525,600 minutes. How do you measure a year in a life?
Some people said we were crazy. Some people said we were awesome. Some people said we’d be back within 3 months, some people said we’d never return. “It’s my dream to do that” some people said, while others shook their head unable to understand. We just didn’t know what to think, and when we stepped into Mexico last year we were about as prepared as we could have been for a journey that’s impossible to prepare for…
525,600 minutes. How do we describe a year on the road?
There’s the bad: countless nights in nondescript hotel rooms, countless hours in transit on an overcrowded, smelly, sweaty bus, countless times we’ve said no to a hotel tout or aggressive street vendor and the numerous times we have to ask a question to get the “real” answer. And there’s the good: countless heartwarming conversations with locals who welcome us into their homes, invite us for a drink or intercede on our behalf to make sure we get the real price. Countless times we’ve received a genuine smile and hello, been told to enjoy a country, been given a phone number should we need anything or been directed to the right location despite our awful map or poor command of the language. How can we sum up these experiences and tell you what a year on the road is like? It’s incredible, it’s awful, it’s amazing, it’s hard. It’s everything we thought it would be and nothing at all like we expected. We’ve learned that the world is a great big place, and to quote many travelers we meet, the world is “same, same, but different.”
So after a year how do we feel? Are we tired, happy, ready to come home or looking forward to pressing on?
We’re all those emotions and more. Ask us at any moment and you can get any one of a thousand answers. Most importantly though, we’re thankful. Thankful each morning that we’re able to travel and spend such a long time getting to know the rest of the world. Thankful that we’ve made it this far and appreciative of all the experiences- the good, the bad and the ugly, that this trip has given us. Thankful of the people we’ve met and the places we’ve been. Our mantra is the day we wake up and stop appreciating the world around us is the day we decide to go home. Today is not that day and I’m not sure when that day will be. Whenever it is though, we have no regrets. We’re happy that we took this chance, happy that we’ve done this trip, happy with the experiences we’ve had.
525,600 minutes. How can you measure a year in a life?
Leo Sampaio says
hey guys!!!
a year… its hard to say for me, who spent it working and studing… well now Im on my second year of my carrer in plant biology… and the next year I’ll probable be a master in sciences…and next? study more and more?
And it is still hard to say what in the world have I really appreciated in that year. maybe working with the community and in the restinga plants? yeah maybe a year wrking with them, learning a little more of their culture and knowledge or even a little more of their simple way of life.
well was really nice to read your blog this last year!
🙂
hope you keep traveling more and more!!!
and hope to see you guys again.
Mom Tobias says
A year on the road together and still together!!! I am glad you two found each other! 🙂
Matt says
dang guys that was perfect. Gave me chills reading it – we hit 6 months today and as I sit in a Thai hospital I am so thankful for the opportunity we have been given to take this trip. In the land of “Same same but different” I pray you guys have a safe and incredible journey.
Abbey says
Wow! I really can’t believe a year ago you guys were out here and then off to start your trip. Time is just flying by! We miss you so much, but are so happy for you and this journey you are on.
Alyson says
wow, incredible it’s been a year. Enjoy hearing about all of your adventures, and ditto to your mom’s sentiments! 🙂
Danny says
I think Jill captured the feeling pretty well. It is a difficult but rewarding slog. I type this amidst bank problems, schedule delays, destroyed souvenirs, hundreds of dollars wasted in the last two weeks alone, and the list keeps growing. This is all part of the journey though and if it was all easy then we’d be missing out on something else entirely.
Leigh Shulman says
Funny thing is how after you do decide to “go home,” wherever that may end up being, the hard draggy parts somehow become funny stories, badges of honor to show for your adventure. And the great people you meet and things you’ve seen remain.
At least that has been the case for me.
That and travel changes you in ways that I’ve found impossible to quantify.
I feel so lucky that we were a stopping point on the way of your journey.
Besos!
Kristyn says
Wow, it’s easy and hard all at the same time to believe you guys have been going for a year. So happy for you to have the experience, and so admire you for the challenges, the partnership, the fun, the marriage, and the adventure. Enjoy 🙂 Love and hugs!