Archives for November 2008

Our Last Thanksgiving before the Trip

November 25, 2008 By Nicole Biller

Few holidays are more important in our family than Thanksgiving. Growing up, our Thanksgiving consisted of a enormous Thanksgiving supper- served usually around 2pm that consisted of any number of strange and unusual dishes depending on which house we were at. There was the year of the squirrel dumplings (Grandma’s in Arkansas) and the year of the deep fried turkey (Aunt & Uncles in Illinois) and the year the power went out and we had to finish the meal on the charcoal bbq (Philadelphia). Now that I’m married, we always do Thanksgiving with my husband’s family… in Florida… about 1000 miles away from the cold, snowy Thanksgivings I knew as a kid.

Thanksgiving in Florida is different. Its more like the 4th of July for me, only without the fireworks. My husband’s family & friends gets together around noon at a local park, has a big potluck picnic (including turkey!) and plays a little touch football or beach volley ball. Inevitably my husband attempts to throw someone into the lake… usually his younger cousins, and that’s Thanksgiving. I love having the potluck at the park, but even after three years of it, it still doesn’t feel like real thanksgiving to me. Maybe its because I can’t eat copious amounts of turkey and then pass out on the couch! 🙂

Instead of heading to warm and sunny Florida this year, we’re heading to JAMAICA to celebrate Grandma Florence’s 85th Birthday. While it will probably even feel less like thanksgiving in Jamaica, I’m looking forward to the vacation. Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!

Letting them know at work…

November 20, 2008 By Jillian

This has been an incredibly difficult week in terms of trip planning. As you can tell we’ve been working non-stop on the website, hoping to actually pull this thing together before thanksgiving so we can really start publicizing it to our friends and family. I’m just completely shocked at how long it takes to build a website, I mean I know its very labor intense and granted I’m a complete novice, but I have a new found appreciation for graphic designers and website designers.

So back to the topic of this blog, which I am clearly trying to avoid. I told my work this week that I was leaving. Besides being very difficult for me because I actually like my job and my coworkers it was difficult to get up the courage to say something. Shaking like a leaf I told my immediate supervisor and second line supervisor who were both as supportive as they could be given the situation. I guess I expected them to be outright mad or angry, but they both could appreciate why I was leaving. They offered to discuss a leave of absence, but for the length I would be gone it just wouldn’t work out. I guess it went as well as it could have, but it was still one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I do feel relieved in a way that I told them because at least we can be open about it, and I think they appreciated the 90 day + notice, but alas it made the trip very, very real. More real in every sense of the word. No matter what happens,we are out of here sometime this winter… or atleast I’m out of a job. 🙂

In many ways telling them I was leaving was liberating because I’m actually doing something that I really, really, really want to do, not something that I think I am supposed to do just because it’s on the life path. Until this point I feel like I’ve done everything that I should have done with my life…graduated high school, gone to college, met a boy, graduated from college, got married, bought real estate, etc… without any blimps along the way. This is a step away from that predetermined life path, a big step away, but I think a positive one. I’m sure virtually everyone things we are crazy for doing this or at least naive, but I’m glad we are following our own path and not just doing what is expected.

For today at least, I am positive and upbeat about taking this trip. Determined to see it through all the way through no matter what may come our way. Courage is the word of today. 🙂

Travel Health Insurance

November 16, 2008 By Jillian

Spent today checking out travel health insurance and immunization costs… that was fun. Health insurance for six continents is a little difficult, but we’re not really sure what we’ll need it. Most countries would treat us and it would either be free or relatively inexpensive. We only have experience in Europe, any suggestions or advice out there?

I guess the major concern is really if something happens to us overseas and we have to come back to the US to be treated. Getting treated here without insurance is expensive and difficult in some places… hmm… so many questions.

The good news is that we probably don’t need rabies shots. Yay! 🙂

Woah, this is cool.

November 14, 2008 By Nicole Biller

Couchsurfing

November 7, 2008 By Jillian

Since last May we’ve been a part of an online community called Couchsurfing. Yes, it is exactly what you think- people travel around the world sleeping on other peoples couches!! Ok, I know 90% of you are right now thinking “oh my god are you serious, you let strangers sleep on your couch!”. The answer is yes, and to be honest with you it has been a truly great experience. The site is set up with profiles (like ebay sort of!) where you post information about yourself and pictures. You can post as much information or as little as you like. Then you select if you are willing to host or if you are traveling (ie do you have a couch or are you looking for a couch). If you are willing to host you need to add information about the # of people you can host and the sleeping situation (ie, floor, private room, couch in the living room). Once you do that everyone can see your profile and request to stay with you. Like ebay you get references and can friend people on the site that you’ve met and trust. There are other security features there that are more boring so I won’t get into them… but it is regulated. Anyway, so say we get a request. We have no obligation to host them or even respond to their request if we don’t want to.

We get requests from all over the world and have hosted people from: Switzerland, France, Germany (so many germans!), Martinique, Spain, Poland, Sweden, Israel and Khazakstan. People are from all different backgrounds: students, doctors, teachers, writers, tv crews, fashion designers, etc… so its not just a group of free loaders.

While it was a little scary the first few times, we have house rules, etc.. so that everyone is on the same page. Seems to work pretty well. Very few people are free loading, most of them are just on vacation and want a real cultural experience, not what you get at a Hilton or a youth hostel.

Will we do this on our trip? You betcha. Spending a few nights with a family in another country is the BEST way to break down cultural barriers and get to really know another culture. Based on all the good experiences we’ve had and the interesting people on the site, I can hardly wait to get moving!

Our Last Thanksgiving before the Trip

Letting them know at work…

Travel Health Insurance

Woah, this is cool.

Couchsurfing

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