My Ancestral Way, My Own Way: A Tale of Two Journeys — View PDF

Dreaming of Change in India

My love for India began in 2009 when I lived in a small, rural town called Hazaribag in the summer of 2009. I had just finished my Master’s degree in International Development Administration and I moved to India to work for a Non-Government Organization in the field of women’s development. From the moment I landed in New Delhi, I felt at home and for the next six months, I kept my heart and mind open to every experience I encountered.

One blistering hot afternoon in August, I was sitting outside on the splintered, wooden bed of an elderly couple who had spent Rs 60,000 ($1200) on each of their daughters dowry’s for a total of $4,800. In front of me was their mud house, which was slowly crumpling on the far right side from the monsoon rains. The man, who was in his seventies, was wearing a ripped white t-shirt, a traditional dhoti (a piece of cloth wrapped around the waist) and no shoes, showing his weathered and calloused feet. His wife, who was a few years younger, was wearing a stained and ripped sari and when she handed me a piping hot, stainless steel cup of chai, her smiled revealed a mouth with only a few teeth remaining. This family was literally wasting away, with no sons and the financially devastating tradition of dowry, all the savings and future earnings were owed to the local money lender, who charged 20% interest on their outstanding debt.

I sat and visited with this family for about an hour and through a translator learned that they never had enough to eat and that the work the husband does get through the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act is sporadic and the foreman on the job frequently takes half of his daily wages of $1 as a bribe to continuing hiring him because he is past the forced retirement age of 62. As I sat there listening to the story, my heart was breaking because as this family was sharing these tales of poverty and destitution, they continued to bring very small offerings of food and drinks to us. As we drove away from this experience, I knew that India would always have my heart and that I would do anything to go back time and time again to try and bring innovations and new technologies to help families like this one feed themselves and break out of that devastating cycle of poverty.

When I returned to the US, I decided to leave my job in Baltimore and continue my education because although I knew that my life’s work would be to give back to the Indian people as much as they had given me, which although impossible, would be my unyielding pursuit. I found Texas A&M and after reading the mission of the university and the International Agriculture Development program, I knew that I would be able to dream big and achieve my goals. A&M’s emphasis on high academic standards, integrity, leadership, and service to communities have helped shape me as a professional and I know that being an Aggie will enable me to be even more successful in accomplishing my dreams of bringing change to Hazaribag, India.

I am at the stage in my studies when I can once again return to this small, rural town that stole my heart. I have been longing to return since the day I left, but this time when I return, I will have a plan and a program that will enable me to share some of my love and admiration for the strength of these amazing people by giving back. I believe that to truly make tangible, sustainable changes and to become truly immersed in a culture in order to learn as much as possible, one has to live, breathe, eat, sleep and work in that place among the people. With that being said, my program plan is six months long. I will leave on July 6th, 2012 and I will return to the United States on January 6th, 2012. This time will enable me to become integrated with the women and their families and it will also afford me with the amazing opportunity to become immersed in this lively, colorful, welcoming and amazing culture.

My Plan

I have always wanted to travel the world, but after living in India, I know that right now my heart belongs to the people of Hazaribag who suffer from malnutrition and poverty and that before I can continue to see new places, I must first finish the work that has called me back time and time again. In the last few years, I have developed and shaped a research project that will teach rural women in Hazaribag how to grow avocado and drumstick trees.

The drumstick tree, which grows naturally in India, has enormous quantities of vitamin A and iron in the leaves, bark and pods, and in each 100g of drumstick leaves there are 205 calories, 27g of protein, 2.3g of fat, 38g of carbohydrates, 28 mg of iron and 7,500 IU of Vitamin A as well as a plethora of other vitamins and minerals. The avocado, a non-native tree, but one that can grow and bear fruit in Hazaribag, is packed with calories and fat for a nutritious diet. In each 100g of avocado there are 170 calories, 2.2g of protein, 14.7g of fat, 6g of carbohydrates, .6mg of iron, 290IU of vitamin A as well other essential elements of a balanced diet.

This training program will also teach the women the importance of a balanced diet to combat the high levels of malnutrition in the area, especially among their young children. I will work with many of the same women who I met the last time I was in India. I will go to their homes and help them plant the avocado and drumstick trees. I will work with them on how to use these new foods by teaching them new recipes and also working with them on how to integrate these foods into their existing dishes.

I have spent time on my own learning Hindi, because I think that speaking the language is so important to working with and creating a bond with these women. I spent eight weeks in 2011 in Wisconsin in an intensive Hindi course and I have kept up with my studies both individually and with an Indian pen pal whom I talk with weekly. This will enable me to continue to gain the trust of these women, which will help to increase the rate of adoption of these new innovations.

Conclusions

Opportunities like those provided by the Globetrotter Grant have the ability to change lives all over the world. Although my goal is to teach these wonderful women how to improve their diets and to provide them with the tools, skills and resources to provide their families with more nutritious foods, the biggest impact will be the one that is left on me. Traveling the world and seeing new cultures expands the mind and the heart in a way that nothing else can. To increase this expansion even farther, one can live among the people in different countries and the changes that happen are so deep that they can modify the course of your life. The women and children of Hazaribag, India, have touched my life in a way that I never expected and I am doing everything in my power to repay them. This grant would bring me one step closer to that goal to help empower the people who gave me so much even when they could not afford to do so.

Budget

Expense                               Total Cost

Flight……………………………………$1300

Food……………………………………….$500

Lodging…………………………………..$600

Translator……………………………….$500

Avocado & Drumstick Trees…………$200

Imported Avocado Fruit……………..$200

Transportation…………………………$500

Total……………………………………$3800

Outside Funding Amount

Personal Savings…………………$2000

Debbie King Travel Grant……….$250

Still Needed Amount………..$1550

To be quite honest, there aren’t that many places in the world that I don’t want to see. I have been exceptionally fortunate to travel around the world to some awe-inspiring places; I have been to Greece, Austria, Hungary, Spain, and many other destinations. When I think about my life, there are only two things that I am certain of. The first is that I am excited to begin my career as a nurse. I believe that I have the ability to make a difference in my patient’s lives. The second is that I will travel.

In the next several months, I expect my life to change drastically. My family and I will be moving out of our house, I will be graduating college, and I will need to find a job. But my priority for this summer is none other than which specific destinations I wish to travel to. Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of “Eat, Pray, Love” wrote an autobiography on her travels to three incredible destinations; Italy, India, and Bali. If I were to imagine being granted a wish for this summer, it would be traveling to some of these very destinations.

