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!