My first visit to REI

Osprey Meridian

Osprey Porter 46

3/25/2015

My first visit to REI

I know, I know, you can’t believe it.  This girl who is about to go spend a month all the way around the world hasn’t even been into an REI!?!? Well, its true.  I don’t backpack or camp.  I hike occasionally in my bright pink Under Amour sneakers and yoga pants. I had a worthy companion as my guide to this strange new world of REI, my friend and Cambodia travel companion Jen.  She is a long-standing REI fan.  In fact, if she had a second job her first choice would be to work there. 

First impressions- its HUGE!! REI is a very large store.  It is well organized into areas of interest; biking, camping, backpacks and luggage, kayaking and water sports etc. 

I was there to look at backpacks for my trip.  Jen had advised me that smaller is better, considering my weak and delicate nature. (Apparently that’s how she described me to the sales associate on her last visit)  Following his suggestion I had been looking online at the Osprey Farpoint  (http://www.rei.com/product/837010/osprey-farpoint-40-travel-pack) and the Osprey Porter (http://www.rei.com/product/870903/osprey-porter-46-travel-pack ).  They did not have either item in store for me to try.  In store I gravitated toward the Osprey Meridian Wheeled Convertible (http://www.rei.com/product/837018/osprey-meridian-wheeled-convertible-luggage-22 ).  Come on girls, who doesn’t like a convertible?  Two things in one! Backpack by day, wheeled luggage by night. It also held 60 L as opposed to the 40-46L of the other two packs and had a detachable smaller day pack. Great for the over packer in me!  Sadly, this bag came with two unwanted extras, extra weight and extra money.  I was not comfortable with $329.95 price tag, over twice the price of the bags I had looked at online.  With he Meridian on my back, we were greeted by an enthusiastic salesman who spent about 15 minutes with us comparing the Meridian to the REI Stratocrusier (a less expensive similar option). (http://www.rei.com/product/870109/rei-stratocruiser-wheeled-backpack-22) I liked the thicker belt of the Meridian. I have big hips, always have.  In high school my boyfriend’s mother called them “birthing hips” while I was in my prom dress.  IN MY PROM DRESS!!! Today I proudly call my “birthing hips” “backpacking hips” in the hope that they will help me carry my presumably heavy pack this summer. Stratocrusier, Farpoint or Porter? Decisions, decisions!! So much to think about!

Next stop, antibacterial underwear.  Yes, that’s a thing.  Jen survived the Camino de Santiago on two pairs, washing them out in the sink each night.  First, they are not cute.  There was nothing cute about them.  When I pointed this out to Jen, she joked that perhaps the ugly underwear would help prevent me from entering the Cambodian sex trafficking trade. Thanks Jen, thanks for looking out for me. The benefits of course were they are quick drying, moisture wicking and have an antibacterial treatment to prevent odor.  Sexy, right? Sadly, they were out of my size.

We spent the remainder of our time looking through clothes and picking up things for Jen’s upcoming weeklong backpacking trip.  I left empty handed, feeling overwhelmed but excited.  How much of this stuff do I need?  Convertible, breathable hiking pants?  What about a quick dry towel?  Do I need a rain cover for my backpack? What about a lighter rain jacket?  Mine is probably too heavy for the heat and humidity that is south east Asia.  One thing at a time, first I need to choose the pack.  When I arrived home I joined the REI club and ordered the Porter and a pair of undies ($156.88).  REI has a fantastic return policy, so if this bag is not the one I won’t be out the cash. Why join the club?  Well, the club cost $20 to join and they were offering a $20 coupon if you joined the club and made a purchase over $100 so I say “Why not!!”

Total-$2295.58

I bought a ticket!

3/10/2015

I bought a ticket!

Today I bought a ticket from GSP to BKK for $1,378.70  I had been searching for flights from ATL and CLT thinking it would be cheaper.  Today I accidentally searched my home airport, what a happy accident!  This flight is cheaper than anything I’ve seen online in months.  We will leave Greenville on June 11^th and will arrive in Bangkok late on June 12^th. I’m happy to have this purchased, but I’m having a hard time realizing how much I’m spending.

Total-$2138.70

The process so far-Where do you get a money order?

3/3/2015

The process so far-Where do you get a money order?