Prior to beginning my career as a registered nurse, I want to experience other interpretations of medicine. I have had the opportunity to study western medicine. My hope is to be able to incorporate holistic, homeopathic, and traditional medicine into my practice. India is home to Ayurvedic medicine, a medical system that has evolved over thousands of years and includes the use of massage, herbs, and individualized diets. I believe that health is not just your medical state, but your mind, body and spirit.

I would hope to arrive in Kerala, India by June 10, 2012. Time Magazine rated it one of the most beautiful destinations in the world. It is the perfect combination of both city and rural life located by the water. I plan to live with a host family and find mentors that would teach me their medical system. Additionally, as I seek professional growth, I hope to seek personal growth as well. I hope to adapt some of their meditation rituals practiced that may help reduce my natural inclination to be stressed. On the weekends, I hope to take weekend trips and explore neighboring cities and destinations, residing in hostels for overnight trips. After spending a few weeks in India, I plan to travel to my next destination.

While the two destinations are not remotely close to one another, my next stop would be Israel. After spending a month working to better myself, I would be welcomed by close family members in Israel. I would stay there for about two weeks and travel between the major cities of Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv. India and Israel both have an incredibly enriching culture. Becoming familiar with different traditions, beliefs, and values can only prompt my growth.

I expect to return to the states by August 20^th. Tickets, weekend travel expenses, and food would reach an estimated $6000. As of now, I have saved $1500 for these travel plans. I appreciate being considered for such an incredible opportunity. I believe that this trip will be a once in a lifetime opportunity that will help me grow both professionally and personally. I hope that with some financial assistance, I can make my dream summer plans a reality.

Alice Springs and Uluru

The universe over the past year has blessed me so much, and the Globetrotter committee furthered this by granting me the opportunity to go back to Australia. This trip has been a huge blessing, because it allowed me not only to see more of the Sunburnt country, but it also gave me a chance to rediscover myself. I worked hard to save for the trip, but the Globetrotter Grant allowed me to venture into the heart of Australia, and witnessing the beauty of Alice Springs and Uluru changed my life.

When I stepped foot off the plane at the Alice Springs airport and took in the sights around me, I realized for the first time why Australia had earned the nickname as being a “sunburnt country.” In comparison to the lush rain-forest atmosphere of the eastern coast I had previously explored, the interior of the continent was a seemingly endless barren of red dirt for miles and miles. Gone were the sprawling metropolises and peoples of Sydney and Adelaide, and in their place for as far as my eye could see was a vast desert stretched out before me filled with endless possibilities of exploration and adventure.

The first thing that I noticed about the center of Australia, was that the temperature had risen over sixty degrees since I had left the United States. My tank top was instantly soaked through, as the blistering 105-degree weather greeted me with a very warm welcome. As I scanned the airport I saw policemen on trail bikes and the Qantas airline staff riding around on push bikes to get from place to place. It fit with my image of a quaint small town, but I quickly saw buildings and a city in the background. I had expected the town to be tiny and an outpost, but I was surprised to learn that because Alice is the only major town and service centre for an area that’s roughly the size of Texas, it’s filled to the brim with all of the necessities.

In between beating the heat poolside and trying to keep in the shade as much as possible, I sought out adventures that I knew the desert had in store for me. My friends and I went quad biking through a working cattle station and were able to see the desert wonders as they flew by our helmets. It was an experience that made me wonder if heaven was on earth amidst the cowboys and the beautiful desert sights. As I sped past, I could see kangaroos in front of me and birds soaring above the rock formations. I fell in love with the town of Alice Springs and wanted to spend weeks in the town, but I knew that my final destination was only six hours away and it was waiting for me.

It was dark by the time we drove into the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, and we worked to set up camp and prepare for our 3 a.m. wake-up call to see an authentic Uluru sunrise. I had been camping before, but experiencing the joy of a “swag” under the Australian skies was different. The swag is a one-person tent that has an open-air covering to allow you to see the beauty of the world around you. I loved sleeping in my “swag” under the stars.

It is quite possibly the best sleep I have gotten in years. It was wonderful staring into the endless skies filled with more stars than I had ever seen in my life, and being lulled to sleep by the sound of the campfire. It wasn’t long after I had shut my eyes that our alarms went off and we were stumbling on our way to experience the magic of an Uluru sunrise. When we arrived at the site, we sat on top of a dune, in the pitch black of the night, and our trusty tour guide Michael started to make us a traditional bushman’s breakfast.

He entertained the group by giving us an astronomy lesson about the star scape that was quickly retreating above our heads. With a cup of Billy Tea in my hands and my stomach full of damper, I lost my breath as I watched the sunrise appear in the skies over Uluru. The giant monolith emerged from the inky landscape, and with the yellows and oranges of the sun behind the dark shape, I witnessed Uluru change colors before my eyes. Changing from purple through to rusty browns and red in the golden sunlight it was an incredible experience, and if I had not been there to witness it, I would have never believed it.

The colors were the most brilliant thing I have ever seen in my life, and if I could passably capture them in paint I would splash the colors on my walls to be able to relive that moment again and again. It was an incredibly moving and spiritual thing to witness. Sunrise was my favorite time of the day to experience Uluru because I never wanted to see the sun set on the giant beauty and no longer be able to see the colors of Uluru.

I had thought I was prepared for walking the ten kilometers around the base of Uluru but I had not accounted for the temperature working against me. After less than a mile from the carport I was second guessing my choice to not take a helicopter overhead tour of Uluru instead. The heat gradually disappeared, however, when I began to notice the beauty around me.

The soils of Australia are ancient, rich in salt and extremely infertile, and it astounds me that there would be plants at all in the harsh environment, let alone a flourishing ecosystem. We chose to walk around Uluru instead of climbing it because it was respectful to the wishes of the Tjukurpa and Anangu peoples.

I adored getting to look at all of the Aboriginal rock art along the way and getting to learn about the Mala Tjukurpa’s history and culture. Its fascinating that the peoples of the Mala could survive the harsh desert and flourish in a climate seemingly unsuitable for life, let alone civilizations. One of my favorite things to do along the walk was to look for Ili, the wild fig tree, and Arnguli, the bush plum—which the Mala women and children gather for food—because I kept thinking at the back of my mind if I was stuck in the desert, I should know the survival tips and techniques.

I was also prepared by knowing where the main source of water was for the area. The Kantju Waterhole, the main supply of water for Mala ceremonies, was a magnificent wave carved out of stone at the base of Uluru, with a pool of water that looked like an oasis mirage at first. The water quickly dries up in the summer heat, but an overnight storm had left the pool looking immensely cool and deep.

