Today marks two months since we boarded a plane and left Chicago to travel abroad taking with us only what we could carry. We've done quite a lot in that two months and I'm still very excited about what is to come. Some travel plans require quite a bit of planning and others are more spontaneous, often evolving from advice of fellow travelers.
Michael and I often take time to reflect and evaluate. The other day we were deciding what to do the next day in Cusco, Peru. We had a week and we didn't have strong feelings about what to see or do first. Michael smiled and said what a privilege it was to not have set daily plans. He's absolutely right. We no longer have to set the alarm, hit the gym, get in the same car, travel the same route to work, deal with the same office politics that can break your spirit while you try to earn a living and remain positive, rush home to spend quality time with the family only to find out that someone else has something scheduled and there is homework that still needs to be completed and supported, go to bed exhausted looking forward to the weekend and hope that you get one day to relax....lather, rinse, repeat. We needed to break this cycle and create a change that would be best for our family.
We believe we have done that. We've done our research and read other travel blogs. We have found that while it's amazing to explore various countries, it's even more rewarding to meet people abroad who can teach you about their culture or share their travel experiences or life stories.
Our 'work' has changed to tasks that energize us on a regular basis. Where should we go next, how do we get there, where could we stay, do we know anyone who has been there or who can give us advice and will this experience benefit the children in new and unique ways. We continue to blog about the experiences so we can share these moments with our friends, family and curious others. We have fallen behind on our posts and that just lets us know that we need to continue to schedule time to plan and write (and hope the internet connection works with us).
So we will continue our journey and share our stories. Please continue to follow along and support us with your kind thoughts and words of encouragement. We truly miss our family and friends and it helps to stay connected with the people we love and care about. We may be meeting new people and seeing places far away, but you haven't left our hearts and thoughts, so you are always with us.
It's always good to take time to reflect