the Holstee Manifesto

I'm in!

They're just "THINGS"...

...but I'll need to bring a few with me. Don't go giving me the "mr. 'things'" title.

Special THANKS to those who helped me figure out what to bring: Muz, Dirtbag aka Mark B, Brian B., and Tracy H. Also, I got a baseline of necessities from travelindependent.info

CAMERA STUFF

Top left to bottom right: Nikon D3100 in "iron man red", 18-55mm kit lens, 4gb Flip Video, Canon PowerShot SD630 (thanks MO!), Neewer Wide Angle Lens attachment, Nikon 55mm f1.8 Prime Lens, Mini Tripod (thanks MUZ!), Canon charger, Nikon Charger and additional battery, Memory cards, Memory Card reader (thanks BRI!), Fluorescent filter and Circular Polarizer.

ELECTRONICS

Top left to bottom right: 320GB and 160GB hard drives and cases, universal plug adapter, macbook charger, iphone 3GS and charger, Macbook, (2) headphones, mouse, Nook Tablet, charger and stand.

WALLETS/BOOKS

RVCA Wallet, Chums Suftshorts wallet, ID/Card Holder, Passport /wallet, Lonely Planet Phrasebooks (Brazilian Portuguese and Spanish - thanks DIRTBAG!), Moleskine Daily Life Journal.

MISCELLANEOUS

Oakley Holbrook Shades, Oakley Glasses and case, PacSafe 200 Retractable Lock, Master Combo Padlock, (4) Nite Ize Carabiners, Tide pen, (4) pens, Insect Repellant, Hand Sanitizer, Ear plugs, Lighter, (2) Blistex Lip Balm, Black Diamond Gizmo Headlamp, Cards, Mini Dominos, Sunprint Kit (from Curiosity Shoppe), Mini notebooks, Guata and Sand Hacky Sacks, Eagle Creek Eye Mask, Eagle Creek Money Belt. There are some major unnecessary things in this category, but it all fits into one little "rando" sack.

TOILETRIES

Eye Drops, Various Medicine, Q-tips, Sunblock, Body Lotion, Deodorant, Hair Wax, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Razor, First Aid Kit, Salonpas (like a bauce), Body Wash, Shampoo.

FOOTWEAR

Nike LunarMax+ shoes, Havainas Flip Flops

SOCKS/UNDERWEAR/OTHER

(2) H&M Sandos/A-shirts, (7) Pairs quick dry socks, (5) Pairs dri-fit boxer briefs, (2) Cotton boxer briefs, Bandana, Buff Sweatband, Gray Tie, Jordan Beanie, Leather Belt, Pillowcase, Eagle Creek Micro-Fiber Towel

T-SHIRTS

(3) 50/50 Cotton poly, (2) Nike Dri-Fit Cotton, (3) Dri-Fit Shirts

SHORTS/PANTS

Eagle Creek Roll Top Sack, Nike 6.0 Gray Cotton Pants, Nike Kobe Bball Shorts, Nike 6.0 Gray cotton shorts, Volcom Boardshorts

SHIRTS/JACKETS

Nike Kobe Therma-Fit Jacket, Outdoor Research Rain Jacket, Penguin L/S Button-up, H&M Easy Iron L/S Button-up, Penguin S/S button-up, NikePRO L/S Compression shirt, (2) Hangers (thanks MARK B!).

BAGS

Main Bag (27 lbs): Deuter Futura Pro 42 (Thanks MUZ!)

Day Bag (16 lbs): Timbuk2 Snoop Camera Bag Small


There you have it, the packing list of my dreams. NOTE: As soon as I took these pictures, I went with some instant clothes/items switches (still attempting to go for the "cool" factor. what a waste of time.)

This is gonna be fun.

HOLLER!!!!!

What am I doing???

HOLLER!!!!

This is Jon aka BOOTS and I am on a mission to see some places in this world.

For my first international trip in over 5 years, and my first solo international traveling experience, I have a one-way ticket to RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil. Never been to South America, no idea of when I'm coming back, but I'm thinking maybe 3-4 months? Right in time for summatime in the AC (alameda county).


What am I doing? Why am I going?

Motivation and Goals:

My cousins Mark, Jeff and Brian were traveling in South America in 2008-2009, at a time when I was finishing up grad school and wasn't able to afford or get time away from school/work/interning. One of the worst feelings in the world I can think of was sitting in a library reading about your best friends having the time of their lives without you. Even worse, they're constantly telling you how much you would LOVE it. From there, I decided that the next opportunity I had, I would follow in their footsteps and find out if they were telling the truth about all the "fun" and "beauty" that can be found in other cultures/countries outside of the USA.

