfect way to fall asleep

10. Get on a Foreign TV show – I don’t really have much of a desire to be an international celebrity, but if you manage to find yourself on a foreign television show, it usually means you did something pretty epic…or pretty illegal. Hmmm…maybe it is best I wasn’t on TV.

Not sure what I would have had to do to get on this channel…but probably best I didn’t do it.

11. Fly in a helicopter – I have been on nearly every form of transportation I can think of from bus to camel to roller blades, but I’ve never scored a ride in a helicopter. When I decided on this goal, I was very specific that it should be FOR FUN…I am not trying to count a medical Life Flight as a helicopter ride I want to take.

A helicopter ride is still on my Must Do list [photo credit: rotorfx.com]

12. Fall in Love – Well, I fell in love with many places, sights and delicious foods, but disappointingly NOT with anyone. I looked in 17 different countries but still didn’t find him. Oh well, when the time is right…right?

Still looking…

2 comments… add one

Andrea September 10, 2012, 7:57 pm

Way to go on completing so many of your goals! It’s always nice to have them and good luck on ticking some more off your list =)

- Nailah September 10, 2012, 11:25 pm
  
  Thank you, Andrea! Yep – just because this trip is over doesn’t mean I can’t keep working on (and adding to) the goals list!

5 Months and 12 Goals

5 Easy Ways to Start Solo Traveling

Valentine’s Day Gifts for Solo Travelers

5 Things to Pack for a Month of Travel