I went to the post office today to purchase my money order and to mail it off to Ubelong as instructed.  I stood in the long line and got my $760 money order.  I stepped to the side to fill it out and put it in the envelope. I got back in line to mail it.  I teach, so $760 is a LOT of money to me. I paid to have the envelope tracked and felt good about that decision as I walked to my car relieved and excited that this was REAL LIFE. When I got to the car I texted my travel companion almost bragging about how smart I was to have it tracked. How stupid. She asked me if they would have to sign for the envelope and informed me that if so, they would send it back.  I carefully read my receipt, which did indeed indicate that they would have to sign.  I begrudgingly walked back into the busy post office, where I got back in line. I asked the clerk if I could get back my envelope. I think she was in training, because she surprisingly placed a plastic basket of letters on the counter and tried to hand me one that did not belong to me. I found my letter and she nervously and gingerly started to rip off the sticker indicating the tracking info. As the envelope began to rip she looked anxious until I assured her I would be happy to buy a new envelope. Not long into this process she had to get a supervisor to help her.  The very sweet young supervisor insisted I fill out a form to receive a refund for my shipping.  I didn’t care about a refund; I just wanted to be able to say that the payment had been mailed. After this ordeal I profusely thanked both of them.  I don’t think I will want to show my face in that post office for a while.  I was certainly a lot of work. My entire post office trip lasted forty five minutes, forty five minutes. I can now, however say it is official.  I am going to Cambodia! This is real life.

Total- $760

Why a blog?

3/2/2015

Why a blog?

I’ve never kept a journal.  The thought of putting my thoughts on paper (or on the internet) is scary because it makes them real.  But I am ready to leap out of my comfort zone, or I hope I am. So here it goes, my story. I can not promise my punctuation will be correct, I have always excelled at science and math, not writing.  I can promise I will be honest about this whole journey.

I have fallen into a routine. I own a house, a car, have two cats and a husband.  Most of the time I find this comforting, but recently I have felt suffocated by the thought that this might be it. I’m a huge fan of the artist Regina Spector.  She sings a song titled “Small Town Moon.”  In it she sings “Today we’re younger than we’re ever gonna be.” That lyric haunts me.  It repeats over and over in my head challenging me to live a fuller life. Its never too late to make changes in your life, although it is certainly much easier when you are younger and not used to a routine. I’ve accepted the challenge and am going on an adventure of sorts.  I have signed up through Ubelong to volunteer in Cambodia for three weeks this summer.  I paid my admission and bought a ticket from GSP to BKK. Its happening, and I can’t seem to concentrate on anything else. What do I pack?  Where will I be living? What will it be like? It is not like I haven’t been out of the country. I have been to Australia, Peru, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Italy, El Salvador, etc.  But this is different.  Cambodia is a poor nation with a sordid history.  Just search “Cambodian Genocide” and you can learn about the country’s not so distant past. I will not be a tourist, I intend to integrate myself into the community and do whatever is asked of me. This is exciting and terrifying.

When I was younger, I prided myself on being flexible.  I wanted to be the girl who was always up for a challenge, someone who could keep up.  I loved the school trips to the ropes course. When I went off to college I participated in the outdoor experience that introduced incoming freshmen to some of their future classmates.  On this trip we went white water rafting. I thrived on these experiences. I went with the flow and didn’t worry too much about what other people thought about it. I felt alive. What happened to that fearless, adaptable girl?  She graduated, got a job-teaching full time and became what she thought she should be. She got married to her college sweetheart. She bought a car and a house in the suburbs. She got used to hot showers, fancy meals out, nice clothes and 800 thread count sheets (a gift from my very generous in-laws). Everything I do is scheduled. I keep sixteen color-coordinated calendars in iCloud, which are synced, to my iPhone, iPad and Macbook Pro (I used to work for Apple and got a pretty good discount). If its not in the calendar or on a list of things to do, it doesn’t happen. Its not that I don’t enjoy and appreciate the life I have, I just thought I would be something else. I want to be adventurous, brave, and independent. I have been feeling unfulfilled for quite some time. I feel empowered that I am finally trying to do something about it. I feel nervous that I am not that girl anymore and that I won’t be able to get her back. If I am going to be completely honest, and I promised you I would, I’m worried if I do find her she won’t fit in to the life that she is currently living and even more terrifying she won’t want to.

So what are you in for if you decide to keep up with my blog?  I don’t really know.  I’m not sure what will happen.  When I read blogs in preparation for my trip they were either all facts; where to go, what to visit, how much things cost. Or they were all feelings. I want to include both. I’ll tell you about the process leading up to my trip and how I am feeling during each step. I’ll talk to you informally, like a friend. Once I arrive, I’ll keep you updated on my day to day.