Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Well everyone, here I go again, out into the wide open air!

Today I return to my travel roots, retracing a path I created long ago that led me on a trajectory I could never have imagined. Almost ten years ago I got on a plane as a 15 year old and flew to Brisbane, Australia to be a Rotary Youth Exchange student for a year. I'd never been overseas before. This was before September 11th, when your friends and family could walk you right up to the gate. When sometimes, without your consent you'd be put on an earlier flight so you'd be sure to make your connections. Before text messaging was even a concept in the US (though it was already pretty big in Australia.) Before Facebook and Blogger and before every time you had a question you turned to a computer. Before my sister went to MIT, before I had my driver's license. Before everything.

Since then, I have lived on five continents, traveled to six. Had numerous wonderful loves and broken hearts. Made and left friends all over the world that I still think of every day. And kept friends that I've had long before all my travels. I discovered a passion for swing dancing. I found Allah, or God, or whatever you call it. My life has changed.

Now I return to Brisbane ten years older. With Rotary, again, this time as a Rotary Peace Scholar to get my masters at the University of Queensland in International Conflict Resolution. They are paying for everything: my flights, room and board, schooling, life. I am going to see friends Sunday night when I arrive that I haven't seen for nine years. Friends that I consider some of my closest. And I hope they still are. Friends that now have babies, and jobs and husbands and wives. Older friends.

I am nervous, but know everything will be fine. I will miss my life in Austin, but I will create a new life in Brisbane.

I have a tradition. Every time I start a new adventure, the night before I read myself "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" by Dr. Suess. It is by far my favorite book and just about anyone who knows me has heard me quote a line or two. No one else reads it to me, and if no one else is around, I still read it aloud. I read the same copy Matt Kime gave me before I moved to Australia. I read it with Kissie, the stuffed elephant Hillary Feinstein gave me before I moved to Australia and has now traveled with me everywhere. I read it in the bed, on the sheets, that I have had since my childhood.

You should read it aloud to yourself too. It will reinvigorate you to create something with your life. Here's a pretty good youtube version if you want it to be read to you.