I will never forget the way the heated rocks felt in the palm of my hands as I worked my way around Uluru or how the giant monolith looked soaring above my head. The skyscrapers in Los Angeles will always pale in comparison now in my mind’s eye as I will always be picturing at the back of my mind the glory of Uluru.

Before my trip I had been caught up in a fast-paced world, of continuously checking my email and texting, and hadn’t fully stopped to appreciate the beauty of the world around me. Getting to be a witness to the incredible beauty of the Australian desert forced me to take a second and stop and smell the “emu bush” and fully appreciate the beauty of nature. By being able to keep up on the trails I realized that I was stronger than I thought I was, and this trip has encouraged me to push myself farther than I ever thought I could go.

I can never thank the Globetrotter committee enough for giving me this opportunity, and hope that one day I can pay this opportunity forward and help someone else experience the beauty and wonder of Australia and the magnificence of Uluru.

A Bigger, Better Me – All Because of You

I’ve seen the world, and the world has seen me. The Globetrotter Grant gave me an opportunity I could have only dreamed about.

When the Globetrotter team awarded me, I received more than money to fund some travels, I received an opportunity to experience the world. I traveled all over Spain, including Madrid and Barcelona. I got to lie on the beach and dance the night away in Portugal. I went to the big city of Paris and the small southern town of La Rochelle, France, where I enjoyed the best latte. In Italy, I started in Rome and made my way to Florence, the most beautiful city in the world. On a budget I got to see four countries and seven cities. I will never forget where I have been or what I have seen and Globetrotter gave me all of that.

I was studying in Granada, Spain, before I started traveling so it was easy to pick up my bags and start in Madrid for a weekend. It was hot when I got there but the hostel was shady and tranquil. Just around the corner from the Royal Residence, I had found my place in the center of the city. I stopped in a small Turkish bar to grab lunch – I tried Shwarma for the first time. It was amazing watching them shave the meat from a roasting stick and serve it fresh. After that, I headed to the Plaza Mayor, the center of the city, and I took pictures of the towering buildings surrounding the plaza.

I walked on to join some friends, also traveling in Madrid, at the Museum of Modern Art (Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía) to see Picasso’s Guernica, the highlight of my trip. The painting, more of a mural because of its size, was breathtaking. I couldn’t leave Guernica’s side for over twenty minutes, enjoying the bustle of tourists also enjoying it around me. When the initial shock of its beauty was over we headed back to the main part of the city to eat. We immediately found an all-you-can-eat sushi bar only a few blocks away and took advantage.

Royal Palace, Madrid

The next day we headed to the royal palace, an interior designer’s dream (or nightmare), as every room was themed, and the embroidered walls and porcelain decorated bathrooms were all done by hand. The amount of gold used just to decorate the porcelain in the king’s “shaving room” was remarkable. I wanted to take pictures of everything; I couldn’t believe I saw it all.

Barcelona was incredible, definitely one of the most fun cities I went to in Europe. I spent the first day walking around, taking in the sights. I walked down Las Ramblas Calle (a famous shopping street in downtown Barcelona) and stopped in the fresh market where Spanish and Catalan people go to buy their fresh meat.

Barcelona market

Some stands I had to run by, covering my eyes, as they sold the parts of the animal we don’t see in America. The fruit stands were spectacular, stacking fresh strawberries, kiwis, figs, and tangerines. When I was done drooling over decorative candy, I made my way down to the older part of the city. In the old part of Barcelona five-story buildings are separated by seven-foot alleys that date back to the time of Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand (the Catholic monarchs of the late 15th and early 16th centuries).

The next morning I found a city tour group called “Fat Tire Bicycle Tour: Barcelona,” which was more than worth the money. During the four hours of the tour I was taken through all the historically significant areas of the city, including the steps where Queen Isabel gave Columbus the approval to find the new route to India (the discovery of the New World). The Palau de la Música Catalana was one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen, but even more beautiful was Park Güell by architectural genius Antoni Gaudi, who also designed and decorated many other buildings throughout the city.

View of Barcelona, with Gaudi's Sagrada Familia

The combination of old Spanish and Catalan cultures with the art  of Gaudi, including his life’s work, Sagrada Família, make Barcelona one of the most interesting and beautiful cities in Spain. Barcelona was one of my favorite destinations and I cannot wait to return there in the future.

I bought a bus ticket from Granada, Spain, to Lisbon, Portugal. The weather was supposed to be nice so my friends joined me for the weekend. The bus ride was long so we caught an early bus from the bus station. The ride was beautiful. As the sun rose over the far off mountains we made our way across the border, I couldn’t stop thinking that I might have forgot to bring a second bathing suit, and that I wanted to spend as much time in the water as possible. When we arrived in Lisbon we booked into a hotel right on the beach, just a 20 minute walk from town. We dropped off our bags and ran to the ocean. The beach was down three flights of steps, sitting under massive sandstone cliffs, and in the water stood large eroded rock pedestals. The water was crystal clear and I could see kelp deep on the sea floor.

After a few hours of relaxation at this postcard-perfect beach we headed off for our first adventure – the “Booze Cruise.” I bought a ticket onto a sailboat with endless Sangria (a drink made with wine, diced fruit and a lot of sugar). The boat anchored just off the shore and we did jumps and flips off of it into the ocean, just swimming in the Portuguese water was like a dream. About an hour into the cruise we were taken on small boats to see the “grottos,” a tourist favorite, and now I know why. As our dinghy captain entered what appeared to be low-tide caves underneath towering cliffs he turned off the motor and we drifted into an open-topped, water-carved grotto with emerald green water and arches of sandstone rock surrounded us. He told us the names of each of the caves and tried to explain to us, in broken English, how they were formed when Africa split from the Spanish peninsula and that this sandstone was thrust upward from the ocean floor.

After the cruise we were tired from the sun but we wouldn’t miss a minute of our experience in Portugal so we headed to town. We stopped at a quaint restaurant we found, a Portuguese-Italian fusion restaurant on the main shopping street. We enjoyed seafood pasta and fresh baked bread. The next day when we woke up we headed to the small town to look around. The people were so nice and everyone spoke English. I picked up some postcards for my family and we laughed about the souvenirs in a small shop just off the main street.

That night we caught a bus to the most western point of Europe, the seaside cliffs of Portugal, only 20 minutes away. We watched the sunset with a hundred other vacationers, and when the sun sank into the Atlantic Ocean the crowd cheered. We went out that night and danced at a local bar which played Meringue music. It was a beautiful night, as the cobblestone streets were decorated with patterns and then lit by street lamps; the light is just different there. In one word, Portugal is paradise.

