Where have you been before

[sctx]

Originally Posted by Seakony

You haven't been anywhere till you've been to Mesquite.

uhhhh, yeah...... plannin on takin her to see the McDonalds in the SuperWalmart ??? After lunch , maybe you can take her to Sheplers and git her a cowboy hat.... thats about it for Mesquite isn't it???

[Seakony]

Originally Posted by sctx

uhhhh, yeah...... plannin on takin her to see the McDonalds in the SuperWalmart ??? After lunch , maybe you can take her to Sheplers and git her a cowboy hat.... thats about it for Mesquite isn't it???

We got a Rodeo....and Slim And....it's only 4 hours to San Marcus.

[SunKneeMarie]

I was gonna say... Mesquite done got a rodeo!!

[Anna]

Before I landed in Playa, I traveled a lot. Out for months with a backpack, staying in 5 dollar hotels, taking local buses, that sort of thing. So I've been really lucky and have a bunch of amazing experiences behind me. I've been to 40-45 countries and seeked adventure wherever I went. I've sat on top of a train zig-zagging down the Andes, and sailed the Greek archipelago. I've flown over the Victoria falls in Zimbabwe, and swam with piranhas in the Amazones. I've ridden on elephant through the mountains in Thailand and walked the Inka trail to Machu Picchu. I've celebrated New Year's on Copacabana (and been taken to the emergency ward after a homemade fire cracker exploded in my face), and walked the streets of Prague. I've snorkeled with giant fish at the Great Barrier Reef and with penguins off the Galapagos, and I once saw an anaconda eating a cayman in the wetland area of Pantanal in Brazil. My best memories, though, are the many interesting people I've met on the way - among them a goofy guy who's now my husband!

Can't wait to get Elsa her first backpack!

[Ginger]

Anna, that was very awesome to read! And exactly what I want to teach my children, that there is so much out there in the world to see beyond their backyard. So much more importance in understanding the lives of others, seeing how others live, seeing the wonders of the world, of nature, and of humanity that exist. I am hoping to keep the fire of interest in travel lit under them throughout their youth so that as young adults they will seek to do the same! While I definately want them to seek higher education, I don't want them to leap out of high school and into college/university without some world experience/travel first. I think people who travel after high school before committing themselves to a career come back so much more knowledgable in the ways of the world, what they want out of life, where they stand and really belong in the realm of the world, and knowing themselves and who they are as a person so much more wholly and naturally.

[Andiline]

Mel2004: I guess we have more in common than we thought so far...

Ginger: my list seems to be long but reality is I never left Europe until I was 36 years old. It's never too late to get started travelling. But I do love it and like Anna I love the experiences I am making, people I am meeting and getting to know other cultures.

Seakony: I am all for some adventures in august...

[Thor Henning]

Originally Posted by MN Annie

Grandma was from Alesund and Grandpa was from Stavenger. When we retire, we hope to visit Norway and see where our ancestors lived.

Stavanger and Ålesund are wonderful places on the west coast of Norway. I hope you get there.

[Thor Henning]

Originally Posted by Ginger

I think people who travel after high school before committing themselves to a career come back so much more knowledgable in the ways of the world, what they want out of life, where they stand and really belong in the realm of the world, and knowing themselves and who they are as a person so much more wholly and naturally.

I agree! My travel in places like Peru and Ethiopia made me think of poor countries in a whole new way. Wonderfull people. What a wonderful world.

[Bumper]

Originally Posted by Ginger

Anna, that was very awesome to read! And exactly what I want to teach my children, that there is so much out there in the world to see beyond their backyard. So much more importance in understanding the lives of others, seeing how others live, seeing the wonders of the world, of nature, and of humanity that exist. I am hoping to keep the fire of interest in travel lit under them throughout their youth so that as young adults they will seek to do the same! While I definately want them to seek higher education, I don't want them to leap out of high school and into college/university without some world experience/travel first. I think people who travel after high school before committing themselves to a career come back so much more knowledgable in the ways of the world, what they want out of life, where they stand and really belong in the realm of the world, and knowing themselves and who they are as a person so much more wholly and naturally.

