Clearly, I do my best writing when I’m emotionally unstable. Anything that comes out of these fingers when I’m feeling completely angered, amazed, saddened, annoyed or joyous to an unbalanced level just tends to flow without thinking.
Now, I give you frustration.
Yes, family, I’m about to call you out. I apologize in advance, but it just has to be done. You are making me more than frustrated.
Of all the places I have traveled, you have not once come to visit me.
Of course, Kyrgyzstan, Guatemala and Ukraine I completely understand, and I never once expected you to go there. But, remember that time I spent an entire semester in beautiful, romantic, amazing, delicious, wonderful, coveted Italy?! Remember how I was the ONLY one in the entire group of study abroad students whose family didn’t arrive for a week or two of Italy fun? And, remember, mom, how you regretted not coming to see me AFTER I CAME HOME?
Maybe this fact has evaded the memory because when I ask you now to come to Australia, you just can’t get yourself to say that you’re coming.
What?! It’s AUSTRALIA! It’s like some people’s dream vacation to go to Australia, and here I am asking you, and offering you a free place to stay in the process, and you don’t really have a desire to go.
I have a hard time understanding how anyone in their right mind could not want to bask in the glory that is Oz with its endless beaches and bouncing kangaroos. “How?!” I shout. Who are you people, and how was I was spawned with such a desire to travel when you don’t even have passports?!
It’s a part of my life.
Travel is what I do. It’s a passion that has been going strong since my first trip overseas, and considering the past couple of years have been spent abroad, it is obviously a huge factor in who I am today.
Unfortunately, I am unable to share this with you. While you understand that travel is what I do, you don’t really… get it.
I would love to be able to show my world to … well… anyone… because no one has EVER visited me ANYWHERE. And, I understand that it’s not the easiest to get over to K-Stan or Ukraine or wherever, but NOW – now I’m in bloody Australia! Please, somebody, let me show you where I’ve been living for the past 8 months!
I’m only a flight away.
Why is it that everyone (except me – thanks) in my family has flown to Las Vegas, but they cannot get off their duffs to fly to Oz? I know, I know – Oz and Vegas are not the same thing – but there are casinos in Australia, too!
Ok, well the flight is a bit different, too… about 16 hours different. It’s a longgggg, longgggg flight from Chicago, but dammit, it is just no excuse! How about that time you managed to ride on the back of a motorcycle all the way to the world famous Sturgis rally in South Dakota. For those not familiar with US geography, let’s just say that South Dakota is not a quick ride from Illinois. Could that really be any more comfortable than a seat in an airplane… really?
Can’t handle the idea of the flight? Just think about the thousands of other people taking the same trip. If they can do it, can’t you? Grab a couple of nicotine patches, bring some tunes and some books, and you’ll be here before you know it.
Do something exciting.
The world is a huge place, and there is just so much more to do and see outside of that tiny sample back home. Take the time to do something adventurous and out of the norm – something that makes you excited and nervous and anxious all at the same time. It is just plain good for the soul.
Don’t make me do it.
I definitely don’t have much money. Even though I make a decent amount from work, life keeps getting in the way. Ever since I ventured over to New Zealand, I’ve had countless expenditures: visa and travel insurance fees, various doctor appointments, medications, deposit on new apartment, paying full rent on apartment for a month until I found a flatmate, furnishing said apartment, monthly student loan payments, and now a new laptop. Sydney is not a cheap place to live, and when you consider the apartment deposit and full rent for a month, that’s $3,000 AUD right there!
No, I don’t have a lot of money, but I do have some credit cards, and I would be willing to use them to book a hand full of plane tickets for March 2010 to Sydney, Australia in the names of various family members of mine. And, then what? Yep, you will be forced to come because I will only buy non-transferable, non-refundable tickets. This means that if you don’t come, the fact that I am broke and needing to work overtime for the next year in order to pay off that debt will be on your conscience.
I’m sorry if this sounds threatening and forward, but the truth is, it IS a little threatening and forward – MAYBE because I just don’t think you GET IT. The joking anger that I portray on Skype is more of a show, and after 15 months since the last time I was at home, I’m beginning to wonder how long it would actually take before you do.
There are 1001 reasons why you should come to Australia (those of which I’m sure anyone in the travel community can back me up on), so please give me an answer soon.
Don’t make my credit cards do the answering for you.