Street view of the Eiffel Tower

France was amazing. Paris actually is just as it appears in the movies. The streets were crowded with tourists and the museum lines winded around corners and off down the streets. We checked in to our hostel, in the center of the city, and headed off to the Eiffel Tower, which was more amazing than pictures or words can describe. The sheer size of this monument, towering over Paris is breathtaking. Taking the elevator up, I stared out the window -  as I was cranked up above the city it became clear that here I had hit a milestone. I was standing on top of the Eiffel Tower, with the city of Paris at my feet, this is what traveling is about – these memories that can never leave you, the stories that you can’t embellish because they are already so great.

Versailles

We also visited the Louvre and the Palace of Versailles, both of which we thoroughly enjoyed. The Palace of Versailles was so grand that it was over an hour walk to the residence of Marie Antoinette. The architecture, and decoration was only as over-the-top as the French can do. For my last couple days in France I headed to the southern port of La Rochelle, a quaint, dream-like city on the water, with the rolling green hills and small buildings of the South of France. My sister married a Frenchman a few years ago and moved here, so in some way, it’s like coming home to my sister since I get to see her so little. I tried to speak with my three-year-old niece, who already prefers French, and then we went for coffee in town – in fact this was the best latte I had on all of my travels. France, overall, was an amazing trip, which completely changed my feelings about Europe, giving me more confidence to go out and explore it. It was lucky then that I had such an amazing trip planned next.

Roman ruins

I had a three-day-weekend off from my Spanish Language and Culture classes so I headed to Rome on a cheap plane ticket with a plan to see a couple of the best cities in Italy. Rome was the first stop because it contains so much history and therefore was a good jumping off point for the entire country. I enjoyed the Roman ruins and themed street performers.

One day of the historical aspect was enough so I bought my train ticket to Florence – the most beautiful city I have ever been to. Upon exiting the train station, the first thing I noticed was the old towering buildings, stacked up along small cobblestone streets, no bigger than alleys back in the states. The small cars, and hundreds of Vespas, mix with hundreds of people and buzz in and out of the buildings, up and down the streets. The light doesn’t shine in this part of the world like anywhere else, the sun comes down in rays of light, illuminating rich color, and it is indescribable.

Florence, with the Duomo (at left)

The city is walled, reminiscent of times when this city was protected under rich aristocrats like the Medici family. I visited the Medici family home in Florence, a sprawling garden behind a hill top mansion, it was spectacular. We had plans to head off to Venice but we decided to stay in Florence for the last day, as we felt that it was important to get to know – and we liked it that much. On our last day we headed outside of the walls surrounding the city to the Tuscany Valley. My trip in Italy was so amazing that I wished I was never going home.

These travels can’t be taken for what they are in literal form – otherwise it would seem that they simply existed to entertain a college student and get her outside of her small world, these travels mean so much more than that. The Globetrotter team gave me an opportunity to grow into who I wanted to be. I experienced so many different cultures and languages, opened my awareness of the world, and eliminated a lot of close-mindedness that we all carry with us.

I attempted to speak four different languages (at least the basic “hello” and “thank you”); I tried to be as respectful and accepting of different cultures as possible, including dress and attitude; I learned about the people’s histories and struggles, something that can mean more to a group than you ever thought (as it shows mutual respect and interest); I saw people, talked to people, and enjoyed their culture and spirit.

The Globetrotter Grant gave me all these opportunities and I’ll never have a way to thank them enough, but here’s some:

¡Muchas Gracias!

Gracies!

Obrigado!

Merci!

Grazie!

Thank You!

SLOVENIA, JUNE 10-18, 2011

River promenade in Ljubljana, Slovenia

INTRODUCTION
Slovenia undoubtedly proved to be an excellent travel destination. The country’s cities offered culture and sophistication, and the countryside provided numerous thrills and rushes of adrenaline. I realized the majority of my plans as originally intended, but was forced to tweak some slightly, mainly due to a decreased budget.

The greatest of these changes was the accompaniment of my German girlfriend. With her joining me, we were able to take advantage of her sister’s car, which precluded spending money on a plane ticket from Germany to Slovenia and on a rental car. Additionally, I was able to save more money by occasionally splitting costs, such as that of food purchased in super markets.

The order of my itinerary changed, but the individual items remained essentially intact (Ptuj was not visited). I also was unable to stay on at the farm near Ljubjlana, a member of the World Wide Organization of Organic Farmers, because of scheduling conflicts. As you will see, however, these lost possibilities were more than recovered with other opportunities on the trip.

DAY 1
As I had planned, I arrived in Germany on May 25 and traveled around Bavaria visiting with old friends from my year spent studying abroad in Germany. I departed with Maria, my girlfriend, for Slovenia on June 10 and we arrived in Ljubljana in mid-afternoon.

As evening approached we headed to a restaurant that our hostel owner had recommended to us (we were some of his first guests, even his mother greeted us). The restaurant, Pri Škofu, lived up to its reputation. Serving truly fresh food daily, there was no menu, only a waiter to describe the day’s dishes. The delicious food and secluded location made for an excellent meal.

DAY 2
This Saturday was our main day for seeing the sights of Ljubljana.

Globie and me on top of Ljubljana Castle

We took in a sprawling open-air market in the city center where dense stands of produce, flowers, clothing, and other goods crowded the squares and river promenade. Ljubljana Castle provided some splendid views of the city and surrounding landscape. The City Museum told the interesting story of Ljubljana from Roman outpost to modern capital of an independent Slovenia. Formal gardens, lush settings, and a carnival were waiting for us at Tivoli Park.

In the evening we once again enjoyed the night life exploding along the Ljubljanica River promenade. We also tried some Slovenian dishes, such as štruklji and žganci. The prior was translated to us as “cooked mush” and was as appetizing as it sounds.

DAY 3
On Sunday the highway led us to the coast and stops on the way.

Globie at Predjama Castle

The first detour brought us to Predjama Castle. Appearing as an outgrowth of the mountain on whose side it rests, the impressive structure also sits at the mouth of a cave. Predjama’s greatest legend stems from Erasmus Luger, a murderer who was on the lam with his band of criminals several centuries ago and resisted an army’s year-long siege by taking up residence in the castle. Luger’s key to success was use of the secret caves that led to other openings and fresh food.

