There’s a debate between my dad and me as to exactly how old I was when I first visited Maine, my 50th state. I think it was when I was 16 while he says I was 15. I’m pretty sure I drove while I was there which would’ve made me 16, but we were in a rental car which means that it was illegal either way, so chances are I’m remembering it wrong and he is right (which he often is!) and I was actually 15. Either way, my traveling lifestyle started at a rather young age if I averaged 3 and a third states per year for the first decade and a half of my life.
It was right around that same time of my life that I got my first taste of a new continent. Europe, to be exact. I got to visit Scotland and England with my parents and my paternal grandma, Mimi. She’s 96 now (or is she 97 already?!) and our visit to her homeland together was the last time she was able to return to her place of birth and prime development. She showed us where she was born, where she grew up, where she went to school, where her father was buried (it was the first time she had ever seen his grave). It was an experience I will cherish for all my life. As well as being a treasured part of my adolescence and familial heritage, it enlightened me to world travel on a new scale … and I was hooked!
I know this sounds almost sick to most people who only dream of seeing more of the world then the city or state in which they grew up, but since that first European visit I’ve averaged going there about once every four years. It almost feels like a familiar hangout spot for me. Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but you get the point. At the ripe old age of 28, including one time when I simply connected through Amsterdam on my way back to the states from India, I have visited Europe a grand total of five times (I think that’s right) and Asia a total of four times. Having been to three continents, and my fourth one a matter of weeks away, I have been blessed with the opportunity to visit all 50 states, seven Canadian provinces, and 27 countries (three more to come before November).
Two of the things that come as a result of traveling like this are jealousy/competition, and big dreams. One of my greatest accomplishments is that I managed to beat my parents, my traveling gurus, to Spain, Iceland, and Cuba … and they STILL haven’t made it to Iceland or Cuba!!! They got to Spain about a month after I was there (WHEW! That was close!!!). However, my greatest jealousy lies in the accomplishment my parents achieved when they visited their seventh continent, Antarctica! Maybe it’s because most people expect your 50th state to be Alaska while mine was Maine, but it is my personal goal to hit all seven continents, like my parents, only to make Antarctica number 6. This is all just a dream at this point, but it’s in the forefront of my mind. There are still two other continents to visit and TONS of countries I’ve never been to. That’s another problem with traveling a lot … it’s easy to focus more on where else there is to go rather then where you’ve been. However, it’s where you’ve been that make up who you are ;)
In no particular order:
1. Canada
2. Mexico
3. Guatemala
4. United States
5. Costa Rica
6. Holland
7. England
8. Scotland
9. Iceland
10. Lichtenstein
11. France
12. Spain
13. Germany
14. Italy
15. Switzerland
16. Czech Republic
17. Austria
18. Russia
19. Romania
20. Philippines
21. Cuba
22. Singapore
23. Japan
24. Indonesia
25. India
26. Malaysia
27. El Salvador
September/October 2006
28. Thailand
29. Australia
30. New Zealand
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7 comments:
97. But who's counting? ;-) My jealousy is that you got to go to England with Mimi. Feel free to write more about that trip sometime ;-)
Imagine how many places you'll have visited by that age!
Stay safe.
Jeff,
It's Aug 13. We've just caught up with your most recent writings.
N. and K. were here for 11 days in July and went back in time for the opening of the new school year on the 26th of July.
We were looking for you to be back next month but now know you will be coming in November. May God give good connections for eco-tourists in Austrailia and New Zealand. Your parents have some contacts in N.Z. who grew up in Ind. Tours from that hemisphere is a great idea for filling in the other half of the year.
God is good and kind, no matter what. Ruth O.
"I've been everywhere man" is what you should have titled it. Its good to know you are alive. My sisters wedding is over and so is the caos;) God bless you and your journey home, whenever that is.
~Jessee
i've driven to cape cod and back 20 something times in the last three years with a small child, does that count for a country or two?
jilly
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