Since I left my job in October 2011, my sights have been set on going to South America. At first, I wanted to get my TEFL certification and get a long-term job (6-12 months) teaching English in Buenos Aires, Argentina. However, I began to realize the work involved with getting a good TEFL and that I would be committed to one place and have to actually WORK, I decided against it and will be looking to get a shorter-term job (e.g. camp counselor, hostel worker, bar tender, drummer for hire?) and allow myself the flexibility to follow where life takes me at any moment.

1. See more places in the world
2. Learn and expose myself to new languages, cultures, foods, and communities.
3. Detach from American society and values and explore what the rest of the world places importance on
4. Meet new and interesting people and learn about how they live
5. Teach people anything I can about myself and my own culture(s).
6. Self-discovery - I'd like to find out what really moves me. I'd like to think I'll find out what makes me feel passionate and what I can do in my everyday life to make those things priorities.
7. Make lasting memories
8. Fully embrace the "IF NOT NOW, WHEN?" mentality.
9. Go for days/weeks/months without making plans. Seeing where the world will take me day by day and moment by moment.
10. See if these guys were lying about the beauty of nature and South American girls. (do they really know my style?)
11. Remember that however amazing a place I may be, no matter where I go, I have an amazing home and family I get to return to.
12. Avoid feeling regret later on for not doing this.

Preparation:

I'm notoriously bad at making plans. I prefer spontaneity, and just going somewhere and seeing what happens. That makes it hard when I'm doing it on my own, without the safety net of friends/family to depend on helping make this trip safe/memorable/fun. I've been talking a lot to Mark and Jeff about "what i need to know about traveling in South America" (special shout out to them and Tracy H. for being so patient and helpful answering my constant questions!). They both spent about 8-10 months moving around from Argentina to Brazil to Colombia to Ecuador to Peru and more.

Mark and I came up with the idea of getting TEFL certifications and teaching long-term in BsAs back in October 2011. But the longer we waited and the more we learned about it, the less it seemed like it would happen. I was left with the decision of waiting for someone (and possibly growing bored and broke on unemployment) to join me on the adventure or to go solo and see what happens.

IF NOT NOW, WHEN?????? I'm goin solo baby. Feel free to come and find me, I'll be "somewhere" in South America.

1. Reading mainly two books: a. Rough Guide to South America b. Travel Rio De Janeiro Mobile Reference
2. Reading a lot on the internet (lonelyplanet, tripadvisor, travel websites)
3. Buying items recommended by web sites and friends.
4. Trying not to spend money and failing.
5. Selling things: shoes, clothes, bags, bike, car. Reducing my financial responsibilities while I'm away and paying for tickets, visas, travel costs.
6. Stressing over what to bring. Packing bag and re-packing. Spent a good 20 minutes discussing every item I'm bringing with Muz, including WHERE i'm going to put it within the backpack.
7. Failing to learn important phrases in Portuguese
8. Learning to shave my face with a razor blade
9. Thinking about what I'll do when I haven't had a haircut in more than 2 weeks.
10. Going to REI and just staring at the stuff for hours.
11. Talking to people about my plans and asking for their prayers.
12. Praying a lot.
13. Getting myself freaked out reading about safety tips/awareness in Brazil.

Biggest worries at this point:

1. I don't really know what i'm doing.
2. Never been in a foreign country on my own. Can't say I've been in ANY international countries without someone taking care of the deets for me.
3. How long will my funds last? Am I going to get to see/do the things I've hoped to do?
4. What if I need help, miss home, feel lonely?
5. Am I going to be safe?
6. How do I get people to host me as a couchsurfer?
7. What am I doing???

Biggest hopes at this point:

1. Get to realize some of my goals (see above)
2. Have a great time
3. Open my eyes to different ways of living/values and incorporate some of them into my own life
4. Find out what it feels like to be out on my own and depend on my abilities to relate to others to get by ("stranger = someone you haven't met yet" - @dirtbag.)
5. New inside jokes/games/songs - international steez (can't wait to see what they think about AWOOOO!)
6. I get hosted by a bunch of couch surfing hosts and meet a ton of cool people who will show me what their city/culture is really about
7. Mark, Bri and Muz knew my style all along.
8. Take some amazing pictures
9. LIVE for the moment. Don't get too caught up in the small things and move to where I'm being led.


I've got one week left until I touch down in Rio de Janeiro.

Pray for me. Join me. Read this blog. Comment/email/facebook me. Take care, and hopefully I'll see you all soon!