Farther down the road from Ljubljana was Škocjan Caves, an absolutely magnificent wonder of nature and one of the world’s largest known underground canyons. The canyon, formed by a torrential river that still flows through the caves and eventually surfaces in Italy, reaches such heights that a thirty-story high-rise could easily fit inside.

We reached the city of Piran early in the evening. Once a Venetian stronghold, the historic city captivates visitors with Venetian architecture and a labyrinth of narrow, car-free alleys.

DAY 4
Most of this day was spent roaming Piran and taking a dip at a beach next to the city.

Central square in Piran

The highlight of the day, though, took place in the evening. To our surprise, at the end of a Catholic Mass the congregation began dispersing fresh flowers among them and headed through a side doorway. Curious, we followed suit and walked into a cloister’s courtyard that had minutes before become the setting of a party. With locals gathered around platters of home-cooked food and filling glass after glass of wine, we quickly joined the festivities, apparently a local tradition. A few women we met that evening in the courtyard provided us with some valuable tips.

DAY 5
Following the advice of the women from the previous night, we drove to the nearby village of Strujan. Here, we ignored the resort beaches, as advised, and took a lonely cobblestone path up from the village. As promised, this led us to a small and deserted chapel with a beautiful interior. Farther on, the now-dirt path ended at the top of a cliff and, though they couldn’t hear us, we thanked the three women out loud.

Cliffs at the Bay of St. Cross

Stretched out below us were the tranquil Bay of St. Cross and the glistening blue waters of the Adriatic. After finding a trail that led down the cliff, the rest of the day was spent snorkeling in the clear water and laying out on the flat boulders along the secluded beach.

DAY 6
We pushed on from the coast to the last region of the country we planned to visit, the mountainous northwest. That night we slept in Bovec, a small town and an adventure sports mecca near Triglav National Park, which is a protected portion of the majestic Julian Alps.

Before dinner we visited a small village to the north of Bovec named Log pod Mangartom, the site of a somber World War I military cemetery as well as a devastating landslide that occurred in 2001.

Mountain village in the Julian Alps

After dining on Bovec’s central square, we walked a road leading up the side of the valley and found a quiet bar with a large outdoor terrace. Together with the befriended bartender, we sat outside and watched a full lunar eclipse, which became an improved experience once a couple of the bartender’s friends arrived with a telescope.

DAY 7
In the morning we undertook the activity that had been my most anticipated for the whole trip: canyoning. A hired local guide took us out of Bovec and to the nearby Sušec stream that came cascading down a mountain. A steep hike took us upstream, all the way paralleling the deep gorge through which the stream flowed. Eventually, wearing helmets and neoprene suits, we waded into the stream itself. Passage back to the trailhead involved exhilarating slides, sometimes headfirst, down waterfalls and, at the steeper cataracts, jumps into the chilling snowmelt water several feet below. Each fall grew slightly more challenging after that, culminating in a final descent down a twenty foot waterfall by abseil.

In the afternoon, Maria remained in town, but I joined the same guide again and five Czech bikers on a rafting trip down the Soça River, some of Europe’s premier whitewater. Afterwards, we departed Bovec for Lake Bohinj.

Globie at Savica Waterfall in Triglav National Park

DAY 8
We spent this, the last full day of the trip, roaming around beautiful and clear Lake Bohinj, situated on the edge of Triglav National Park. Hikes brought us to the lofty Savica Waterfall, the twisting and curvy Mostnica Gorge, and a peaceful valley between jagged mountains. We also drove to three nearby villages to get a better taste of rural Slovenian life.

DAY 9
For the final day, we drove to Lake Bled. Likely the most famous of Slovenia’s tourist attractions, Bled offered a fantastic setting. We rented a row boat and headed out to the church-topped island in the middle of the lake.

After returning to the car, we drove towards the highway and back to Germany.

Lake Bled

CONCLUSION
As planned, I diligently took notes of nearly every aspect of the trip. I am happy to report that I have finished an article covering my adventure and will soon begin submitting it to publications for their consideration. I hope that this article can be the break that I intended it to be to open the door for me into travel writing.

As for Slovenia and the trip themselves, both exceeded my expectations. Slovenia was a beautiful destination rich with friendly people, cultural experiences, and recreational opportunities. I have already started recommending it to my friends, and, given the chance, I would certainly return. The interaction with locals—from the conversations with waiters and bartenders to the impromptu celebrations—was also exactly as I had hoped for.

Incidentally, I was only able to learn key Slovenian phrases and words beforehand, and some I picked up while in the country. Thankfully, many Slovenes spoke English or German.

In conclusion, I would like to once again express my gratitude to the Globetrotter Grant for this valuable opportunity. Thank you for your financial support and, even more so, for your faith in me and my goals. Rest assured that when, not if, my article is published I will give due credit to the Globetrotter Grant.

In the Spirit of Exploration

INTRODUCTION
Over the headboard of my grandparents bed hangs a large oil painting depicting the moon-lit harbor of Naples, Italy. A looming silhouette of Mount Vesuvius dominates the background. Closer to the viewer, dabs of yellow paint stand in for the twinkling lights of the cityscape, and black streaks along the shore illustrate ocean waves captured by an artist whose name I never learned. As a young child on visits to my grandparents’ house I would sit on the foot of their bed and stare at the painting in wonderment. Somewhere in the world, far beyond where I myself had already been, existed this city in reality. I envisioned in my head what life was like in this distant city and how its people were different than me, if they were even different at all. The idea that unknown or strange places truly do exist on this Earth and that they could one day be within my reach captivated my imagination. I could not realize it at that time, but those daydreams would lead to a life dedicated to the spirit of exploration.

In the years since, travel to me has become a foundation of my life, not in that I have performed it to any great frequency, but in its importance to my values and identity. Travel to me is a tool for self-discovery and finding one’s place in a confusing and uncertain life. Travel exposes one to new experiences and teaches old lessons repeated throughout time. Travel exists as the best form of education, a continuous cycle of opening the traveler’s mind, expanding his curiosity, and strengthening his urge to travel more. Due in part to this personal philosophy I believe that I am an excellent candidate for the Globetrotter Grant.

MY MOTIVATION
I am currently a full-time student at Texas A&M University seeking a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning, but my heart remains devoted to travel. While during my undergraduate studies I was fortunate enough to study abroad in Germany, an experience that only reinforced my thoughts on travel. When I found time, I took trips around that country and into neighboring ones, but most were short, and, regretfully for me, I often played the role of a mere tourist. I wished for something more authentic then, and I still wish for something more authentic now. I have also wished to share my experiences and love for travel with others in hopes of imparting in them my zeal for life, a priceless gift indeed. To accomplish this, in the last couple of years I have contemplated, and in a few instances actually attempted, becoming a published travel writer, but to no avail. What I propose with the Globetrotter Grant is an opportunity for me to achieve my dream of becoming a published travel writer. With success, travel writing could at least be a side-activity or hobby shadowing a profession in urban planning, or perhaps it could evolve into a full career, but to find out I must first be published.