I agree with you 100%, Ginger, and I think you've got precisely the right approach. I can't tell you how many people we've met who are more-or-less our age - mid/late 50's - and are looking at the prospect of imminent retirement, with the luxury of reasonable health and disposable income, and maintain, "Boy, when we retire, we're going to do a lot of travelling." Truth of the matter is, that unless you've made it a practice to travel...you're probably not going to. Largely, because you don't know how. Of course, it's true some people do blossom and become bigtime travellers once they have the opportunity, but more often not. Both of us were lucky that our parents were always on the go somewhere, even if it was only for weekend jaunts across the border to Grand Forks, North Dakota, or camping excursions to anywhere you could pitch a tent. The concept of just getting up and going was nothing foreign to us. I'm impressed that you're giving your kids those values and experiences. There will come a day (sometime when they're between 18 and 40), when they come to realize maybe you and John aren't the stupidest parents in the world, they'll thank you for it. Ya' done good!

[Mel2004]

Andiline:

Andrea, yep, you are right !


greetings Mel

[Ginger]

Originally Posted by Bumper

There will come a day (sometime when they're between 18 and 40), when they come to realize maybe you and John aren't the stupidest parents in the world, they'll thank you for it. Ya' done good!

Thanks, Bump! I hope you're right. Lately we've been getting the "why can't we buy that BIGGER house, like so-and-so?" kinda' stuff, and we've been trying to explain "because we're saving for an expensive and educational jaunt around Europe as WELL as our trips this summer and our winter trip to Mexico, you ungrateful ingrates!" Well, we try to explain a little more nicely, of course...heh heh.

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by Anna

Before I landed in Playa, I traveled a lot. Out for months with a backpack, staying in 5 dollar hotels, taking local buses, that sort of thing. So I've been really lucky and have a bunch of amazing experiences behind me. I've been to 40-45 countries and seeked adventure wherever I went. I've sat on top of a train zig-zagging down the Andes, and sailed the Greek archipelago. I've flown over the Victoria falls in Zimbabwe, and swam with piranhas in the Amazones. I've ridden on elephant through the mountains in Thailand and walked the Inka trail to Machu Picchu. I've celebrated New Year's on Copacabana (and been taken to the emergency ward after a homemade fire cracker exploded in my face), and walked the streets of Prague. I've snorkeled with giant fish at the Great Barrier Reef and with penguins off the Galapagos, and I once saw an anaconda eating a cayman in the wetland area of Pantanal in Brazil. My best memories, though, are the many interesting people I've met on the way - among them a goofy guy who's now my husband!

Can't wait to get Elsa her first backpack!

That sounds great. I am so jealous!

We have a list of things we want to see and do before we die...the Coliseum, the pyramid at Giza, an African safari to see the Big 5, the Eiffel tower, Taj Mahal, and (of course , Darwin fan here) the Galapagos!

[Babaloo]

Originally Posted by Anna

I've sat on top of a train zig-zagging down the Andes..... I've snorkeled with ..... penguins off the Galapagos....

I would guess that train ride was from Riobamba to Sibambe in Ecuador. Ya..and it was a sooty mess, but an amazing adventure. Unfortunately, much of the rail sections from Quito were washed out by mudslides in the late '90's.

And snorkling with penquins and sea lions in the same waters in the Galapagos was a once in a lifetime experience.

How about those blue footed boobies?? No comments please.

[Anna]

Ginger - do encourage your kids to travel! I traveled some with my parents, but mostly after I turned 18. If you rough it you stay out for months and months for a few thousand dollars. And it's fun!

Babaloo - yes that was in Ecuador. I lived there for a while and traveled a lot in the area. Great country!

I still have a list of places I want to go to, Egypt being one. Colorado is getting higher on my list every year (or Utah or so - my dream is to go horseback riding there in the fall). And I've never been to Norway, which is funny 'cause I grew up only a few hours' car ride from Oslo.

Anna,

Colorado Rocks! I have been many places but choose to live in Colorado. No place else like it! Visit in the summertime unless your a skiier. You will love it.