travel

Let’s Talk About Thailand a bit…

/ Sloan / 4 Comments

I guess it’s time to talk about Thailand a little bit more. Currently, I am scrambling to find my immunization records to prove to some doctor in a walk in clinic that, yes, I did have all my shots as a kid, so that he can sign off on a bill of good health and let me on my way. So if you know if a secret stash of records somewhere in the state of Michigan, let me know. I guess moving every couple years of your life is glamorous, but when it comes to being organized about the important documents it can get tough.

On another note, Thailand is approaching SOON! Oh dear, really really soon! I have my placement of where I will be living, what school I will be teaching at too. It’s a private school in the Kamphaen Phet Province. Your homework for me is to google it, research it and report back to me of the coolest locations, funnest (I know that’s not a word) places to go, and the most delicious food to eat!

So far what I’ve learned is that it’s on the Ping River which is pretty rad, I love water. And it’s at the foot hills of some HUGE mountains that I hope to explore via foot. I want to run all over this place, but hopefully not get Malaria in the process.

Getting all of this ‘stuff’ gathered is making me feel really adult. I’m having to take financial responsibility for it all, gathering records, filling out paper work for the visa and work permits, I’m selling pretty much everything I own and just donating the rest, (keep an eye out for a free box in front of my house soon.) This whole process is making me appreciate all the help from my parents in my past travel excursions and appreciate the help they are giving me now, not just with gathering the information, but emotional help too. This process is exhausting!

 

In the mean time I’m pushing forward, working a ton, trying to enjoy Oregon as much as possible and getting really excited for a trip back to Michigan in just over a week!

 

Stressing a bit about Thailand

Early morning stress about Thailand

Two Months From Today

/ Sloan / 3 Comments

If all goes as planned I will be embarking on the biggest adventure of my life, thus far. I will be arriving in Bangkok, Thailand for my teach abroad orientation. I have made a one-semester commitment to teach English in the Kamphaeng Phet Province. So currently I am working and working and working really hard to earn enough money to pay for program fees, plane tickets, doctors appointments and vaccines.

One of my biggest goals for the adventure is to really hone in and take this blog to a new level. I plan on traveling on the weekends, running in the lush green jungles, climbing the mountains and swimming in the Ping River. This blog is meant to be a self-learning experience. I want you to read it and be inspired and go off and do your own adventuring. I want you to write to me and tell me about it, I want everyone to know how great this country and this world is! Let’s discover it together.

Right now in this time of ‘getting ready’ any support you can send my way would be amazing. Positive thoughts, words of encouragement, emails of support would be amazing. I’m very excited but also really nervous about this whole thing. I will keep you all posted on my happens over the next two months and then while in Thailand I plan to take this blog to a whole new level!

 

But for today I’m headed to the Redwoods!!

Inspire and Be Inspired

/ Sloan / Leave a comment

Wow. I suck. It’s been what? Two months since I’ve posted anything. Sorry for anyone who reads this and is interested in my adventures. I’ve been, honestly, adventuring a lot and have ideas for blog posts filling my brain, but have been lazy when I have the time and have truly lacked the motivation. My apologies. Life is slowing down a bit so hopefully I’ll get back on the wagon and be regular about it.

 

This post is dedicated to a few awesome hikes I had in California this summer. There is no play by play that I’ll run through, but a general feeling and tone that I know anyone who is into fitness or nature will understand. While traveling with my friend Pat in California and Oregon we picked up a friend of his, Ethan. Now, you must imagine a tall, skinny (really skinny) 20 year-old-kid that has longish shaggyish hair. A cute Canadian accent and carries a skate board wherever he goes. WAIT! He’s not a punk, he’s respectful, don’t judge him on his skate board (he doesn’t deface public property) or the fact that he could be blown over by a light breeze, (he doesn’t do drugs—though he enjoys a malt liquor every so often, nothing hard.)

 

This kid, this adult, had never been shown how amazing this earth is. He’d explored the streets of Toronto on four small wheels, grinding hand rails and ollying over steps. His jungle was concrete, harsh and full of twisted ankles and healing scabs.

We went to some spectacular places: Mount Hood in Oregon, camped and hiked in the Red Wood National Forest, surfed in Santa Cruz, hiked 27 miles in Yosemite National Park—we did a lot. A lot a lot! I was dumb founded and speechless at the beautiful places we went and the experiences we had. But being able to see someone change, to see someone finally get it and appreciate it was incredible.

 

It: The vastness, amazingness, hugeness, incredibleness of stepping outside, looking at a mountain and hiking over it, around it, through it. Stepping back and realizing just how small you are and how big this world is. Realizing that you CAN DO IT, you can hike that far.

 

“That’s sweet dude. Fuckin’ sick.” Ethan said this countless times. “This is sick. Sick man.”

To watch Ethan gain confidence was what I imagine a parent feels watching his kids. Not to compare him to my child (no way!) but he was so nervous to go for the hike in Mount Hood (a mere 6-8 miles) and rock it at the front of out pack and then bust out 27-28 on an accidental all day hike in Yosemite was amazing. We were all tired. We were all dehydrated. We were all hungry. We all made it out and we all maintained a semi-positive attitude, all had dips in our moods and energy levels, but we made it and helped each other, inspired one another throughout the whole day (and night.)

 

On this note, get out and share and grow and experience something with someone new and realize how powerful it can be. Take a step back and try to re-understand how impactful a few encouraging words or actions are.