The problem, I feel, with my most of my memorable travel experiences is that they do not meet the current trends in travel journalism: new destinations and authentic experiences. Americans know Paris, London, and Rome; they hunger to learn about places with unrecognized names. Likewise, travelers, even tourists, have started to seek authentic and less-clichéd experiences off the beaten path. Taking a tour of a winery is no longer enough, for example, travelers want to actually participate in the wine-making process and meet the locals who work in the vineyards. As I mentioned above, I did perform some travel around Europe while studying abroad, and of course my study abroad itself can count as a travel experience, but these trips were mostly to well-known destinations. Additionally, due to time constraints, I often followed the typical tourist itineraries of a destination. As a result, most of my experiences in foreign cities or countries mirror those of other travelers or those found in countless travel guides and magazines. I do not expect to capture a publisher’s attention with such trips. Therefore, as I see it, I need a trip that endeavors to dive deep into the identity of a little-known destination, but one nevertheless rising in popularity.

THE PROPOSED TRIP: THE BACKGROUND
If successful with this application, my received funds will go towards financially supporting my trip to Slovenia during this coming summer. The small but alluring country of Slovenia will act as the main character in an article that I will write to cover my experience from this trip; I can then use the article in querying different travel publications. With the permission of the grant providers, this article would actually also act as my trip report. While traveling, I will dutifully act as a writer by taking notes, casually interviewing the individuals I am fortunate enough to meet, and otherwise documenting my experience (not keeping such records during my trips taken while studying abroad has also prevented me from retelling those experiences in rich detail).

I plan to depart from America on May 25 and arrive in Munich, Germany the following day. I will use this return to Europe as an opportunity to visit with some of my German friends made during my study abroad, and likely even stay a few nights with them before and after my trip to Slovenia. My Master’s program requires that I perform a short internship this summer, and I am considering searching for one in Germany, which would be another great opportunity for me. Because of this possibility I cannot yet exactly say when I would return to America. At the earliest my return would likely be in late June, and at the latest in late July or early August. To maintain a predictable budget, the amount of time I spend in Slovenia, ten days, will not change under any conditions. Should I be awarded the grant, I would be able to inform its providers of a firm return date before I depart.

THE PROPOSED TRIP: THE DETAILS
Slovenia strikes me as mysterious, yet attractive destination. With its name resonates, to me at least, images of the former Eastern Bloc, but actual photographs reveal a land of breath-taking beauty and surprising tranquility. The accounts of Slovenia that I have read describe a vibrant culture and friendly people. No longer a country only for intrepid travelers, Slovenia has started to gain the attention of a more general audience. I have selected Slovenia as the subject for my article because of its obscurity and potential. I will do my best to avoid the typical tourist scene and to venture out to lesser known locations. To help me in meeting the locals, I plan to study the Slovenian language for a few months prior to my trip. Trademarks of the blooming Slovenian tourist industry are natural splendor and extreme sports, both of which I plan to take in. My main goal along the way will be to interact with the locals and to try to see the country through their eyes.

From Munich I will fly into Trieste, Italy, as its airport lies close to the border with Slovenia and usually offers cheaper flights. While in Slovenia I will get around with a rental car, because the country’s rail system is not as developed or efficient as those in Western Europe. I will return to Munich after Slovenia, and fly back to America from Germany.

One exciting possibility is boarding at a small farm outside of Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital, thanks to an organization known as World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF). Lodging and meals are free so long as guests perform a few hours of work a day. Additionally, farm families in the Julian Alps region often allow guests to sleep on haystacks in their barns for small charges. Otherwise, my accommodations will consist of guesthouses and hostels.

The following is my planned budget and itinerary for my proposed 10-day trip in Slovenia.

PROPOSED BUDGET

Round-Trip Flight to Germany……………………………………………..$1,000.00
Round-Trip Flight to Trieste from Munich…………………………………$175.00
Accommodation (Excluding the WWOOF possibility)………………….$400.00
Rental Car and Gas………………………………………………………………..$700.00
Food…………………………………………………………………………………..$300.00
Attractions………………………………………………………………………….$100.00
Extreme Sports…………………………………………………………………….$200.00
Subtotal………………………………………………………………………$2,875.00

Redeemable Air Miles………………………………………………………….($500.00)
Other Personal Funds………………………………………………………..($1,200.00)
Remaining Expenses……………………………………………………….$1,175.00

PROPOSED ITINERARY

Day 1 Fly into Trieste, Italy; Rent a car and enter Slovenia; Follow a guide through the Škocjan Caves; Spend the night in a farmer’s barn near the Julian Alps.

Day 2 Explore the natural beauty around Lake Bled and its less visited sister, Lake Bohinj.

Lake Bled

Day 3 Extreme sports in the Julian Alps, such as canyoning and paraglidin.

Day 4 Head east and discover towns and villages along the way not mentioned in any guide; Potentially arrive at the WWOOF farmhouse.

Day 5 Alternative 1: Drive on to splendid Ptuj, a picturesque small town in the country’s far east steeped in history. Alternative 2: Stay on with WWOOF and use the free time to explore the countryside .

Day 6 Alternative 1: Travel back to the country’s heart and into Ljubljana. Alternative 2: WWOOF, use free time to venture into nearby Ljubljana.

Day 7 Whether still offering a hand at the WWOOF farmhouse or not, use any free time to dig deeper into the soul of the country’s capital and to meet some of Slovenian’s urbanites.

Piran

Day 8 Leave the capital with a heading towards the coast; Visit Predjama Castle along the way; Arrive in Piran, a coastal town that supposedly resembles the look of Venice but lacks the hordes of tourists.

Day 9 Roam around Piran, stroll its beaches, and explore the town’s hinterland; Snorkel at the site of some shipwrecks off the coast.

Day 10 Return to Trieste and fly back to Munich, Germany.

CONCLUSION
My adventure through Slovenia will provide me with an original and authentic travel tale to capture the attention of potential publishers, and, I believe, allow me to accomplish my personal goal of becoming a published travel writer. In so doing, I could reach out to individuals and potentially compel them to explore their world more, or at least revive their curiosity to go a bit beyond the next bend in the road. Perhaps my article would even find its way into the hands of an inquisitive, young boy, who, upon reading my words and seeing my photographs, would close his eyes, sit back, and imagine a place so far away from his reality and yet entirely real enough for him to one day reach on his own. To be the muse for the next generation of explorers, that could be the great legacy of my writing, and I would forever be grateful to the Globetrotter Grant for helping me find my start.

