Traveling on a Dime

I leave in two and half weeks for India and so I'm thinking about traveling a lot. Skimming the nytimes.com online this morning I came across this article: Three Things I've learned about Frugal Travel (And the Things I Didn't Do).

I was immediately taken in by the first thing the author learned-frugality is in the eye of the beholder. While this is true in all aspects of life, it is especially true when it comes to to traveling., I also think your idea of what is frugal or acceptable changes.

I think that I have always been a frugal traveler. I mostly decide where to go depending on who I know who may live there, I often stay with friends and family, and I avoid fancy restaurants in favor for less expensive local food. In the past, if I didn't know anyone there I would stay in a hostel. I have no desire to do this anymore. While I still think the best way to travel is to visit someone who lives and is from the location, it no longer defines my choices of where to go. My definition of frugal travel is changing as I have a little bit more money to spend and the desire to go to more places.

My favorite paragraph under the first point is this:

But more important, it’s about realizing that your budget — whether high or low — does not determine the quality of your travel experience. To travel well, you need to pack an open mind, a lot of energy, infinite patience and a willingness to embrace the awkward and unfamiliar. No amount of money in the world can buy those things — because they come free.

This is so true. I've been lucky enough in life to have traveled quite a bit while I was young, and so I as get older it has become one of the priorities in my life. In order to keep this a priority my plan is to travel someplace out of the country every other year. This allows me the time to save money (and watch for cheap flights).

The only question now is where should I go next?

Photo by Dave Heuts

And the Stress Begins to Melt Away

It finally came. I can take a real break and get back to the things I love. Blogging, running, knitting - remember me?

It is true folks, last night I took my last final of the semester! Technically I'm not done until I hand in a take-home final on Tuesday - but it is finished and ready to go. This spring I managed to take three courses, work full-time (at a very busy job), and actually get a good deal of wedding planning done. What made is so difficult was having one of the worst professors of my academic career, what made it great was having one of the best. If having the best meant I had to deal with the worst - completely and utterly worth it. Another reason it was so difficult is that I haven't had a real break since I started in the fall. I can't complain because it was my own fault. I actively decided to take that three week winter session class and I don't regret it. Three weeks of class almost every day to get 3 credits. Definitely worth it.

Now, I'm actually taking a break. While, I did sign up for a summer class, it is not until the second summer session. What am I doing in the first session you ask? Well folks, that is when I'm headed to India. Now that my semester is over, I have begun to let myself get really excited for this trip.

(After my class this summer I'll be halfway through the program!)

So here is a quick update on what has happened in my life since I last actively posted:

One of my closest friends got married, F got stuck in Ireland because of volcanic ash, I convinced a friend to run her first road race-and ran with her, I got some vaccinations and prescriptions for the big trip, bought an awesome (and cheap!) pair of linen pants, figured out where F and I are having our rehearsal dinner, led a group of six in writing a joint paper, almost lost my cool with one of those six, was given a bottle of wine to thank me for my hard work by another, finished three finals, a paper, an exam, and two assignments, took engagement photos, got my tax return money, decide what I wanted to do for my bachelorette party, went to a friends baby shower, picked the menu for the wedding, and got my teeth cleaned.

This weekend I plan on celebrating. I really believe that all accomplishments should be acknowledged in some way, no matter how small. We must reveal a little in what we do before we move on to the next hurdle/challenge. Finishing up my first year of going to graduate school while working full-time is definitely an accomplishment for me. A good friend I haven't seen in years is flying into town tonight. We are attending a friends baby shower and then letting the weekend take us where it will take us and I'm so excited.

I also plan on sleeping. A lot of sleeping.

Photo by Kansas Poetry (Patrick)