Travel Box

jacquelineelaine:

to study Hinduism and taste spices that I can’t even pronounce.

I want to visit Japan to marvel in its architecture and to study the Tao and Confucianism. 

I want to speak Mandarin in Shanghai and take calligraphy lessons, because no other language’s written word is truly artwork. 

I want to spend a week on a farm in Norway, watch a soccer game, a bull fight, and a parade in Spain.

I want to spend a night in Amsterdam, a week in France, a few months in Italy, and a year in London—reading fantastic literature and learning about history from a different perspective. 

I want to go zip-lining in Costa Rica, climb a tree or play in a meadow in Ireland, and stand on the inside of Niagara Falls. 

I want to experience 24 hours of pure sunlight in Alaska and 24 hours of pure joy in Hawaii.

I want to pet a kangaroo in Australia and an elephant in Kenya.

I want as many stamps in my passport as possible.

I want to live a life that is not confined to one country, or one culture.

And although I may fear visiting some of these places (not because I am actually afraid, but more so because I feel as though sometimes my very presence as an American is insulting) I plan on doing so anyway. I’ve met too many foolish people, who think there is nothing more out there than what they can see in front of them. Who think of the United States and brag about how red, white, and blue are the best colors. I am proud of where I was born. I am proud of where my direct family emigrated from, and where my distant relatives emigrated from before them. But I know there is more out there. I’d like see all of the colors, and hear people who live in other countries speak about why those are the best. I want to see the world.

nikad:

1. Australia - Ever since I saw Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s Our Lips Are Sealed, I have wanted to visit the land “down under.” Despite being an English-speaking country, Australia is still worlds apart from the United States. It is exotic and beautiful with a culture all of its own. Plus, Australian accents are just so darn cute! Visiting Australia, and knowing I am so far away from my home, is definitely a major dream of mine.
   
   
   
2. Russia - What first attracted me to Russia was a picture of some old buildings. I couldn’t imagine living in Russia and walking on a street with shops, restaurants, and PALACES. Especially palaces as pretty as the ones in Russia. There is so much history mixed in with modern culture. And Russia is HUGE, so it’d be easy to lose oneself in the sights and sounds of the country. 
   
   
3. China - China, China, China. What can I say about China? It is the world’s most populous country; as such, I feel it is my duty to experience the overpopulation for myself. In addition, China has hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of years of history, all of which still plays an important part in modern life. Evidence of this history includes the Great Wall and Tiananmen Square. To be able to soak up the history and culture of China would be AWESOME.
   
   
4. Iceland - Despite the danger of erupting volcanoes, I desperately want to visit Iceland. I did a project on Iceland in sixth grade. We had to create brochures of the European countries, and I chose Iceland because it is not a common place to want to visit. I fell in love with the beauty, animals, and nature of the country, as well as the impossible-to-pronounce language. Iceland is definitely going to stay on my list, and with luck, volcanic eruptions will not get in the way.
   
   
5. Morocco - I think the first time I “experienced” Moroccan culture was when I visited the Morocco exhibit at Epcot in Disney World. I found myself relating to the colorful culture because it reminded me of India. I want to experience Morocco because it is on a continent with which I have little familiarity.