Thank you for your time and consideration, and thank you for supporting the lasting role of travel in the lives of young adults. I look forward to hearing your decision.

(February 2011)

The view from my apartment in Sofia, Bulgaria

This was the view I had from my apartment in Sofia, Bulgaria. Not quite the same as College Station, eh? This change in scenery was not the only thing different from my life in Aggieland. Before I departed in May, I decided to read a book on cross-cultural living and came across this interesting quote about people who live in another culture: “They must enter a culture as if they were children.”

Globie on our balcony

Interacting with people of different cultures requires deep humility, and I began to learn this right away. On my first day in Sofia, I sat down for lunch at a restaurant, was handed a Bulgarian menu, and realized I could not order without the help of someone translating for me. I didn’t know anything about the food-what it was called, what it would taste like, if it would make me sick, etc. Something I have always been able to do, order food, I suddenly could not do it on my own. “They must enter a culture as if they were children.” I certainly felt like a child that day, but this experience was a beautiful reminder of the humility I would need to adjust to Bulgarian culture. This was the beginning of numerous learning experiences throughout my trip.

Let me provide a brief overview of how my time was spent in Bulgaria. The majority of the trip was spent in Sofia, the capital city. The team I worked with spent three weekends in a row traveling to different parts of Bulgaria, which I will discuss in more detail later. For the purpose of this report, I will break down my time into three categories: trafficking work, language study, and traveling.

Sofia skyline

My main purpose for coming was to work with a Bulgarian-registered non-profit named Respect, Empower, Encourage, Flourish (REEF), investigating human trafficking in the country. I did this by researching what anti-trafficking work was already going on in order to strategize how REEF could potentially get more involved in the future. Also, I helped put together resources about trafficking for the REEF website. During my time, I was able to meet with five groups already involved with trafficking, including Bulgarian and American non-profits. These meetings were extremely helpful in learning what anti-trafficking efforts already exist in Bulgaria.

I absolutely love studying other languages, so I was thankful for the opportunity to take Bulgarian lessons in Sofia! Since I am studying Russian at A&M, I have some experience with Slavic langauges which defnitely came in handy. By the end of my time, I was able to listen and understand simple conversations. The best part of studying Bulgarian was getting to know my teacher, Galia. Being a proud Bulgarian and wonderful teacher, she not only taught me about the langauge but also taught me a lot of about Bulgarian culture. This was the Bulgarian person I got to know the best during my time here.

Globie studying Bulgarian

Through our lessons, we were able to learn from each other about our respective worldviews. My favorite memory of Galia was when she came over for dinner and I got to serve her a tex-mex meal of home-made enchiladas!

Although I have done work like this at home, it was very different doing it while being in the middle of the country I am researching. It took much more energy, time, and endurance to do the same amount of work I could accomplish at home. Living in the country I am working with means that I could never fully “unplug” from work. So, the amount of breaks and how I would spend my down time became much more important. This was a valuable lesson to learn about myself, especially since I absolutely want to go back to Eastern Europe and continue working with groups preventing human trafficking.

Additionally, I was able to help REEF with teaching English. This was great in having different activities to engage in, and also helpful in allowing me to think about things other than trafficking. This was another wonderful way to get to know Bulgarians!

Kurdjali from the surrounding hills

My favorite part of my trip was the travel I got to do with my colleagues! On three different weekends, we traveled to Vidin in northwest Bulgaria, Kurdjali in the southeast, and to Veliko Turnovo and Varna. The first two trips were work related. Outside of Sofia, REEF works mainly in agriculture. We traveled to meet with nationals REEF is working with in both areas who are helping REEF connect with small farmers in their respective regions.

Our last weekend trip was to Veliko Turnovo and Varna, which are arguably Bulgarians favorite cities. The first is known for its historical importance because it was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, and the second is known for the beach along the Black Sea.

Tsaravets in Veliko Turnovo

In these two cities, I got to see all the major tourist sites, such as Tsaravets, an old castle in Veliko Tarnovo and the Cathedral of Assumption in Varna, which ended up being my favorite cathedral in the entire country. Also, I got to eat some great Bulgarian food and enjoy time with my summer roommate.

Overall, I truly enjoyed my time in Bulgaria. It was a fantastic learning experience. I loved being in a different culture-the challenges, joys, & frustrations of it taught me so much about myself.

Globie in Veliko Turnovo

In addition, I am also grateful for the people I got to know this summer, and it was truly a privilege to work with REEF. The staff has already been here for over three years, and in their time, they have been intentional about learning about the Bulgarian culture. They hope to eventually turn over their projects completely to Bulgarians, and they are working towards this goal by already incorporating Bulgarians into their staff. I am so thankful for the Globetrotter Grant for helping to make this trip possible. Many thanks to the Globetrotter Grant board!

Globie's favorite drinks - coffee and tea!

Making friends with locals

Globie with one of the many Russian monuments in Sofia

MISSION BULGARIA

AGENT: CAROLINE BARROW
I am a sophomore International Studies major with a passion for traveling, learning about new cultures, and hearing people’s stories. I was born in Krasnodar, Russia and adopted by my awesome family when I was three years old. Because of this, I grew up with a curiosity about what it is like to live in different cultures. As long as I can remember, I have had a desire to travel. In addition, since I spent the first three years of my life in an orphanage, I have compassion for people in less fortunate situations, especially those affected by human trafficking. You see I was born in a place where women become trafficking victims and grew up in a place where trafficking victims are frequently brought, Houston, Texas. This is part of the reason I am passionate about ending human trafficking. Last summer, I got an amazing opportunity to travel to four European cities and meet with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) addressing the issue of human trafficking. I learned a ton, but it left me wanting more.

DESTINATION: SOFIA, BULGARIA
Bulgaria is a fascinating, unknown place where Eastern and Western cultures cross. The Cyrillic alphabet was born here when St. Cyril and Methodius introduced Christianity in 864. After that, Bulgaria was under Ottoman Turkish rule for 500 years, which explains why there are nearly one million Muslims. Communism forced industrialization upon this largely agricultural society, and more recently, EU membership has forced Bulgaria to keep up with the rest of Europe. This unique history has created the multi-ethnic state it is today. Even though there are numerous religious and ethnic groups, Bulgaria is the most peaceful Balkan state.

According to an article published in October by a Sofia news agency, Bulgaria is the European Union’s poorest country. The article also reported that the recent economic downturn pushed over sixty million Bulgarians into poverty. Since there is such a tough job market, many choose to leave the country for work. Many who are desperate for work often fall into the hands of traffickers by taking a false job offer. This situation occurs with many Eastern European countries, which is why this region is notorious for trafficking. According to one UNDOC, there are only three state-run shelters for child victims of human trafficking throughout the country even though the International Organization of Migration estimates that 120,000 women and children are trafficked through the Balkans yearly. More must be done.

MISSION: INVESTIGATE ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING INITIATIVES
This summer I will be traveling to Sofia for eight weeks, interning with a missionary who recently started a Bulgarian non-profit (Reef) addressing many social issues, including human trafficking. As is the case with many NGOs, they need more workers to put their ideas into action. I have the incredible opportunity to help them move forward by interning with Reef.

There will be a number of ways I will help them, including meeting with university students to hear their interest in the issue, coordinating awareness campaigns, researching ways to use social networking sites and other media to reach the public, and helping Reef staff with administrative tasks. Additionally, I am excited about the opportunity to teach conversational English, which will be a great way to meet Bulgarians! Much of my time outside of work will be spent drinking coffee or eating dinner with new friends, swapping stories, and hearing learning about the Bulgarian perspective.

During last summer’s travels, I loved meeting different groups and experiencing the different cultures, but it left me with the desire to travel more and get more involved with the anti-trafficking movement.

This summer I am excited to devote eight weeks to experiencing a new culture while doing work that I love.

PROPOSED DATES
Leave Houston week of May 22

• Flight will have me landing the next day

During my 8 weeks I will:

• Take Bulgarian language classes twice a week
• Teach conversational English 3 days a week
• Work on Reef projects assigned to me
• Meet with university students and talk with them about trafficking
• Enjoy coffee & dinner with new friends
• Enjoy Bulgarian holidays such as Slavic Culture Day on May 24
• Travel and see the sights such as the Rila Monestary

Leave Bulgaria week of July 17

BUDGET

Flight………………………………..$1,200
Food ($85/wk X 8 wks)…………..$680
Transportation (in country)……..$80
Cellphone (in country)…………….$40
Housing*…………………………………$0
Language Lessons ($70/wk)……$560
Spending Money……………………$250
Total……………………………….$2,810
*I will be living with one of the Reef staff members for free.

Saved Already
George Bush Presidential Library Scholarship………$500
Personal Savings……………………………………………..$500
Subtotal………………………………………………………$1,000
Still Need…………………………………………………..$1,810

Thank you so much for considering my application. I view this trip as a great opportunity. It will help me in discerning how to work with trafficking in the future and open my eyes to another culture, and I am excited to be helping a non-profit that I greatly respect. The timing for this trip could not be better, and I am fortunate that this trip is relatively cheap. I would be greatly honored to receive the Globetrotter Grant put it towards furthering my understanding of human trafficking in Bulgaria.

(February 2011)

Kangaroo Wishes and Uluru Dreams

My grandfather told me once that once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen. Later I learned that the great Ralph Waldo Emerson was its author
but the words of two great men still have always been my words to live by. From a young age I knew I was destined for world traveling. My small farm town was
depressing in comparison to the exotic destinations that I saw on television. I can remember spinning the globe in the library after school amazed at all of the different
countries exotic names, but what stood out the most to me was Australia. I was fascinated that a country could also be a continent within itself. When I would span my tiny hands from California to Australia and in my mind the country was as close as the park down the street from my house. As I got older I grew to acknowledge the fact that the seven thousand five hundred miles separating me from the wonders of Australia was going to be harder to get to but I never gave up hope that one day my travels would be a reality.

When I was deciding to study abroad the only choice that came to my mind was my childhood dream. I was granted the opportunity to study abroad during my Junior
year in the grand land down under, and fell deeper in love with Oz. From the second the plane touched down, I knew the wait was worth it. I took full advantage of my six
months in Oz, but unfortunately I was not able to see it all. Many people do not realize that Australia is the same size as the continental United States. In between my studies during my time there I would take the train on the weekends and explore as much as I possibly could. During my explorations I was only able to make it as far as Adelaide in the south eastern tip of the continent, and for the last three years have waited for the opportunity to complete my journeys.

I am planning on taking this trip with two of my best friends who live in the province of South Australia. My original plan included exploring Western Australia, the
Northern Territory and Queensland. However, due to unforeseen events plans have changed.

The recent flooding of the Brisbane area in Queensland have resulted in several deaths and millions in damage. The destruction caused to the Great Barrier Reef has
also been noted. It had been my plan to spend some time in Brisbane before heading up the coast but rebuilding will take time, and so I have pushed back my trip until
November. I hope by then that the rebuilding will be progressing enough that my tourism will help the area. The reports that I have been reading compare the damage
similar to that done by Hurricane Katrina. I could have easily rerouted my trip to not include the affected areas but then I would draw my monies away from the rebuilding
businesses and workers, and that would be unfair. Summer tourism in the area is great in number with the pristine beaches and I hope to be a large part of that as I travel up the coast.

From Queensland I plan on traveling to Darwin to enjoy the wonders of the Northern Territory. I want to visit the beaches, however due to the presence of jelly
fish in the waters during the summer months swimming is not a good idea. Instead I plan on visiting the vast number of Wildlife preserves and parks that the areas have to offer, including Crocodylus Park, where according to the pamphlet I picked up in an airport once and that has been stuck on my bulletin board ever since, you can feed
crocodiles and hold a koala. After getting my fair share of the North I am then going to fly to Adelaide and meet up with friends before venturing to the most sacred place in
Australia. Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is a sacred sight to the Aboriginal peoples and I plan on spending three days exploring the area witnessing the miracle of the
color changes. Uluru is notable for appearing to change color as the different light strikes it at different times of the day and year, with sunset a particularly remarkable
sight when it briefly glows red. I want to experience the area fully embracing the outback and learning the ways of the land.

After my walkabout in nature I have planned to visit Sydney for a few days to revisit the sights there before flying home. I will be in Australia for about a month and
am coming home for Christmas. I have booked my flights for November 16th through December 15th. I have secured some of my lodgings for the trip as well. However I still need the monies to fund my excursions to Uluru as well as paying for inter continental travels. I have about two hundred saved up after purchasing my plane ticket and I have estimated that I will need around another thousand or so to ensure an amazing trip.

(February 2011)